Vol. 587 No. 1
14 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will advise the various health boards throughout the country that part of the funding administered through them was specifically allocated to drive the drugs task force programme; and if he will recommend the health boards to identify and employ appropriately skilled staff to drive the programme. [16779/04]
19 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the make up of the drugs task forces throughout the country. [16777/04]
75 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount which has been allocated to the health boards to specifically fund the drugs task force programme; the way in which the money was spent; and when the money will be allocated in regional areas in which this funding has not yet come on board; and the way in which it will be used. [16781/04]
76 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when funding will come on board to resource the various regional drugs task force projects at regional level. [16778/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 19, 75 and 76 together.
Under the national drugs strategy, ten regional drugs task forces, RDTFs, have been established throughout the country. The RDTFs represent a team-based response to illicit drug use with each task force being chaired by an independent chairperson and made up of representatives from State agencies working in the region, the community and voluntary sectors and elected public representatives. All of the RDTFs work in partnership in a manner similar to the local drugs task forces.
Currently, the RDTFs are mapping out the patterns of drug misuse in their areas — as well as the range and level of existing services — with a view to better co-ordination and addressing gaps in the overall provision. In this context, the Deputy should note that a sum of €500,000 has been provided by my Department, in the current year, for administrative and technical costs incurred by the RDTFs in the preparation of their plans. In addition, I understand that an amount of €50,000 has been allocated to each RDTF by the appropriate health board, to assist with ongoing administrative and staffing costs in the current year.
The work currently under way by the RDTFs is likely to take up most of the current year and will then feed into the drafting of regional action plans, which will be assessed by the National Drugs Strategy team in due course. I am hopeful that all of this work can be completed by early 2005 and that I will then be in a position to bring recommendations in relation to the funding of the plans to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. I would expect the RDTFs to be in a position to begin the implementation of their plans by mid 2005.
15 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the work that has been undertaken on improving the integration and co-ordination of service delivery of the RAPID programme; the way in which this initiative is expected to progress into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16663/04]
Service integration is a key component of the RAPID programme and is being used across a range of RAPID areas as a method to improve the quality and effectiveness of the services they provide. The RAPID programme has built on the experiences of the integrated services process, ISP, by promoting the need for more service integration work. Reports from SIM groups include examples of service integration projects in RAPID areas and can be found at www.adm.ie. Work on service integration is ongoing and will continue into the future.
16 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action he has taken in response to the disclosure that Údarás na Gaeltachta built a €500,000 waste treatment plant in Connemara without planning permission and despite concerns expressed by senior engineers and officials; if he has launched an investigation into this case; if he has had talks with Údarás na Gaeltachta regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16786/04]
I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that planning permission was granted in January 1989 to adapt a factory as a salmon packing unit in Cill Chiaráin, County Galway. This included permission for a new effluent treatment plant that would comply with the Water Pollution Act 1977. On complying with the conditions of the planning permission, Cill Chiaráin Éisc Teoranta, the company operating this factory, was granted an effluent discharge licence.
Following a review of this licence in 1999, Galway County Council issued a new licence the following year with more stringent quality standards. As the effluent treatment plant in use at the time was not designed to meet the revised standards, Údarás, as owner of the factory, approved funding of €495,198 to upgrade the treatment plant and undertook the upgrading in accordance with its understanding that the work was necessary to enable compliance with the terms of the reviewed licence and it came within the provisions of class 21, exempted development, of the planning and development regulations for 2001.
However, an objection to this development was made to Galway County Council and after extensive discussions between Údarás and Galway County Council concerning the definition of what constituted an exempted development, the matter was referred to An Bord Pleanála. An Bord Pleanála issued its decision in December 2003 that the development did not qualify as an exempted development.
Accordingly, an application for permission to retain the development was submitted to Galway County Council and I understand that Údarás is at present preparing further information that has been requested by the council.
17 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the discussions he has had with other Departments and State bodies on the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16804/04]
As I have indicated previously in reply to questions in this House on the Official Languages Act 2003, my Department is currently engaged in ongoing preparatory work in relation to implementation of the Act. As an integral part of that process my Department is continuing to provide briefing sessions for public bodies on request to further inform them of the implications of the Act and to discuss its specific implications for them. In addition, my Department has written to each of the approximately 650 public bodies covered by the Act on two occasions to provide them with information about the Act and developments in its implementation. It established an interdepartmental working group to advise it on the drawing up of statutory guidelines under paragraph 12 of the Act. Work on the guidelines is at an advanced stage and I expect to be in a position to publish and circulate them in draft form to all public bodies within a month for comment and observations, so that work can commence on schemes by the first round of public bodies by next September. The Department also circulated draft heads of regulations under section 9(1) of the Act regarding the use of the Irish language, or the Irish and English languages, on oral announcements, on stationery, on signage and on advertisements to all Departments. It has held bilateral meetings with a number of Departments and public bodies to discuss specific implications and issues that arise for them. It also established a working group to make recommendations on provision of Irish translation services to meet the State's obligations under section 7 of the Act on the simultaneous publication of Acts of the Oireachtas in the Irish and English languages. The work of the group has been completed and my Department is exploring the feasibility of a number of possible ways forward.
Finally, I assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to consult with public bodies as appropriate on the phased implementation of the provisions of the Act and be available to provide advice and guidance if and when required. I am happy that significant progress is being made by my Department in the implementation of the Act's provisions on a phased basis in accordance with the action plan I announced on 17 December 2003. I am also satisfied that the public bodies covered by the Act will be able to meet the statutory obligations under the Act that will apply to them on a progressive basis and, moreover, that they will rise to the challenge with a positive attitude and spirit.
18 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the percentage of funding available to his Department which he has allocated to communities or groups combating drug problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16795/04]
51 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason the Bray local drug task force area is the only area not currently implementing their second round of action plans; when he expects that Bray will progress to second round funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16657/04]
71 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the last round of funding to resource the drugs task force programme was allocated in 2002; and if he will assign additional funding for the project as a matter of urgency. [16780/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 51 and 71 together.
As the Deputies are aware, my Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 which contains 100 individual actions to be implemented by a range of Departments and agencies.
My Department also has responsibility for the work of the 14 local drugs task forces, or LDTFs, which operate in the areas experiencing the highest levels of drug misuse. Substantial funding has been allocated to these areas over the past number of years and in total the Government has allocated or spent approximately €65 million to implement in the region of 500 projects contained in the task force plans since 1997; over €12.7 million to support nearly 60 projects under the premises initiative, which is designed to meet the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects; and over €72 million under the young people's facilities and services fund, or YPFSF, to support in the region of 450 facility and services projects. An amount of €26.8 million — 9.6% of the overall Vote of my Department — has been provided for drugs programmes in 2004. The bulk of this funding will be used to support the work of the LDTFs and the YPFSF.
The Bray LDTF was not established until 2000 whereas all of the other LDTFs were set up in 1997. Proposals submitted by the task force as part of their first action plan were approved by the Cabinet committee on social inclusion in early 2002 and are being implemented at present. A number of the projects are still at an early stage of development and no proposals have been received to date from the task force in respect of a second plan.
All of the other task forces are currently implementing their second round of plans. A number of these are also at an early stage of development and the aim would be consolidate and evaluate the work being done through these projects before seeking any additional proposals in respect of a further round of plans.
21 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress by Waterways Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16649/04]
Waterways Ireland was established on 2 December 1999 as one of the six North-South implementation bodies. Its functions are the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the island's inland navigable waterway system, principally for recreational purposes. Waterways Ireland was also charged with taking forward appropriate studies and appraisals on the possible restoration of the Ulster Canal.
Since its inception in 1999, Waterways Ireland has set up its headquarters in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, and also regional offices in Scarriff, Carrick-on-Shannon and Dublin. It has built up its organisation by recruiting administrative, professional and technical staff. The body currently employs some 333 staff, North and South. The body has produced corporate and business plans, which outline the navigational, operational, technical, corporate, promotional and marketing strategies for the body. Work has begun on the corporate plan for 2005-2007.
In 2003 and 2004, Waterways Ireland continued with the development of the inland waterways on a care and maintenance basis, following the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive with effect from 14 October 2002. Waterways Ireland continues to carry out an extensive programme of works to maintain the critical infrastructure of the waterways and to develop boating and other amenities. My own Department's allocation to Waterways Ireland for 2004 amounts to €32,454,000. Waterways Ireland has published its annual reports and accounts for the years 1999-2000, 2001 and 2002, which are available in the Oireachtas Library.
22 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the identity of the three additional members to be appointed to the board of ADM; when these members will be nominated; the rationale for this increase in the size of the board; and if these new members will be additional to the board and will not be replacements to members from the community and voluntary sector. [16654/04]
I refer the Deputy to my previous reply to Question No. 127 of 27 April 2004 on this issue. I expect that that three new members will be appointed by the Government to the ADM board within the next few weeks. These members will be in addition to serving members and will bring relevant expertise and competence to support the board in its work.
23 D’fhiafraigh Mr. P. Breen den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas faoin dul chun cinn atá déanta ó ritheadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003. [16647/04]
Dírím aird an Teachta ar an bhfreagra a thug mé ar Cheist Uimh. 129 ar 27 Aibreán 2004 maidir leis an ábhar seo, inar leag mé amach sonraíocht chuimsitheach maidir leis an dul chun cinn atá déanta ag mo Roinn-se ó ritheadh an tAcht i mhí Iúil 2003.
Ba mhaith liom tagairt ar leith a dhéanamh do na príomh-chéimeanna atá tógtha agam go dtí seo mar a leanas: tá €500,000 curtha ar fáil i Meastacháin mo Roinne don bhliain seo chun Oifig Choimisinéir na dTeangacha Oifigiúla a bhunú. Tá an tUasal Seán Ó Cuirreáin ceapaithe ag an Uachtarán mar An Coimisinéir Teanga le héifeacht ó 23 Feabhra 2004; rinne mé ordú tosach feidhme ar 19 Eanáir 2004 a thugann feidhm don chuid is mó d'fhorálacha an Achta le héifeacht ón lá sin agus ó 1 Bealtaine 2004 i gcás alt 10; tá réamh-obair ar dhréacht-scéim mo Roinne féin déanta agus táim dóchasach go mbeidh sí foilsithe go poiblí laistigh de mhí. Beidh an scéim seo mar mhúnla do chomhlachtaí poiblí eile; táim dóchasach freisin go mbeidh na dréacht-treoirlínte faoi alt 12 foilsithe laistigh de mhí ionas go bhféadfar tús a chur leis an gcéad bhabhta de scéimeanna ó chomhlachtaí poiblí i mí Mheán Fómhair seo chugainn; tá réamh-obair ar súil i ndáil le rialacháin a dhéanamh faoi alt 9(1) maidir le húsáid na Gaeilge amháin, nó na Gaeilge agus an Béarla le chéile, ar stáiseanóireacht, ar chomharthaí agus ar fhógraí. Tá sé mar sprioc agam go mbeidh feidhm dhlíthiúil tugtha do na rialacháin sin roimh dheireadh an tsamhraidh; agus tugadh feidhm do Chuid 5 den Acht a bhaineann le logainmneacha ó 30 Deireadh Fómhair 2003 agus tá seacht nOrdú déanta agam sa chomhthéacs sin go dáta. Tá i gceist agam ordú eile a dhéanamh go han-luath maidir le logainmneacha oifigiúla do na ceantair Ghaeltachta.
Mar a thugas le fios roimhe seo táim sásta, mar sin, go bhfuil dul chun cinn suntasach á dhéanamh ag mo Roinnse maidir le cur i bhfeidhm fhorálacha an Achta ar bhonn chéimiúil i gcomhréir leis an bPlean Gnímh a d'fhógair mé ar 17 Nollaig 2003. Táim sásta freisin go n-éireoidh leis na comhlachtaí poiblí na dualgais reachtúla a thitfidh orthu go céimiúil faoin Acht a chomhlíonadh agus go deimhin go nglacfaidh siad leis an dúshlán le meon dearfach agus sa spiorad ceart.
24 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department has completed its work on formulating draft regulations for ferry operators to the islands; when these will be published; if their enactment will require new legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16652/04]
My Department is currently in the preliminary stages of preparing regulations in respect of formal contracts with ferry operators providing services that incorporate road transport links. It is hoped to have these regulations published at an early date.
The regulations, which will be subject to the consent of the Ministers for Finance and Transport, will set down the agreed destinations for connecting bus passenger services and will form the basis for entering into formal contracts in these particular cases.
No new legislation is required as provision for making the regulations is already included in the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Act 2003.
25 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has met with any of the Irish representatives who attended the recent conference in Hungary on building civil society in Europe through community development; if his attention has been drawn to the conference’s recommendations, specifically the Budapest Declaration and its contents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16794/04]
My Department was represented at the conference referred to by the Deputy and is therefore fully aware of the conference recommendations.
27 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the consultations between his Department and the Department of Enterprise, trade and Employment regarding the establishment of island enterprise schemes; when these schemes are expected to be up and running; the amount of funding that will be allocated to this initiative; and if he will make a statment on the matter. [16669/04]
As the Deputy will be aware, the overall respnsibility for development of enterprise on non-Gaeltacht islands rests with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. However, in accordance with my brief for island development generally, I have stated publicly on a number of occasions that I am favourably disposed towards the concept of establishing an enterprise fund for the non-Gaeltacht islands.
Arising from this position and on foot of contacts between my officials and officials of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I am pleased to report that substantial progress has been made in regard to establishing the broad parameters for providing assistance to certain types of enterprise on the non-Gaeltacht islands.
I hope to be in a position to announce details of the new scheme as soon as outstanding issues in regard to administrative procedures have been finalised.
An allocation of €250,000 has been provided for this scheme in my Department's 2004 Estimates.
28 D’fhiafraigh Mr. Gilmore den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil gach rud ag dul ar aghaidh go maith ar an tionscnamh chun foclóir leictreonach Béarla-Gaeilge a chur ar fáil. [16808/04]
Tá curtha in iúl ag Foras na Gaeilge gur cuireadh tús le Céim I — sé sin, céim na pleanála agus an dearaidh — de Thionscadal an Fhoclóra Béarla-Gaeilge i mí Lúnasa seo caite. Tuigtear ón bhForas go bhfuiltear leath-shlí tríd an chéim seo faoi láthair. Meastar go mbeidh an obair a bhaineann leis an gcuid seo den tionscadal curtha i gcrích faoi dheireadh mhí Dheireadh Fómhair na bliana seo. Tá forbairt á déanamh ar na huirlisí ríomhaireachta agus ríomh-theangeolaíochta a bheidh ag teastáil chun an Foclóir a thiomsú i gceart agus tá soláthar na n-uirlisí sin de réir an sceidil atá aontaithe sa chonradh idir Foras na Gaeilge agus an conraitheoir le haghaidh Chéim I, Lexicography MasterClass.
Tuigtear ó Fhoras na Gaeilge go bhfuil socruithe á ndéanamh faoi láthair chun an comórtas tairisceana do Chéim II — sé sin, scríobh agus tiomsú an fhoclóra ina iomláine — den Tionscadal a fhógairt go poiblí go luath. Meastar go dtógfaidh an Chéim sin thart ar thrí bliana le cur i gcrích.
29 D’fhiafraigh Mr. O’Shea den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad é an scéal i dtaobh an Ghaeilge a bheith aitheanta mar theanga oibre oifigiúil den Aontas Eorpach. [16784/04]
62 D’fhiafraigh Mr. Sargent den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an aontaíonn sé nach bhfuil aon rialtas san AE ná aon áisínteacht san AE i gcoinne stádas mar theanga oifigiúil oibre a thabhairt don Ghaeilge agus mar sin cathain a bhainfear an stádas amach. [16840/04]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 29 agus 62 le chéile.
Dírím aird na dTeachtaí ar an bhfreagra a thug mé ar Cheist Uimhir 1 a cuireadh síos le haghaidh freagra tosaíochta inniu.
30 D’fhiafraigh Mr. English den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas faoin obair atá déanta ag Ciste na Gaeilge chun seirbhísí Gaeilge a fhorbairt. [16643/04]
Maoinítear Ciste na Gaeilge ó fháltais an Chrannchuir Náisiúnta agus is é an bunchritéar chun deontas a dháileadh ón gCiste ná go mbeadh tionchar dearfach ag togra ar chur chun cinn na Gaeilge.
Cuirtear cúnamh ar fail ó Chiste na Gaeilge chun eagraíochtaí Gaeilge mar Bhord na Leabhar Gaeilge, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann agus Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe, chomh maith le tionscadail ilghnéitheacha Ghaeilge ar nós Gael-Taca, Gaillimh le Gaeilge agus Tiobraid Árann ag Labhairt, a mhaoiniú tar éis iarratas uathu a mheas gach bliain. Íocadh €2.3 milliún ar fad amach as an gciste seo le linn 2003.
Mar eolas don Teachta, rinneadh athbhreithniú ar fheidhmiú Chiste na Gaeilge le linn 2003. Ag éirí as an athbhreithniú sin, tá athstruchtúrú á dhéanamh ar an gciste ó 2005 ar aghaidh. Tá i gceist táscairí gníomhaíochta a phlé leis na heagraíochtaí éagsúla a fhaigheann maoiniú ón gciste. Beidh maoiniú sa todhchaí ag brath ar chomhlíonadh na dtáscairí aontaithe seo. Chomh maith leis sin, tá i gceist agam go mbunófar ciste gnó i 2005 mar fho-chiste de Chiste na Gaeilge féin. Beidh pé deontais a bheidh ar fáil as an gciste gnó d'eagraíochtaí sa réimse gnó ag brath ar chomh-mhaoiniú a bheith faighte acu nó á fháil acu ó na húdaráis áitiúla nó ó chumainn tráchtála, agus ar mhéid an tsoláthair sa chiste. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh comhoibriú idir na húdaráis áitiúla, na cumainn tráchtála agus mo Roinn féin maidir le maoiniú na n-eagraíochtaí Gaeilge atá ag feidhmiú sa réimse gnó.
31 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position with regard to the future of the RAPID programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16801/04]
55 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he envisages that larger projects will be funded through the RAPID programme in the near future; if he has received applications from larger project proposals; the type of projects he views will be funded in this scenario; and when he expects that this funding will begin. [16662/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 55 together.
As I have said previously, I envisage that in future the RAPID programme will operate on a number of levels in tandem. In the first instance, there are many small-scale proposals from RAPID plans that have been sent unnecessarily to Departments for consideration, when they could be dealt with more effectively at local level. In light of this, I have introduced a new delivery mechanism supported by a dedicated fund for 2004, to progress these proposals. Proposals will be co-funded by the relevant Department or local agency under a number of categories, with broad levels of funding agreed at national level.
In this regard, I recently announced details of a local authority housing estate enhancement scheme with total funding of €2 million. It is being funded on a euro for euro basis, with €1 million from my Department and €1 million from the local authorities through the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Funding of €3 million is also being provided to support the development of playgrounds in RAPID areas. My Department is providing funding of €1.5 million and a further €1.5 million has been made available by the Department of Health and Children. It is proposed that an allocation of funding will be made to each area under each measure above and that the local authority, in consultation with the relevant area implementation team, will select the projects to be supported. I also intend to allocate top-up funding to successful projects from RAPID areas under the sports capital programme and €1.5 million has been set aside for this purpose.
As regards the larger projects from RAPID plans that have already been submitted to departments, these will of course continue to be considered for funding from within existing funding streams in each Department. However, I expect that Departments will now be dealing with a smaller number of projects and will therefore be in a better position to prioritise projects and to set out timescales for further actions. Details of allocations by Departments to proposals can be found in RAPID departmental reports at www.adm.ie. Work on improving integration and co-ordination of service delivery at local level will continue, as this is a key component of the RAPID programme.
32 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the rural social economy programme will be extended to all rural areas; when this is likely to occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16667/04]
80 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the situation for workers on the rural social economy programme who have completed two years of employment on the scheme; if he can guarantee that they will be able to continue on the programme if they so desire, after a period of two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16666/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 80 together.
I launched the rural social scheme on 17 May last and the first phase of the scheme covers eight areas. It is planned that the scheme will be extended to all areas within two months. Successful applicants for participation on the scheme will initially participate on the scheme for one year but this can be extended. However, in the event that there is greater demand than places at the end of the first year then priority will be given to new entrants. Those who have completed their one year period of participation can re-apply the following year when the same conditions will apply.
33 D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta i leith chur i bhfeidhm an chláir dílárnaithe sa Roinn. [16805/04]
Tá líon mór ceisteanna freagartha agam faoin ábhar seo le tamall gairid anuas. Faoi mar atá curtha in iúl agam ar ócáidí éagsúla, tá mo Roinn i mbun comhairle leanúnach lena baill foirne maidir leis an tslí is éifeachtaí chun an dílárú ata beartaithe a chur i bhfeidhm agus, mar chuid lárnach den phróiseas sin, tá gach eolas nua á sheachadadh ar na baill chomh luath agus a bhíonn teacht air.
Tuigfidh an Teachta, ar ndóigh, go bhfuil an próiséas díláraithe in aon Roinn Stáit ag brath ar an dul chun cinn atá á bhaint amach ag an ngrúpa forfheidhmithe lárnach.
Sa chomhthéacs sin, tá céimeanna éagsúla glactha ag mo Roinn-se le tamall anuas. Ina measc:
Tá aonad díláraithe faoi leith bunaithe chun déileáil leis an gceist seo. Ardoifigeach feidhmiúcháin agus oifigeach cléireachais atá mar fhoireann san aonad seo. Is don oifigeach pearsanra atá siad freagrach; Tá coiste díláraithe Roinne curtha ar bun freisin ar a bhfuil ionadaíocht ó bhainistíocht shinsearach agus ó fhoireann mo Roinne;
Tá oifigeach faoi leith roghnaithe chun teagmháil a choimeád ar bhonn leanúnach leis an Roinn Airgeadais;
Tionóltar cruinnithe speisialta de choiste comhpháirtíochta mo Roinne agus baintear leas as na cruinnithe sin chun an fhoireann a choimeád ar an eolas maidir le gach gné den phróiseas díláraithe;
Bíonn mo Roinn i dteagmháil leis na ceardchumainn chomh maith agus tá an cheist pléite leo ag an gcomhairle rannúil;
Tá socrú curtha ar bun chun nuachtlitir foirne faoin dílárú a eisiúint go rialta agus cuirtear gach doiciméad atá bainteach leis an bpróiseas díláraithe ar fáil don bhfoireann uile ar na fillteáin poiblí ar an gcóras ríomhphoist;
Tá mioneolas bailithe maidir le láthair atá i gceist don dílárú ó thaobh mo Roinne de agus tá pacáistí eolais bunaithe ar an eolas sin scaipthe ar an bhfoireann uile.
Chomh maith leis sin, tá obair idir lámha maidir le córais a chur i bhfeidhm chun nósanna oibre sna rannáin éagsúla a chur ar thaifead agus chun múnlaí a fhorbairt d'fhonn aistriú éifeachtach foirne a éascú amach anseo. Ní miste a lua freisin go bhfuil plean forfheidhmithe tosaigh don dílárú á ullmhú faoi láthair ag mo Roinnse le cur faoi bhráid an ghrúpa forfheidhmithe lárnach go luath.
35 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the legislation dealing with changes in the distribution of dormant funds accounts will be published; the expected contents of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16655/04]
Draft legislation to give effect to the changes announced by the Government last December in relation to the distribution of funds from dormant accounts is currently being prepared in my Department. It will provide for a process through which decisions on disbursements of dormant accounts moneys will be made by Government following a public application and assessment procedure using publicised assessment criteria. The draft legislation is at an advanced stage of preparation and I would hope, subject to Government approval, for publication of the Bill later this month.
36 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress that has been made with respect to the decentralisation of his Department; if a survey has been undertaken to assess the preference of his staff; if not the reason therefor; if staff have refused to decentralise; and the career prospects for those who do not decentralise with the Department. [16650/04]
I have replied to a considerable number of questions on this topic in the recent past. As I have made clear on a number of occasions, my Department is in consultation on an ongoing basis with its staff regarding the most effective means by which the proposed decentralisation may be implemented and, as a central part of that process, all emerging new information is conveyed to staff as soon as it becomes available. The Deputy will, of course, be aware that the progress of decentralisation in any Department is guided by the overall implementation process being carried out centrally by the decentralisation implementation group.
In that context, a number of steps have recently been taken by my Department. A dedicated decentralisation unit has been set up to manage the programme. The unit is staffed by a higher executive officer and a clerical officer, who report to the personnel officer. This unit has prepared an information pack, which includes a wide range of information, on decentralisation areas relating to my Department's remit, and these packs have been made available to all staff. The unit issues regular bulletins to staff with the up to date information available on decentralisation and all documentation relating to the issue is made available on the public folders of my Department's e-mail system.
A departmental decentralisation committee has been established to steer the decentralisation process within the Department. Membership of the committee is made up of senior management and staff. A liaison officer has been appointed to facilitate communication between the Department of Finance and my Department. Special meetings of my Department's partnership committee are held to specifically address issues arising from decentralisation and use is made of such meetings to ensure that staff are kept informed on all aspects of the decentralisation process. There is regular communication between my Department and staff associations through the departmental council process. In addition, work is in hands on the establishment of systems for job analysis and process mapping for each function within my Department so as to facilitate effective transfers of staff in the future. An initial decentralisation implementation plan for my Department is currently being prepared for submission to the decentralisation implementation group in the near future.
While no survey has been carried out in my Department to assess staff preferences in relation to decentralisation, the central applications facility, CAF, system, as announced in the report of the decentralisation implementation group, is carrying out this task on a Civil Service wide basis. Extensive information on all decentralising areas is available as part of this process, to allow staff to make informed decisions. The system, which is available on-line, allows staff to register their preferences and it is expected that an analysis of the information ascertained will be available during July. I would, however, point out it has been emphasised at all stages that decentralisation will be on a voluntary basis.
38 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the support his Department is giving to national organisations such as the Community Workers Co-operative and local groups such as CDPs and area partnerships to challenge exclusion, racism and discrimination in local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16789/04]
My Department funds the Community Workers' Co-operative, CWC, under the programme for support for national anti-poverty networks. The purpose of this scheme is to assist such networks to develop their capacities to contribute to policy development at national level. The funding allocated to the CWC in 2004 is €143,065. This funding will enable the organisation to meet the objectives contained in its workplan for this year which included, among other things, contributing to the creation of a more just, equal and inclusive society and supporting the development of models and structures of participatory democracy.
The community development programme, CDP, supports locally-based groups involved in anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives in their communities so they can contribute to a process of change in their areas and improve quality of life. The CDP's remit is to maintain an anti-poverty, anti-exclusion, and anti-discrimination focus and to actively promote the participation of people experiencing poverty, exclusion and discrimination at all levels within the programme. There are some 170 projects participating in the CDP in urban and rural areas with a further 15 in the process of establishment. A number of these projects specifically support new communities and ethnic minorities, including Travellers. An equality and anti-racism sub-committee has operated within the CDP for a number of years. The programme also funds a community development support unit, within the national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism, which provides assistance and support for community groups working with ethic minorities. Total funding allocated in 2003 to the community development programme was almost €20.5 million.
The local development social inclusion programme aims to counter disadvantage and to promote equality and social and economic inclusion through the provision of funding and support to area partnerships, community groups and employment pacts that adopt a partnership approach to tackling local issues. Funding of €42.144 is provided for the programme in my Department's Vote in 2004, of which nearly €30 million was allocated under to area partnerships this year.
39 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his Department’s proposals to create new mechanisms to distribute RAPID funding to small-scale proposals and projects; the way in which such mechanisms will operate on the ground at local level; when he expects these mechanisms to be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16660/04]
43 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which the dedicated fund of €4.5 million dedicated capital funding assigned for localised actions in RAPID areas has been spent to date in 2004. [16776/04]
74 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if additional funding programmes funded as part of the RAPID programme, are envisaged by his Department; and the nature of these programmes. [16661/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 43 and 74 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, I have stated previously that there are many small-scale proposals from RAPID plans that could be dealt with more effectively at local level rather than being sent unnecessarily to Departments for consideration. In light of this, I have introduced a new delivery mechanism supported by a dedicated fund of €4.5 million in 2004, to progress these proposals. These proposals will be co-funded by the relevant Department or local agency under a number of categories, with broad levels of funding agreed at national level.
I have already announced details of a local authority housing estate enhancement scheme. A total of €2 million is being provided and this scheme will be operated by local authorities. It will be funded on a euro for euro basis, with €1 million from my Department and €1 million from the local authorities through the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Local authorities and area implementation teams were notified of their allocations and terms and conditions of the scheme on 20 April last. Projects will now be selected by the local authorities in consultation with the area implementation teams.
Funding of €3 million is being provided to support the development of playgrounds in RAPID areas. A sum of €1.5 million is being provided by my Department and a further €1.5 million has been made available by the Department of Health and Children. The aim of this scheme is to provide funding for new playgrounds or for the refurbishment of existing playgrounds in RAPID areas. The details of the operation of this scheme are almost finalised and will be announced shortly. It is proposed that an allocation of funding will be made to each area and that the local authority, in consultation with the relevant area implementation team, will select the projects to be supported.
I also intend to allocate top-up funding to successful projects from RAPID areas under the sports capital programme and €1.5 million had been set aside for this purpose. The Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism has announced the allocations under the programme and I will shortly consider top-up funding to successful projects from RAPID areas. Other measures to be co-funded are also under consideration.
40 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position in relation to the decentralisation of ADM staff to Clifden in view of the fact that over 60% of staff surveyed expressed an unwillingness to decentralise. [16651/04]
I assume that the Deputy is referring to an informal survey conducted by ADM at the start of the decentralisation process before the central applications facility, CAF, was launched. As decentralisation is a voluntary process, it will be open to ADM staff, as it is to all civil and public servants, to make expressions of interest through the CAF in respect of any of the decentralising locations, including Clifden. I understand that the Civil Service Commission will be reporting on progress on this process to the Decentralisation Implementation Committee during July.
41 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the work programme for the rural development fund in 2004; the breakdown of the funding allocations for 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16671/04]
The provision in the Estimates for my Department this year for the rural development fund is €950,000. The purpose of the fund is to support research, evaluations and pilot actions in rural areas. As this stage in 2004 commitments to projects and activities are as follows:
|
€ |
|
|
Foscadh Community Development (Note: €66,000 relating to 2003 not yet claimed plus €73,000 approvedfunding for 2004) |
139,000 |
|
Inishowen Rural Development Company Ltd. (extension granted in December 2003 for 2004) |
40,000 |
|
Inishowen Partnership Ltd. |
14,220 |
|
Sneem, Castlecove, Caherdaniel IRD |
27,975 |
|
Western Development Tourism Programme |
65,740 |
|
Galway East Tourism Marketing |
29,261 |
|
South Kerry Tourism |
15,638 |
|
The Countryside Council |
40,000 |
|
Laois Rural Employment Partnership |
87,000 |
|
Small Food Producers Co-ordinator |
40,000 |
|
Rural Development Forum |
8,000 |
|
Total |
506,834 |
42 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action he will take in view of the fact that the consultation period on charities legislation closed on 28 May 2004; and if and when he expects publication of new legislation to reform the law on charities. [16659/04]
44 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of public submissions he has received in relation to reform of the charities legislation; the timeframe within which he expects to see the legislation changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16792/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 44 together.
In response to a similar question today from Deputy Cuffe, I indicated that the deadline for the public consultation to regulate charities, expired on 28 May 2004 and stated that, within the deadline, my Department had received 75 submissions and that a list of those who responded could be viewed on the dedicated charities regulation web page of my Department's website, www.pobail.ie.
I invite Deputies to visit this web page. The main steps to be taken, in moving forward with concrete action, are to be found on the web page, for which the URL is http://pobail/en/CharitiesRegulation. This page includes, under response to public consultation, the information sought about the number of submissions received and, under press releases, information on the expected timeframe for publication of the proposed charities regulation Bill — the current best estimate being end 2005.
45 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the findings from a review of the language assistants scheme; the changes that will result in the scheme in 2004/2005 as a result of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16668/04]
The scheme referred to in the Deputy's question, Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga, was established on a pilot basis for a three year period in 1999. It was specifically targeted at students with little or no knowledge of Irish who were moving into Gaeltacht areas. The objective was to bring such students to a standard whereby they would be able to follow the curriculum in Gaeltacht schools and to converse with other students through Irish. Local native speakers were recruited for the purposes of the scheme and my Department provided grant assistance to the organisations administering the scheme at local level in the various Gaeltacht regions.
An independent review of the scheme was carried out in 2003. Following discussions with the Department of Education and Science, a working group comprising representatives of both Departments and the local organisations was established to study the recommendations of the report. I have now examined the findings of the working group and have approved the changes necessary to establish the scheme on a permanent basis and to help ensure that it can operate more effectively in the future.
The revised scheme is scheduled to commence from the beginning of the next school year. A copy of the review and the guidelines pertaining to the new scheme have already been forwarded to the Deputy for his information.
46 D’fhiafraigh Mr. McGinley den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas faoi dheontais tithe Gaeltachta i mbliana agus cén fáth go bhfuil laghdú ar an méid airgid i mbliana. [16644/04]
Níl aon athrú ar na rátaí deontais faoi Acht na dTithe Gaeltachta.
Bhí an soláthar céanna sna Meastacháin le haghaidh deontais tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht i 2003 agus atá i 2004. Is amhlaidh a deineadh breis oibre tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht i rith 2003 ná mar a bhíothas ag súil leis. Bhí áthas orm go raibh ar mo chumas na deontais cuí a íoc i leith na hoibre bhreise sin, rud a chiallaigh go raibh an caiteachas ag deireadh 2003 níos airde ná an soláthar a bhí curtha ar fáil sna Meastacháin. Tá mé sásta go bhfuil go leor airgid sna Meastacháin do 2004 le freastal ar na héilimh a bhfuiltear ag súil leis ar dheontais tithíochta i rith na bliana reatha.
47 D’fhiafraigh Mr. O’Dowd den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas faoin dul chun cinn atá déanta ag Foras na Gaeilge. [16642/04]
Is í aidhm Fhoras na Gaeilge ná an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ar fud oileán na hÉireann. Bunaíodh Foras na Gaeilge ar 2 Nollaig 1999 faoi Chaomhaontú Bhéal Feirste/Aoine an Chéasta. Tugadh na cúraimí a bhí ag Bord na Gaeilge ag an am sin don bhforas agus, chomh maith le sin, tugadh réimse leathan feidhmeanna dó chun cur lena éifeacht i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge — mar shampla, i gcúrsaí oideachais. Tugadh na feidhmeanna a bhí ag an nGúm maidir le foilsitheoireacht agus ag an gCoiste Téarmaíochta maidir le forbairt téarmaíochta don bhForas chomh maith. Faigheann Foras na Gaeilge cómhaoiniú ó mo Roinn féin agus ón Roinn Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta ó Thuaidh.
Tá clár oibre leathan ar siúl ag Foras na Gaeilge d'fhonn an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ar fud oileán na hÉireann. Ina measc sin, tugann Foras na Gaeilge bun-mhaoiniú do 15 eagras Gaeilge agus maoinítear raon leathan mór-thograí agus mion-tograí ar fud an oileáin freisin. Ina theannta sin, tá an Foras i mbun Thionscadal an Fhoclóra nua Béarla-Gaeilge. Tá láithreán greasáin nua á bhunú ag Foras na Gaeilge, www.gaeilge.ie, a bheidh mar phointe teagmhála agus mar fhoinse eolais don saol mór maidir leis an teanga.
Tuigim ón bhforas go bhfuil páirtnéireacht fhiúntach ag feidhmiú anois idir an Foras, na húdaráis áitiúla, eagrais sna réimsí craolacháin, An Roinn Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil agus eagrais sa saol gnó. Molaim é sin agus tá súil agam go mbeidh tuilleadh comhpháirtíochta idir an Foras agus eagrais eile amach anseo ar mhaithe leis an nGaeilge a chur chun cinn.
Tá dlús á chur i láthair na huaire le comhoibriú idir Foras na Gaeilge agus mo Roinnse maidir le feidhmiú Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla ach go háirithe agus táim ag súil go mbeidh an foras ag díriú ar seo mar cheann dá phríomh-thosaíochtaí sa tréimhse atá romhainn.
Le tamall de mhíonna anuas, tá eochair-phostanna áirithe á líonadh ag an bhForas, go hairithe sa réimse corporáide agus airgeadais, agus beidh mo Roinn féin agus an Roinn Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta ó Thuaidh ag obair go gníomhach leis an bhforas d'fhonn cur lena hacmhainn agus lena héifeachtúlacht amach anseo.
48 D’fhiafraigh Mr. M. Higgins den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an mó post nua a cuireadh ar bun ó thús na bliana le cabhair Údarás na Gaeltachta agus an mó post a cailleadh. [16806/04]
Tuigim ó Údarás na Gaeltachta go ndéantar suirbhé iomlán bliantúil ar fhostaíocht i ngnóthaí ar tugadh cúnamh dóibh i dtreo dheireadh gach bliana. Foilsítear an t-eolas seo mar chuid de ráiteas an Údaráis ar obair na bliana.
49 D’fhiafraigh Mr. Kenny den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas faoin bhforbairt atá á déanamh aige i mbliana i gceantair Ghaeltachta maidir le hallaí pobail agus Coláistí Gaeilge. [16645/04]
Faoi scéimeann feabhsúcháin mo Roinne sa Ghaeltacht is féidir deontas nach mó ná 80% den chostas — nach mó ná 50% i gcás coláistí samhraidh — a cheadú do choistí áitiúla aitheanta a dhéanann iarratas chun ionaid pobail chomh maith le troscán agus trealamh a sholáthar i gceantair Ghaeltachta.
Déantar measúnú ar iarratais de réir na gcritéir seo a leanas: riachtanas na hoibre; neart na Gaeilge sa cheantar; áiseanna eile atá ar fáil sa gceantar; éifeacht an choiste go ginearálta, chomh maith lena bpleananna don todhchaí chun an Ghaeilge a neartú agus a bhuanú sa cheantar; daonra an cheantair; an méid airgid a cruinníodh go háitiúil don togra; an maoiniú atá ag mo Roinn i gcomhar na scéime; agus moltaí fhoireann seachtarach mo Roinne.
I gceantair CLÁR sa Ghaeltacht bíonn 20% níos mó — suas go 80% san iomlán — le fáil faoi na scéimeanna seo. Soláthar €2,500,000 atá ar fáil do na scéimeanna seo i 2004 agus go dtí seo i mbliana tá deontais de mhéid €372,900 san iomlán ceadaithe agam i leith tograí éagsúla den chinéal seo sa Ghaeltacht.
50 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress by the Western Development Commission. [16648/04]
The Western Development Commission was established on 1 February 1999 under the Western Development Commission Act 1998. The commission had previously operated on a non-statutory basis from 1 January 1997. The functions of the commission are to promote, foster and encourage economic and social development in the western region, defined as the seven western counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare. Its activities involve policy analysis and development, undertaking key regional initiatives and management of the western investment fund.
I laid the annual report of the commission for 2003 before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 18 May last. Among the commission's activities recorded for 2003 was the publication in December of Jobs for Towns — Small and Medium Sized Towns on Radial Routes in the Western Region, a report on inward investment, both public and private sector, in the smaller towns in the region. The report also sets out the commission's participation on the steering group of the western development tourism programme continued. As part of this the commission launched Ireland's first ecotourism initiative — The Green Box — in 2003. The commission also contributed to the development of the first western inter-regional tourism brochure.
Other issues focused on during 2003 by the commission included: telecoms; transport — roads and rail; energy — electricity, gas and renewable energy; and organic agri-food production.
The western investment fund is a unique funding mechanism for the region operated by the commission. It provides risk capital, by the way of loans and equity, but not grant aid which is prohibited under the Act, on a commercial basis. The commission approved 27 investments amounting to €5.7 million during the year. In total, projects approved or disbursed up to the end of 2003 have the potential to create or sustain more than 770 jobs.
52 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the inquiries he has made on the efficacy of Údarás na Gaeltachta directors establishing a private company that conducts business with Údarás. [16830/04]
I have already outlined to the Deputy the position in regard to companies established by Údarás na Gaeltachta whose directors are officials of Údarás in my replies to Questions Nos. 134 and 407 of the 27 April and 11 May 2004, respectively.
More generally, members and officials of Údarás na Gaeltachta must fulfil their duties in accordance with the provisions of the legislation governing the organisation and the principles set out in the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. In addition, members and senior officials are subject to the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. The provisions of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 also apply.
In accordance with its own internal procedures, it is incumbent on members and officials of Údarás to disassociate themselves from the decision-making process in any case where external business interests to which they are connected might influence the outcome. I am not aware of any instance which would indicate non-compliance with these procedures. However, if the Deputy has concerns about any particular case, I will be glad to make further inquiries in the matter and to assist in any way I can.
53 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has satisfied himself that the new endorsement process that community development projects must undertake with their local social inclusion measures committees is achieving its goal of creating greater coherence at local level; if his attention has been drawn to the reservations from some CDPs that this process creates excess work for overworked staff; his views on whether the process is generally effective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16793/04]
Arising from the review of structures employed in the delivery of local and community development programmes, responsibility was given to city and county development boards, CDBs, for the endorsement of plans by community and local development agencies.
This requirement promotes an integrated approach to service provision at local and community level. It makes sense that the work in which local communities are engaged should inform the development of city and county strategic plans and vice versa. In many regions across the country, this simply puts a formal structure on already established links. For others, this represents an opportunity to forge beneficial connections with the broader policy arena. The objective is to enable the CDBs build up a picture of the range of services, activities and priorities of the various community and local development bodies within each of their areas. In this way, improved coherence of the delivery of services and more effective use of resources to the benefit of local communities can be pursued.
I am aware that those involved in some community development projects, CDPs, have expressed reservations regarding the process. Such reservations are perhaps to be expected in the initial stages of any new process. It is the Government's expressed intention that respect for the work carried out by those in all projects and agencies should characterise the endorsement process. Given that the process is new for all concerned, its operation will continue to be examined throughout the country with a view to improvement, where appropriate. However, I am satisfied that the long-term benefits of this process to local communities, as already outlined, will justify the requisite input and co-operation of relevant community groups, including CDPs.
54 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the proposals he has to assist the community and voluntary sector in the provision of low cost insurance; his specific response to the present insurance campaign by the Wheel organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16641/04]
211 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the representations he has made to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the continuing high burden of public liability insurance costs to community and voluntary organisations. [17145/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 211 together.
Responsibility for insurance reform lies with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and I have no function in that regard. The difficulties caused by high insurance premiums for all sectors, including community and voluntary groups, are of concern to the Government. An Agreed Programme for Government includes a commitment to tackling the high cost of insurance and it is the Government's firm intention to implement the necessary measures indicated therein.
The Government's insurance reform programme announced in October 2002 comprises a comprehensive set of interrelated initiatives designed to improve the functioning of the Irish insurance market. A ministerial committee has been established, chaired by the Tánaiste, to drive the co-ordinated implementation of the reform programme across the relevant Departments and other bodies concerned. I am confident that these reforms will succeed in reducing insurance costs for all sectors.
56 D’fhiafraigh Mr. O’Shea den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil aon staidéar déanta aige ar na figiúirí a bhí i nDaonáireamh 2002 i leith úsáid na Gaeilge. [16783/04]
Dírím aird an Teachta ar an bhfreagra a thug mé ar Cheist Uimh. 70 den 27 Samhain 2003, Uimh. 527 den 7 Deireadh Fómhair, agus Uimh. 106 den 27 Aibreán 2004.
Faoi mar a bhí curtha in iúl cheana féin, is léir ó fhigiúirí an Daonáirimh go bhfuil idir ábhar dóchais agus foláirimh iontu maidir le húsáid na Gaeilge. Is léir go bhfuil ísliú beag tagtha ar líon na nGaeilgeoirí laethúla lasmuigh agus taobh istigh den Ghaeltacht — ach is tuar dóchais, ag an am céanna, an t-árdú ar líon na nGaelgóirí ar fud na tíre a bhfuil sé ar a gcumas Gaeilge a labhairt.
Tá infheistíocht shuntasach déanta ag mo Roinnse i mbuanú na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil torthaí na hinfheistíochta sin le feiceáil sna figúirí is deireanaí. Tá Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla ina dhlí anois agus príomhchuspóir aige seirbhísí poiblí a shóláthar i nGaeilge ar chaighdeán níos airde. Faoi mar a dúirt mé cheana, beidh sé mar aidhm lárnach agam i gcónaí spreagadh agus tacaíocht a chur ar fáil chun cur leis an méid daoine a bhfuil deis acu an Ghaeilge a úsáid ar bhonn laethúil.
57 D’fhiafraigh Mr. Kenny den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas faoin dul chun cinn atá déanta ag Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge. [16646/04]
Is as Ciste na Gaeilge (a airgeadaítear ó fháltais an Chrannchuir Náisiúnta) a dhéanann mo Roinn maoiniú ar Bhord na Leabhar Gaeilge. I 2004, tá sé socraithe agam deontas €950,000 a chur ar fáil don Bhord chun leas na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn sna himeachtaí a bhíonn ar siúl ag an eagras i rith na bliana.
Is í aidhm Bhord na Leabhar Gaeilge tacú le scríbhneoirí agus foilsitheoirí chun ábhar léitheoireachta ar ardchaighdeán i nGaeilge a chur ar fáil a chuireann le suim an phobail sa léitheoireacht Ghaeilge. Tugann an Bord aghaidh ar an gcúram seo go príomha trí mhaoiniú a dhéanamh ar scéimeanna tacaíochta do chomhlachtaí foilsitheoireachta agus do scríbhneoirí a fhreastalaíonn ar riachtanais na léitheoirí Gaeilge.
Caitear formhór an bhuiséid bhliantúil ar tháirgeadh leabhar sna réimsí éagsúla litríochta do léitheoirí na Gaeilge trí Scéim na bhFoilseachán. Bíonn éileamh mór ar an scéim seo agus foilsítear thart ar 80 leabhar Gaeilge gach bliain le cabhair ón mBord faoin scéim sin.
Is é an tionscadal is déanaí atá bunaithe ag an mBord ná Léigh Leat! — scéim margaíochta chun leabhair do dhaoine óga a chur ar fáil agus a dhíol i mbunscoileanna timpeall na tíre. Cé go ndíríodh ar Ghaelscoileanna agus scoileanna Gaeltachta go príomhá go dtí seo, tá sé beartaithe go mbunófaí leagan den scéim sna scoileanna eile sa todhchaí. Spreagtar daoine óga chun tabhairt faoi leabhar Gaeilge mar a thabharfaidís faoi leabhar ar bith i mBéarla agus tairbhe a bhaint as a gcuid scileanna liteartha a fhorbairt. Tríd an scéim, tá cur amach faighte ag daoine óga agus ag a dtuismitheoirí agus múinteoirí ar an réimse leathan d'ábhar léitheoireachta atá ar fáil don aos óg. Tá an Bord sásta go mbeidh tionchar nach beag ag an scéim seo ar fhorbairt na léitheoireachta Gaeilge, agus dá bhrí sin ar fhorbairt na foilsitheoireachta Gaeilge, san aimsir amach romhainn.
Tionscnaíodh roinnt scéimeanna chun scríbhneoirí na Gaeilge a spreagadh agus tá trí scéim éagsúla á n-eagrú ag an mBord faoi láthair chuige sin, mar a leanas: Scéim na nOidí. Deis a thabhairt d'ábhair scríbhneora comhairle faoina gcuid scríbhinní, agus faoi cheird na scríbhneoireachta i gcoitinne, a fháil ó scríbhneoirí aitheanta — oidí — is bunús leis an scéim seo. Reachtáiltear scéim printíseachtaí idir oide agus ábhar scríbhneora, fearacht printíseachta ceirde, ar mhaithe le struchtúr foirmeálta tacaíochta a bhunú d'ábhair scríbhneora le go bhfaigheadh sé/sí treoir chun saothar cruthaitheach atá idir lámha a thabhairt i gcrích.
Scéim na gCoimisiún. Is é aidhm na scéime seo ná ciste coimisiúnaithe a dháileadh i measc lucht liteartha na Gaeilge sa chaoi is go gcinnteofar soláthar sásúil sna réimsí éagsúla léitheoireachta.
Scéim na Scoláireachtaí Taighde. Scoláireachtaí taighde a roinnt ar scríbhneoirí cruthaitheacha go príomhá atá i gceist anseo. Déantar na scoláireachtaí seo a dháileadh i measc scríbhneoirí a bhainfeadh leas as deontais taighde chun cur lena n-inniúlacht chruthaitheach agus lena n-eispéireas liteartha.
58 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether the current stipulation that 20% of all Údarás grants must be spent on projects in which the use of Irish language as the principal means of communication is central to their activities is sufficient in successfully promoting and protecting the Irish language in Gaeltacht areas; if he has plans to increase this grant ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16670/04]
As the Deputy is aware, in 2003 I introduced the stipulation that 20% of the capital budget of Údarás na Gaeltachta should be allocated to the development of ventures and enterprises that have a clearly defined Irish language focus. I have also agreed with Údarás that this policy should continue to apply in 2004. I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that expenditure in 2003 on capital projects which were Irish language based was of the order of €5 million. In addition, it should be noted that I have approved a total allocation of €3.5 million in 2004 for current expenditure by Údarás on language development activities. This is an increase of €1 million on the 2003 allocation. I am satisfied that these measures, in addition to my own Department's increased expenditure on Irish language schemes and initiatives, represents a substantial and sustained investment in maintaining and strengthening the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.
59 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the ongoing dispute regarding access to land and farmers’ rights, which is affecting tourism. [15343/04]
I established Comhairle na Tuaithe in February 2004 with the following aims: to ensure that all those with an interest and concern in the sustainable development and proper management of the recreational amenities of the countryside are fully consulted on their future management; to develop and update, as necessary, a national countryside recreation strategy; to ensure that all means necessary are used to resolve conflicts that arise in relation to access issues and responsible enjoyment of the countryside; to raise awareness of the benefits to and responsibilities of recreational use of the countryside and to carry out research and training on related issues; to ensure that adequate funding is made available to allow the organisation to achieve these aims and to examine the benefits and management of increased leisure use. A number of working groups are being established to progress individual components of these aims including the development of a countryside code, the examination of the issues surrounding access and work on the development of a countryside recreation strategy. These working groups will consider the impact on tourism in their deliberations. To date, the membership of Comhairle na Tuaithe consisting of representatives from the farming organisations, recreational users of the countryside and State bodies with an interest in the countryside have approached their work in spirit of co-operation. Against the background of these developments, I hope the matter referred to by the Deputy can be appropriately addressed. Approximately €40,000 has also been made available by my Department to employ a research and development officer and an appointment will be made shortly.
60 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the recent resignation of the chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency; if he has addressed the former chairman’s claims that the British and Irish Governments were discriminating against the body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16785/04]
In a joint statement issued on the resignation of the chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency on 23 April 2004, both Minister Angela Smith MP, and I, as Ministers with co-responsibility for the North-South Language Body, expressed our regret at his resignation. We acknowledged that as chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency he had provided leadership and encouraged interest in the language. We assured the Ulster-Scots Agency and the wider Ulster Scots community that we would continue to play a full role in helping to promote the Ulster Scots culture and language, in line with the commitment given in the Good Friday Agreement.
I do not accept that there was discrimination against the agency. Decisions relating to the agency are agreed jointly between the two sponsor Departments — the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in the North and my Department in the South — following appropriate consultation with the agency and North-South ministerial review. Decisions on funding issues also involve the Department of Finance and Personnel in the North and the Department of Finance in the South. Recent funding decisions have been made against the background of the North-South bodies being in care-and-maintenance mode since the suspension of the Assembly.
61 D’fhiafraigh Mr. Sargent den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé cur síos ar a phlean chun eagras neamhspleách a bhunú le cláir phopcheoil i nGaeilge a chur ar fáil. [16839/04]
Ba mhaith liom a rá ar dtús gur ar an Aire Cumarsáide, Mara agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha atá an cúram faoin gceist ghinearálta maidir lena leithéid de sheirbhís a bhunú ar bhonn náisiúnta. Tháinig an cheist seo chun tosaigh ar dtús i gcomhthéacs Thuarascáil Choimisiún na Gaeltachta agus rinneadh plé ar an ábhar ag an gCoiste Comhairleach a bhunaigh mé chun comhairle a chur orm maidir le cur i bhfeidhm mholtaí an Choimisiúin. Bhí comhráití neamhfhoirmeálta le Coimisiún Craolacháin na hÉireann freisin. Ba léir, de thoradh na gcomhráití sin, go mba ghá an cheist uile a scrúdú go cúramach sula ndéanfaí cinneadh faoin a leithéid de sheirbhís a bhunú. Is mian liom a dhearbhú, áfach, go mbeidh mo Roinn sásta comhoibriú feadh a cumais leis na páirtithe uile ó thaobh sheirbhís shásúil raidió a bheith ar fáil i nGaeilge don aos óg.
63 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he proposes to assist community groups in high population urban settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16796/04]
200 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he or his Department have examined methods by which support and assistance can be offered to community groups in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17063/04]
I propose to take Question Nos. 63 and 200 together.
My Department provides assistance of the nature referred to by the Deputy under a number of programme headings. My Department provides local self-help and community development initiatives targeted at disadvantaged communities in both rural and urban areas nationwide, in recognition of the role that voluntary groups have in facilitating local communities to address the problems facing them. On an ongoing basis, my Department supports some 170 locally-based projects nationwide which are involved in anti-poverty and social inclusion. This support is provided by way of core funding through the community development programme. Some €20.6 million will be spent on the programme in 2004. A further 15 project start-ups are scheduled for 2004. These will be located in specifically targeted disadvantaged areas. In addition, funding is provided to six regional support agencies whose role is the provision of advice and guidance to projects on matters of best practice in relation to employment guidelines, company law, etc.
My Department also provides once-off funding by way of a programme of grants to voluntary and community groups that focus on tackling poverty and disadvantage and enhancing community development in both rural and urban areas. Under this scheme, funding is provided for training, education or research initiatives and for refurbishment of premises or the purchase of equipment. The proposed allocation in 2004 is €2.7 million.
There is provision of €42.144 million in my Department's Vote this year for the local development social inclusion programme, LDSIP, which aims to promote equality and social inclusion. Funding is allocated to 73 groups including partnerships, community groups and territorial employment pacts to deliver the programme under three measures. These are in the areas of services for the unemployed, community-based youth initiatives and community development. Many of the groups in receipt of funding support urban communities. The RAPID programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 45 designated RAPID areas through targeting State resources available under the national development plan. The programme supports communities in 25 urban areas and 20 provincial towns around the country. Area Development Management Limited provides ongoing support to groups funded under LDSIP and RAPID area implementation teams.
Substantial support and funding is also provided by my Department to local drugs task forces which compromise community groups and other interests in urban areas. Overall €26.75 million is being provided in my Department's 2004 Estimate to support drugs programmes.
64 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether, in view of a recent EU conference in Galway, the disparities between richer and poorer EU member states can be bridged. [16837/04]
67 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will expand on his recent comments to the EU conference on territorial cohesion, A New Partnership for Cohesion, organised by his Department, that the disparities between and within richer and poorer EU member states must be eliminated if real territorial cohesion is to be achieved; the extent to which the development of regions here is affected by poor economic and social infrastructure, particularly in islands, mountainous areas, and sparsely populated areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16787/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 67 together.
Given the right policies, the disparities between richer and poorer member states can be bridged. Responsibility for regional policy matters in Ireland is a matter in the first instance for my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy. However, I am replying on the basis that the Deputies have framed their questions in the context of the recent EU Presidency conference on territorial cohesion, which was organised in the Connemara Gaeltacht by my own Department in co-operation with the Directorate General for Regional Policy of the European Commission.
The primary objective of the conference was to advance the debate on the territorial cohesion concept and on strategies for sustainable development in an enlarged European Union in the wake of the publication of the third report on economic cohesion by the European Commission last February. The conference affirmed a number of important issues which will be set out in the conference report and will receive further consideration as this agenda advances. These include the huge potential of islands, mountains and sparsely populated areas of the EU despite their acknowledged territorial constraints; the importance of subsidiarity and the role and responsibility of national governments in this regard; the need for complementarity between the various sectoral policy measures, particularly in regard to rural development and State aids; the desirability of appropriate governance structures to secure and implement policy, including the involvement of partnerships and networks to shape and advance this agenda; the need for policies to address urban and rural connectivities and requirements; and the way in which future programme arrangements will affect existing regions, especially those with Objective One status.
The debate is likely to continue for some time and is not likely to conclude until 2005. Intense and detailed negotiation at Council level will take place before final agreement at the European Council. The European Parliament will also have to approve the final package.
65 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the outcome of his recent meetings with the local drug task forces; if the representatives he met have satisfied themselves with the progress of the national drugs strategy; the measures the local drug task forces wish to see him take to tackle drugs in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16656/04]
In the course of my work as Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, I meet members of the local drugs task forces, LDTFs, on a regular and ongoing basis. In recent months I have visited a number of LDTF projects in Dublin and discussed with the different representatives the issues they face on the ground and how their projects are dealing with the drug problem in their areas.
Since 1997, my Department has provided over €150 million to support the work of the LDTFs, the young people's facilities and services fund and the premises initiative. The Deputy should note that as part of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy which recently got under way, a extensive consultation process is also planned. As part of that process I will be consulting with the LDTFs for their views on the strategy to be taken.
66 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position with regard to the amount of money available to the Government for the CLÁR programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16788/04]
201 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps he has taken to address the issues of rural depopulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17064/04]
202 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the CLÁR programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17065/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 201 and 202 together.
I introduced the CLÁR programme in October 2001 to address depopulation as well as the decline and lack of services in rural areas. An Agreed Programme for Government contained a commitment to annual funding for the CLÁR programme and to consider additional areas for inclusion in light of the 2002 population census data. The Government decided on the additional areas for inclusion in the CLÁR programme and I announced these on 17 January 2003. Areas in 18 counties are now included in the programme and there are no plans for any further review of the boundary of CLÁR areas.
CLÁR funds, or co-funds, with other Departments, State agencies and local authorities, investment in selected priority developments. These investments are not made on the basis of plans as referred to by the Deputy, but through a series of measures, over 20 in all, that support physical, economic and social infrastructure such as electricity conversion, roads, water and sewerage, village, housing and schools enhancement, health, broadband and sports and community projects. The measures reflect the priorities identified by the communities in the selected areas whom I consulted at the start of the programme. The projects under each measure are generally selected or recommended by the relevant Departments, State agencies, Leader groups and local authorities in consultation with my Department.
All the 18 CLÁR regions are benefiting under a variety of these measures. It is not possible to detail these here, but I will send the information to the Deputy shortly. The measures were agreed with and are, for the most part, operated in tandem with the lead Departments, State agencies or public utilities, as appropriate. This ensures efficiency and effectiveness and meets the needs of the people in the CLÁR areas. I intend to continue this practice for any new measures I may introduce, depending on needs identified. Equally, I will keep under review the operation of existing measures.
The merits of this practice are reflected in the successful delivery of the programme. Expenditure amounted to €14.14 million in 2002 and to €8.613 million in 2003 which, it is estimated, secured a further €21 million in related public and private expenditure in those two years into the areas which otherwise would have been bottom of the list for infrastructure investment. The provision in the Estimates for 2004 is €13.49 million, a 57% increase on the 2003 outturn, which will enable the continuation of investment under existing measures of the programme and provide scope for the introduction of such new measures as may be identified during the year. With the ongoing co-operation of other Departments, State agencies and public utilities, CLÁR will continue to deliver on the commitment of supporting rural communities.
My Department's responsibilities also include the rural development aspects of the joint cross-Border programmes, PEACE, INTERREG Ireland-Northern Ireland and INTERREG Ireland-Wales along with the farm relief services measure of the national development plan. The rural development measures under these programmes aim to foster the economic and social development of rural communities, contribute to the economic growth of rural areas and strengthen the options available to rural communities to live and work in such areas. A total of €43 million is available for rural development activities under these programmes in the period 2000-2006.
68 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of funding announcements he has made since 1 April 2004. [16833/04]
Between 1 April and 3 June 2004, 50 funding announcements were made. Full details can be accessed at the website www.pobail.ie.
69 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the future work plans and policy objectives of the interdepartmental committee for the islands, the Gaeltacht and the Irish language. [16653/04]
The interdepartmental committee in question has played an important role in the co-ordination of the provision of State services in the Gaeltacht and to island communities. This work has been carried out mainly through a series of bilateral meetings. As a result, a number of improvements have been made to relevant schemes operated by other Departments. It is my intention to continue to pursue specific issues of importance to Gaeltacht and island communities, as well as matters concerning the Irish language, through this forum as the need arises, in particular on a bilateral basis with the Ministers and Departments concerned.
70 D’fhiafraigh Mr. Gilmore den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta i leith teorainn na Gaeltachta a athrú. [16807/04]
Moladh i dtuarascáil Choimisiún na Gaeltachta go mba chóir staidéar cuimsitheach teangeolaíoch ar an nGaeltacht a thionscnamh. Mar is eol don Teachta, d'fhógair mé ar 31 Eanáir 2004 go raibh conradh chun staidéar ar úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht á bhronnadh ar Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, i gcomhar leis an Institiúid Náisiúnta um Anailís Réigiúnach agus Spásúil, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Má Nuad.
Meastar go dtógfaidh an staidéar, a thosaigh i mí Aibreáin, dhá bhliain go leith le cur i gcrích, rud a fhágann nach mbeidh torthaí críochnúla ar fáil go dtí mí Mheán Fómhair 2006 ar a thúisce. Bainfear úsáid as torthaí an staidéir mar bhunús chun forbairt theangeolaíoch na Gaeltachta mar cheantar labhartha Gaeilge a threisiú agus chun athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar na limistéir oifigiúla Ghaeltachta, faoi mar a moladh i dTuarascáil an Choimisiúin. Cuirfear aon mholtaí maidir le hathruithe ar na limistéir faoi bhráid an Rialtais in am tráth.
72 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the Foundation for Investing in Communities’ accountability report 2002-2003; his views on whether the report reflects the aims of the foundation to promote businesses’ response to the social challenges of Ireland and create a framework for companies to engage effectively with local communities to foster growth and social inclusion; the efforts his Department is making in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16797/04]
The launch of the accountability report 2000-2003 on 6 April 2004 by Business in the Community Ireland, BITCI, on behalf of the Foundation for Investing in Communities was attended by myself and by a senior official from my Department. BITCI is a leading organisation in Ireland promoting corporate social responsibility. The report is an impressive account of its work in encouraging and developing activity in the area of corporate social responsibility and in engaging with local communities to that end.
In September last I was pleased to approve a grant of €105,000 over the next three years to BITCI. The grant will assist the organisation in helping the community and voluntary sector enhance its capacity to engage with the corporate sector. The funding will help create an important conduit in facilitating skills transfer from businesses to the community and voluntary sector. My Department's development of CSR in a community and local development context will be facilitated through a range of supports and structures such as partnerships, community development projects and Leader groups. This is an integral element of my Department's strategic objective of assisting communities, especially those suffering disadvantage and social exclusion.
In the social policy agenda adopted in June 2000, the European Commission prioritised corporate social responsibility as part of its strategic goal to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world. While the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment enjoys lead responsibility for co-ordinating EU policy in relation to CSR at national level, my Department maintains regular contact with that Department on developments, given the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government to support initiatives to expand CSR.
73 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his Department’s priorities in regard to rural development in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16802/04]
The rural development goal of my Department is to promote and maintain living and working populations in rural areas by helping to foster sustainable and culturally vibrant communities there. My priorities in this regard are: strengthening services and infrastructure for rural communities; advancing policy at EU and national level in support of the development of the rural economy; ensuring supports for rural enterprise and research are in place and properly founded; and securing additional income support for those engaged in farming but deriving inadequate income therefrom. To secure these priorities my Department is, or will undertake, the following: implementation of the rural social scheme; implementing the CLÁR and Leader programmes; complete the review or rural enterprise supports and ensure appropriate follow up action; review the rural development fund; convene an autumn meeting of the national rural development forum to review and advance key policy issues; continue cross-Border co-operation in rural development including the continued implementation of the rural development aspects of the INTERREG and PEACE programmes; support the Western Development Commission in its work; and lead the rural development co-ordinating committee under the NDP.
I should also mention that my Department organised and managed the EU Presidency conference on rural development which I hosted in Westport earlier this week, as well as a joint Conference with the EU Commission in Galway last week on territorial cohesion.
At EU level, significant proposals are anticipated in relation to rural development policy in the post 2006 period. My Department has, and will continue to be, actively involved in the policy agenda, which will be of key importance for rural communities across the EU in the years ahead.
77 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made by the Irish language advisory committee; if a chairperson has been appointed to this committee; if not, the reason therefor; when this committee will issue its recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16672/04]
I announced my intention to establish an Irish language advisory committee in March and subsequently sought nominees to the committee from a range of relevant organisations. A number of these nominations were received only recently and a further nomination is awaited. I would hope to announce the membership of the committee in the near future and I anticipate that the first meeting of the committee will be held in early July. The chair and secretariat of the committee will be provided by my Department.
It is my intention that the committee will report to me on a regular basis and that it will address the following issues: the advisability of preparing a 20 year strategic plan with realistic goals for the Irish language in the State; the short-term strategic priorities for the preservation and the promotion of the Irish language within the State; the priorities regarding the implementation of the Official Languages Act; and the best and most practical ways to achieve progress with regard to the implementation of that work.
78 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the specific proposals that are advocated by the national drugs strategy team to combat cocaine abuse in the community; and if such interventions will be implemented and funded by his Department as a matter of urgency. [16658/04]
I am not aware of any specific proposals being advocated by the national drugs strategy team to combat cocaine misuse in communities. The Deputy may wish to note that the team only recently established a sub-group to consider how best the issue of cocaine misuse should be addressed. The sub-group, which comprises members of the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, held its first meeting recently and are examining a number of options. I understand the sub-group hopes to be in a position to make recommendations to the team by late July, after which they will be submitted to my Department for consideration.
79 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the recent interactions he or his Department has had with Franz Fischler, EU Commissioner, on the subject of rural development. [16835/04]
I met Commissioner Fischler during his visits to Ireland in July 2003 and also at the Salzburg conference on rural development in November 2003. I explained the urgent need to ensure that rural support mechanisms are strengthened to protect the future of farmers unable to make a viable living for their families from farming alone.
At the January 2004 meeting, the start of the Irish Presidency of the EU, I met Commissioner Fischler to outline the priorities of my Department during the Presidency. I emphasised again the need for the Commission proposals concerning a new rural development instrument to provide measures to secure the futures of not only the vital farming sector but also of the wide rural economy which would include both farm and non-farm activity. I cited the CLÁR programme as an example of a practical initiative of how small amounts of national funds strategically applied can lever significant amounts of local matching finance and provide vital local services and amenities.
Subsequently, officials of my Department, together with officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food, met the Cabinet of Commissioner Fischler last March. The head of rural development policy in Commissioner Fischler's Cabinet confirmed that community based rural development measures would feature prominently in the new instrument.
This week I met the deputy director of DG Agri of the European Commission at the EU Presidency rural development conference which I hosted in Westport. The Commission representative confirmed that, as community based rural development programmes such as Leader performed well in the past, such partnership based rural initiatives would be important to the next generation of rural measures. Details of this instrument is expected to be published in July. In addition, the new rural development instrument will have, as one of its three key objectives, the development of the wider rural economy.
81 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of the fact that money has apparently been set aside for the sports capital programme when it will be made available to community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16664/04]
Projects under the 2004 sports capital programme were announced on 7 May 2004 by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. Projects that have been allocated sports capital funding in designated disadvantaged areas will receive additional top-up funding under the CLÁR and RAPID programmes, administered by my Department.
CLÁR provided top-up funding up to 20%, subject to overall public funding not exceeding 80% or the amount sought, to projects that are selected under the sports capital programme. This week I announced CLÁR support for 99 organisations in 15 counties which will benefit from top-up funding of €1.3 million. Details of the funding are available on www.pobail.ie.
The draft press release announcing the grants was prepared in my Department and cleared by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism by Thursday, 27 May 2004, for issuing on Monday evening with an embargo of Thursday, 3 June 2004, to facilitate the local papers. Unfortunately, the embargo was broken by one of the broadcast media, which precipitated a full issue on Tuesday, 1 June 2004.
As regards RAPID, I intend to allocate top-up funding to successful projects from RAPID areas under the sports capital programme and funding of €1.5 million has been set aside for this purpose. I expect to make an announcement on this funding shortly.
82 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is entitled to work here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17132/04]
Any employer wishing to employ a non-EEA national requires a work permit in advance. A detailed set of guidelines including special provision for the spouses of some workers is available on my Department's website.
83 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons participating in the main FÁS training programmes over each of the years since 1998; and the costs in each year distinguishing the cost of income support to participants from the cost of training provision. [17025/04]
The participation rates and costs in respect of FÁS training programmes are set out in the following table.
|
Trainee Payments |
Other Direct Costs |
Total Costs |
Throughput |
|
|
€ m |
€ m |
€ m |
||
|
2003 |
169.585 |
87.661 |
257.246 |
44,360 |
|
2002 |
168.536 |
95.804 |
264.340 |
46,778 |
|
2001 |
147.761 |
90.715 |
238.476 |
44,951 |
|
2000 |
110.534 |
64.384 |
174.918 |
39,937 |
|
1999 |
94.302 |
40.783 |
135.085 |
39,762 |
|
1998 |
72.371 |
32.520 |
104.891 |
30,063 |
|
Total |
763.089 |
411.867 |
1,174.956 |
245,851 |
84 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Defence the plans for the personnel attached to the Castlebar Military Barracks, Castlebar, County Mayo; if the present staff will be moved to Galway Barracks; and the position regarding the matter. [17089/04]
On 15 January 2003, I approved, in principle, the report of the Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Board for the implementation of the recommendations of the special steering group on the reserve. The steering group, which I established to undertake a study of the reserve, reported to me in September 1999.
The steering group report proposed the amalgamation of the 18th infantry battalion with the 25th infantry battalion and as a consequence a reduction in the number of companies. I am aware that the general officer commanding the Western Brigade has proposed that the existing battalion headquarters located in Castlebar be replaced with a company headquarters and a rifle company.
As stated in previous statements the process of planning is being carried forward by the military authorities. I have no proposals at present to close any reserve Defence Force facility. However, no final decisions will be made until I have had the opportunity to examine and approve the final amalgamation proposals as a whole.
85 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding an application for redress of wrongs (details supplied). [17090/04]
The application for redress of wrongs in question was submitted to me, under the complaints procedures agreed with the Defence Forces representative associations, for my directions on 5 March 2003 with a specific request from the applicant that the complaint be sent to the complaints inquiry officer, CIO. The position of CIO was vacant at that time and was not filled until 1 April 2004. The CIO is currently examining the complaint and he will, in due course, provide me with his report and recommendations. Having considered the CIO's report and recommendations, I will give my directions on the matter. The matter raised relates to the applicant's service in the PDF and, as set down in General Routine Order 43/1955 paragraph 27 (1), communications regarding such matters must be transmitted through recognised official channels.
86 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in view of the impossibility of preventing contamination of conventional crops by genetically modified seed in an island the size of Ireland, he will follow the German Parliament’s example by calling for the labelling of genetically modified seeds at detection level. [16985/04]
EU Directive 2001/18/EC obliges member states to develop proposals for a national strategy and best practice to ensure co-existence of GM crops with conventional crops. An interdepartmental-interagency working group has been set up by the Department of Agriculture and Food to develop such proposals.
The EU Commission has recently put forward a proposal for a decision to establish minimum thresholds above which products that contain adventitious or technically unavoidable traces of GM seeds should be labelled. The Commission advises that the threshold levels set should be scientifically sound, operational, such that they can be met by appropriate management practices, as well as enforceable. In line with the Government's positive but precautionary approach towards GMOs, this new proposal will address the issues raised by the Deputy in an effective and pragmatic way.
87 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment under the REP scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [17043/04]
Payment issued to the person named on 20 May 2004.
88 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment of installation aid will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [17044/04]
The above-named person is an applicant under the installation aid scheme and submitted an application for payment to my Department on 17 September 2003. However, following an examination of the application, the person concerned appears to have not yet fulfilled the educational requirements set out under the terms and conditions of the scheme. The application will be re-examined when further information is received from the applicant regarding his compliance with the required educational qualifications.
89 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork in respect of arable aid under force majeure. [17045/04]
The person named submitted an application form for consideration of force majeure or exceptional circumstances on 5 February 2004.
The person named has been requested to forward more detailed medical evidence in order to substantiate his application for force majeure. Upon receipt of this information the person named will be informed of my Department’s decision as soon as possible.
90 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Clare can expect to receive forestry premium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17084/04]
The forestry premium to the person in question will be paid within the next three weeks.
91 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in relation to the €100,000 funding for the farming community in north Mayo following the landslides of September 2003, the guidelines which have been drawn up for its distribution; and when application forms will be available for same. [17085/04]
The guidelines for this scheme have been drawn up and application forms have been prepared. However, the scheme requires formal EU approval as a State aid before it can proceed. My Department is maintaining close liaison with the Commission on this and I am very hopeful that approval will be forthcoming shortly.
92 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who applied for area aid but did not include land on which he or she has grazing rights for approximately 150 ewes in the Glen of Imaal; if this can be included for payment; and if the Minister will make a statement on the matter. [17114/04]
Under EU regulations on the administration of the area aid scheme, the final date for receipt of amendments to the 2004 area aid application form was 31 May 2004. No amendment form relating to the person named was received by my Department before that date. Therefore, I regret that the land covered by grazing rights in the Glen of Imaal cannot be added to the 2004 application.
93 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an application for an oral appeal hearing against a decision by his Department to impose a penalty in respect of a 2003 area aid application has not been granted to persons (details supplied) in County Westmeath to date; if he will take steps to ensure that the said appeal is expedited and notice thereof is furnished to the applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17144/04]
The agriculture appeals office received this appeal on 2 February 2004. The case had not been through the internal review stage within my Department so the agriculture appeals office forwarded the correspondence to the Department for review. The Department carried out the review and the decision remained unchanged. The Department file was received in the agriculture appeals office on 19 May 2004 and the appeal was assigned to an appeals officer on the same date. The appeals office will contact the appellants shortly to arrange the oral hearing that they requested.
94 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Finance his proposals to restore the confidence of the public in the banking system here following recent revelations which have clearly shaken confidence; if his attention has been drawn to the demand for action in the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16990/04]
There can be no doubt that the recent revelations in the banking sector have been of a serious nature. It is essential that the correct culture of honesty and integrity permeate at all levels in our banks and financial institutions. The lead in this regard must be taken by senior management.
The role of the Government in such situations is to provide robust legislation that allows any discrepancies to be fully investigated. Through the enactment of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003, the Government established the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority or IFSRA. IFSRA is now the competent authority in this area and is conducting investigations into these issues, in some cases for many months prior to the revelations becoming public. The legislation allows IFSRA to investigate these matters independently, while liaising with other relevant authorities, such as the Revenue Commissioners.
In addition, further legislation, the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2003, yesterday completed Report Stage in the Dáil. This Bill complements the Act passed last year and will further enhance IFSRA's powers and strengthen the regulatory environment in which the banks operate.
These two measures, when taken together, deliver the following advances, among others: establishment of a new integrated financial services regulator, IFSRA, bringing together work previously dispersed under four different bodies, with additional resources and a renewed consumer mandate; establishment for the first time of a dedicated statutory officer with a consumer remit across the range of financial services; establishment of a new statutory ombudsman scheme for financial services, for the first time; establishment of a consumer consultation panel, as well as an industry panel, to advise IFSRA; improved communication between regulatory bodies including IFSRA, the Revenue Commissioners, the Director of Corporate Enforcement, and so on; improved transparency and accountability for the regulatory structure; provision for new and substantial penalty powers for IFSRA, with appropriate constitutional protections, and an appeals tribunal; and provision of new powers for IFSRA to require compliance statements from financial institutions.
A properly functioning regulatory regime is the primary means to guarantee public confidence in our banking system and it is clear from what I have said above that the Government has been active in providing a proper statutory framework for that. Until IFSRA's investigations are complete we must be careful not to prejudge the outcome. However, it is clear that the public has the right to expect and receive the highest levels of service and corporate responsibility. The current investigations under way will help to ensure that this is the case in the future. Where there are lessons to be learnt from these investigations, the Government will take them on board, and if it is shown that legislation is required, this will be treated as a priority.
95 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Finance the number of architects working for the Civil Service who will be decentralised; and the current and future places of work for these persons. [17011/04]
I understand that 68 architectural posts, including architectural inspectors, are due to be decentralised. These posts are currently in Dublin in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and in the Office of Public Works. These posts will be relocating to Trim, Kanturk, Claremorris, Waterford and Kilkenny.
96 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the flood relief works which remain to be done in respect of the Tolka River; the time scale within which he hopes to address these concerns; the results of his meeting with the insurance companies to discuss the issue of flood cover for households that were affected by the flooding in November 2002; and if he will make a statement on the continuing refusal of some companies to provide flood cover. [17027/04]
The final report on the River Tolka flooding study, funded by OPW, and commissioned by Dublin City Council as part of the greater Dublin strategic drainage study was published in December 2003. This recommended a number of flood relief measures along the Tolka in Dublin city, Fingal and Meath. Some of the recommended works had already been proposed in interim reports produced for the three local authorities early last year and, as the Deputy is aware, OPW carried out a significant programme of works in 2003 on foot of these reports.
In the Dublin City Council area a further programme of works, including the construction of walls and embankments on the north bank downstream of Drumcondra bridge and the lowering of Distillery weir, is currently in planning by the city council and will be undertaken by OPW on behalf of the council once the necessary approvals and access arrangements are in place. Expenditure in the current year is expected to be approximately €1.75 million. Some of the recommendations, which include the replacement of Distillery Road bridge, are the subject of negotiations between the council and property owners-developers and will form part of a development proposed along the Tolka River in that area.
Works in the Meath area were substantially completed in 2003. Some minor works remain to be done this year as well as the replacement of Loughsallagh bridge, which is being undertaken by the county council with funding from OPW. Expenditure in Meath in the current year is expected to be approximately €1 million. Work has just commenced in Fingal on a programme of work agreed with the county council and which will be carried out by OPW. Expenditure in the current year is expected to be approximately €1.75 million.
I met with the Irish Insurance Federation, IIF, as part of the review of national flood policy that I initiated in November 2002. At that meeting I indicated that the State would play its part in flood risk reduction and that, in turn, the insurance industry would be expected to act in a reasonable manner. At my invitation, the IIF made a submission to the policy review group and subsequently met with OPW officials. This meeting clarified aspects of its submission and provided an opportunity for the IIF to be briefed on the State's overall strategy on flood management, including OPW's proposals for developing flood hazard maps. The final report of the policy review group is currently with the Department of Finance for consideration before being submitted to Government.
I am not in a position to intervene with insurance companies about the risks that they are unwilling to underwrite. However, I remain confident that implementation of a more strategic approach to flood management will reduce exposure to risk and provide a more accurate basis upon which insurance companies formulate their decisions on potential flood damage in the future.
97 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a recent incident in Belfast in which the PSNI refused to take descriptions of the assailants or photograph the injuries of two persons who were the victims of a homophobic attack by a gang of ten persons; and if he will raise the matter with the British authorities. [17101/04]
I am aware of the incident which occurred on Tomb Street in Belfast in the early hours of 25 May 2004. My officials have raised this matter with the British Authorities through the secretariat of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Belfast. It is my understanding that the victims of the alleged attack are preparing a detailed statement for the Police Ombudsman's office as part of their request that the actions of the PSNI officers who were present at the scene of the incident be investigated.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it would be inappropriate to comment further on this matter at this time.
98 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s position on the war in Iraq; and if he will support the withdrawal of the coalition troops. [16981/04]
The position of the Government on Iraq was set out comprehensively by the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, in his statement to the Dáil of 20 May 2004 and in his statement on the situation in the Middle East to the Seanad on 26 May 2004.
On the question of the withdrawal of coalition troops, the future of the multinational force in Iraq is one of the issues dealt with in the draft Security Council resolution which is currently under consideration in New York. We will welcome any resolution which endorses the earliest possible restoration of sovereignty of Iraq to a democratically elected Iraqi government, which gains the requisite support and satisfies the concerns of the UN on its mission in Iraq.
99 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the view of the Government on the current efforts by the UN working group to draft a treaty against enforced disappearances pursuant to the UN Commission of Human Rights resolution 2001/46 of 23 April 2001; if the Government is supporting the elaboration of this instrument; and the comments that have been made by the Government on the drafts which have been produced to date. [17008/04]
Ireland, along with our EU partners, is deeply concerned at the continuing occurrence of the phenomenon of enforced or involuntary disappearances. We also remain gravely concerned at the large number of unsolved cases and at issues of impunity surrounding past cases of forced disappearance.
The Government believes that enforced and involuntary disappearances are a serious and disturbing violation of many human rights and fundamental freedoms. The victims of these crimes are not only the persons who disappeared but also their families, who live for many years in situations of extreme insecurity and anguish. Accordingly, the Government strongly believes that states must take appropriate measures and establish effective procedures to investigate thoroughly all cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances, while simultaneously taking effective steps to combat the problem of impunity. Enforced disappearances are already considered a human rights violation under existing international human rights law and come under the UN Commission on Human Rights.
Ireland, along with its EU partners, welcomed the establishment of the intersessional open ended working group to elaborate a draft legally binding normative instrument for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance. The first session of the open-ended working group was held from 6-17 January 2003. The second session took place from 12-23 January 2004. Ireland was represented at both sessions and intervened to support the inclusion of non-state actors in the instrument. There will be further meetings of the working group in autumn 2004 and spring 2005. The outstanding issues include non-state actors, whether a separate instrument is required and how to deal with amnesties or pardons.
Ireland hopes that the working group will succeed in reaching agreement on a draft instrument to protect all persons from forced disappearances and that this will become legally binding.
100 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsider the decision not to fund a July programme for the most disabled and dependent students attending a school (details supplied) in Dublin 4 and reverse these decisions immediately. [16986/04]
The July education programme is available to schools catering for pupils with autism and severe and profound general learning disabilities. The provision to include other categories of disability in the programme has not been developed at this time. My officials will contact the person in question in the event of the situation changing in the future.
101 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive, of 25 May 2004, he will provide an accurate reply about a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; when funding was applied for; and the reason this Deputy was misled in the information given. [16987/04]
The management authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy wrote to my Department in April 2000 requesting additional accommodation. My Department's planning and building unit issued an application form to the school in May 2000 and the completed form was returned in September 2000. The school was given approval in October 2001 to commence architectural planning. A stage 3 submission — detailed plans and costs — was received from the school in October 2002.
Following examination of the submission the school authorities were informed that an extension and refurbishment project could proceed at the school provided that it could be delivered within an upper cost limit of €100,000. The school authorities were requested to submit a revised stage 3 submission based on the upper cost limit. The revised stage 3 submission was received in January 2004 and the school has been recently informed that 70% of the funding must be drawn down before the end of November 2004. Provision for the remaining 30% will have to be included as a commitment in the 2005 budgetary allocation which will be in the context of the multi-annual approach which I am adopting, further details of which will be available later this year.
102 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if letters were sent by his Department during April or May 2004 to PLC colleges confirming that staffing levels for 2004 will be based on numbers enrolled on 30 September 2003; if this remains the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16988/04]
The enrolment reports to which the Deputy refers, which were provided in the letters to schools and colleges from my Department's post-primary database section, reflect my Department's record of their enrolments at 30 September 2003. This letter is a standard one issued each year to confirm pupil returns as submitted by schools and VECs. While the letter states: "These numbers will form the basis for all per capita grant payments made to your school during the school year and for teacher allocation purposes...”, the reality, which is well known to schools, is that teacher allocations are issued from the teacher section as a separate matter entirely.
In the current academic year the enrolments on PLC courses in certain schools and colleges have exceeded the number of places approved by my Department. Teacher allocations for 2004-05 and capitation grants have been allocated on the basis of the approved number of places or the numbers enrolled. In the 2003-04 academic year nearly 28,700 places were approved by my Department. Officials from my Department have already had meetings with management representatives in the sector to hear their concerns. They have also received submissions from a number of VECs about their particular needs.
My Department is currently considering appeals from the VECs, schools and colleges for the recognition of the excess numbers enrolled for the purposes of teacher allocations and grants. A decision in the matter will be taken shortly in the light of the totality of demands for teaching resources across the system. I expect that additional justifiable needs identified in the examination being carried out by my Department will result in the provision of additional teaching resources. Separately, it has been reported that the excess PLC numbers have been approved in total for the purposes of capitation and teacher numbers. This is not correct.
103 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if an early decision can be made for provision of a school support teacher for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose parents wish them to attend Scoil San Carlos, Leixlip, County Kildare in September 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17020/04]
My Department received an application for special educational resources, SER, for the pupil referred to by the Deputy on 21 April 2004. The pupil is due to commence school on 1 September 2004. The school in question currently has the services of one full-time and one part-time resource teacher, one learning support teacher and two special needs assistants.
SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. In all, more than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September and all these cases were responded to at or before the commencement of the current school year. The balance of more than 4,000 applications has been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and NEPS. These applications are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year and the data submitted by schools as part of a nationwide census of SER provision.
The processing of the applications is a complex and time-consuming operation. However, my Department is endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible and my officials will then respond to all applicant schools. Pending a response, schools are advised to refer to circular 24/03, which issued in September 2003. This circular contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.
In the case of teacher resources, the outcome for each applicant school will be based on a new weighted system of allocation which I announced recently. This system, as part of which an additional 350 teaching posts will be allocated, will involve two main elements: making a staffing allocation to schools based on a predicted incidence of pupils with special educational needs; and making individual allocations in the case of children with more acute lower-prevalence special educational needs.
It is expected that the change to a weighted system will bring with it a number of benefits. The new system will reduce the need for individualised educational psychological assessment, reduce the volume of applications to my Department for additional resources for individual pupils and give greater flexibility to schools, which will facilitate the development and implementation of improved systems and procedures in schools to meet the needs of pupils with low achievement and pupils with special educational needs.
Transitional arrangements for the introduction of the weighted system are being developed at present in consultation with representative interests. As soon as those consultations have been completed, the detailed arrangements for processing applications for resources, including those for special needs assistants and those received after 31 August last, will be set out in a circular to be issued to schools before the end of the current school year.
104 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if grant assistance can be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has undertaken a home study course called applied behaviour analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17021/04]
The statutory framework for the maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students in attending full-time third level education.
An approved course for the purpose of the higher education grant scheme is generally a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years' duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year's duration pursued in an approved third level institution. The institutions approved under the scheme are generally publicly funded third-level colleges offering full-time courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Similarly, under the terms of the free fees initiative, under which the State meets the tuition costs of eligible students, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of a minimum duration of two years in an approved third level institution.
Home study or part-time courses are not approved courses under the terms of the maintenance grant schemes or the free fees initiative. Tax relief is, however, available on third level tuition fees in respect of approved part-time courses in approved colleges and also from approved colleges that provide distance education in the State. Further information in this regard is available from local tax offices.
105 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the policy of his Department concerning non-fee-paying secondary schools charging registration fees. [17022/04]
It is a fundamental principle of the free post-primary education scheme that no charge is made in respect of instruction in any subject included in my Department's programme for secondary schools, including recreation or study facilities where all the pupils are expected to avail themselves of these as part of the school programme or any other activities in which all pupils are required to take part.
Schools are allowed to charge a booking fee when considering new applicants for enrolment, provided this is refundable following a decision on enrolment. Booking fees are sometimes required by schools in order to avoid double-booking of pupils, which could result in loss of teaching posts.
Voluntary contributions by parents or charges for optional extras over and above what is provided for in the general school programme are permissible under the scheme, provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition.
106 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will sanction the provision of a special needs assistant for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17023/04]
My Department received an application for special needs assistant support and five hours' resource teaching support for the pupil referred to by the Deputy on 21 April 2004. The pupil is due to commence school on 1 September 2004. The school in question currently has the services of one full-time and one part-time resource teacher, one learning support teacher and two special needs assistants.
SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. In all, more than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September and all these cases were responded to at or before the commencement of the current school year. The balance of more than 4,000 applications has been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and NEPS. These applications are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year and the data submitted by schools as part of a nationwide census of SER provision.
The processing of the applications is a complex and time-consuming operation. However, my Department is endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible and my officials will then respond to all applicant schools. Pending a response, schools are advised to refer to circular 24/03, which issued in September 2003. This contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.
In the case of teacher resources, the outcome for each applicant school will be based on a new weighted system of allocation which I announced recently. This system, as part of which an additional 350 teaching posts will be allocated, will involve two main elements: making a staffing allocation to schools based on a predicted incidence of pupils with special educational needs; and making individual allocations in the case of children with more acute lower-prevalence special educational needs.
It is expected that the change to a weighted system will bring with it a number of benefits. The new system will reduce the need for individualised educational psychological assessment, reduce the volume of applications to my Department for additional resources for individual pupils and give greater flexibility to schools, which will facilitate the development and implementation of improved systems and procedures in schools to meet the needs of pupils with low achievement and pupils with special educational needs.
Transitional arrangements for the introduction of the weighted system are being developed at present in consultation with representative interests. As soon as those consultations have been completed, the detailed arrangements for processing applications for resources, including those for special needs assistants and those received after 31 August last, will be set out in a circular to be issued to schools before the end of the current school year.
107 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the basis on which he has excluded abuse in the context of foster case from the remit of the redress board; and if he has plans to alter the legislative arrangements for the consideration of allegations of child abuse. [17024/04]
The Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 was enacted to provide a mechanism for former residents of industrial schools, reformatories, orphanages, children's homes and in certain situations special schools and hospitals to obtain redress for injuries they suffered while so resident and avoid having to engage in protracted court cases which could result in further trauma for victims.
During the passage of the legislation through both Houses the issue of including children who were in foster care was discussed and it was decided not to extend the legislation, as children in foster care were not in a residential institution.
Unlike residential care, there was no significant number of people claiming abuse or indications that fosterage was generally abusive. As there was no general problem in this area or any apparent systemic failure which contributed to widespread abuse in this area, I do not intend revisiting the matter and making any amendments to the legislation.
108 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school bus route will be extended to include a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17040/04]
A report on this case has been requested from Bus Éireann. The family will be advised of the position as soon as the report has been received and assessed.
109 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 14 was refused an education grant from South Dublin County Council. [17041/04]
The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except in exceptional cases where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of the student, referred to by the Deputy.
If an individual applicant considers that she or he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she or he may appeal to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by the relevant local authority or VEC, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his or her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department. Alternatively, as already indicated, the local authority or VEC may, itself, in exceptional circumstances, seek clarification on issues from my Department. However, it is not open to me or my Department, to depart from the terms of the maintenance grants schemes in individual cases.
110 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science if transport will be organised for a person (details supplied) who has to travel approximately 30 miles each way to attend a special class. [17047/04]
An application for transport for the pupil referred to in the details supplied should be made by the school via the appropriate school inspector to my Department's school transport section.
111 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm the position regarding the need for additional prefab accommodation promised by his Department in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17048/04]
The management authority at the school to which the Deputy refers has not made an application to my Department for the provision of temporary accommodation.
112 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount given by his Department to educational institutions outside the State, at all levels, for each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17113/04]
Funding is provided by my Department to three educational institutions outside the State. The information requested by the Deputy is as follows. Each year Ireland, in common with the other member states of the European Union, recruits and seconds primary and post-primary teachers to serve in the 12 European schools, which provide education at first and second levels for the children of parents working in the European Commission, or other European institutions. The European Commission, as the employer of the parents of the pupils, provides direct financing for each school to cover the other costs of the schools, as the education of such children is free. My Department's contribution, by way of seconded teachers, is outlined in table 1 below.
The College of Europe was founded in 1949. It focuses on postgraduate European studies in the legal, economic, political and interdisciplinary domains. The college is residential and accepts almost 400 students each year. Of these, 275 are resident in Bruges, Belgium, and 125 in Natolin, Poland. Graduates of all nationalities are admitted to the college. My Department makes an annual contribution to the operation and administration of the college, the details of which are set out in table 2 below.
The European University Institute was founded in 1972 by the European Community member states. Its main objective is to provide advanced academic training to PhD students and to promote research at the highest level. My Department pays an annual contribution to the university. Table 3 outlines the level of payments since 2000.
|
Table 1 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Costs of Secondments to European Schools |
|||||
|
Year |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 (Year to date) |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Primary |
646,829.00 |
789,363.00 |
846,978.00 |
1,033,456.00 |
522,552.00 |
|
Post-Primary |
711,517.00 |
790,237.00 |
942,451.00 |
1,193,492.00 |
741,052.00 |
|
Total |
1,358,346.00 |
1,579,600.00 |
1,789,429.00 |
2,226,948.00 |
1,263,604.00 |
|
Costs of Contributions to The College of Europe |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 (Proposed) |
|
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Contribution |
10,000 |
10,000 |
15,000 |
15,000 |
15,000 |
|
Cost of Contribution to European University Institute |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
|
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Contribution |
90,109 |
92,384 |
98,390 |
101,363 |
103,880 |
113 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of site acquisition and the building of a new school building for a school (details supplied) in Ballincollig, County Cork. [17117/04]
The acquisition of a site for the provision of a new school building for Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin Ballincollig, County Cork, is being pursued at present. Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to provide details relating to specific sites to be acquired. However, this information will be placed on my Department's website when the relevant acquisitions have been completed.
When publishing the 2004 schools building programme, I outlined that my strategy going forward will be grounded in capital investment based on multi-annual allocations. My officials are reviewing all projects which were not authorised to proceed as part of the 2004 school building programme, with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual schools building programme from 2005 and I expect to be in a position to make further announcements on this matter in the course of the year. The proposed project for Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin will be included in this review.
114 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the application from a school (details supplied) in Portmarnock, County Dublin for a special needs assistant. [17133/04]
The application referred to by the Deputy is currently being considered by my Department and a response will issue to the school in question as quickly as possible.
115 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the need to sanction the provision of one additional classroom for a school (details supplied) to facilitate the increased number of pupils for September 2004; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the all purpose room is used daily for physical education, assemblies, speech and drama and extra curricular activities. [17134/04]
The school referred to by the Deputy applied for an additional temporary classroom for September 2004 on the grounds that it would be due an additional teaching appointment. In the context of the available funding and the number of applications for that funding, it was not possible to approve all applications for temporary accommodation this year and only those schools with an absolute and demonstrated need for additional accommodation were approved. All other schools, including Scoil Phadraig Cailíní, are required, as an interim measure, to maximise the use of existing accommodation until my Department is in a position to make extra accommodation available.
116 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents and staff at a school (details supplied) in County Cavan are having to fundraise to provide sufficient accommodation for the 50 extra children it will take in September 2004 due to the expansion of the town; if he has been informed of similar impending problems in other local primary schools due to population growth; the discussions his Department has had with local authorities in County Cavan regarding the number of planning permissions granted in recent years, the subsequent increased demand for school accommodation and the reasons resources have not been allocated to pre-empt this accommodation shortage; the plans he has now to assist parents and staff at the school to meet its classroom needs in September 2004; and the long-term plans to meet accommodation needs in areas of population growth in County Cavan. [17135/04]
The school referred to by the Deputy was recently approved for grant aid towards the rental of temporary accommodation to meet its needs for September 2004. The school's permanent accommodation needs will be considered in the context of a review which is being undertaken of all projects that did not proceed as part of the 2004 schools building programme with a view to including it as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005, details of which will be announced later in the year.
The process of assessing and meeting the need for new educational facilities at primary or post-primary level in any given area requires a detailed examination of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and existing school provision in the general area.
As part of the needs determination process, the Minister for Education and Science is included among the prescribed authorities to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development plans or proposed variations to development plans. My Department monitors these plans and meets with local authorities, as required, to establish the location, scale and pace of major housing developments. An assessment is carried out of the likely implications of such developments on the capacity of existing schools and their potential for expansion to meet emerging needs. In this way, every effort is made to ensure that there is adequate existing provision, or that timely arrangements can be made to extend capacity where necessary.
117 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if steps will be taken to provide an additional five hours of home tuition for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [17143/04]
My Department received an application to increase the level of home tuition hours for the pupil. A response will issue to the family shortly.
118 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will clarify the criteria required by An Post for post offices to become computerised. [17046/04]
I have no statutory function in the matter. It is an operational matter for An Post's board of management. I have passed the details to its chief executive officer and asked him to reply directly to the Deputy.
119 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in relation to a boat licence for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [17138/04]
The independent licensing authority for sea fishing boats has informed me that it issued a licence in respect of the vessel on 10 May. The vessel will be legally entitled to engage in commercial sea fishing as soon as the owner completes the registration process and the vessel is entered on the fishing boat register. The licensing authority awaits receipt of a completed application form to register the vessel.
120 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he proposes to assist local authorities in adopting regulations on the operation of jet skis in waters in their jurisdiction where controls are required. [17139/04]
I will seek Government approval shortly for the publication of the Maritime Safety Bill 2004. I want to enact the legislation as quickly as possible. The Bill will enable local authorities to regulate and control the use and operation of jet skis and other mechanically propelled sport and leisure craft in their areas.
121 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will consider an application from the Narraghmore Pipe Band, County Kildare, for grant aid from the proceeds of the national lottery. [17062/04]
My Department administers the national lottery funded sports capital programme. Sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level receive funding. My Department evaluated all of the applications for the 2004 programme. This was done in accordance with the assessment criteria published in the guidelines, terms and conditions document that accompanied application forms. On 7 May, I announced provisional grant allocations.
The application in question was unsuccessful. On 25 May a letter was issued to the band advising it of the outcome. A copy of the assessment, including any specific reasons for turning it down was enclosed. Only projects with a defined sporting aspect are eligible for the purpose of securing a recommendation for grant funding.
122 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if he comment on the recently reported case of a person (details supplied) who continually sexually assaulted their daughters and nieces; and the reason none of the Government agencies involved, over the years, took action to protect them. [16980/04]
The investigation of criminal matters rests with the Garda Síochána while statutory responsibility for the provision of child welfare and protection services rests with the relevant health board. The general nature of the information supplied by the Deputy is not sufficient to enable the necessary inquiries. Perhaps he could furnish more detailed information to the relevant authorities or myself so that inquiries may be made.
123 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children when a nursing home subvention will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [16983/04]
The provision of health services in the Galway area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Western Health Board. My Department has asked its CEO to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy, as a matter of urgency.
124 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason persons over 70 years receive a free driver’s licence but must pay €30 for the necessary medical examination for same; and the further reason the examination cost is not covered by the medical card. [16991/04]
Holders of medical cards, regardless of age, are entitled to a range of treatments and services free of charge. The items covered under the general medical services scheme are detailed in the contract that each participating general practitioner holds with the relevant health board. The contract reflects the agreed outcome of industrial relations negotiations between my Department and the Irish Medical Organisation. It does not include the medical examination required by motor licensing authorities.
125 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive grant aid under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme from the WHB; and the position of their application. [16992/04]
In the Mayo area the scheme is operated by the WHB on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. My Department has asked the board's CEO to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy, as a matter of urgency.
126 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason an enhanced nursing home subvention was not awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if he knows that the person has limited means. [16993/04]
The provision of health services in the Galway area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the WHB. My Department has asked its CEO to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy, as a matter of urgency.
127 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children how he will deal with the lack of inspections for the disabled persons grant in the Waterford community care area. [16994/04]
The provision of health services, including inspections for disabled persons grant applications, for people with physical or sensory disability rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in the first instance. My Department asked the CEO of the South Eastern Health Board to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy, as a matter of urgency.
128 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 will have a hip replacement as soon as possible. [16995/04]
Responsibility for the provision of health services to persons residing in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow rests with the ERHA. My Department has asked its CEO to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.
129 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children for funding for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for a special needs trike, costing €1,000, for their child and for a specially made rails for their son’s bed costing €450 who has a severe sleep disorder. [17028/04]
The provision of aids and appliances to people with physical and sensory disabilities is a matter for the ERHA and the health boards. My Department has asked the authority's CEO to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.
130 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will immediately appoint at least one neurophysiologist to Beaumont Hospital as it is unacceptable that the national centre for neuroscience should be left without one for more than three years. [17029/04]
Services at the Hospital are provided by an arrangement with the ERHA. My Department has asked its CEO to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.
131 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if an application will be expedited for a medical card in the name of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 20. [17033/04]
132 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if an application will be expedited for a medical card in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [17034/04]
137 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if a medical card will be issued on medical grounds to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [17087/04]
138 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if a three year medical card will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [17088/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 132, 137 and 138 together.
Responsibility for the determination of eligibility of persons to medical cards is, by legislation, a matter for the CEO of the relevant health board or authority. My Department has asked the CEOs of the ERHA and the South Eastern Health Board to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.
133 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason Question No. 541 of 27 April was not replied to in full by the Western Health Board. [17035/04]
The board confirmed that it issued a full and complete reply to the Deputy on 5 May in relation to Question No. 541 of 27 April and that there was no change in the position as stated in its letter.
134 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Question No. 97 of 29 April, the WHB will provide a reply. [17036/04]
The board has assured me that a reply will issue to the Deputy in the next few days.
135 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children if he knows that a health board is advising families to avail of long-term beds for their elderly relatives at a specific private nursing home in their area instead of giving them long-term care at their local geriatric hospital; if he knows that most of the persons receiving the information cannot meet the cost even with nursing home subventions; and if he is aware that one family was informed that the Government would meet the remainder of the cost of the nursing home after the old age pension was paid. [17051/04]
The provision of health services in the Cork area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Southern Health Board. Its continuing care service manages the day-to-day operation of the nursing home subvention scheme, The board informed my Department that it never advised families to avail of a particular nursing home.
It provides applicants for subvention with a list of registered nursing homes and advises them that they must chose. Payment of nursing home subvention is only approved following detailed medical dependency and financial assessment, as provided for in the nursing homes regulations. Admission to the board's continuing care beds is determined in accordance with its age care evaluation team process. The circumstances of the patient it taken into account. It is a matter for individuals or their families to determine whether they wish to apply for nursing home subvention or, if appropriate, avail of a place in any of the board's community hospitals-continuing care units.
136 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if home help will be arranged urgently in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [17086/04]
The provision of health services in the Kilkenny area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the South Eastern Health Board. My Department has asked its CEO to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy, as a matter of urgency.
139 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Health and Children when adequate home help services will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Louth. [17120/04]
The provision of health services in the Louth area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the North Eastern Health Board. My Department has asked its CEO to investigate the matter and to reply to the Deputy, as a matter of urgency.
140 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive orthodontic treatment; when this person was placed on the waiting list; the length of time they are on the list; and when treatment will be provided. [17121/04]
Responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in County Mayo rests with the Western Health Board. My Department has asked its CEO to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.
141 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the request from persons (details supplied) regarding their proposal for a placement for their child. [17122/04]
My Department has been in communication with the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Northern Area Health Board about the matter.
On 11 May the board held a meeting to discuss the young person's plight and to consider an appropriate future placement for him. Among the options considered was a placement in the facility referred to by the Deputy. It was agreed that any decisions should be based on the outcome of a further psychiatric assessment. Recently the NAHB informed his mother in writing about the arrangements for his assessment.
142 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the help that can be offered to the family of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if an immediate conference between the local authority and the health authorities can be arranged with a view to urgent assistance. [17123/04]
Responsibility for the provision of care and treatment of the named individual rests with the ERHA. My Department has asked its CEO to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.
143 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the assistance that is available to cancer patients who must travel outside of the State to receive treatment privately; and if the health boards are allowed to assist with accommodation and travelling expenses in these situations. [17124/04]
Where an individual requires specific treatment that cannot be provided in Ireland a health board may refer them to another member state for treatment. Under EU regulations the board issues the form E112 to the person seeking treatment to establish his or her entitlement and to imply a commitment by the health board to pay the full cost of the treatment. My Department has issued guidelines that set down the criteria to be used by health boards when assessing applications for approval of forms E112. They are as follows: the application to refer a patient abroad must be assessed before the patient goes abroad except in cases of extreme urgency; and medical evidence must be provided by a hospital consultant giving details of the condition from which the patient suffers and of the type of treatment envisaged. The consultant must also certify the following: the treatment is not available here; there is an urgent medical necessity for it; there is a reasonable medical prognosis; the treatment is regarded as a proven form of medical treatment; and the treatment abroad is in a recognised hospital or other institution and is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.
Where a person's E112 application is approved a health board may provide assistance towards the cost of travel and subsistence expenses. The relevant health board is responsible for making a decision on the matter. Private arrangements for the treatment of a patient in any country abroad must be regarded as outside the terms of the EU regulations. Health boards have no obligation to meet any part of the cost involved.
144 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department will consider including Fibro Myalgia as part of its long-term illness scheme. [17140/04]
Under the 1970 Health Act, a health board may arrange for the supply, without charge, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people with a specified condition, for the treatment of that condition under the scheme. The conditions are: mental handicap, mental illness for people under 16 years only, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, parkinsonism, conditions arising from thalidomide and acute leukaemia. At present there are no plans to amend the list of eligible conditions.
Other schemes provide assistance towards the cost of approved drugs and medicines for people with significant ongoing medical expenses. People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the CEO of the relevant health board. In determining eligibility, a CEO has regard to the applicant's financial circumstances. Health boards use income guidelines to assist in determining eligibility. Where a person's income exceeds the guidelines, a medical card may be awarded if the CEO considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify it. Medical cards may also be issued to family members on this basis. Non-medical card holders, and people with conditions not covered by long-term illness scheme, can avail of the drugs payment scheme. Under the scheme no individual or family unit pays more than €78 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
145 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if road ramps were assessed; and if they reduced deaths, particularly in cities and towns. [16982/04]
Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 empowers road authorities, in the interest of the safety and convenience of road users, to provide traffic calming measures. Ramps are considered desirable on public roads in their charge but the National Roads Authority must consent to them for national roads. The flexibility of the section gives road authorities the maximum discretion to decide what traffic calming measures best suit streets or areas.
In May 2003 traffic management guidelines were jointly issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Dublin Transportation Office and my Department. They provide comprehensive advice and references on good practice on a wide range of issues including traffic calming, the deployment of speed restraint measures, vertical deflections such as ramps, speed tables and speed cushions. A copy of the guidelines is available in the Oireachtas Library.
In the preparation of the guidelines reference was made to the experience in the United Kingdom and to research report data and surveys of car speeds that were conducted there on various types of ramps that may be deployed. Traffic calming measures, excluding ramps, were evaluated by two organisations. The University College Cork assessed inter-urban roads and the National Roads Authority assessed national routes.
146 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Transport the reason commercial driving tests were suspended at centres in Shannon, Kilrush and Ennis and transferred to Limerick; when it took place; and the notification given to the public. [17019/04]
The testing of drivers of trucks and buses has not been suspended at the driving test centres in Shannon, Kilrush and Ennis.
147 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport his plans for the relocation of 200 staff from Bus Éireann’s head office, Broadstone, to Mitchelstown, County Cork even though there are only 80 staff there at present; if he will state which additional staff he proposes to relocate; if he will explain the rationale behind selecting Mitchelstown and the way he intends to proceed when only two staff have opted to decentralise; the reason it is the only commercial semi-State company where relocation applies. [17057/04]
I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 209 answered on 4 May. Discussions with Bus Éireann are continuing and the chairman is examining options for meeting the overall target of 200 staff transfers. The company has prepared an initial decentralisation implementation plan for the move to Mitchelstown. The plan will be kept under review and further developed as the programme progresses and additional information becomes available.
Factors taken into account in selecting agencies and locations were outlined in the Minister for Finance's Budget Statement in December 2003. The Irish Aviation Authority is a commercial semi-State company and it is also included in the decentralisation programme.
148 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Transport further to Question No. 184 of 27 May, if he will facilitate public consultation on the project. [17109/04]
The design of Rialto Bridge is an operational issue and is a matter for the Railway Procurement Agency in association with other relevant bodies. Reconstruction of the bridge was completed. As mentioned in a letter from the agency's chief executive officer to the Deputy, the current design was agreed in April 2003 after considerable time and resources were dedicated to it.
149 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if standards for wheelchair accessible taxis, applied by the carriage office, are compatible with EU legislation; the reasons and nature of the derogation in force for Ireland in respect of the legislation; his plans to change the regulations; his plans to allow purpose built accessible taxis to be imported from member states. [17111/04]
The licensing and operation of small public service vehicles, including wheelchair accessible taxis, is governed by the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002, inclusive, and the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002, inclusive.
Under these regulations a licence may only be granted following presentation of a vehicle test certificate and certificate of suitability issued by the national car testing service. It confirms that the vehicle is suitable for the purpose of being licensed as a taxi, wheelchair accessible taxi, hackney or limousine, as appropriate. The testing of a vehicle for taxi licensing purposes is undertaken by NCTS in accordance with the relevant regulatory requirements, including the requirements for a wheelchair accessible taxi in the case of such a licence application. I am unaware of specific EU legislation on wheelchair accessible taxis.
There is nothing to preclude the licensing of purpose built accessible taxis as taxis here in the existing public service vehicle regulations. Obviously they must meet the general roadworthiness and taxi suitability requirements.
The Government is committed in An Agreed Programme for Government to continue the process of making taxis wheelchair accessible. A number of complex issues concerning the implementation of the accessible taxi policy have yet to be decided. They include improvements to the existing wheelchair accessible taxi specification to accommodate the greatest possible range of people, issues surrounding urban-rural needs and the cost of suitable vehicles. These issues will be addressed by a statutory commission for taxi regulation when it is established. This will be done as part of the development of new small public service vehicle standards.
The Taxi Regulation Act 2003 specifically provides that one of the commission's objectives is to promote access to small public service vehicles by persons with disabilities. It must determine the future policy on accessible taxis. Specific discussions with both disability and taxi representative groups will be necessary. The commission will also determine the manner and timeframe to implement standards for accessible taxi services.
Pending the commission's establishment, I have indicated to its advisory council that I want its advice on a range of issues on the enhancement and standards for small public service vehicles and their drivers. The issues covered include general vehicle condition and appearance and accessibility for persons with mobility and sensory difficulties.
150 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport about the penalties for off-road dumpers that are found to have a load in excess of the licensed maximum; if he will provide the most recent statistics available to him on the number of such sanctions taken against drivers in these circumstances; and the way the regulation is enforced. [17112/04]
All vehicles using public roads must comply with the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002, inclusive, and the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2003. Vehicles covered by a special permit under Regulation No. 59 of the 2003 regulations must operate within its terms.
The regulations include provisions on the maximum weights and dimensions of vehicles. The penalties for a breach are a fine not exceeding €800 in the case of a first offence, a fine not exceeding €1,500 in the case of a second or subsequent offence, and a fine of €1,500 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months or a fine of €1,500 and a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months in the case of a third or subsequent offence in a period of 12 consecutive months. The Garda Síochána is responsible for the enforcement of the regulations. Information on the number of prosecutions involving off road dumpers for exceeding their maximum permitted weight load is not available in my Department.
151 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress being made on the application by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for registration of land; and when this dealing is likely to be finalised. [16979/04]
I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application for First Registration which was lodged on 29 September 1999. Dealing number D1999JS008242V refers. I understand that, due to the complicated nature of these type of cases, which require examination of an applicant's entitlement to the property concerned, it is not possible to estimate a date of completion at this time. I am further informed that further queries issued to the lodging solicitor on 30 October 2003 and that the application cannot proceed until these queries have been satisfactorily resolved. However, I assure the Deputy that on receipt of a satisfactory reply, the matter will receive further attention in the Land Registry.
152 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application to his Department in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and the timeframe for a decision in the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16996/04]
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Refugee Act 1996 two independent statutory offices were established to consider applications-appeals for refugee status and to make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status should be granted. These two offices are the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, which considers applications for a declaration as a refugee at first instance, and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, which considers applications for a declaration at the appeals stage. A final decision will be made in this case upon receipt of the recommendation-decision of the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner or the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, as appropriate.
153 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the major trauma to prisoners’ families by the proposed closure of Mountjoy Prison; if urgent action will be taken for the women’s centre in view of the fact that they do not have adequate health facilities during the doctors dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16997/04]
The single greatest concern brought to my attention and to the attention of my predecessors in regard to Mountjoy Prison is the need to replace the wholly outdated and unsatisfactory accommodation at the prison and thereby end the degrading and unacceptable practice of daily slopping out. I have already indicated my intention to meet this concern by replacing Mountjoy Prison with a new prison on a greenfield site so as to provide decent, hygienic conditions for prisoners in line with modern day standards.
I do understand that concern has been expressed at the possibility of the new replacement prison being located outside the city centre area. Such concern will be addressed in the criteria for selection of a suitable site for the new prison, by including the identification of possible mitigating factors such as public transport links.
As regards health services for women prisoners at the Dóchas centre, the Deputy will be aware that prison doctors, who are members of the Irish Medical Organisation, have been engaged in industrial action in pursuit of a pay claim since 4 May 2004. This action has involved the complete withdrawal of doctor services to prisoners, apart from circumstances where there is a real and immediate risk to human life and, as such, has created significant unnecessary hardship for this vulnerable group of patients. The Irish Prison Service has publicly stated that this level of emergency cover has proved inadequate and that the service has had no option but to seek the assistance of Defence Forces' doctors to attend prisoners in a limited number of Dublin prisons who are in need of urgent medical intervention. Defence Forces' doctors are providing an emergency service on this basis to the Dóchas centre.
I am concerned that normal doctor services be restored for prisoners at the earliest possible time. In the meantime, whatever assistance is available will be provided to support prison nurses and other staff, as well as Defence Forces' doctors, who are continuing to care for prisoners in very difficult circumstances.
154 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures his Department has put in place to ensure that section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 is not used against families living on sides of roads waiting on local authority accommodation as recently happened in Ennis, County Clare. [16999/04]
155 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which the use of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 by the Garda is monitored; the number of times the legislation has been used since the Act was brought into force; and the circumstances under which it was used. [17000/04]
173 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures his Department has put in place to ensure that section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 is not used against families living on the side of the road waiting on local authority accommodation; if the application of this legislation by the Garda is monitored in any way; the number of times it has been used since the Act was brought into force; and the circumstances under which it was used. [17108/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 155 and 173 together.
I have requested a report on the matters raised by the Deputies from the Garda authorities and I have been informed that any complaint made to the Garda under this provision is properly investigated by the Garda Síochána and the full facts established. I have been further informed that direct action is only taken by the Garda as a last resort and when all other avenues have been fully explored.
On the subject of the number of occasions the provision has been used since it came into force, I am informed by the Garda authorities that it has not been possible to obtain the detailed information sought by the Deputies in the time available. The information will be supplied to the Deputies when it is to hand.
156 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he intends to make available to the prison officers’ welfare service the policy on bullying agreed between the National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health and the Irish Prison Service in 2003; and if his attention has been drawn to concerns that formal complaints of bullying remain uninvestigated and unprocessed more than three months after being made. [17002/04]
Agreement on a policy designed to ensure the protection of Prison Service employees from bullying, harassment and sexual harassment is the subject of ongoing discussions between management and prison staff associations as advised to the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 366 of 18 May 2004. These discussions are expected to conclude shortly at which stage the policy will be made available to the prison officers' welfare service together with all other relevant parties.
I am not aware of any instances where the procedures used to investigate formal complaints of bullying have not been initiated more than three months after the original complaint came to attention. On occasion, however, circumstances may arise where it is not always possible to process such complaints within the timeframe contained in the draft policy, for example, when one of the parties involved is on prolonged sick leave.
157 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of the Government in relation to ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture which is open for signature and ratification; and the internal steps that have been taken by his Department and related Departments in order to prepare for ratification of this instrument. [17003/04]
On 18 December 2002, the third committee of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the draft Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, OP-CAT. Ireland, along with other EU partners, fully supported the draft Optional Protocol and worked for its adoption at the UN General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights. There are currently 25 signatory states to the optional protocol. The following EU member states are signatories to the optional protocol: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Malta, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Two of the former, Malta and the United Kingdom have ratified the optional protocol.
The object of the protocol is to establish a system of regular visits undertaken by independent international and national bodies to places of detention with a view to preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The international body is proposed to be a subcommittee of the UN Committee against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment. The national bodies may consist of one or several bodies as national preventive mechanisms for the prevention of torture at the domestic level.
Ireland's position in regard to the ratification of international instruments generally, including the Optional Protocol, is constantly reviewed in light of prevailing circumstances and in the context of the ongoing assessment and prioritisation of Ireland's international commitments. My Department is reviewing national legislation to ascertain whether legislative changes would be required before signature and ratification of the optional protocol. It will be necessary to consult with other Departments, including the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Education and Science, in relation to arrangements for the inspection of institutions for which they are responsible in which persons may be detained without their consent.
158 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the names, titles and organisational affiliations of the persons consulted in the preparation of the new prison drugs strategy. [17004/04]
In early 2000, a national steering group on prison-based drug treatment services was established by the director general of the Irish Prison Service at the request of the then Minister. Its brief was to progress the issue of drug treatment and associated services within the prison system, particularly in the Dublin area. The group includes representatives of the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
The national steering group produced a report on prison-based drug treatment services in July 2000. It consulted widely with external groups prior to the drafting of this report. A public advertisement inviting submissions from interested parties was placed in the national newspapers on 27 January 2000. A total of 22 submissions were received from various parties including healthcare professionals, community and voluntary groups as well as from individual members of the public, as follows:
Submissions
Mr. Michael Ruane
Mr. Con Doherty
Dr. N. B. Daly
North Inner City Drugs Task Force (1)
Outreach Service-Aids-Drugs Service, Eastern Health Board
Star Project
Visiting Committee, Training Unit
Carlow-Kilkenny Probation and Welfare Service
Ms Margaret Phelan
Prisons Psychology Service
Steering Committee of the Community and Prison Link Service in Ballyfermot
Prison Survey Team, Trinity College
Merchant's Quay Project
Irish Penal Reform Trust
Dr. Patrick Troy, Portlaoise Prison
Ms Valladares Goldberg
Ballymun Youth Action Project
Prison Officer DJ Fahey
The Irish National Council of Attention Deficit Disorder Support Groups
NICDTF
Crosscare Drugs Awareness Programme, Clonliffe College
Sr. Ní Uallacháin, Matt Talbot Community Trust
The national steering group considered all of these submissions in finalising its July 2000 report.
In October 2002, the national steering group established a national policy subgroup, which was mandated with the production of a drugs policy for the Irish Prison Service. The subgroup consisted of Irish Prison Service management, prison governors and health board staff, together with relevant clinicians. The subgroup adopted a multidisciplinary approach to drafting the policy document and incorporated recommendations from various working groups established within the Irish Prison Service over the previous number of years, including the prison and community drugs liaison group, which was established in 2001 and provides a mechanism for a regular exchange of views between prison management and the community and voluntary sector.
I have met prison governors to discuss the operational implications of the policy, which will among other things, reflect the clear objectives in this area of An Agreed Programme for Government. I am currently finalising the drugs policy against the background of the extensive process of consultation and discussion.
159 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the names, titles and countries of the delegates who participated in the meeting, EU Strategy on Drugs — The Way Forward, in Dublin in May 2004. [17005/04]
The conference, EU Strategy on Drugs — The Way Forward, was held in the Conrad Dublin hotel on 10-11 May 2004. The Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union worked closely with our partners, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom to develop the conference, which was co-funded by the European Commission. The 25 member states of the European Union, the candidate countries, relevant European institutions and bodies, and representatives of civil society were all in attendance at the conference. I do not consider it appropriate to put personal information relating to the delegates into the public domain.
160 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of letters since July 2003 proposing deportation which have been sent to migrant parents who had applied for residency on the basis of parentage of an Irish child prior to February 2003; and the number of this group of persons who have been granted leave to remain; and the number who have been deported. [17006/04]
The number of letters that have issued to parents of Irish-born children since 18 July 2003 proposing deportation from the State and who had made a residency application on that basis before 19 February 2003 is 2,196. Of this number, eight have been granted leave to remain and two have been deported.
161 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons who had applied for residency on the basis of parentage of an Irish child before February 2003 but had not received a decision on their application who were from the new member states of the EU and who are now entitled to be here under EU treaty rights. [17007/04]
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Applications for permission to remain on the basis of parentage of an Irish-born child are not recorded in a manner which would provide for a breakdown of the nationalities of the applicants. There were 11,493 such applications on hands on 19 February 2003. I can inform the Deputy that nationality figures are available on decisions made on such applications. In 2002 there were 4,076 approvals on such applications, of which 261, 6.4%, related to nationals of accession states that joined the EU on 1 May 2004.
162 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is or will be plans to site a prison in the Kilcock area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17030/04]
I can inform the Deputy that there are no immediate plans for the siting of a prison in the Kilcock area. However, as part of the process to identify possible sites for the replacement of the prison complex at Mountjoy, the Office of Public Works have made inquiries, which included the placing of advertisements in the national press, and arising from this process approximately 30 potential sites have been submitted to me for consideration.
In view of the importance of identifying the most appropriate site and in the light of the large number of potential sites, I have decided to establish an expert group, chaired by my Department with input from the Office of Public Works and the Irish Prison Service, to examine the potential sites on the basis of comprehensive and objective criteria and to report back to me. I propose to await the results of the considerations of this group before proceeding further.
163 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will intervene in this immigration and citizenship case (details supplied); and to give the maximum support and assistance. [17031/04]
The person in question arrived in the State in August 2002 and made an application for asylum. In December 2002, she gave birth. She withdrew her asylum application and applied for residency on the basis of parentage of that Irish born child.
Following the decision of the Supreme Court in the cases of L & O, the separate procedure which then existed to enable persons to apply to reside in the State on the sole basis of parentage of an Irish born child ended on 19 February 2003. The Government decided that the separate procedure would not apply to cases which were outstanding on that date. There is a large number of such cases outstanding at present, including the case to which the Deputy refers.
Since the person in question does not have an alternative legal basis for remaining in this jurisdiction the issue of permission to remain will be considered, but only in the context of a ministerial proposal to make a deportation order. In that context, a notification of a proposal to make a deportation order issued to the person in question on 5 April 2004 and she was given an opportunity to make representations in relation to it. If, in the light of those representations and the range of factors set out in section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, it is decided not to make a deportation order she will be given leave to remain on a humanitarian basis. Given the large number of such cases on hand, I am unable to say at this stage when the file will be further examined.
164 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an application will be expedited for permission to remain in the State in the name of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999; if consideration will be given on humanitarian grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17037/04]
The husband in question arrived in the State in March 2001 and made an application for asylum. His wife arrived in the State in December 2001 and made an asylum application. Both asylum applications were refused in June 2002. The wife gave birth in October 2002 and the couple applied for residency based on parentage of that Irish-born child.
Following the decision of the Supreme Court in the cases of L & O, the separate procedure which then existed to enable persons to apply to reside in the State on the sole basis of parentage of an Irish born child ended on 19 February 2003. The Government decided that the separate procedure would not apply to cases which were outstanding on that date. There is a large number of such cases outstanding at present, including the case to which the Deputy refers.
Since the persons in question do not have an alternative legal basis for remaining in this jurisdiction the issue of permission to remain will be considered, but only in the context of a ministerial proposal to make a deportation order. In that context, a notification of a proposal to make a deportation order issued to the persons in question on 8 April 2004 and they were given an opportunity to make representations in relation to it. If, in the light of those representations and the range of factors set out in section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, the Minister decides not to make a deportation order they will be given leave to remain on a humanitarian basis. Given the large number of such cases on hand I am unable to say at this stage when the file will be further examined.
165 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding dealings for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [17038/04]
I am informed by the Registrar of Titles of the following information in relation to the four Land Commission schedule applications. Schedule numbers 90902 and 90103 were completed on 29 April 2004. Schedule number 90104 was completed on 28 May 2004.
I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 760 of 27 April 2004 in relation to schedule number 91922 where I stated that the Registrar of Titles had informed me that there is no reference to the individual referred to by the Deputy or any other party with the same surname in the application the subject of schedule number 91922 and that this application is also receiving attention in the Land Registry.
166 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if applications have been received from towns in County Mayo for a Garda closed circuit television system; and the position regarding the provision of grant aid for these projects. [17039/04]
As the Deputy may be aware Castlebar is one of 17 locations set to receive new Garda town centre CCTV systems, subject to the availability of funds. These locations are: Athlone, Ballyfermot, Bray, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Dundalk, Dun Laoghaire, Ennis, Finglas, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Tallaght and Waterford.
Phase 1 of the scheme comprises Bray, Dundalk, Dun Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway and Limerick and the installation of these systems is at various stages of completion. Phase 2 of the programme of CCTV implementation will consist of Athlone, Clondalkin, Tallaght and Waterford. Phase 3 comprises Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar, Clonmel, Ennis, Kilkenny and Sligo. The planning for the installation of these systems is scheduled to commence later this year.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that an application for a Garda CCTV system in Ballina has been received by the CCTV advisory committee. This committee was established by the Garda Commissioner to advise on all matters relating to CCTV systems. This application is currently under consideration by the advisory committee along with applications from other cities and towns throughout the country.
A grant-aid scheme has been launched to facilitate community based groups who wish to install their own local CCTV system. Grant assistance of up to €100,000 will, subject to the availability of funds, be obtainable from my Department towards the cost of such schemes. It will be up to the community groups, in conjunction with the relevant local authority, to install, maintain and monitor the community-based CCTV schemes. To qualify for grant aid, certain minimum standards will have to be met and the Garda will have to be allowed access to the system when and as they require it. The Department has received a significant number of expressions of interest — in excess of 200 — in the community-based CCTV scheme. An application prospectus has been prepared by the Department which provides information on how to apply for grant-aid funding, outlines the application process and identifies the main issues that applicants will need to consider. Copies of this prospectus are available on request from my Department's Garda administration division.
A code of practice, drawn up in co-operation with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, and detailed technical specifications, drawn up by the Garda Síochána, are almost complete.
When both the code of practice and the technical specifications have been finalised my Department will issue copies of same to all communities who expressed an interest in the community-based CCTV scheme and any applications subsequently received will be evaluated and processed. Expressions of interest in this community-based CCTV scheme have been received from Achill Sound, Ballina and Castlebar.
167 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number and location of Garda stations in the Roscommon-east Galway Garda division without a fax machine; the number and location of rural stations within the division without an answering machine and the number and location of such stations without a phone diversion to the nearest manned station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17050/04]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources that all divisional, district and area headquarters stations are equipped with fax facilities. In addition, each divisional officer has nominated three sub-district stations for the installation of fax machines on a prioritised basis. All other requirements are treated on a case-by-case basis. This policy is reviewed from time to time. There are 28 Garda stations in the Roscommon-east Galway division without a fax machine, as follows: Ahascragh, Glenamaddy, Athleague, Keadue, Ballinlough, Kilconly, Ballintubber, Kilconnell, Ballyfarnon, Kiltomer, Ballyforan, Knockcroghery, Ballymoe, Loughglynn, Barnaderg, Menlough, Clonark, Milltown, Cootehall, Moylough, Corofin, Strokestown, Creggs, Taughmaconnell, Elphin, Tulsk, Frenchpark and Williamstown.
All stations in the Roscommon-east Galway division that open for less than 24 hours have the capability to activate call diversion to their relevant district headquarters station. It is Garda policy not to use answering machines. As a result, there are no answering machines fitted in the Roscommon-east Galway division.
168 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has plans to use the Criminal Assets Bureau to target the assets of prostitution kingpins who are running prostitutes in the Arbour Hill, Montpelier and Bricin’s Park areas of Dublin 7; and if he has plans to introduce provisions to name and shame those found guilty of soliciting prostitution. [17100/04]
The Criminal Assets Bureau continues to apply its statutory remit, under the Revenue Acts and Proceeds of Crime Act, to targeting the assets of persons known or suspected to have generated income from criminal activity including prostitution. I have no plans to introduce new provisions as suggested by the Deputy.
169 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if representatives from his Department or the Irish Prison Service will be attending the conference, Private Finance in the Criminal Justice Sector, organised by SMI and taking place in London on 23-24 June 2004; and if so, the titles of those representatives and the purpose of their participation. [17102/04]
No decision has been taken in respect of attendance by officials of my Department at the conference in question. As far as the Irish Prisons Service is concerned, I am advised that it does not intend nominating a representative to attend.
170 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the implications for policy in this State of the European Court of Human Rights recent ruling that EU States have a positive obligation to facilitate Travellers’ nomadic way of life. [17103/04]
The ruling referred to by the Deputy was published on Thursday, 27 May by the ECHR, and has just come to hand. I have referred the ruling to Attorney General for his advice on the matter.
171 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether his recent public characterisation of the Equality Authority as a ginger group was an inappropriate way for a Minister responsible for equality in the State to describe the statutory agency charged with giving effect to the State’s equality legislation; and if he will withdraw his comment on that basis. [17106/04]
The Equality Authority has a statutory function to work towards the elimination of discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity. I described the Equality Authority as "a Statutory Body and a Ginger Group", not in any way to disparage or undervalue the work of the authority, but in recognition of the robust, highly active, pioneering approach taken by the authority and its CEO in promoting possible new policy initiatives for the equality agenda. The authority is independent of me and there will necessarily be occasions on which the authority and the Minister of the day will not agree on all of the authority's proposals.
172 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for his public assertion that social equality and a rights-based society will lead to feudalism; if he will give an example of a feudal society that was egalitarian in structure; and if he will give an example of a feudal society that was rights-based in the sense as understood in the 21st century. [17107/04]
Most people would acknowledge that in any society, flexibility, choice, dynamism, and the general freedom to act and to innovate are qualities which provide the climate for change, growth, wealth creation, and social and cultural development. This is by no means to suggest that a society which is devoid of any system of enforceable rights, or has only a primitive rights regime, can reasonably expect to be regarded by its own citizens, or by the world at large, as an enlightened or liberal society nor is it reasonable to regard a society that is characterised by an unremitting search for codified restrictions on the freedoms of its citizens as one that is liberal, enlightened or in any sense likely to serve the better interests of its citizens, including their overall economic interests.
Like most things in life, it is a matter of finding the right balance. I believe that it does no disservice to the worthy objective of advancing equality in society to point out that, unless that endeavour is characterised by reason and common sense and unless we are free to ask whether each and every identified right requires statutory clothing, the society, in the end, will tend to suffer rather than gain. Put another way, there is always a potential trade-off between two different forms of equality, namely, equality of opportunity and equality of outcome.
174 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the regulations that exist regarding the use of handcuffs by the Garda on children. [17118/04]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the use of handcuffs by members of the Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda code. All Garda trainees receive instruction in the use and care of handcuffs as part of their training programme. Other members of the force receive instruction on the use and care of handcuffs at in-service training. I have been further informed that the general policy of the Garda Síochána is that handcuffs should not be used on children. However, because every arrest has its own unique features and indeed hazards, the decision whether to use handcuffs or not rests with the particular Garda involved. The principle to be applied in such cases is that the degree of force to be used in any situation must always be moderated and proportioned to the circumstances of each particular instance, and no more force should be used than is necessary.
175 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on the residency status of a person (details supplied) married to an Irish citizen. [17119/04]
An application for permission to remain in the State based on marriage to an Irish national was received by my Department in June 2003. Applications of this type are dealt with in strict chronological order and are currently taking approximately twelve months to process from the date of receipt.
176 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the resources which were allocated to the traffic watch scheme during its pilot scheme; the additional resources which were given when it went national; the future resources he plans to provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17125/04]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources that a telephone system at Thomastown Garda station and a dedicated lo-call number were allocated to the traffic watch scheme during its pilot scheme. The tasks of call taking were in addition to the ordinary duties of the gardaí on duty and training and briefing information was provided to all members operating the system. When the scheme went nationwide on 18 February 2004 an automated answering service began transferring callers to one of six call centres. Training and briefing information was provided to all members operating the system at these six locations.
The road signs, both for the pilot scheme and nationwide scheme, are provided by the National Roads Authority. The traffic watch system is being kept under review and Garda management are satisfied that the resources allocated to this scheme at present are sufficient to meet the demands of the scheme.
177 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an application will be expedited for family reunification in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and the timeframe in this process. [17126/04]
The refugee in question made an application for family reunification in March 2004. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. When this investigation is completed, the commissioner will prepare and forward a report to my Department. Upon receipt of this report the application will be carefully considered and a decision will issue shortly thereafter. The timeframe for completion of the investigation will depend on the timeliness of the applicant's responses to requests for documentation and information from the office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner.
178 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, following the recent decision of the Advocate General and pending the decision of the European Court of Justice, he will cease deporting non-national parents along with their Irish born child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17127/04]
I have not departed from the Government's previously enunciated policy in these cases having regard to the Supreme Court judgment in the L & O cases.
179 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry had, prior to their appointment to office as judge, been previously appointed as a member of any State agency, board, committee or other similar posts; if so, the details thereof, including the total remuneration or expense received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17128/04]
I am informed that the person referred to in the Deputy's question was appointed by my predecessor as a member of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal with effect from 3 August 2001. I am further informed that he never discharged any functions in the tribunal and received no remuneration in respect of that appointment. He was appointed by the President to be a judge of the Circuit Court on 1 November 2001 and subsequently resigned from the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. I am not aware of any other appointment or position in respect of which my Department has any function to which the person referred to was appointed.
180 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the statement in the 2003 report on the Mountjoy visiting committee that padded cells continued to be used on a regular basis; the number of persons held in padded cells at Mountjoy in 2003; the longest period of continuous confinement in a padded cell at Mountjoy in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17129/04]
During the year 2003, special cells were used on 428 occasions in Mountjoy Prison. In 95% of cases the time period was less than two days and the longest period was 14 days at the direction of the prison medical officer.
It is important to note that these cells are not used for routine detention or punishment purposes. The need to use them arises when a secure, safe place is required where prisoners can remain under special observation with minimal opportunity to cause damage to themselves or to others.
An implementation group set up in the prison service to determine the most appropriate redesign for the traditional padded cells and other related matters has completed its deliberations and have presented revised guidelines for the future use of these cells. In this regard, Mountjoy Prison is in the process of developing two cells in the base area of the prison based on the guidelines of the expert group.
181 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the 12 May 2004 report in a newspaper (details supplied) which quoted a prison physician at Castlerea stating that prisoners can be left in padded cells for two to four weeks at a time; the number of persons confined to padded cells at Castlerea in the past 12 months; the longest period of continuous confinement in a padded cell at Castlerea during that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17130/04]
I am informed that from 1 June 2003 to 31 May 2004, a total of 41 prisoners were detained in the padded cell at Castlerea Prison. Of this total, nine prisoners were detained in this cell on more than one occasion. The duration of being so detained varied from two hours to a maximum of five days. Only one prisoner spent a five day period in the cell and in the majority of cases the duration was one day or less. The sort of prolonged detentions referred to in the Deputy's question did not happen. It is important to note that these special cells are not used for routine detention or punishment purposes. In contrast, they are only used in cases where a prisoner is in a highly agitated state and where he is at risk of harming himself or others.
An implementation group set up in the prison service to determine the most appropriate redesign for the traditional padded cells and other related matters has completed its deliberations and have presented revised guidelines for the future use of these cells. The cell in Castlerea Prison will be replaced in accordance with the revised guidelines.
182 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the application by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for a residents permit as a parent of an Irish-born child made to his Department on 7 August 2002 will be processed. [17131/04]
The person in question entered the State on foot of a work permit issued for the period 22 February 2002 to 21 February 2003. His wife had entered the State in April 2000 and made an application for asylum. She gave birth in July 2000 and withdrew her asylum application and made an application for residency on the basis of parentage of that Irish-born child. This was granted in March 2001. The person in question made an application in August 2002 for residency based on parentage of the Irish-born child.
Following the decision of the Supreme Court in the cases of L & O, the separate procedure which then existed to enable persons to apply to reside in the State on the sole basis of parentage of an Irish-born child ended on 19 February 2003. The Government decided that the separate procedure would not apply to cases which were outstanding on that date. There are a large number of such cases outstanding at present, including the case to which the Deputy refers.
Since the person in question does not have an alternative legal basis for remaining in this jurisdiction the issue of permission to remain will be considered, but only in the context of a ministerial proposal to deport them. If, in the light of representations received and the range of factors set out in section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, the Minister decides not to make a deportation order he will be given leave to remain on a humanitarian basis. Given the large number of such cases on hand I am unable to say at this stage when the file will be examined.
183 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a capital grant under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006, will be awarded to a person, details supplied, in County Westmeath. [17141/04]
An application for capital grant assistance from the 2000-2006 Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme was received from this private child care provider on 3 October 2003. The day to day administration of the programme is undertaken by Area Development Management Limited, ADM, which has been engaged by my Department to carry out thorough assessments against the programme criteria of all applications for grant assistance, on my behalf.
I have made inquiries and understand that this project is currently in the final stages of the assessment process. On completion of this process, the project will be referred to the programme appraisal committee, chaired by my Department, which makes a funding recommendation to me before I make a final decision on the matter. In the interim, it would be premature of me to comment further on this capital grant application.
184 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that there is a legal obligation on local authorities to provide adequate accommodation for Travellers living on halting sites when they are not in a position to provide accommodation from their own resources, particularly when they are unable to repay a local authority loan. [16998/04]
197 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities do not believe there is an obligation on them to provide accommodation to members of the Traveller community; if his attention has further been drawn to the number of disabled children who are living in completely substandard caravans due to the view of local authorities that the only obligation on them is to provide basic halting sites; and if he will take steps to ensure that there is a legal obligation on local authorities to provide adequate accommodation for Travellers living on halting sites when they are not in a position to provide accommodation from their own resources, particularly when they are unable to repay a local authority loan, which may be all that is available to them for the purpose of acquiring a home. [17099/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 197 together.
All relevant local authorities have been made aware that under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, they were required to prepare, adopt, and take any reasonable steps necessary to implement five year Traveller accommodation programmes to cover the period 2000 to 2004. All relevant local authorities adopted such programmes and are in the process of implementing them. Local authorities are required to prepare and adopt a new programme to take effect from the expiry of the existing programmes.
On the facilities to be provided on halting sites, there are adequate arrangements in place to address the issue of special needs. One of a series of guidelines on Traveller specific accommodation developed with the assistance of the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee and issued to local authorities by my Department in October 1997, outlined the facilities to be provided on residential caravan parks for Travellers. These guidelines were issued to assist local authorities in providing a reasonable standard of facilities on halting sites and set out guiding principles on selecting suitable sites, formulating a design brief, making arrangements for site maintenance and management, and meeting fire, safety and emergency requirements. Local authorities are also required to take into account as far as possible my Department's guidelines on social housing generally. These guidelines stress the need for consultation with the relevant families and the identification at an early stage of any special needs to be met, which can be addressed in the design process.
As well as providing 100% capital funding for the provision of new accommodation to meet these standards, my Department also provides funding to local authorities to upgrade existing substandard halting sites to a modern standard. Local authorities are also required to take account of the guidelines in formulating proposals for such refurbishments. Further assistance is available to Traveller families under the terms of the scheme of loans and grants for the purchase of caravans by Travellers. Under that scheme, both the local authority and the applicant must satisfy themselves that the caravan to be purchased represents value for money, and that it meet the needs of the Traveller household concerned, before the loan is sanctioned. A number of local authorities have in place schemes for the replacement of caravans in emergency situations. My Department has, in exceptional cases, agreed to fund the provision of mobile homes where the circumstances of a particular case warrant such assistance.
185 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will consider amending regulations and arrangements for Litir Um Thoghchán at election time in order that only one piece of election literature is delivered to each home, in the interests of the environment. [16989/04]
Section 78 of the Electoral Act 1997 provided that communications to electors under the free postage facility may consist of one communication to each household. However, these arrangements have not been activated to date due to concerns relating mainly to the definition of a household and the absence of a statutory list of households to which material may be sent. My Department will examine this matter further.
186 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he plans to take to alleviate Travellers living on the sides of roads with no facilities since the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 came into force; and if he intends bringing in legislative measures to ensure that Travellers’ accommodation needs are met. [17009/04]
195 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason after five years, and after the expenditure of so much money, so little has been achieved under the Housing (Travellers Accommodation) Act 1998 for Travellers still living on the side of the road with no facilities; if he will introduce real legislative measures to ensure that Travellers do not have to wait another five years to find that they still have not had their accommodation needs met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17097/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 195 together.
The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides the legislative framework for addressing the accommodation needs of Travellers. Under that Act, each relevant local authority was required to prepare, adopt and implement Traveller accommodation programmes to meet the accommodation needs of Travellers. The first programmes covered the period 2000 to 2004. Further programmes will be put in place following the expiry of the current programmes.
The operation of the 1998 Act is currently under review. I requested the national Traveller accommodation consultative committee to advise me in relation to the review and the operation of the Act and to report on its findings to me. I expect this report to be finalised in the near future and I will consider any recommendations arising from that report.
While progress under the programmes adopted by all relevant housing authorities has been slower than originally expected, the accommodation provided under the programmes is addressing the requirements of Traveller families and, in particular, is reducing the number of Traveller families on unauthorised sites. As shown by the annual count of Traveller families undertaken by local authorities each year, 1,369 additional Traveller families were accommodated by, or with the assistance of, local authorities between 2000 and the end of 2003. This figure compares to an increase of 516 in the number of families accommodated in the previous four year period.
Prior to the adoption of the programmes, the number of Traveller families on unauthorised sites had been on the increase. Since the adoption of the programmes, this trend has been reversed and the number of families has reduced in each of the four years of the programmes to date. At the beginning of 2000, there were 1,207 Traveller families on unauthorised sites. This has since been reduced by 419 to 788 families on unauthorised sites at the end of 2003. While this is a welcome trend, it has not been sufficient to address the needs of all families on unauthorised sites. However, I look forward to a renewed impetus in the provision of accommodation for Travellers when the next programmes come into effect.
187 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the safeguards he has put in place to protect the hundreds of Travellers living on unauthorised sites from being prosecuted and having their homes confiscated by the Garda under section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002, while they wait for local authority accommodation. [17010/04]
196 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way in which he proposes to protect the almost 800 Traveller families living on unauthorised sites while they wait for local authority accommodation from being prosecuted and having their homes confiscated by the Garda under section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002; if he, as the Minister responsible for accommodation, will take this matter up with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17098/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 196 together.
Part 2(a) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 was inserted by section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the appropriate Minister for the purposes of the 1994 Act and enforcement under its provisions is a matter for the Garda.
To alleviate the position of Traveller families on unauthorised sites, local authorities as part of their five year Traveller accommodation programmes and, having regard to local circumstances, provide both temporary and emergency accommodation to Traveller families pending the provision of permanent accommodation under the programmes. My Department has issued guidelines to local authorities on the standards of accommodation to be provided on such sites and provides 100% capital assistance to local authorities for all such facilities provided.
While progress has been slower than originally expected, the number of Traveller families on unauthorised sites has reduced from 1,207 at the commencement of the programmes to 788 at the end of 2003.
188 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Question No. 775 of 29 April 2004, in view of the fact that all outstanding information has been furnished by the local authority, if he will sanction the raising of a loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17049/04]
Additional information, which was received in my Department on 1 June 2004, is under examination and a decision will issue in the matter as soon as possible.
189 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he proposes to increase the maximum loan available under the shared ownership loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17058/04]
My Department is currently examining the terms of the income and loan limits for the shared ownership scheme and the 1999 affordable housing schemes, taking into account the movement in house prices, the effectiveness of various schemes in meeting the needs of the relevant target group and the availability of mortgage finance in the private sector.
190 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Questions Nos. 409 and 410 of 2 March 2004, the details of all payments due to managers, assistant managers and directors of services of local authorities from May 2001 to 31 December 2003; if these details will be given as soon as available, as advised in replies to previous parliamentary questions on this subject; and when these payments will issue to the persons concerned. [17091/04]
As indicated in the reply to Questions Nos. 409 and 410 of 2 March 2004, the performance related awards scheme for managers, assistant managers and directors of services came into operation with effect from 1 January 2003. Awards for the year 2003 have not yet been finalised. As advised previously, a copy of the scheme was forwarded to the Deputy on 9 March 2004. When the awards for 2003 are finalised, an analysis will be published. However, information which could be used to identify individuals will not be made public.
191 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if all regulations in relation to the building of dwelling houses will be made available to applicants in the planning documentation. [17092/04]
In order to improve public awareness of the requirements of the building regulations, circular letter PD 3/2003, issued by my Department on 14 April 2003, I requested that all planning authorities should issue a copy of departmental leaflet, PL11 — Guide to the Building Control System, to every recipient of planning permission for housing developments. A similar request was also made to An Bord Pleanála, in connection with the notification of the grant of planning permission, on appeal, for housing developments. I am satisfied that leaflet PL11 provides adequate guidance to house builders of their obligations under the building regulations.
192 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of new fire stations built in County Donegal in each year from 1988 to date in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17093/04]
193 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of locations of fire stations built or upgraded in each year from 1997 to date in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17094/04]
194 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will outline Donegal County Council’s five-year fire station replacement programme; the top five priorities that were assigned in that programme further to the report brought a number of years ago before the council members for priority ratification; if a station, details supplied, is on that list; and the reason it is being seemingly bypassed by stations further down on two different priority lists that had been presented down the years to council members. [17095/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 to 194, inclusive, together.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to fire station projects undertaken in County Donegal and nationally in recent years is set out in tables 1 and 2, respectively. With regard to the number of stations constructed in Donegal, as can be seen from table 1, six new replacement stations have been completed at a total cost of around €5 million. In addition, I have recently announced approval to the council to accept a tender for the construction of a further new station at Killybegs at an all in cost of over €1 million, and also that new stations at Glenties and Dungloe may be advanced to construction over the 2004 to 2005 period.
Details of Donegal County Council's proposed five year fire station replacement programme, adopted by the council in 1999, and indicating the priority afforded by the council at that time are set out in table 3. The council's programme was set to be subject to review and adjustment depending on availability of sites and any problems at local level as well as the overall funding available under my Department's capital programme, the fire cover needs in the area, the competing demands of other fire authorities and value for money.
It is understood from the council that progress on the proposed Moville fire station project was delayed due to problems in acquiring a suitable site. The council's first request for approval in principle to the Moville station project was received in November 2003 and is being assessed by my Department, having regard to the fire cover needs in the area, the technical merits of the proposal and the requirement to progress projects already approved for commencement under the capital programme.
Earlier this year my Department initiated a review with fire authorities of all proposed fire station projects along with those in planning with a view to obtaining the best outcome from the fire station construction programme nationally. As part of this review, my Department sought an indication from each fire authority as to the relative priority of its proposed projects. However, in its February 2004 response, Donegal listed seven new fire station projects, including one at Moville, but without indicating the relative priority of these projects.
|
New fire stations completed in County Donegal from 1988-2004 to date. |
|
|---|---|
|
Location |
Year |
|
Milford |
1998 |
|
Buncrana |
2000 |
|
Letterkenny HQ |
2003 |
|
Falcarragh |
2003 |
|
Donegal town |
2004 |
|
Carndonagh |
2004 |
|
Major fire station projects completed nationally each year since 1997.* |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Year |
Location |
Type of works |
|
1997 |
Listowel |
New station |
|
Kilkenny |
Extension & improvements |
|
|
1998 |
Kilbeggan |
New |
|
Kilrush |
New |
|
|
Dunshaughlin |
Extension to drill yard |
|
|
Milford |
New |
|
|
Kells |
New |
|
|
Wicklow town |
New |
|
|
1999 |
Tara Street |
New |
|
Gort |
New |
|
|
Dolphin’s Barn |
Extension & refurbishment |
|
|
Athy |
New |
|
|
Ashbourne |
New |
|
|
2000 |
Hacketstown |
New |
|
Ballyvolane |
New |
|
|
Ardee |
New |
|
|
Buncrana |
New |
|
|
2001 |
Tubbercurry |
New |
|
Naas |
New |
|
|
Clonmel Training Centre |
Extension & improvements |
|
|
Tramore |
Extension |
|
|
Bailieborough |
New |
|
|
Ballincollig |
New |
|
|
Kilronan |
Extension & improvements |
|
|
2002 |
Carlow HQ |
New |
|
Swords |
New |
|
|
Dowra |
New |
|
|
Arklow |
New |
|
|
Scarriff |
New |
|
|
Skibbereen |
New |
|
|
Monasterevin |
Extension |
|
|
Ennis |
Extension |
|
|
2003 |
Callan |
New |
|
Portlaoise HQ |
New |
|
|
Falcarragh |
New |
|
|
Letterkenny HQ |
New |
|
|
Fermoy |
New |
|
|
Birr |
New |
|
|
2004, to date |
Ballaghaderreen |
New |
|
Donegal town |
New |
|
|
Carndonagh |
New |
|
Donegal County Council's proposed five year fire station replacement programme 1999. |
|
|---|---|
|
Station |
Number of bays |
|
Letterkenny |
Four |
|
Donegal town |
Two |
|
Killybegs |
Three |
|
Moville |
Two |
|
Falcarragh |
Two |
|
Bundoran-Ballyshannon |
Three |
|
Stranorlar |
Two |
|
Carndonagh |
Two |
|
Dungloe |
Two |
|
Glenties |
Two |
|
Gweedore |
Two |
|
Glencolmcille |
Two |
198 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take to provide the necessary finance to enable the water scheme to be completed in Moate, in particular to enable the water to be brought from the location at which it ends at the Gap House, Moate, up to the reservoir in Moate, in view of the fact same is urgently required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17115/04]
Long-term water supply requirements for Moate are being addressed as part of the south Westmeath regional water supply scheme, which has been approved for funding under my Department's water services investment programme 2004-2006 to commence construction in 2006 at an estimated cost of €58 million. I understand that supply improvements for the low level area of Moate that were approved by my Department as an advance element of the scheme have been completed. My Department has no proposals from Westmeath County Council in relation to any further advance works under the scheme.
199 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if funding has been sought and will be granted for making permanent a bridge over the Tramore river on Kinsale Road, which incorporates the Cork city boundary. [17116/04]
The improvement of non-national roads and bridges in Cork city is a matter for Cork City Council. Such schemes are funded from the authority's own resources supplemented by grants from my Department.
In July 2003, local authorities were invited by my Department to submit applications for improvement works, including bridge works, on non-national roads, for consideration for funding in 2004 under the EU co-financed specific improvement grants scheme. While Cork City Council's application for funding in 2004 under this scheme included an application for funding of €50,000 in 2004 in respect of improvement works to the bridge over the Tramore River on Kinsale Road, this project was not among the council's projects selected for funding in 2004. All applications submitted under this scheme were considered in my Department having regard to EU eligibility criteria, the need to prioritise projects, competing demands from other local authorities and the funds available for the scheme in 2004.
My Department will again be seeking applications under the EU co-financed specific improvement grants scheme later this year and it will, of course, be open to the council to submit a funding application for consideration under this scheme in 2005.
203 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he has received confirmation from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in the matter of once off rural housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17066/04]
As the Deputy is aware, on 4 March last, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, published the consultation draft of guidelines for planning authorities on sustainable rural housing. These draft guidelines are vitally important in providing clarity and consistency in the implementation by planning authorities of Government policy in relation to rural housing. They provide a more detailed framework for planners, based on what the national spatial strategy has to say on rural housing policy. The guidelines reflect exactly what I have been saying for the past number of years. As I said in my statement at the time, welcoming the publication of the draft guidelines, what is needed is rural housing within the confines of good planning practice. The consultation draft reflects my position on this issue and it reflects Government policy on the matter.
204 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he intends to offer assistance to rural or urban community groups involved in promoting the Irish language and culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17067/04]
205 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he or his Department have supported groups involved in promoting the Irish language and culture in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17068/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.
Under my Department's Gaeltacht improvement schemes, capital grants are available for the development of piers and other marine works in the Gaeltacht, the improvement of Gaeltacht roads, and the provision and improvement of community facilities, such as halls and sports fields. These grants are aimed at supporting the social, cultural and economic life of the Gaeltacht areas, as well as promoting and strengthening the Irish language as the community language within these areas. A total of €9.975 million has been allocated for these schemes in 2004.
Annual assistance is also available for organisations working for the acquisition and maintenance of Irish in the Gaeltacht. A total of €3 million has been allocated for these projects in 2004. Funding is also provided for qualified households in the Gaeltacht who accommodate Irish language students attending a recognised college.
Under the community development programme, core funding is provided to over 170 community-based projects that target disadvantage and social exclusion. Pléaráca Teo, a project based in the south Connemara Gaeltacht, has been in receipt of core funding under the community development programme since 1997. The project's core budget for 2003 was €100,000. One of its key objectives is to enhance the power of the community and reinforce its awareness as a Gaeltacht community, by placing an emphasis on community arts as a means of community development.
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge is funded under the funding scheme to support the role of federations, networks and umbrella bodies in the community and voluntary sector. Funding totalling €126,000 has been approved over the duration of the scheme, three years. Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge is the umbrella body for the voluntary Irish language organisations and comprises 21 member organisations.
Under the cultural sub-measure of the Leader programme, Leader groups can fund groups promoting the Irish language. In addition, my Department has appointed Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta as the Leader group specifically for the Gaeltacht regions.
My Department provides co-funding for Foras na Gaeilge, the Irish language agency established under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, in the amount of €14,020,500 for 2004. Foras na Gaeilge provides extensive support on an all-Ireland basis to groups involved in promoting the Irish language and culture. The agency also receives funding from the co-sponsoring Department in Northern Ireland, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
In addition, my Department provides financial assistance to groups involved in promoting the Irish language and culture through Ciste na Gaeilge. Commitments under Ciste na Gaeilge in 2004 to such groups amount to €2.6 million.
Under the CLÁR programme, Foras na Gaeilge and CLÁR jointly fund an Irish signage scheme. The funding is on a 1:1 basis for community signage up to a total cost of €4,000 per village. For private signage, a three way equal funding split operated between CLÁR, Foras na Gaeilge and the private individuals involved, subject to maximum of €1,000 each from CLÁR and Foras na Gaeilge. A bilingual townland signage scheme is also operational based on a three way equal funding split, involving CLÁR, Foras na Gaeilge and the local community, subject to maximum of €6,000 per parish-area. The Leader groups co-ordinate the projects for community groups and voluntary organisations and for private groups-businesses, while the county development board, CDB, co-ordinates the projects for townland signage.
206 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which he has awarded financial assistance towards community or other groups under the heading of rural affairs within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17069/04]
My Department has provided financial assistance to community and other groups dealing with rural affairs through a number of different schemes and programmes. These include the Leader programme, CLÁR, the rural development fund and PEACE II, as well as the community and local development programmes.
The Leader programmes are EU programmes in place to encourage the implementation of integrated, high-quality and innovative strategies in rural communities, including a number of rural enterprises projects. Some 22 local action groups throughout the country deliver the EU Leader+ initiative. The allocation for Leader+ for the period 2000 to 2006 is €73.6 million, which is co-funded by the EU. The Leader national rural development programme closely complements the Leader+ initiative and is operated by 13 local groups in areas of the country not covered by Leader+. It also provides nationwide coverage for rural and agricultural tourism and focuses more on mainstream activities. The allocation for 2000 to 2006 is €75.7 million, which is also co-funded by the EU. One of the key aims of the Leader programme is to maintain and develop local rural communities and to create opportunities for rural people to live and work in their local area.
CLÁR is a regeneration programme targeted at areas of specific population decline. This programme co-ordinates existing sources of public and private finance and provides additional stimulus funding for the provision of small scale economic and social infrastructure to help rural communities overcome local difficulties and achieve access to a range of essential services such as water supply, sewerage disposal, road access, broadband communication, community and economic infrastructure, etc. This programme has vividly demonstrated that small amounts of public funding, specifically targeted, can have an enormous impact in disadvantaged rural areas experiencing low or declining populations. Expenditure under the programme amounted to €14.14 million in 2002 and to €8.613 million in 2003 which, it is estimated, levered out a further €21 million in related public and private expenditure in those two years. The provision in the Estimates for 2004 is €13.49 million, which constitutes a 57% increase in the 2003 outturn.
The areas targeted under the CLÁR programme have and will continue to benefit from assistance under the range of measures operated. These areas are parts of counties Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and all of County Leitrim. Community based projects attracting less than 50% public funding under Leader may qualify for CLÁR top-up funding, subject to certain conditions. As this scheme is demand led, there is no specific allocation. To date in 2004, approximately €303,000 of CLÁR funding for six projects has been approved.
My Department shares joint responsibility with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland, for two rural development measures under the PEACE II programme, priority 5, measure 6 (a) and 6(b). Three projects have been approved to date under both measures, with a total funding package of €3.3 million.
My Department provides funding for these programmes, which operate across rural and urban areas. Details on funding of these programmes are set out in my reply to today's Questions Nos. 208 and 209.
207 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications received in his Department for the various forms of grant assistance available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17070/04]
The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The information provided relates to the period from 1 January 2003, the first full year of my Department, to date.
|
Schemes |
Number of applications |
|
Community and local development |
|
|
Community development programme |
Two |
|
2003 programme of grants for locally-based community and voluntary organisations |
2,377 |
|
2004 programme of grants for locally-based community and voluntary organisations |
1,200, scheme closed for applications on 31 May and figure not yet finalised) |
|
2003 scheme of community support for older people |
461 applications from community groups resulting in grant approval of 11,921 individual older people |
|
2004 scheme of community support for older people |
This scheme will be advertised shortly |
|
Funding scheme to support the role of federations, networks and umbrella bodies. |
134 |
|
Rural development schemes |
|
|
PEACE II Measure 5.6b |
8 |
|
INTERREG Ireland-Northern Ireland programme |
18 |
|
Under CLÁR, for the most part, applications are made directly to the other Departments, agencies or local authorities involved. |
|
|
In the case of the following measures, applications are made directly to the CLÁR section of my Department. |
|
|
Single to three-phase electricity conversion measure: |
143 |
|
Primary school outdoors play facilities enhancement scheme: |
483 |
|
Rural development fund |
8 |
|
Islands |
84 |
|
Gaeltacht and Irish language, estimated** |
9,100 |
** A wide range of schemes is operated in the Gaeltacht and Irish language areas of the Department, many of which involve individual applications from substantial numbers of Gaeltacht residents, for example, the Gaeltacht housing scheme, the scheme for Irish speaking households and the scheme for students attending Irish summer colleges, and the figure shown under this heading is an indicative one.
208 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which funding has been provided by his Department in 2004 to date on a county by county basis under the community affairs heading of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17071/04]
209 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding he has made available to bodies under the community affairs aegis of his Department in the current year to date, the funds still to be expended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17072/04]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.
My Department administers a range of programmes designed to support communities as they pursue their own development. The information required by the Deputy in relation to funding provided for these programmes is detailed in the tables below. The Deputy may wish to note that certain programmes have both a community and a rural focus and, therefore, they are reflected in both this reply and the reply to Question No. 206 of today.
|
Scheme-programme |
2004 allocation |
Amount spent |
Balance |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
Community development programme |
20.6 |
8.514 |
12.086 |
|
Programme of grants for locally-based community and voluntary organisations |
2.7 |
Nil |
2.7 |
|
Scheme of community support for older people |
2.4 |
Nil |
2.4 |
|
Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Protestant Aid |
1.333 |
Nil |
1.333 |
|
Funding for national organisations working for the re-integration of ex-prisoners |
0.136 |
0.034 |
0.102 |
|
Support for volunteering |
0.272 |
0.136 |
0.136 |
|
White Paper supports for the community and voluntary sector |
3.888 |
0.728 |
3.16 |
|
County |
Total spent community development projects |
Total spent regional support agencies |
Total spent specialist support agencies |
Total expenditure to date |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Carlow |
38,000 |
38,000 |
||
|
Cavan |
83,850 |
83,850 |
||
|
Clare |
160,300 |
160,300 |
||
|
Cork |
406,091 |
406,091 |
||
|
Donegal |
381,250 |
115,670 |
496,920 |
|
|
Dublin |
2,534,494 |
482,585.42 |
390,500 |
3,407,579.42 |
|
Galway |
458,430 |
82,680 |
541,110 |
|
|
Islands |
245,363.98 |
245,363.98 |
||
|
Kerry |
203,528 |
203,528 |
||
|
Kildare |
160,185.13 |
160,185.13 |
||
|
Kilkenny |
59,700 |
59,700 |
||
|
Laois |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Leitrim |
76,530 |
76,530 |
||
|
Limerick |
381,650 |
140,970 |
522,620 |
|
|
Longford |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Louth |
151,551 |
151,551 |
||
|
Mayo |
321, 639.69 |
321,639.69 |
||
|
Meath |
53,958 |
107,723 |
161,681 |
|
|
Monaghan |
132,344 |
92,996.47 |
225,340.47 |
|
|
Offaly |
50,221 |
50,221 |
||
|
Roscommon |
27,300 |
27,300 |
||
|
Sligo |
93,450 |
93,450 |
||
|
Tipperary |
199,729 |
199,729 |
||
|
Waterford |
241,391 |
93,861 |
335,252 |
|
|
Wesmeath |
50,000 |
54,000 |
104,000 |
|
|
Wexford |
303,820 |
303,820 |
||
|
Wicklow |
138,129 |
138,129 |
||
|
Total |
6,952,904.80 |
1,170,485.89 |
390,500 |
8,513,890.69 |
|
€ |
|
|
All Dublin based: Paid during February and March of 2004 |
135,999.50 |
|
€ |
|
|
Dublin |
572,260.00 |
|
Galway |
71,532.50 |
|
Westmeath |
71,532.50 |
|
Total: |
715,325.00 |
|
Training and supports scheme |
|
|---|---|
|
€ |
|
|
Dublin |
250,000 |
|
Louth |
30,000 |
|
Laois |
10,000 |
|
Westmeath |
10,000 |
|
Meath |
27,500 |
|
Galway |
7,500 |
|
Donegal |
10,000 |
|
Roscommon |
17,500 |
|
Waterford |
9,464 |
|
Cork |
7,500 |
|
Total |
379,464 |
|
Federations, networks and umbrella bodies scheme |
|
|---|---|
|
€ |
|
|
Galway |
112,000 |
|
Westmeath |
27,500 |
|
Dublin |
615,400 |
|
Clare |
53,500 |
|
Kildare |
56,500 |
|
Tipperary |
23,500 |
|
Total |
888,400 |
|
County |
Partnership-community group |
Allocations 2004 |
Total for county |
|
€ |
€ |
||
|
Carlow |
Carlow Area Network Development Organisation, CANDO |
532,922 |
532,922 |
|
Cavan |
Cavan Partnership |
703,828 |
703,828 |
|
Clare |
Éirí Corca Baiscinn |
358,980 |
|
|
Ennis West Partnership |
175,000 |
||
|
Obair Newmarket-on-Fergus Ltd |
145,786 |
679,766 |
|
|
Cork |
Cork City Partnership |
1095,005 |
|
|
Avondhu Development Group |
340,163 |
||
|
Bantry Integrated Development Group |
233,048 |
||
|
East Cork Area Development Ltd |
302,730 |
||
|
I.R.D. Dunhallow Ltd |
448,776 |
||
|
Meitheal Mhuscrai |
135,000 |
2,554,722 |
|
|
Dublin |
Ballyfermot Partnership |
675,567 |
|
|
Ballymun Partnership Ltd |
763,697 |
||
|
Blanchardstown Area Partnership |
719,179 |
||
|
Canal Communities Partnership |
693,477 |
||
|
Clondalkin Partnership |
1,028,287 |
||
|
Dublin Inner City Partnership |
1,028,287 |
||
|
Finglas-Cabra Partnership |
1,017,069 |
||
|
KWCD Partnership |
859,110 |
||
|
Northside Partnership |
1,039,505 |
||
|
Southside Partnership |
876,528 |
||
|
Tallaght Partnership |
1,039,505 |
||
|
Co-operation Fingal |
224,363 |
||
|
Rathmines Information & Community Services Centre Ltd |
277,438 |
10,484,658 |
|
|
Employment Pact |
242,646 |
||
|
Donegal |
Donegal Local Development Company |
984,477 |
|
|
Inishowen Partnership Board |
690,524 |
2,350,883 |
|
|
Pairtíocht Gaeltacht Thir Chonaill |
675,882 |
||
|
Galway |
Cumas Teo Páirtíocht Chonamara |
638,803 |
|
|
Galway City Partnership |
707,016 |
||
|
Galway Rural Development Company |
1,006,205 |
2,352,024 |
|
|
Kerry |
Partnership Trá Lí |
685,801 |
|
|
South Kerry Development |
715,341 |
||
|
Comhar Dhuibhne |
175,000 |
||
|
Kerry Rural Development Sliabh Luachra Ltd |
266,340 |
||
|
North Kerry Together Ltd |
358,980 |
2,201,462 |
|
|
Kildare |
Northwest Kildare-North Offaly Partnership, OAK |
348,371 |
|
|
Action South Kildare |
570,220 |
918,591 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
Castlecomer District Community Development Network, CDCDN |
229,188 |
|
|
Kilkenny Community Action Network |
226,775 |
455,963 |
|
|
Laois |
Mountmellick Community Development Association |
240,647 |
|
|
Portlaoise Community Action Project Ltd |
175,000 |
415,647 |
|
|
Leitrim |
Leitrim Partnership |
694,303 |
694,303 |
|
Limerick |
PAUL, Limerick, Partnership |
1,039,505 |
|
|
West Limerick Resources Ltd |
661,003 |
||
|
Ballyhoura Development Ltd |
481,897 |
||
|
Employment Pact |
145,587 |
2,327,992 |
|
|
Longford |
Longford Community Resources Ltd |
686,864 |
686,864 |
|
Louth |
Dundalk |
767,004 |
|
|
Drogheda Partnership Company |
747,615 |
||
|
Dundalk-Drogheda Employment Pact |
131,724 |
1,646,343 |
|
|
Mayo |
Meitheal Mhaigheo |
951,413 |
951,413 |
|
Meath |
Navan Travellers Workshop Ltd |
150,000 |
|
|
Trim Initiative for Development and Enterprise, TIDE |
162,729 |
||
|
North Meath Communities Development Association |
221,552 |
534,281 |
|
|
Monaghan |
Monaghan Partnership Board |
733,703 |
733,703 |
|
Offaly |
Tullamore Wider Options |
175,000 |
|
|
West Offaly Integrated Development Partnership |
217,704 |
392,704 |
|
|
Roscommon |
Roscommon County Partnership |
704,182 |
704,182 |
|
Sligo |
Sligo LEADER Partnership Co |
661,003 |
661,003 |
|
Tipperary |
Roscrea 2000 Ltd |
196,251 |
|
|
Borrisokane Area Development Group |
175,000 |
||
|
Clonmel Community Partnership |
229,188 |
||
|
Nenagh Community Network |
175,000 |
775,439 |
|
|
Waterford |
Waterford Area Partnership |
742,206 |
|
|
Waterford County Partnership |
260,571 |
1,002,777 |
|
|
Westmeath |
Westmeath Community Development Ltd |
626,643 |
|
|
Athlone Community Taskforce |
258,017 |
1,006,436 |
|
|
Employment Pact |
121,776 |
||
|
Wexford |
Wexford Area Partnership |
775,270 |
|
|
Wexford County Partnership |
1,067,255 |
1,842,525 |
|
|
Wicklow |
Bray Partnership |
775,270 |
|
|
Arklow Community Enterprise Ltd. |
208,440 |
||
|
Wicklow Working Together |
175,000 |
1,158,710 |
|
County |
CLÁR funding allocated 2004 |
|
€ |
|
|
Cavan |
1,241,002 |
|
Clare |
1,417,989 |
|
Cork |
987,247 |
|
Donegal |
1,318,847 |
|
Galway |
1,078,558 |
|
Kerry |
1,653,238 |
|
Leitrim |
1,331,794 |
|
Limerick |
18,333 |
|
Longford |
382,367 |
|
Louth |
481,796 |
|
Mayo |
2,053,744 |
|
Meath |
25,000 |
|
Monaghan |
267,218 |
|
Roscommon |
1,676,704 |
|
Sligo |
1,087,849 |
|
Tipperary North |
296,005 |
|
Tipperary South |
23,333 |
|
Waterford |
442,857 |
|
Westmeath |
115,633 |
|
Total |
15,899,514 |
210 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there are plans for the former Gaeltacht college, Coláiste Iosagáin in Ballyvourney, County Cork. [17096/04]
I understand that discussions are currently taking place between officials from Údarás na Gaeltachta, the owner of Coláiste Iosagáin, and the Department of Education and Science, with a view to developing an Irish language educational resource centre on this site. Officials of my own Department are participating in the process, as appropriate.
212 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in the context of the next budget, payment of the respite grant could be made available to all carers caring for persons requiring some agreed minimum level of support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15500/04]
The respite care grant operated by my Department is paid to recipients of carer's allowance and carer's benefit. It is also payable to carers who are caring for recipients of a constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. The grant is a contribution towards respite care to be used as the recipients wish. The expansion of this respite grant, as proposed by the Deputy or otherwise, would be a matter for consideration when proposals for the budget are being prepared later this year.
All other matters relating to the provision and availability of respite care generally are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children.
213 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will allow a late appeal in the case of a person, details supplied, in County Kildare whose application for the one parent family allowance was refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17032/04]
The person concerned applied for one parent family payment. She was refused on the ground that she did not show that her means were over the limit for payment. She was notified of this decision on 27 March 2003 and was advised of her right of appeal to the chief appeals officer if dissatisfied. She was informed that the appeal should be made within 21 days. The person did not appeal.
In the normal course, an appeal against a deciding officer's decision must be made within 21 days of the decision being notified. While there is provision for acceptance of an appeal outside of that period, in view of the length of time that has elapsed since the person was notified of the decision, acceptance of an appeal at this stage would not be warranted.
It is, however, open to the person concerned to make a further application for the allowance and to have the matter determined afresh in the light of any changed circumstances. If she is dissatisfied with the decision at that stage, she would have the right to appeal against it to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers and the acceptance of appeals received after the expiry of the statutory period is a matter for the chief appeals officer. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
214 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will examine a further submission and the reports from a consultant and general practitioner relating to a claim in the name of a person, details supplied, in County Kilkenny; the reason the person’s medical evidence on the file and the circumstances were not discussed with the person during a recent hearing which lasted six minutes; and if a review of the case will be expedited. [17076/04]
Medical assessors of my Department provide a second opinion to that of the customer's own doctor for the guidance of the Department's deciding officers who determine entitlement to illness related schemes. My Department makes every effort to ensure that the customer's interests are fully safeguarded when they are called for medical examinations. Prior to the setting up of a medical examination, my Department first requests an up to date medical report from the customer's own medical certifier which is reviewed by a medical assessor and taken into consideration as part of the medical examination process.
At any medical examination or assessment, a customer is invited to describe the nature and extent of an illness or injury and subsequent symptoms to the examining medical assessor who will record same, before conducting an appropriate examination. That procedure was followed in this case. The medical assessor will then express an opinion on the claimant's medical entitlement to a particular benefit or allowance.
The person in question was examined on 3 March 2004 by a medical assessor who expressed the opinion that he did not satisfy the medical criteria for receipt of disability payments. The customer lodged an appeal and another medical assessor examined him on 30 April 2004. The second medical assessor also expressed the opinion that the person concerned did not satisfy the medical criteria for receipt of disability payments. A submission and reports from the person's consultant and general practitioner contained information which was on file and noted by the medical assessor at the time of assessment. The medical evidence on file outlined the nature and extent of the injury and ensuing symptoms, which the person himself outlined to the medical assessor at the outset of the examination.
The case is currently with the Social Welfare Appeals Office, which will arrange a hearing for the customer in due course. The person concerned may submit any further submissions and reports that he so wishes, from his consultant and-or general practitioner in support of his appeal and these will be taken into account in determining his case.
215 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the community welfare officer will issue a payment under the exceptional needs payment scheme to a person, details supplied, in County Kilkenny; and if a decision will be expedited in the case. [17082/04]
The South Eastern Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the person concerned recently made an application for an exceptional needs payment to replace a domestic appliance. The board refused the application as it felt that she should explore the possibility of repair rather than replacement. The person concerned has appealed against this decision. The board has further advised that the person concerned also applied for an exceptional needs payment in respect of expenses associated with her daughter's first holy communion and a payment of €150 was granted for this purpose.
