Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Nov 2005

Vol. 611 No. 2

Adjournment Debate.

Road Safety.

Dr. Cowley

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this important matter. In 2000 the Tánaiste and then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment appointed a review group to consider public safety. The group's main recommendation was that an office of public safety regulation be established to monitor the lack, appropriateness and-or adequacy of regulations, Acts and guidelines designed to protect the public.

It is necessary to consider public safety because the Government appears to be remiss in this area. To judge by the number of people who have approached me on this subject, there is clearly a need for an office of public safety regulation. The regulations either do not exist or, where they do, are not enforced. The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Killeen, will no doubt tell me there will be duplication of services. The Tánaiste, however, appointed this group but the Government has not acted on its key recommendation. In this it is remiss.

There are many cases involving road safety which demonstrate the need for this office. A young woman named Aisling Gallagher was killed last Christmas because the surface of the road on which she was travelling had not been completed. Work had been undertaken but not finished. There was no warning of a temporary road surface with a mandatory speed limit of 50 km/h. This woman, having passed all relevant tests, was driving within the law in a car in perfect working order, yet she was killed because the road was unfit for travelling. The speed limit on the road at the time was 100 km/h.

That woman should not have died but no one will take responsibility for that accident. The county council carried out the work on the road and the National Roads Authority is responsible for national secondary roads but said it would not take responsibility for this incident. The Health and Safety Authority is responsible for places of work but hairs are being split and this authority also refused to deal with the issue. Although the HSA said it did not investigate the accident, I believe it did but would not deal with it.

In a second case Sinéad McDaid in Donegal was driving on a road where there was a sign in long grass but no adequate warning of the loose chippings on which she skidded. She too was killed and nobody will take responsibility for this case. There are many such cases, including the bus crash on the Kentstown Road. This road was covered with dense base macadam which is not fit for driving with an open speed limit as in this instance. I believe this road safety factor, which was the cause of the crash, has been swept under the carpet. All criminal charges will be dealt with before this is even touched, which is the recommendation. This does not sound right. The Minister of State cannot say there is no need for this because if he met the families of the deceased they would explain the need for accountability. No one is accountable, meaning there is a need for an office of public safety regulation. If the local authorities, the Health and Safety Authority, splitting hairs as to what constitutes a place of work, and the National Roads Authority will not take responsibility, who will? There must be a system of proper reporting of and investigation into road traffic accidents. The protocol exists between the Garda and the Health and Safety Authority. I hope the Minister of State will address these issues because people are dying as a result of the lack of accountability for public safety. The establishment of an office of public safety is the only way to ensure public safety regulations are implemented.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Killeen)

Gabhaim buíochas leat, a Cheann Comhairle, as seans a thabhairt dom an t-ábhar seo a chur os comhair na Dála.

An interdepartmental-agency review group on public safety, established in November 1999 and chaired by Dr. Daniel O'Hare, comprised representatives from all Departments, various agencies and other appropriate bodies, such as the National Safety Council. The group's report entitled, A Review of Public Safety in Ireland, was published by the Tánaiste and then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Harney, in December 2000.

In summary, the review group recommended the establishment of an office of public safety regulation, the placing of public safety high among the concerns to be addressed by Departments and agencies in decision-making and the development of public policy. In regard to the recommendation regarding an office of public safety regulation, the proposed office would not be responsible for all public safety issues but rather would ensure those areas of the administration which should be responsible for relevant issues are doing whatever is required. Where no area is responsible for a particular subject, the office would make determinations as to where responsibility should lie. The group also proposed that the functioning, appropriateness and continuing need for the office should be reviewed within a five-year period.

Although the review group recommended the establishment of an office of public safety regulation, it was not in full agreement on its proposal due to issues relating to duplication of existing services and additional costs. Some members of the group expressed reservations about the need for such an office and the extra burden on State finances. The review group's recommendation was inconclusive with no clear-cut case made for the establishment of a new agency. It has been previously stated in the House that the establishment of yet another State agency, whose function is merely to oversee public safety matters, is not the right way forward. It is, therefore, not intended to act on the recommendation.

The regulation of public safety is being dealt with by several Departments and public bodies which co-operate as closely as possible. In many cases, there are memoranda of understanding and regular ongoing liaison meetings between the various authorities, for example. the Health and Safety Authority and the Garda Síochána. In addition, an office of emergency planning is based in the Department of Defence which deals with policy and review of emergency planning. The Health and Safety Authority, in the context of the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances, is represented on the interdepartmental group which feeds into the work of this office.

Security of the Elderly.

Mr. Finneran

I wish to share time with Deputy Ellis.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Finneran

Following consultation with local groups and Muintir na Tíre in the Longford-Roscommon constituency, I tabled this adjournment matter. Muintir na Tíre is the national body at the forefront in supporting elderly people who wish to live in their own homes, with back-up supports and appropriate alarm systems in the event of any difficulties that might arise. The proposals revolve around the introduction of a subvention towards the costs of the annual monitoring fee for socially-monitored alarms, grant-aided by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs under the community supports for older people scheme. We are asking for a subvention towards the monitoring fee.

Approximately 60,000 persons are supplied with socially-monitored alarm systems funded by the Department. Based on a monitoring fee of €75, the annual cost to the Exchequer would be approximately €4.5 million. Monitoring fees range between €45 and €90 per annum. A monitoring subvention of €50 would be a major help to people, particularly those on fixed incomes, people with disabilities or old age pensioners. The benefits to the people involved and the Exchequer would be that older people could remain living in their own homes. Older people would feel more secure in their environment and would have a much improved quality of life. For the State, the reduction in costs for nursing home and medical care would become apparent quickly.

The proposal revolves around the introduction of allowances along the lines of the free fuel and telephone line rental allowances. Muintir na Tíre proposes that a voucher type system is introduced where community alert groups, approximately 1,300 nationwide, would be issued with a voucher to submit annually to monitoring companies on behalf of people supplied with socially-monitored alarms. In turn, the companies would receive subventions from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I do not have to inform the House of Muintir na Tíre's contribution to communities over the years. Its submission to the Department must be considered either in the forthcoming budget or in new proposals from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Mr. Ellis

I support Muintir na Tíre's proposal. All Members will be aware of the tremendous work it has done. Members will also be aware of the work done by social groups with regard to providing alarms for the elderly. This is one way of assisting people who feel threatened in their own homes. Members will know of some of the recent cases where the elderly have been attacked in their homes. If a properly monitored system was available to the elderly, they would participate in it.

A subvention of €50 per annum is not out of line, particularly when considered in the context of the telephone rental and other allowances available to the elderly. This proposal must be looked at favourably by the Minister. I hope he will take this into consideration with the Estimates. It is imperative that those who wish to remain in their own homes enjoy maximum independence, security and assistance. A monitored alarm is a back-up, allowing access to help, if needed, as if there was another person living in the home.

Mr. Killeen

I acknowledge the commitment of Deputies Ellis and Finneran to this issue. I am answering on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, who has another engagement.

Responsibility for the scheme of community supports for older people was transferred to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from the Department of Social and Family Affairs in June 2002. The scheme was established in the mid-1990s in response to a spate of burglaries on the homes of older people. It is based on the concept of contact with people at local level. For this reason, the funding was provided to voluntary and community organisations rather than grant-aiding individuals to assist and stimulate broader community support for older people.

The scheme is, therefore, administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Since its inception, funding in excess of €30 million has been awarded by the State to community and voluntary organisations to provide socially-monitored alarms and other security items for those members of the community in need of such equipment. Funding can be provided under the scheme for the once-off cost of installing socially monitored alarm systems, window locks, door locks and door chains designed to strengthen points of entry to the dwelling and security lighting. In 2004, a grant for smoke alarms was introduced.

The maximum grants available to individuals are €300 for socially monitored alarms, €150 for physical security equipment, €150 for security lighting and €50 for smoke alarms. Funding was provided at 90% of the cost of equipment between 1997 and 2003. In 2004, following a review of the scheme, the 90% limit on funding was abolished and replaced with individual maximum grants, as outlined. Community groups were being given quotes from suppliers ranging from €250 to as much as €500. Given that these products vary little, it seemed reasonable to limit the grant to €300 per individual. The aim of this measure is to encourage competition between suppliers in the interest of ensuring value for money for taxpayers and individual applicants. I am aware that a number of suppliers quoted under €300 for the installation of socially monitored alarms. Anyone availing of these quotes is, therefore, 100% grant aided under the scheme, effectively leaving the individual applicant with nothing to pay for his or her socially monitored alarm.

The changes introduced in 2004 have no implications for the overall funding available for the scheme and €2.8 million has been allocated to the scheme of community supports for older people in 2005. This constitutes a 17% increase on the 2004 scheme which received an allocation of €2.4 million. The scheme is advertised on an annual basis with a specified closing date. Given the nature of the scheme, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs exercises a degree of flexibility regarding the closing date. After the closing date and in circumstances where an individual requires equipment urgently, the Department will accept additional applicants to the group's application during the period of processing.

The Department has also received a number of proposals, including one from Muintir na Tíre, regarding the facilitation of emergency cases. These will be considered when the guidelines come up for review for the 2006 scheme. While I accept there is occasionally a need for such facilitation, most groups appear to get by without major problems. Although the guidelines for the scheme call for a closing date, the Department is flexible. Many late applications have been accepted and in most cases groups have been facilitated. When such applications arise, the Department considers the circumstances case by case within the resources available and makes every effort, in co-operation with the voluntary groups, to facilitate such cases. To date, more than 200 applications have been approved and many groups have received their grants and are in a position to begin installing security equipment.

Deputies Finneran and Ellis will appreciate that the scheme has been running for the greater part of a decade and has supplied security equipment to many older people. Since 1997 more than €30 million has been provided to assist older people under the scheme. Personal security depends on a range of factors and this scheme makes a valuable contribution to the security requirements of eligible older people.

Traveller Accommodation.

Mr. M. Higgins

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the condition to which Carrowbrowne halting site has been allowed to deteriorate. The Ceann Comhairle also allowed me to raise this issue several years ago on the Adjournment. My interest in the matter dates back to 1994. In 1995 the public was shocked by the publication of photographs of the halting site which showed tiles missing from roofs, windows broken, wooden parts of the site burned and so forth. When I raised the matter on 17 September 2001, I received a reply indicating that the National Building Agency was preparing a report and urgent repairs would take place within a month. On 25 November 2003, the Ceann Comhairle allowed me to raise the matter in the House. Two years later the House is discussing the issue again.

A five-year strategy has been published but in what conditions are families living? The 18 families living on the Carrowbrowne halting site must wash using a cold tap because no electricity or toilets, apart from portakabins, are available. A recently widowed woman, whose family featured on the news recently, is trying to rear her 11 children in these conditions. This is a flagrant violation of human rights and should be reported to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva as a complete failure on the part of the authorities

After the children at the site indicated that all they wanted for Christmas was electricity, my colleague, the former mayor of Galway, Councillor Catherine Connolly, proposed a resolution to this effect in Galway City Council. In fairness to the city councillors, the resolution was passed unanimously before last Christmas. When no action had been taken by March, councillors from all parties and independents unanimously passed a second resolution. The latest development is that council officials have produced a report on the state of the site suggesting that all the families at Carrowbrowne will have to move to another temporary site while work is carried out on the site. The proposed location to which the families are to be moved is in the control of Galway County Council. No planning permission has been approved for this site and no timescale has been given for the works at Carrowbrowne. Meanwhile 18 families face Christmas with a cold tap and no electricity.

An outrageous falsehood has been perpetrated that the conditions at the site are not safe, even for temporary generators. Those who have skills in this area have indicated this is simply not the case and that part of the site could be refurbished while other parts were occupied. Parts of the site are kept in a wonderful condition by individual occupants.

I am not interested in hearing words about this issue. The families in question have been on the site for an average period of four years. Parents are trying to rear their children under the conditions I have described, which Galway City Council has addressed unanimously not once, but twice. Despite this, the council's decision has not been implemented.

I welcome the Minister of State who will be aware that the Department has a responsibility for requiring that local authorities meet their obligations on the housing of Travellers. What does the Government propose to do for the children in question this side of Christmas? As a Member of the Oireachtas who has drawn attention to conditions on the Carrowbrowne halting site in 1994, 2001, 2003 and again in 2005, I will try to seek advice to determine if we can legally prosecute the State for allowing conditions on the halting site to persist and the democratic will, as expressed by the local authority, to be frustrated and not implemented.

In recent days, looking at one of the widows living on the site, I asked myself how she can handle what she is going through with 11 children, a cold tap, no hot water, no permanent generator, a portakabin, no proper toilets and so forth. It is a badge of shame on this country that despite the publication of photographs of the site ten years ago, several unanimous resolutions by Galway City Council, and an indication given to me in this House on one of two occasions when I raised the issue that the National Building Agency would complete the most urgent repairs within a month, nothing has been done. I ask the Minister of State to give me a timescale for putting an end to this disgrace.

Mr. Killeen

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Micheál D. Ó hUiginn as ucht an ábhair tábhachtaigh seo a thabhairt ós comhair na Dála. Is oth leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Nollaig Ó hEachthairn, nach feidir leis bheith anseo mar tá sé ar ghnó eile.

In recent days we have heard a great deal about Traveller halting sites. I express my sincere sympathy to the family of the two McGinley children who died so tragically during the week. It is right that the circumstances of their deaths are being fully investigated.

Before dealing with the Carrowbrowne project I must emphasise that, through their Traveller accommodation programmes prepared in accordance with section 7 of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, the provision, management and maintenance of Traveller accommodation is the responsibility of local authorities. The Department's role is to provide the necessary funding to meet the cost of the provision and refurbishment of Traveller specific accommodation. The full cost of such work is provided to local authorities by way of capital grant. Over the past five years a total of €130 million was expended in this area. This has resulted in the 389 new permanent units of Traveller specific accommodation and the refurbishment of 346 such units.

While these developments are welcome, the need to make further progress in this area is acknowledged. The development by local authorities of their Traveller accommodation programmes for the period 2005 to 2008 and the targets they contain will facilitate these efforts. Despite this increased investment, the conditions on existing halting sites which have not yet been refurbished to modern standards is a cause for concern. In these cases, the effects of their site environment on the health of Travellers is a subject which has been raised in the context of the Traveller health strategy and it is proposed that the issue will be examined jointly by the national Traveller health and accommodation consultative committees over the coming months.

In the context of the difficulties and the extra cost experienced by local authorities in the management and maintenance of Traveller specific accommodation, the Department defrays some of the ongoing management and maintenance costs incurred by authorities in this area. Since 2000 in excess of €14 million has been provided to authorities for this purpose. The Department is also examining the issue of guidelines for local authorities for the management and maintenance of Traveller specific accommodation.

The Department is concerned to ensure that the refurbishment of the Carrowbrowne site should proceed as soon as possible.

Mr. M. Higgins

That is what it said in 2003.

Mr. Killeen

Galway City Council was informed earlier this year that its proposals for the complete demolition and refurbishment of the halting site to modern standards were eligible for funding. As well as minor technical amendments, it was a condition of the approval that an effective and ongoing management and maintenance system be put in place. Such a system must ensure that, with the involvement and co-operation of the Traveller tenants on the site, the new facilities to be provided will be managed and maintained to a high standard so as to contribute to the well-being of the residents and secure what will be a considerable investment in the project.

I understand that the city council is in the process of obtaining an alternative site to accommodate existing tenants while refurbishment works are being undertaken.

Mr. M. Higgins

There will be no electricity for Christmas.

Mr. Killeen

Details of this site, including the costs involved, are awaited from the council. On their receipt, this aspect of the project will receive early attention in the Department.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Mr. Neville

I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this issue. It concerns the urgent need to improve the sewerage scheme at Kilmallock in County Limerick. The current scheme is 50 years old resulting in environmental and developmental concerns in the village. There is concern that damage is being done to the Loobagh and Maigue rivers as a result of the lack of adequate facilities for sewage disposal in Kilmallock. The existing treatment system is unable to take the loading from the town. There is a serious lack of development in Kilmallock, a matter with which I will deal in greater detail later.

On 31 July 2003, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, promised, by way of a letter, that the scheme would commence in 2004. When will it commence and what is the expected date of completion? These are two vital questions to which the townspeople, traders and organisations in Kilmallock want answers. The environmental section of the council is anxious to ensure that sewage disposal in Kilmallock complies with EU urban waste water treatment work directives. The cost of the scheme is €9 million and the preliminary report is with the Department awaiting a response.

On 31 May, I was informed by the Minister that the council's brief for the appointment of consultants to prepare the contract documents was under examination by his Department, and that a response would be issued to the council within weeks. I would appreciate it, therefore, if the Minister of State would let me know what developments have taken place since then.

There is serious concern regarding development in the town. A proposal for the construction of 300 houses and a 20-bedroom hotel, which would be of enormous benefit to the town, is dependent upon completion of the sewerage scheme. There is a serious lack of employment opportunities in Kilmallock, which has lost approximately 260 jobs in the past five years, including 120 jobs in Diamond Engineering, 20 in Kerry Group Mill, and 120 in Neo-Data Services. The people of Kilmallock are anxious to renew their town and the development of the sewerage scheme will be crucial in this regard.

In December 2003, Environmental Resources Management Limited presented a report commissioned by the Kilmallock town traders, which outlined 37 recommendations for improvement in the town. Many of them are dependent on the construction of the sewerage scheme. The population in Kilmallock has declined from 1,311 in 1991 to 1,231 in 1996. With proper support and a sewerage scheme, the population, as predicted by Limerick County Council's development plans, could grow to 2,080 by 2021, which represents an increase of 849 people. This is not a minimum or maximum population, but a realistic guide to providing a framework for the provision of housing land and ancillary services in the town for the foreseeable future.

The report by Environmental Resources Management Limited stated that having consulted the townspeople, traders and organisations, a practical vision of the town for the next decade has been developed. That vision includes Kilmallock as an attractive place in which to live with an additional population of 1,000 people. It will be a town with a full range of trading retail availability and full services.

The proposals currently before the Department to develop the town's sewerage scheme will provide for a population equivalent of 4,000 with a possibility for future development. I urge the Minister to address the serious concerns of the townspeople and traders of Kilmallock to ensure the town has an opportunity to expand.

Mr. Killeen

I thank Deputy Neville for raising this matter. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, who apologises for being unable to attend the debate.

The provision of modern environmental infrastructure to support social and economic objectives has been a major focus of Government spending in recent years. The Minister is glad to confirm that Kilmallock is set to gain a new sewerage scheme as part of the drive to upgrade our national infrastructure.

The unprecedented investment in new water and sewerage facilities under the national development plan has made a key contribution to the economic growth that has benefited every part of Ireland. Limerick is no exception, with an allocation of nearly €143 million for new schemes under the latest phase of the Minister's water services investment programme.

Last year, we saw the opening of the multi-million euro Limerick main drainage scheme, a project that has copper-fastened Limerick's ability to attract inward investment, create jobs and function as the major commercial centre in the mid-west. Sewerage schemes for Castleconnell and Croagh have also recently reached completion. There are still many more schemes to follow.

The water services investment programme includes funding for more than 20 other locations throughout County Limerick where planning of new infrastructure is moving ahead rapidly. Towns and villages such as Adare, Patrickswell, Athea, Askeaton, Foynes, Shanagolden and Glin can look forward to new sewerage schemes.

Mr. Neville

In 20 years.

Mr. Killeen

Many areas will benefit from improved water supplies from the major upgrade planned for the Clareville water treatment plant, improvements to the Shannon estuary water supply scheme and extensions of the Limerick county trunk water mains.

Funding has also been set aside in the water services investment programme for the Kilmallock sewerage scheme. Costing more than €9 million, it has been assigned construction status in the programme and can go to tender immediately once the necessary preliminaries have been completed. It is a substantial infrastructural project that will upgrade and extend the existing sewerage treatment plant and sewage collection network. It will play a major role in allowing Kilmallock to develop while preserving all important environmental standards.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government approved Limerick County Council's brief for the appointment of consultants to draw up the detailed design and contract documents for the scheme last July. I understand that in the meantime the council has interviewed potential consultants and is about to enter fee negotiations with the selected candidate. How long the contract documents take to produce will be a matter for agreement between the council and the consultants. The tender advertisement and award of contract will follow after that.

I am conscious of the strong case for getting this scheme started quickly. As far as the Minister and his Department are concerned, I am assured that everything possible will be done to avoid unnecessary delays. No doubt Limerick County Council will do the same. A key point is that the necessary funding has been allocated for the scheme in the water services investment programme and the money is available for draw-down by the council as soon as work can start on the ground. The important thing is for the council to push on quickly with the production of contract documents so that tenders for the construction of the scheme can be invited within the shortest possible timescale.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.20 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 1 December 2005.