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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 2 Mar 2006

Vol. 615 No. 6

Written Answers

The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies received from the Departments [unrevised].
Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, answered orally.

Hospital Services.

Liam Twomey

Question:

12 Dr. Twomey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the Mater and Children’s Hospital development plan proceeded to the point of tendering for the development when a major flaw regarding the development of tertiary children’s facilities stopped the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8356/06]

Shane McEntee

Question:

17 Mr. McEntee asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the Mater and Children’s Hospital development plan was put on hold so late into the development when it was clear that the transfer of Temple Street Hospital onto the Mater Hospital site was in the plans from the beginning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8357/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 17 together.

On 3 February last, the Health Service Executive published a report, prepared by McKinsey & Co., on the delivery of tertiary paediatric services in this country. This report was commissioned by the HSE at my request in the context of decisions to be taken on the possible relocation of the facilities at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, and of ensuring that paediatric services are provided in the most efficient and effective manner.

The Mater-Children's University Hospital project was planned a number of years ago with a view to significantly improving the facilities for patients and staff at both hospitals. It was envisaged at that time that paediatric secondary and tertiary services could appropriately be provided at more than one location. However, it is clear from the recent McKinsey report that current best practice suggests that best outcomes for children should be provided by one national tertiary paediatric centre which would also provide all secondary paediatric services for the greater Dublin area.

Arising from the recommendations, a joint HSE-Department of Health and Children task group has been established to progress matters and to advise on the optimal location for the new facility.

The conclusions of the task group will clearly have implications for the scope of the Mater-Children's University hospital project and will inform decisions in relation to how that project is to be advanced. My primary concern is to ensure that we arrive at a solution which is in the best interests of the children of this country.

Health Levy.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

13 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the cost to the State of the elimination of the 2% health levy for the new over-70s medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8602/06]

The health contribution was introduced by virtue of the Health Contributions Act 1979 and came into effect on 6 April of that year. The contributions are levied on income at a percentage rate set in pursuance of the Health Contributions Act and proceeds are paid to the Minister for Health and Children in aid of the Vote for the Health Service Executive. The current rate of contribution is 2% of gross income. The levy is applicable to all persons over the age of 16 with reckonable income, earnings or emoluments. However, certain persons are exempt from liability to pay the health levy, including those who have full eligibility for health services, that is, medical card holders under section 45 of the Health Act 1970.

Following the announcement in budget 2001 to grant full eligibility to those aged 70 and over, and the subsequent amendment of section 45 of the Health Act 1970, these people became exempt from paying health contributions. The cost to the Exchequer of including people who possess over-70's medical cards in the exemption from paying the health levy amounts to approximately €15 million per annum.

Organ Retention.

Willie Penrose

Question:

14 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she intends to take arising from the publication of the Madden report into organ retention; when she intends to introduce the long promised human tissue legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8556/06]

The Madden Report on Post Mortem Practice and Procedures contained 50 recommendations. Some of the recommendations, such as the formulation of human tissue legislation, are a matter for my Department. Others, such as an audit of organs retained in hospitals, are a matter for the HSE, and others fall under the aegis of other agencies, for example, the coroners legislation, is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

My officials have met officials from the National Hospital Office, NHO, and have agreed that a national implementation group will be set up by that office to oversee implementation of the recommendations in the report. This group, on which my Department will be represented, will hold its first meeting before the end of this month.

As recommended in the report, I am establishing a working group to examine issues pertaining to non-paediatric post mortems, that is, babies who died before or at birth, minors and adults. I have asked Dr. Madden to chair the group and will be announcing the full membership shortly.

In relation to legislation, Dr. Madden's report recommended that "communication and authorization are vital, and must be enshrined in legislation". My officials, in consultation with key agencies, are examining the gaps in Irish legislation and they have started work on drafting legislation to address these gaps.

The heads of a Bill for a new coroners Act have been prepared by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. That Department is examining the implications, if any, Dr. Madden's recommendations will have for this legislation.

EU Directive 2004/23/EC relating to standards of quality and safety of tissues and cells for human application must be transposed into Irish law by 7 April 2006. The regulations that will transpose the directive will deal with the donation of tissues and cells to another living person, but not with procurement or donation for research or clinical investigation.

Departmental Properties.

John Deasy

Question:

15 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the properties in the mental health service which have been sold in the lifetime of the present Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8372/06]

As the Deputy may be aware, the former health boards had the capacity and authority to dispose of lands and assets which were deemed to be surplus to requirements as alternative facilities were acquired and commissioned.

The HSE now has a centralised function within its finance directorate which manages the entire estate and is responsible for the acquisition, maintenance, life cycle management and disposal of HSE assets.

My Department has been informed that in order to retrieve the complete information requested, the HSE will need to examine the decisions of each former health board and review the minutes of the property and finance committees of all of the former health boards. However, my Department has also been informed that information available to the HSE finance directorate at this time indicates that there was no land sold in the former North Eastern Health Board, Midland Health Board, North Western Health Board and East Coast Area Health Board during the lifetime of the Government. Lands sold in the former South Western Area Health Board's mental health services were Cooligmartin House, Auburn House and St. Loman's Hospital, Palmerstown. The HSE will reply directly to the Deputy as soon as all the information requested by him has been compiled.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Marian Harkin

Question:

16 Ms Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will reconsider the offer made by a clinic (details supplied) in County Galway on 11 February 2003 to provide BreastCheck screening in the interim; if, in view of the fact that her Department’s reasoning at the time was that it operated in analog not digital, this is the perfect interim solution given that her Department operates its BreastCheck screening by digital mode and that BreastCheck will not be up and running until 2007 and the screening cycle will not be completed until 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8504/06]

I recently met with representatives of BreastCheck and they are fully aware of my wish to have the programme rolled out nationally as quickly as possible. For this to happen, essential elements of the roll-out must be in place including adequate staffing, effective training and quality assurance programmes. I have made additional revenue funding of €2.3 million available to BreastCheck this year to provide among other things for the early recruitment and training of staff. BreastCheck is confident that the target date of 2007 for the commencement of roll-out to the west will be met; a more exact date for roll-out will depend on the availability of adequately trained medical and technical staff, particularly radiographers. BreastCheck recently interviewed for a clinical director for the west and is in the process of making an appointment. BreastCheck is also recruiting radiographers and a second consultant radiologist. BreastCheck also recently received planning permission for the static unit at University College Hospital Galway and is now proceeding to tender for the construction of this unit.

Any proposal received by BreastCheck to support the roll-out of its screening programme is carefully examined to assess the extent to which it complies with existing standards. BreastCheck has advised my Department that it has engaged in extensive discussions with the clinic referred to by the Deputy. BreastCheck has conducted an evaluation of this proposal and has concluded that it would not be in a position to provide a population based screening programme in line with BreastCheck service standards. Discussions are ongoing involving BreastCheck and the clinic concerning other options which might enable the clinic to contribute to the introduction of the programme in the west.

BreastCheck has evaluated a number of full field digital mammography systems and has decided that full digital imaging will be used in the roll-out.

Question No. 17 answered with QuestionNo. 12.

Health Service Executive Accounts.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

18 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action which has been taken arising from the discovery of a €56.4 million error in the accounts of the Health Service Executive reported to Dáil Éireann on 25 January 2006; the further action which has been taken to rectify the error; if she has satisfied herself that appropriate accounting arrangements are now in place within the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8558/06]

In compliance with the Department of Finance reporting requirements, the Health Service Executive, HSE, provided its best estimate of the end year forecast of Exchequer issues for 2005 on 22 December 2005. This indicated a projected saving of nearly €12 million on non-capital spending and a projected saving of just over €56 million on capital spending. The projected capital saving had previously been identified to the Department of Finance and was included in the Appropriation Act 2005 as a capital carryover from 2005 to 2006.

Subsequent figures submitted by the HSE to my Department on 17 January 2006 for the December 2005 returns to the Department of Finance showed an excess of €53 million on non-capital spending and a saving of over €57 million on capital. On the basis of theses figures, nearly all the capital savings would be required to offset the excess on non-capital spending. Accordingly, the Minister for Finance made no provision for a capital carryover for the HSE in the 2006 Revised Estimates for Public Services and public capital programme.

The figures provided in January are subject to further revision and the final 2005 figures will be confirmed when the HSE finalises its annual Appropriation Accounts for Vote 40. The HSE is currently working on this and the Appropriation Accounts must be finalised by the end of March. The 2006 capital allocation for the HSE will be reviewed in the light of the final outturn figures for 2005 and, if necessary, a Supplementary Estimate will be taken for 2006.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, there has been no question of an error in the HSE accounts. I am, naturally, concerned at the significant differences between the December forecast outturn figures and the January estimated outturn figures. Apart from any other considerations, it makes it more difficult to plan and manage 2006 expenditure. However, the final figures will be provided by the HSE later this month.

I recognise that it will take some time for the HSE to introduce a single accounting system throughout the organisation which is capable of providing full dual accounting — the standard Vote accounts — and the income and expenditure accounts operated by the former health boards. However, I am assured by the HSE that its systems are fully capable of accounting for all transactions within the organisation and I expect to see a significant improvement this year in the quality of their in-year expenditure management returns.

Health Services.

Shane McEntee

Question:

19 Mr. McEntee asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date on health services for stroke victims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8329/06]

In 2005, the Tánaiste met with the Irish Heart Foundation to discuss, inter alia, services for patients with stroke. Following that meeting the foundation, with the support of a grant of €70,000 from my Department, convened a National Stroke Review Group, NSRG. The NSRG has representatives from the HSE — population health — and a wide range of relevant professional and voluntary organisations — community health nurses, speech therapists, volunteer scheme etc. The group developed a comprehensive research proposal over a period of nine months based on methods used for an audit of hospital and community services in the UK.

The planned research, which is due to start this month, is for a national audit of stroke services, to include an audit of hospital-based stroke services: organisational aspects of care in acute hospitals, especially "organised stroke care" and a clinical audit of stroke care, involving review of clinical case notes for a selected sample of patients; and an audit of community-based stroke services, to include surveys of GPs, allied health professionals, patients and carers, and nursing homes.

These audits will provide excellent baseline information on which to benchmark progress in developing stroke services and I understand the entire study is scheduled to take 18 months to complete. The NSRG will monitor progress of the research and use the findings to make recommendations on the development of stroke services. The Department and the Health Service Executive will consider policy implications in the light of this national service audit.

Medical Education.

Michael Noonan

Question:

20 Mr. Noonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the breakdown on the way in which she intends spending the announced €200 million on both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education; the timescale for this spending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8342/06]

On 1 February I announced, together with the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin, details of a major reform programme in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and training, based on the recommendations in the Report of the Working Group on Undergraduate Medical Education and Training, chaired by Professor Pat Fottrell, and the Report of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Group, chaired by Dr. Jane Buttimer. Both reports were published on that date.

The initial indicative cost of implementing the reform programme approved by the Government is estimated to be in the region of €200 million over the period 2006-10, subject to undertaking further costing studies and an audit of existing and required facilities. In particular, the overall capital requirements in the undergraduate and postgraduate areas will be the subject of detailed appraisal of existing infrastructure and future needs.

Among the major reforms to be funded at undergraduate level are: a more than doubling of the number of medical places for Irish and EU students over a four year period from 305 to 725; the introduction of a new graduate entry programme for medicine from 2007 as part of the overall expansion of places; curriculum and clinical training developments aimed at enhancing the quality of undergraduate medical education; the development of a new aptitude test for selection for graduate entry to medicine; devising proposals for a new selection mechanism for entry to undergraduate medicine to involve a combination of CAO points and suitability test performance from 2008 at the earliest; and the creation of new academic clinician posts to be jointly funded by the education and health sectors.

Among the major reforms to be funded at postgraduate level are: improved retention of graduates from Irish medical schools through a range of measures to enhance the quality and attractiveness of postgraduate specialist training; phasing out NCHD posts with limited training value within a feasible and realistic timeframe; better workforce planning to align the numbers of doctors in training with projected consultant vacancies; inclusion in the Medical Practitioners Bill of provisions to assign appropriate medical education and training functions to the HSE and, where appropriate, the Medical and Dental Councils; implementing the training principles to be incorporated into new working arrangements for doctors in training; and the development of research in the health sector.

Consultants’ Contracts.

Enda Kenny

Question:

21 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify her explanation of introducing a public only contract for consultants; if her proposal means that the consultant can only see public patients or if it is the equivalent of the present category 1 contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8334/06]

Proposals for a new employment contract for consultants working in the public health system were recently tabled by the management side in the context of the consultants' contract negotiations.

The new contract will be a first step towards the introduction of a consultant-provided service and the appointment of large numbers of dedicated public hospital and community based consultants, working in teams. This will be matched by a reduction in the number of non-consultant hospital doctors.

A consultant-provided service is dependent on consultants assuming a new role. The contract will set out the terms and conditions associated with employment as a consultant dedicated exclusively to the public health service. It will recognise consultants as senior employees with lead responsibility, within established best practice, for decisions on patient care and treatment.

The public only contract will differ from the existing category 1 contract. While the category 1 contract permits the consultant to charge private patients for treatment in the public hospital only, the new contract will not permit that. This will help to ensure that all patients, both public and private, will be treated in an equitable manner.

Medical Inquiry.

Joan Burton

Question:

22 Ms Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the expected completion date of the inquiry, to be chaired by a judge, into the activities of the former Drogheda obstetrician, Dr. Michael Neary; if she will confirm that medical records of a number of patients who underwent Caesarean hysterectomies under the care of Dr. Neary at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital were deliberately removed from the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8536/06]

Paul McGrath

Question:

30 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the Neary report will be published; the steps she intends to take to protect patients in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8352/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

80 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received the Harding Clark report on the obstetrics and gynaecology unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8375/06]

Paul McGrath

Question:

82 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she intends publishing the report into the inquiry at Lourdes Hospital by Judge Maureen Harding Clark; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8351/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 30, 80 and 82 together.

The report of the Lourdes Hospital inquiry, chaired by Judge Maureen Harding Clark, was published on Tuesday last. The inquiry was established by the Government in 2004 following the decision of the Medical Council to remove Dr. Michael Neary from the Register of Medical Practitioners after finding him guilty of professional misconduct.

I am conscious that the last few years have been particularly difficult and traumatic for many former patients of the maternity unit at Drogheda, and yesterday I met with Patient Focus to discuss the findings of the report. The question of compensation will now be considered by my Department in the light of the report's findings and in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Finance, with a view to bringing a proposal to Government.

This is a damning report and it is clear from the findings that many lessons need to be learned and changes made to ensure that such events do not happen again in Irish hospitals. The findings and recommendations are being examined in detail by my Department which will consult with the Health Service Executive and the various professional regulatory bodies. The recommendations in the report will act as a significant catalyst in the reform agenda. They confirm the appropriateness of the actions being taken in relation to the preparation of the new Medical Practitioners Bill, the reform of the current consultant contract and the changes in management systems within hospitals.

The forthcoming Medical Practitioners Bill will make continuing professional development and education compulsory. It will also ensure that competence assurance will be given a statutory basis. Furthermore, in the context of the consultant contract talks, the management side have put forward proposals to ensure that consultants work in teams with clear clinical leaders who will ensure that individual clinical practice is in line with best practice.

One of the many disturbing findings in the report is that the obstetric hysterectomy records of 44 patients are missing and that they were intentionally and unlawfully removed from the hospital with the object of protecting those involved in carrying out the hysterectomies or in protecting the reputation of the hospital. The inquiry is satisfied that a person or persons unidentified, who had knowledge of where records were stored and who had easy access to those records, was responsible for a deliberate, careful and systematic removal of key historical records which are missing, together with master cards and patient charts.

In relation to the conclusions regarding the deliberate removal of patient records, I have invited the Garda Síochána to examine the report to determine whether further investigation is now warranted.

Nursing Home Accommodation.

Bernard Allen

Question:

23 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if all contract beds have a contract of care with the private nursing homes involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8326/06]

Bernard Allen

Question:

78 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if it is Government policy to insist that no contract beds will be bought or paid for by the public health services unless a contract of care is drawn up between the health authorities and the private nursing home involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8354/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 78 together.

In accordance with the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993, a provider must undertake a contract of care in regard to each dependent person and-or a person acting on his-her behalf. This is set out in paragraphs 7.1 to 7.3 of the nursing home regulations. Also, under the Code of Practice for Nursing Homes published by the Department of Health and Children, there are specific requirements in regard to a contract of care; these are set out under section 5 of the code, which is voluntary.

The HSE, when contracting beds from private nursing homes for the provision of care to clients referred by the HSE, enters into an agreement with the home in relation to all aspects of the contract and service provision.

The nursing home is required to be registered under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and the provider must have the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise to provide appropriate care to clients referred by the HSE.

The provider must undertake, during the term of the agreement, that it will at all times provide care and welfare for each of the patients-clients identified by the HSE in proper accordance with their individual needs and requirements and, more particularly, strictly in accordance at all times with the terms, conditions and obligations contained in the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993, as amended. Generally, prior to admission a care plan, which will specify the extent of the services required by the patient-client, must be developed by the provider in conjunction with the hospital referring each patient-client and the provider undertakes to implement same. This will include all services considered essential to the maintenance of a person in a nursing home.

Ambulance Service.

Denis Naughten

Question:

24 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to up-skill ambulance staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8322/06]

The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, PHECC, is responsible for the development of professional and performance standards for the ambulance services and for the accreditation of institutions providing training for ambulance personnel.

The council conducts national examinations to determine if individuals have achieved the emergency medical technician-paramedic standard suitable for the awarding of the national qualification in emergency medical technology, NQEMT. It also has an assessment process for recognising equivalent qualifications obtained within and outside the State. Almost 2,000 individuals are on its database as having achieved this standard.

My Department is advised by the council that the NQEMT exceeds the emergency medical technician standards that apply in the UK, North America and Australasia.

The most significant development in the ambulance sector for many years is the roll-out of the advanced paramedic training programme. The National Ambulance Training School, which operates under the auspices of the Health Service Executive, in conjunction with University College Dublin, is providing training for advanced paramedic candidates on behalf of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council.

Currently, emergency medical technicians can administer four drugs to treat pain, chest pain and low blood sugar levels. The programme will ensure that trained personnel can administer a range of additional medications — 19 — which include, for example, cardiac medications.

The NATS trained 36 advanced paramedics in 2005 and hopes to train a further 48 in the current year. It is envisaged that initial operational deployment of the service will commence during 2006.

My Department has allocated funding to the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council each year since 2004 to facilitate the rolling out of the training element of the programme.

The council has also recently established a professional register for pre-hospital emergency care practitioners. The register is similar to the registers already in use for other health care professionals. It is designed to ensure that everyone on the register operates under the standards and guidelines laid down by the council, that they have the skill and competency required to operate at a designated level, that they maintain their skill levels and participate in continuous professional development.

Vaccination Programme.

John Gormley

Question:

25 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason her Department did not inform Dáil Éireann or the Joint Committee on Health and Children regarding its intention to introduce a vaccine for avian flu, which was announced to the public on 24 February 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8599/06]

I do not understand the Deputy's reference to this House or the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children not being informed about the purchase of H5N1 vaccine.

On 31 January last in reply to parliamentary questions, I stated that arrangements to procure a stockpile of H5N1 vaccine for key health care workers and other essential workers were in train. Officials from my Department and the HSE informed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children of our plans in this regard on 16 February. In addition, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food was briefed on 25 January. The announcement about the actual purchase was made last Friday at the earliest possible opportunity.

Accident and Emergency Services.

Liz McManus

Question:

26 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to relieve the overcrowding in accident and emergency departments at each of the DATHS hospitals; her further plans to introduce a reward-penalty scheme for accident and emergency departments; when the report on neurological services will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8531/06]

Liz McManus

Question:

114 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the plans that are in place to relieve the overcrowding in accident and emergency departments at each of the DATHS hospitals; her plans to introduce a reward-penalty scheme for accident and emergency departments; when the report on neurological services will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8732/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 114 together.

My Department is in ongoing discussions with the Health Service Executive with regard to the need for improvement in accident and emergency services, with a particular focus on reducing the numbers on trolleys and the waiting times for patients in individual hospitals.

There is a need to build on the existing action plan for accident and emergency services and, in particular, to adopt a more focused approach that concentrates on individual hospital performance. Arising from the discussions with the HSE, a number of proposals have been agreed, including provision for specific performance improvement targets for individual hospitals.

With regard to neurology services, additional funding of €3 million was allocated specifically for the further development of neurology and neurophysiology services as part of the Estimates for health services in 2006. This funding was provided to allow the Health Service Executive further progress the implementation of the recommendations made by the former Comhairle na nOspidéal in respect of these services. The Comhairle report, which has been published, recommended significant enhancement of services, including the appointment of additional consultants. While reaching the full complement of consultant posts as recommended will take some time, major improvements in patient care can be achieved in the shorter term through a combination of additional consultant posts and the appointment of a number of clinical nurse specialists and allied health professionals.

My Department is advised by the executive that the development of three new neurology units will commence during 2006, one in the mid-west, one in the north west and one in the south east, with the appointment of multi-disciplinary teams comprising consultant neurologists and support staff.

The HSE will also be investing in neurophysiology services in 2006, with the development of an innovative teleneurophysiology link between Sligo General Hospital and Beaumont Hospital. This initiative is designed to reduce waiting times for diagnostic testing.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

27 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the estimated cost of the roll-out of a national cervical screening programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8346/06]

Seymour Crawford

Question:

51 Mr. Crawford asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the additional funding the Health Service Executive will receive in 2006 to ensure medical card patients can avail of cervical screening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8359/06]

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

64 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when it is expected that the national cervical screening programme will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8554/06]

Seymour Crawford

Question:

68 Mr. Crawford asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the additional funding the Health Service Executive will receive to develop a patient registration list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8358/06]

Simon Coveney

Question:

86 Mr. Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are potentially 10,000 women with pre-cancerous C1N3 of the cervix undiagnosed due to the lack of a dedicated cervical screening program; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8360/06]

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

111 Mr. McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has costed and agreed a timeframe to roll-out the national screening programme; the amount of funding required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8347/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 51, 64, 68, 86 and 111 together.

I am fully committed to the national roll-out of a cervical screening programme in line with international best practice to reduce incidence and mortality from cervical cancer. My Department is in detailed discussions with the Health Service Executive in relation to the most efficient and cost effective way to deliver a national programme. The plan is to have cervical screening managed as a national call-recall programme via effective governance structures that provide overall leadership and direction in terms of quality assurance, accountability and value for money. All elements of the programme — call-recall, smear taking, laboratories and treatment services — must be quality assured, organised and managed to deliver a single integrated service. I am convinced that we must also have in place tailored initiatives to encourage take up among disadvantaged and difficult to reach groups. I made available an additional €9 million to the executive for cancer services development in 2006, including the continuation of preparations for a national programme.

I consider that the programme should be best rolled out in the primary care setting, subject to affordable and acceptable arrangements being agreed. A review of the contractual arrangements for the provision by general practitioners of publicly-funded primary care services is being conducted at present under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission. I have requested that the general practitioner elements of a national cervical screening programme be tabled at these discussions. Any remuneration arrangements agreed must be capable of delivering a high uptake among women. Payments must be primarily based on reaching acceptable targets. The actual costs of the programme will depend significantly on the level of primary care fees, the screening intervals agreed and maximising laboratory efficiencies, including the application of new technologies. I wish to see the programme rolled out as quickly as possible but only when the essential infrastructure, organisation and services are in place that are quality assured and meet international standards.

Cervical smear testing is not currently provided by GPs under the scheme for medical card holders. However, where cervical smears form part of recognised protocols for the ongoing treatment of individual patient illnesses, they should be provided free of charge to eligible women under the GMS scheme. Any necessary follow-up treatment is available to all women, including medical card holders, within the public hospital system.

Health Care Strategy.

Eamon Ryan

Question:

28 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the costing for the full implementation of the 2001 primary heath care strategy; the progress made to date on the implementation of the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8605/06]

Implementation of the primary care strategy requires the development of new ways of working and reorganisation of the resources already available to the health service, as well as additional investment in order to provide extra capacity. This whole-system approach to implementation means change will be required in many sectors in the health service, and not solely within primary care itself. The estimated cost of implementation of the primary care strategy over an initial period of ten years is contained in the strategy document, Primary Care: A New Direction.

The strategy estimated the additional staffing costs involved, allowing for the availability of existing staff and taking account of the composition of typical core teams and the associated network professionals, at approximately €615 million per annum for the first 400 to 600 teams. The capital cost, at 2001 prices, of developing a primary care facility was estimated at some €2.5 million for each team, which is approximately €1.27 billion for the first 400 to 600 teams. The strategy also estimated that up to €63 million in once-off costs and running costs of €12.7 million per annum would be required for ICT supports.

In relation to implementation, an initial group of ten primary care teams have been established nationally, with funding to enable existing staff resources within the public system to be augmented. Funding has also been applied to a range of other initiatives intended to advance implementation. These include: planning and mapping work by the HSE; service developments in specific locations; a review of ICT needs in primary care; support to university departments of general practice and the Irish College of General Practitioners; and research fellowships in primary care.

To support further implementation of the strategy in 2006, additional revenue funding of €16 million has been provided. Of this funding, €10 million is to support the establishment of 75 to 100 primary care teams nationally. This will enable the provision of 300 additional frontline personnel to work alongside GPs to provide integrated and accessible services in the community.

I have been informed by the HSE that work to establish these primary care teams in development is under way. I understand that the executive will be targeting the funding so as to provide each local health office of the HSE with the potential to develop up to three primary care teams. The executive hopes to focus where possible on areas of disadvantage and with health inequalities in planning for the establishment of these teams.

A sum of €4 million has been provided for the establishment of additional GP training places and €2 million to enhance GP out-of-hours co-ops. This means that, taking into account development funding provided since 2002, €28 million is available in 2006 specifically to support the implementation of the primary care strategy. However, other development funding will also be used to support the delivery of services in line with the principles of the strategy.

Health Services.

Simon Coveney

Question:

29 Mr. Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if dedicated funding for screening programmes for preventative health in diseases like osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia and hyperchlorerolaemia are planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8361/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 30 answered with QuestionNo. 22.

General Practitioner Services.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Question:

31 Mr. Gogarty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the introduction of salaried general practitioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8603/06]

Section 58 of the Health Act 1970 provides that the Health Service Executive, HSE, shall make available without charge general practitioner services to persons with full eligibility under the Act and to persons with limited eligibility for whom, in the opinion of the executive, it would be unduly burdensome to arrange such services for themselves and their dependants. In accordance with section 7(4) of the Health Act 2004, the executive may deliver health and personal social services directly or arrange to have them delivered on its behalf.

In most cases the HSE contracts with suitably qualified and equipped providers for the delivery of general practitioner services to persons entitled under the law to receive such services free of charge. General practitioner services should, as far as possible, continue to be delivered on this basis. Where the HSE judges that the direct provision of the service is the most beneficial, effective and efficient means of meeting the needs of the relevant population, it is open to it to decide directly to employ appropriately qualified professionals for this purpose.

A review of the contractual arrangements for the delivery of publicly funded general practitioner services is being conducted at present under the chairmanship of the Labour Relations Commission. This fundamental review must result in a new set of contractual arrangements which result in the provision by general practitioners of high-quality, person-centred primary care services to individuals and communities, support the achievement of national health policy objectives and provide a challenging and fulfilling working environment for doctors.

Care of the Elderly.

Tom Hayes

Question:

32 Mr. Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of home care packages which will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8362/06]

The Deputy will be aware that an investment package of an additional €150 million has been put in place for services for older people and palliative care for 2006 and 2007, of which €55 million was allocated to home care packages. This is a full year cost, €30 million of which is for 2006, during which an additional 2,000 packages will be provided by the Health Service Executive across the country. Some 1,100 packages are provided at present. The priority will be older people living in the community or who are inpatients in an acute hospital who may otherwise require admission to residential care. The home care packages will also be available to those older people who have been admitted to long-term care and who now wish to return to the community.

It is envisaged that this focus on care in the community for older people will not be confined to 2006 and 2007 but represents a shift away from residential care, as a first option, that will continue into the future. The Deputy will be aware that the Mercer report on the Future Financing of Long-Term Care in Ireland, which was commissioned by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, examined all issues surrounding the financing of long-term care. Following on the publication of this report, a working group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and comprising senior officials from the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and Social and Family Affairs, was established. The objective of this group was to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care, including improvements in community care, taking account of the Mercer report. This group presented its report to Government, where it is under consideration.

Consultants’ Contracts.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

33 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date in negotiations with the Irish Hospital Consultants Association; the items which remain outstanding; when she intends to proceed with the appointment of the promised public-only consultants contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8552/06]

Gay Mitchell

Question:

79 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has set a deadline to end the consultant contract talks; the agency that will be responsible for implementing her new contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8336/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 79 together.

It will be recalled that both medical organisations — the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, IHCA — would not participate in contract negotiations until the extension of the clinical indemnity scheme, CIS, to consultants was resolved.

Talks on a new contract commenced on 24 November 2005 under the independent chairmanship of Mr. Mark Connaughton SC. At that meeting, and a further plenary meeting in December, both the IHCA and the IMO indicated that they required a number of issues to be addressed before they could engage in substantive negotiations on a new contract.

While some of these issues remain unresolved, a position paper outlining proposals on a new employment contract for consultants working in the public health system was tabled by management at a plenary meeting on 26 January 2006. The medical organisations have refused to engage in substantive discussions on these proposals. At a further meeting on 9 February the talks were adjourned without any further date being set for their resumption.

While a further meeting between management and the consultant representative bodies has not been arranged, the independent chairman is maintaining contact with both sides with a view to arranging a formula to effect the resumption of substantive and intensive negotiations at an early date. I am anxious for the negotiations to be concluded within a reasonable timeframe. The Health Service Executive will have responsibility for overseeing the full implementation of the new contract arrangements.

Medical Inquiry.

Joe Sherlock

Question:

34 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason for the long delay in publishing the report of the inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied) in Monaghan Hospital in October 2005 in view of the undertaking she gave Dáil Éireann in October 2005 that the report would be completed within eight weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8563/06]

Following the death of Mr. Patrick Walsh in Monaghan Hospital on 14 October 2005, the Health Service Executive commissioned Mr. Declan Carey, a consultant surgeon at Belfast City Hospital and an honorary senior lecturer at Queen's University, and Professor John Monson, Professor of Surgery, University of Hull, to carry out an independent and external review. The executive has advised my Department that the review has commenced with an anticipated completion date of late March-April 2006.

Care of the Elderly.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

35 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the recently published NESF report on care for the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8560/06]

The National Economic and Social Forum report on care for older people was launched on 29 January 2006. The Department will be studying this report and will also be discussing it with the HSE in due course.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, established a working group to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care, including improvements in community care and home care packages. The report of the Working Group on the Future Financing of Long-Term Care has been presented to Government, where it is under consideration.

Nursing Staff.

Joe Costello

Question:

36 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her response to the claim for improved pay and conditions recently lodged by the Irish Nurses Organisation on behalf of its members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8538/06]

The Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association have recently lodged a number of claims for increases in pay and changes to working conditions. The unions concerned have signed up to the current national agreement — Sustaining Progress. A management team led by the Health Service Executive employers agency met the unions on 10 February 2006. They reminded the unions that under section 19.6 of Sustaining Progress cost increasing claims for improvements in pay or conditions are precluded during the lifetime of the agreement.

The parties to Sustaining Progress had agreed that the benchmarking exercise was an important initiative in developing a better system of pay determination in the public service. The parties further agreed that this process is an appropriate way of determining public service pay rates in the future. Following on from this a new Public Service Benchmarking Body, PSBB, was established on 13 January 2006 by the Minister for Finance. This new PSBB is the sole mechanism for the determination of the pay of public servants, including nurses.

I understand that the claims are being referred to the Labour Relations Commission. It remains Government policy that it is not open to the nursing unions or any other public service unions to pursue pay claims otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the prevailing national pay agreement.

Accident and Emergency Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

37 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she has taken to address the ongoing issue of hospital patients being forced to wait, in some cases several days, on hospital trolleys; if an evaluation has been done to determine the underlying reasons for this continuing problem; if her attention has been drawn to the serious damage being done to the quality of hospital services and the risk to patients while this continues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8577/06]

My Department is in ongoing discussions with the Health Service Executive with regard to the need for improvement in the accident and emergency services, with a particular focus on reducing the numbers on trolleys and the waiting times for patients in individual hospitals.

There is a need to build on the existing action plan for accident and emergency services and, in particular, to adopt a more focused approach that concentrates on individual hospital performance. Arising from the discussions with the HSE, a number of proposals have been agreed, including provision for specific performance improvement targets for individual hospitals.

Hospital Accommodation.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

38 Mr. Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a full audit of the number of acute hospital beds in use in the public health system and of the number required to meet patient needs will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8461/06]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

46 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of acute hospital beds and step-down beds that are required to meet the needs of the health service over the next five years and the next ten years; when the report on neurological services will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8547/06]

Eamon Ryan

Question:

110 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date on the delivery of the promised 3,000 acute beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8606/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 46 and 110 together.

The Health Services Executive's National Service Plan 2006 which has been laid before the Houses of Oireachtas, states that there are 53 public acute hospitals with a total of 13,771 beds, inpatient and day places, at October 2005.

An Agreed Programme for Government includes a commitment to expand public hospital beds in line with the health strategy commitment to increase total acute hospital bed capacity by 3,000 by 2011. Substantial investment in additional bed capacity in acute hospitals has already taken place.

Funding has been provided to open an additional 900 inpatient beds and day places in public acute hospitals throughout the country. The Health Service Executive has informed my Department that 818 of these beds and day places are in place and the remaining 82 beds and day places will come on stream over the coming months.

In addition, a further 450 acute beds and day places are in various stages of planning and development under the capital investment framework 2005-09. In July 2005, I announced an initiative which will provide up to an additional 1,000 beds for public patients in public hospitals over the next five years. The Estimates for 2006 include €60 million to open new acute hospital facilities some of which will provide additional inpatient beds and day places. These additional inpatient beds and day places will go some way to achieving our commitment in the programme for Government to increase total acute hospital capacity.

My Department, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive, will be reviewing public capacity requirements in the acute hospital sector in the light of developments since the health strategy was published. My Department is in discussion with the HSE on an assessment to be carried out by them regarding long-term care residential requirements for older people, including respite and intermediate care.

Comhairle na nOspidéal published a report of a review of neurology and neurophysiology services in April 2003. The report recommended significant enhancement of these services, including increases in consultant staffing. As part of the Estimates for health services in 2006, additional funding of €3 million was allocated specifically for the further development of neurology and neurophysiology services. My Department is advised by the executive that the development of three new neurology units will commence during 2006, one in the mid-west, one in the north west and one in the south east, with the appointment of multi-disciplinary teams comprising consultant neurologists and support staff.

The HSE will also be investing in neurophysiology services in 2006, with the development of an innovative teleneurophysiology link between Sligo General Hospital and Beaumont Hospital. This initiative is designed to reduce waiting times for diagnostic testing.

Hospital Services.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

39 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the communications she has had with the Health Service Executive regarding the consultancy report it has commissioned on hospital services in the north east region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8376/06]

My Department has been advised by the Health Service Executive that it is currently engaged in a procurement process to select a consultancy that will examine acute hospital services in the north eastern region.

The terms of reference will include the determination, with reference to international best practice of the optimal configuration of hospital services and consultant staffing for the geographic area and population of the north east in order to provide safe, sustainable, cost-effective and high quality services.

General Practitioner Co-operatives.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Question:

40 Mr. Gogarty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has satisfied herself with the out-of-hours services offered by general practitioners and co-operatives; the steps she is taking to improve these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8604/06]

The established and agreed policy on general practitioner out of hours co-operative services is outlined in the national health strategy Quality and Fairness A Health System for You, which commits to further development of this area. The GP co-operatives provide the means for all patients, both medical card and private, to access appropriate qualified medical care out of hours, including domiciliary visits where deemed appropriate, by dialling a lo-call number. The development of GP co-operatives is being undertaken as part of the overall strengthening of primary care services available to patients and to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, patients care needs are met in the primary care setting.

The first full out of hours general practitioner co-operative began in the Health Service Executive's south eastern area in 1999 and was adjudged one of the most significant developments in the area of general practice. In 2000, this co-operative service along with that operated in the HSE's north eastern area were independently evaluated and found to be an enhancement of the care available to patients. The evaluations also found that the services provided were held in high regard by both the patient and the service provider.

Between 2000 and 2005, approximately €105 million has been provided for the development of GP out of hours co-operatives. In 2006 approximately €33 million is available to the HSE, of which €2 million is new funding in the current year. The HSE is at present giving consideration to the further developments to be undertaken on foot of this additional funding. Out of hours co-operatives are now found in part of all HSE areas, providing coverage in part or all of the 26 counties. The geographical areas to be covered by co-operatives and any expansion are decisions for the HSE to make, having regard to the strategic, financial and other issues involved.

Some of the co-operatives have put in place systems to monitor the satisfaction levels of patients using the service and in others independent evaluation on customer reactions are undertaken. In the HSE's western area an independent evaluation of the co-operative, conducted by National University of Ireland, Galway, found high levels of patient satisfaction with the service provided by the doctors and recorded that 30% of survey respondents would have gone to a hospital accident and emergency unit if the service had not been available.

In the context of their operational responsibility for GP out of hours services I understand that the HSE intends to undertake a review of this service area, and that the terms of reference for this task are under consideration.

Health Services.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

41 Mr. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the breakdown of where the €16 million given to primary care for 2006 will be spent; if she would list the 75-100 primary care centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8349/06]

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

56 Jan O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the projects on which the €16 million allocated to primary care by the Health Service Executive will be spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8553/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 56 together.

The Government is fully committed to the implementation of the principles contained in the primary care strategy, which provides a template for the reform and development of primary care services over a period of ten to 15 years.

The chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive has also emphasised the importance of developing primary care services, both as the appropriate service for the delivery of the majority of people's health and social care needs and to complement the services provided by acute hospitals. This is an important priority of the executive and has my full endorsement. The implementation process at operational level is a function of the HSE which, under the Health Act 2004, is responsible for the management and delivery of health and personal social services.

To support further implementation of the strategy in 2006, additional revenue funding of €16 million has been provided. Of this funding, €10 million is to support the establishment of 75-100 primary care teams nationally. This will enable the provision of 300 additional frontline personnel to work alongside GPs in order to provide integrated and accessible services in the community.

I have been informed by the HSE that work to establish these primary care teams in development is under way. I understand that the executive will be targeting the funding so as to provide each local health office of the HSE with the potential to develop up to three primary care teams. The executive hopes to focus where possible on areas of disadvantage and with health inequalities in planning for the establishment of these teams.

A sum of €4 million has been provided for the establishment of additional GP training places and €2 million to enhance GP out-of-hours co-ops. This means that, taking into account development funding provided since 2002, €28 million is available in 2006 specifically to support the implementation of the primary care strategy. However, other development funding will also be used to support the delivery of services in line with the principles of the strategy.

Wider implementation of the primary care strategy will focus on developing new ways of working and of reorganising the resources already available to the health service in line with the service model described in the strategy. This whole-system approach to implementation means change will be required in many sectors in the health service, and not solely within primary care itself.

Youth Homelessness.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

42 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a review of the implementation of action plans in respect of homelessness in children is to take place; if she intends to carry out research into the reasons for the alarmingly high level of homelessness in children here; and if she will establish the particular needs of such homeless children. [5307/06]

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

107 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she intends to take the reduce the figure of 492 homeless children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5237/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 107 together.

The youth homelessness strategy was published on 31 October 2001. The strategy provides a strategic framework for youth homelessness to be tackled on a national basis. The goal of the strategy is "to reduce and if possible eliminate youth homelessness through preventative strategies and where a child becomes homeless to ensure that he/she benefits from a comprehensive range of services aimed at reintegrating him/her into his /her community as quickly as possible".

Under the strategy, the former health boards, now the Health Service Executive, had lead responsibility for implementation of the strategy and they prepared detailed action plans in this regard to address youth homelessness in line with the objectives set out in the strategy. During 2005, my Department requested the HSE to undertake a review of the action plans to ascertain the extent of their implementation. A copy of this report was received on 24 February 2006 and is under consideration by my Department.

I can also advise that a considerable amount of work has been done in this area since the publication of the strategy. This work was undertaken by the youth homelessness strategy monitoring committee, YHSMC, under the chairmanship of the National Children's Office, now part of the recently established Office of the Minister for Children, and representative of the child care policy unit of my Department and other relevant stakeholders.

The committee identified key areas, which required attention in order to drive the implementation of the strategy in an effective, co-ordinated way, on a nationwide basis. A number of sub-groups were established as follows: The programme of action for children office, a unit within the HSE, agreed to take on the co-ordination and linkages functions within the HSE. The Office of the Minister for Children will continue to deal with cross-sectoral co-ordination issues.

National guidelines on leaving and aftercare were approved by the YHS monitoring committee and were circulated by my Department to the former health boards in July 2004. The purpose of the guidelines is to assist the HSE in developing its leaving and aftercare policies with the aim of, inter alia, protecting those leaving care who may be vulnerable to homelessness.

The statistics sub-group recommended the introduction of a new youth homelessness contact form as a way of gathering more reliable and consistent statistics. My Department circulated the form to the former health boards in December 2003 for introduction on 1 January 2004.

The contact form provides more information than was previously collected, and revised tables on youth homelessness are being included in the interim minimum dataset for 2004. The revised tables include new categories for reasons for homelessness such as a young person abandoned by parent or caregiver, a young person running away from care placement and family dispute or breakdown. The revised tables also examine the reason given for homelessness with the outcome, and the reason given for homelessness with the age of the young person. The full statistics for 2004 have not been compiled yet. The interim minimum dataset for 2003 provides the following reasons for children becoming homeless.

Primary Reason for Homelessness of Children

ERHA

MHB

MWHB

NEHB

NWHB

SEHB

SHB

WHB

National

Abuse Emotional Abuse Of Child

4

0

1

0

0

0

1

5

11

Neglect Of Child

8

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

11

Physical Abuse Of Child

10

2

3

2

0

0

0

3

20

Sexual Abuse Of Child

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

Child Problems Child Abusing Drugs/ Alcohol

18

0

9

1

0

5

12

8

53

Child Involved In Crime

17

1

1

0

0

0

6

0

25

Child Pregnancy

7

0

0

1

0

3

2

0

13

Child With Emotional/ Behavioural Problems

65

11

15

2

0

13

30

10

146

Mental Health Problem/ Intellectual Disability In Child

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Other — Please Specify

1

0

0

1

0

0

3

0

5

Physical Illness/ Disability In Child

8

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

10

Family Problems Domestic Violence

7

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

10

Family Member Abusing Drugs/ Alcohol

36

1

0

0

0

3

3

4

47

Mental Health Problem/ Intellectual Disability In Other Family Member

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Other — Please Specify

2

0

1

0

1

4

9

1

18

Parent Unable To Cope/ Family Difficulty Re Housing/Finance

17

2

3

12

1

30

33

2

100

Physical Illness/ Disability In Other Family Member

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

A sub-group was established to look at the education and training objectives of the youth homelessness strategy. Membership of the group included representatives of the statutory and voluntary education and health sectors. It was agreed that there was a need to look at a broad understanding of the homelessness process to understand the potential impact of education and training elements as part of the solution for young people who are homeless. Consideration was given to: the preventive aspect of educational and training interventions; processes to ensure that education and training elements form part of the ongoing support of children and young people who are homeless; and the role of education and training in the prevention and reintegration of children in the care or detention systems.

The group finalised its report and it was sent to the relevant Departments, the national education welfare board and the Health Service Executive on 21 June 2005.

A sub-group was established to examine information and advocacy in the context of the youth homelessness strategy, with a particular focus on making relevant information more accessible to young homeless people or young people at risk of becoming homeless. The group finalised its report and it was sent to my Department, the Health Service Executive and Comhairle on 21 November 2005.

Since the publication of the youth homelessness strategy, significant progress has been made. Approximately €12 million has been allocated by the Department of Health and Children to the former health boards for the development of youth homelessness services since 2001 and 195 new whole-time equivalent posts have been filled across the Health Service Executive, up to 31 December 2004. Although these posts impact on youth homelessness services, they are not all exclusively dedicated to youth homelessness services. Some 11 new units have opened nationwide and over 42 new or extended services, including aftercare, have been developed around the country.

The Health Service Executive is responsible for the management and delivery of health and personal social services. In recent years many services have been developed to counter the problem of youth homelessness in the Dublin region. The crisis intervention service for young people out of home is based in the city centre and includes an outreach service, emergency out of hours social work service, reception centre, residential units and a day centre. A director for homelessness was appointed in the former eastern regional health authority, Health Service Executive eastern area, in 2000. I am advised that this is now the role of the national care group manager social inclusion since the establishment of the Health Service Executive.

In Cork, Liberty Street House became fully operational in 2003, and acts as a focal point for youth homelessness services in Cork. The centre provides a variety of services, including social work, medical, financial services, for young people out of home or in danger of becoming homeless.

Services for homeless children are also provided by the other Health Service Executive areas and generally these are provided as part of the child protection and welfare services. The services provided include units for young people out of home supported lodgings, and the provision of out-reach, leaving and after care services.

Pharmacy Regulations.

Liz McManus

Question:

43 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she is taking to safeguard patients from rogue pharmacists and pharmacy owners; the estimated numbers that are not registered, but should be, due to delays in bringing forward pharmacy legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8532/06]

The practice of pharmacy is governed by the Pharmacy Acts 1875 to 1962. I am aware that the current fitness to practice provisions in these Acts are inadequate for the modern practice of pharmacy. On foot of the recommendations of the pharmacy review group I obtained Government approval in June 2005 to commence the process of drafting, as a priority, new pharmacy legislation to allow, among other things, the making of fitness to practice regulations for pharmacists. The purpose of these new provisions is to ensure the highest standards from pharmacists and to safeguard the safe and effective delivery of pharmaceutical services. My Department is at an advanced stage in drawing up the heads and general scheme of a pharmacy fitness to practice Bill and I intend to take a memorandum to Government in the very near future, seeking approval for the draft heads and general scheme and requesting that the legislation be referred to the Parliamentary Counsel's office for formal drafting of the Bill.

Retail pharmacies only require a state contract where they wish to provide services under the community drug schemes. Information regarding the number of pharmacies operating without a community pharmacy contractor agreement is not collected by my Department.

According to the Pharmacy Act 1962, SI 14/1962, the keeping of open shop for dispensing of medical prescriptions and sale of poisons must be personally supervised by a person who is registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, is employed in a whole-time capacity and is not acting in a similar capacity for any other body corporate or any authorised person or on his or her own behalf.

Information regarding the number of pharmacists who are not registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland is not collected by my Department.

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

44 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department is considering legislation on the basis of the pharmacy review group and the serious consequences this will have on primary care centres already established or in the process of being built; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8365/06]

John Deasy

Question:

60 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the recommendations of the pharmacy review group that are Government policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8364/06]

Pat Breen

Question:

96 Mr. P. Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her Department’s view on the recommendations of the pharmacy review group and the way in which these recommendations cannot be implemented in the changed commercial environment in primary care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8366/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

133 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when it is expected the pharmacies Bill will become law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8762/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 60, 96 and 133 together.

On foot of the recommendations of the pharmacy review group, approval was given in Government decision S180/20/10/0831 of 21 June 2005 to allow my Department commence drafting new pharmacy legislation by way of two pharmacy Bills. The first Bill is to deal with fitness to practice provisions for pharmacists, the removal of the prohibition, or the derogation, on non-Irish graduates being supervising pharmacists in pharmacies less than three years old, and a stronger statutory basis for the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, PSI.

This Bill will ensure the highest standards from the profession and ensure the safe and effective delivery of pharmaceutical services to all citizens of the State. It will also update the governance of the PSI, including wider non-pharmacist representation on its council, and modernise the regulations with respect to the registration of pharmacists, including non-EU and EEA graduates while dealing with some matters concerning the delivery of pharmaceutical services in a community setting.

The second Bill is to legislate for pharmacy practice and the delivery of pharmaceutical services. This Bill will address the regulation of pharmacy and pharmacy services, including issues such as the definition of pharmacy services, the definition of a community pharmacy, enhanced provisions for the inspection of pharmacies, the provision for regulation of pharmacies in respect of matters such as physical conditions, standards, record keeping and promotional activities.

It is also proposed to deal with general provisions relating to community pharmacy contracts for services, and the remaining recommendations of the pharmacy review group. This will include the recommendation that there should be no beneficial ownership or business interest of any kind between prescribing and dispensing and, in regard to group premises with adjacent pharmacies, contracted pharmacies and general practices should occupy discrete premises, with separate entrances. The Government has accepted this recommendation.

While I am not in a position to regulate for ownership or market share, I have agreed to consider the potential conflict of interest issues arising from the development of health centres with adjacent pharmacies, in the context of the second Bill. In the interim, my Department has advised the Health Service Executive to take due care in assessing pharmacy contract applications so that any commercial relationship between a pharmacy contractor and a health centre will not affect the proper provision of services as required under clauses 21, 22(3), 22(4) and 23 of the contract dealing with ownership of pharmacies and beneficial interest.

My Department is at an advanced stage in drawing up the heads and general scheme of a pharmacy fitness to practice Bill and I intend to take a memorandum to Government in the very near future, seeking approval for the draft heads and general scheme and requesting that the legislation be referred to the Parliamentary Counsel's office for formal drafting of the Bill.

Mental Health Services.

Liam Twomey

Question:

45 Dr. Twomey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if previous plans to move the acute psychiatric unit in St. Sinan’s Hospital to Wexford General Hospital are now being rejected, due to the new report of the expert group on mental health policy, A Vision For Change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8373/06]

The report of the expert group on mental health policy A Vision for Change was launched on 24 January 2006. This policy envisions an active, flexible and community-based mental health service where the need for hospital admission will be greatly reduced. It will require substantial funding, but there is considerable equity in buildings and lands within the current mental health system, which could be realised to fund this plan. Therefore, this report recommends that steps be taken to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals and to re-invest the resources released by these closures in the mental health service. The closure of large mental hospitals and the move to modern units attached to general hospitals, together with the expansion of community services, has been Government policy since the publication of Planning for the Future in 1984.

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of mental health services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 46 answered with QuestionNo. 38.

Health Services.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

47 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to recent research suggesting that cardiovascular diseases cost Ireland more than €866 million in 2003, but that spending here on this area is among the lowest in the EU; the steps she intends to take to deal with this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8533/06]

The study to which the question refers is the Economic Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Enlarged EU, by Leal J, Luengo-Fernández R, Gray A, Petersen S and Rayner M. European Heart Journal, doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehi733.

I understand that the authors set out to provide an estimate of the economic costs of cardiovascular disease for EU countries. Data were obtained from published studies of health care costs and health service utilisation. It appears that all costs for health care in Ireland were extrapolated from costs in other countries.

It is unclear how some of costs were estimated, for example, annual loss of earnings or the cost for a day's inpatient care. The data on costs and resource implications were used to estimate the costs of cardiovascular disease.

Given that the authors may have underestimated the true costs in Ireland, there are question marks about the accuracy of the overall findings as they relate to this country. It is also possible that the authors did not include the costs of services provided in the private sector.

There has been rapid expansion in cardiology services in Ireland in recent years. The cardiovascular health strategy, Building Healthier Hearts, was launched in 1999. The report makes recommendations about the prevention, treatment and surveillance of coronary heart disease across a number of sectors and the full range of health service activities, in health promotion, primary care, pre-hospital care, acute hospital services and cardiac rehabilitation.

Since 2000 the Government has committed over €60 million towards the implementation of the strategy. This funding has supported a wide range of new regional services and initiatives, which have had a measurable impact on the diagnosis, and treatment of patients with heart disease. More than 800 new posts have been created, including 19 additional consultant cardiology posts.

We have made progress in addressing the key challenges in the implementation of the cardiovascular health strategy in the following areas: improving population health by supporting intersectoral work for health promotion, to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and improve quality of life; ensuring equitable access to services by continued provision of resources and support to fully implement outstanding cardiovascular health strategy recommendations to meet the needs of the growing numbers of older people and to provide new treatments for which there is evidence of effectiveness; and improving the quality of services by developing and implementing practice guidelines, the implementation of cardiovascular health information systems, support for clinical audit and for research to enhance the quality of services.

It appears that the study may not reflect the current level of expenditure and service provision. The study is useful however in drawing to our attention the high costs of cardiovascular disease both in Ireland and at European level, not just the costs of health care but also the costs to the economy and to families and carers.

Proposed Legislation.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

48 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she intends to bring forward the promised medical practitioners Bill in view of the decision of the Medical Council to proceed with competence assurance measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8562/06]

Gerard Murphy

Question:

54 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the new medical practitioners Bill is not being prioritised when 28 doctors have been struck off the registrar for conduct described by the Medical Council as amounting to moral turpitude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8369/06]

Phil Hogan

Question:

83 Mr. Hogan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the Government will take the issue of patient safety seriously in view of the recent Medical Council report which shows that doctors were struck off the council register for sexually assaulting patients and supplying control drugs for sale and sexual favours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8353/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 54 and 83 together.

I want to assure the Deputy that the publication of a new medical practitioners Bill is regarded as a priority task in my Department for the current year. Officials are currently considering a number of policy issues, and appropriate consultations are taking place with the Medical Council. Once those policy issues are settled, Parliamentary Counsel will be asked to complete the drafting of the Bill, with a view to its publication later this year.

It is intended that the medical practitioners Bill will provide a statutory basis for an appropriate scheme of competence assurance for medical practitioners, which will be co-ordinated and administered by the Medical Council. In that context, voluntary participation by medical practitioners in structured audits as announced by the Medical Council is a welcome development.

Departmental Staff.

Gerard Murphy

Question:

49 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the role of the GPIT unit in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8368/06]

The general practice information technology project, GPIT, was a joint project undertaken between the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, and my Department with the objective of promoting the development of information technology in general practice. The project achieved significant progress in its core remit as well as in a number of related areas, including messaging standards and accreditation of software.

My Department, the HSE and the ICGP are currently working jointly on arrangements to build upon the work undertaken by the GPIT project, in the context of the restructuring of the health services and work undertaken under the auspices of my Department and the Health Service Executive to consider the future ICT needs of primary care.

Care of the Elderly.

Tom Hayes

Question:

50 Mr. Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the Government policy on funding care of the elderly going into the future as announced in the Health Strategy 2001 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8363/06]

I gather from the Deputy's question that he is referring to the working group established to examine policy on long-term care. The Mercer Report on the Future Financing of Long-Term Care in Ireland, which was commissioned by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, examined all issues surrounding the financing of long-term care. Following on the publication of this report, a working group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and comprising senior officials from the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and Social and Family Affairs was established.

The objective of this group was to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care, including improvements in community care, taking account of the Mercer report, the views of the consultation that was undertaken on that report and the review of the nursing home subvention scheme by Professor Eamon O'Shea. This group presented its report to Government, where it is under consideration. My Department, the HSE and the ICGP are currently working jointly on arrangements to build upon the work undertaken by the GPIT project in the context of the restructuring of the health services and work undertaken under the auspices of my Department and the Health Service Executive to consider the future ICT needs of primary care.

Question No. 51 answered with QuestionNo. 27.

Medical Cards.

Willie Penrose

Question:

52 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to concerns expressed regarding demands from the Health Service Executive that patients provide a list of medications they are using when applying for a renewal of a medical card; her views on whether such a practice is consistent with the principles of patient confidentiality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8555/06]

The issue raised in the Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Joe Costello

Question:

53 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to research produced by the Cystic Fibrosis Association showing that cystic fibrosis sufferers in the Republic are dying nine years earlier than their counterparts in Northern Ireland due to a basic lack of care; the steps being taken to address this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8537/06]

I wish to see significant improvement in the level of services available to persons with cystic fibrosis. I am aware of the current service deficits in this area which are widely acknowledged and which have been identified most notably in the Pollock report, and by the Health Service Executive working group which is looking at this issue. As part of the overall funding for health services in 2006, additional revenue funding of €4.78 million has been allocated specifically for the development of cystic fibrosis services.

My Department is advised that the working group is due to report shortly and will be making specific recommendations on a range of service improvements required for persons with cystic fibrosis, in particular the need to increase the level of clinical, nursing and allied health professional staffing in cystic fibrosis units around the country. As part of the implementation process I have asked the HSE to address in particular the identified deficits at the national adult referral centre at St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin.

Question No. 54 answered with QuestionNo. 48.

Hospital Hygiene Audit.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

55 Mr. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied that hospital hygiene levels have improved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8350/06]

The first ever national hygiene audit took place last year. The results of this audit will form the basis for the changes that are required in both work environments and work practices so as to meet the highest possible standards of cleanliness in hospital settings. The second national hygiene audit of acute hospitals has commenced and will assess the extent of the improvements made at hospital level since the publication of the first audit report. I am confident that hospital hygiene will improve as there is now an increased awareness and resolve in all hospitals to attain the necessary high standards.

Question No. 56 answered with QuestionNo. 41.

Proposed Legislation.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

57 Mr. McGinley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when legislation to clarify entitlements to health services will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8331/06]

Work has commenced on a new legislative framework to provide for clear statutory provisions on eligibility and entitlement for health and personal social services. The aim is to produce a clear set of statutory provisions that ensure equity and transparency and to bring the system up to date with developments in service delivery and technology that have occurred since the Health Act 1970. This is a very complex task but the Department is working to prepare proposals without delay.

The Department is preparing legislation that will: define specific health and personal services more clearly; define who should be eligible for what services; set out clear criteria for eligibility; establish when and in what circumstances charges may be made; and provide for an appeals framework. I intend to publish legislation by the end of the year.

Health Service Staff.

Denis Naughten

Question:

58 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to fill paramedical staff vacancies in the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8321/06]

As the Deputy's question relates to human resource management issues which are a matter for the Health Service Executive, the parliamentary affairs division of the executive has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

While information on vacancies in health and social care professional, paramedic grades, is not collected as a matter of routine in my Department, information is however collected on employment levels. The latest available figures show an increase of 7,727, an increase of 130%, to 13,665 in the total number of health and social care professionals between end December 1997 and end September 2005. Numbers are given in whole time equivalents and reflect some grade re-categorisation over the period.

Accident and Emergency Services.

Seán Crowe

Question:

59 Mr. Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the communications she has had with the Health Service Executive in 2006 with regard to the position at Tallaght Hospital accident and emergency unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8468/06]

The number of patients and the waiting times for patients awaiting admission at Tallaght Hospital is a matter of concern. My Department has been briefed by the executive on the position at the hospital and is advised that the executive is in discussion with the hospital on a number of measures designed to achieve improvements in accident and emergency services. I also met the chairman and chief executive of the hospital recently and in the course of the meeting the need for improved performance in this area was discussed.

Question No. 60 answered with QuestionNo. 44.

Care of the Elderly.

Billy Timmins

Question:

61 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the role the health information quality authority will have in relation to standards of care of the elderly in public and private residential facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8327/06]

In relation to the standard and quality of services and facilities in nursing homes the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993, made under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990, set out the standards to which private nursing homes must adhere. The Health Service Executive currently carries out inspections in private nursing homes. In the context of the Health Bill 2006 the process has begun to review the current system with a view to strengthening the powers available to those involved in inspecting facilities and to extend a strengthened inspection system to public facilities.

It is also intended that the Bill will provide for the setting and monitoring of standards for residential facilities for older people. In addition, the Department has commenced a review of the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993, and is working in conjunction with the Health Service Executive, the social services inspectorate and the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board, IHSAB, with the intention of developing standards that will apply to all residential services for older people. It is intended that the Health Bill 2006 will establish both the health information quality authority and the social services inspectorate on a statutory basis and will contain provisions to underpin a more robust inspectorial system.

Question No. 62 answered with QuestionNo. 8.

Hospital Services.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

63 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she proposes to take on the configuration of children’s hospital services in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8466/06]

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

88 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made on the location of the proposed single specialised children’s hospital and paediatric accident and emergency unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8541/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 88 together.

On 3 February last, the Health Service Executive published a report on the delivery of tertiary paediatric services. Commissioned by the HSE at my request and prepared by McKinsey & Company, the report recommends that best outcomes for children should be provided by one national tertiary paediatric centre, which would also provide all secondary paediatric services for the greater Dublin area. Arising from the report's recommendations, a joint HSE-Department of Health and Children task group was established to progress matters and advise on the optimal location for the new facility. The group was asked to report within two months. My primary concern is to ensure we arrive at a solution which is in the best interests of the children of this country.

Question No. 64 answered with QuestionNo. 27.

Mental Health Services.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

65 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether there is a huge deficit in the delivery of psychiatric services in the health care system here in view of recommendations of the report of the expert group on mental health policy, A Vision For Change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8374/06]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

104 Ms Enright asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the recommendations of the report of the expert group on mental health policy, A Vision For Change, is now Government policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8371/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 104 together.

The report of the expert group on mental health policy, A Vision for Change, was launched on 24 January 2006. This report is the first comprehensive review of mental health policy since Planning for the Future was published in 1984 and has been accepted by Government as the basis for the future development of mental health policy. The report proposes a holistic view of mental illness and recommends an integrated multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to mental health problems. It proposes a person-centred treatment approach which addresses each of these elements through an integrated care plan, reflecting best practice, and evolved and agreed with service users and their carers. Special emphasis is given to the need to involve service users and their families and carers at every level of service provision.

This policy envisions an active, flexible and community based mental health service where the need for hospital admission will be greatly reduced. It will require substantial funding but there is considerable equity in buildings and lands within the current mental health system, which could be realised to fund this plan. Therefore, this report recommends that steps be taken to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals and to re-invest the resources released by these closures in the mental health service. The closure of large mental hospitals and the move to modern units attached to general hospitals, together with the expansion of community services, has been Government policy since the publication of Planning for the Future in 1984.

The programme of investment has already begun with an additional €25 million allocated to the HSE in the Estimates for 2006 for mental health services. Significant capital investment will also be required to implement A Vision for Change for the provision of new and replacement facilities for the mental health services. This has been estimated by the expert group to be of the order of €800 million and much of it could be realised from the value of existing hospitals and lands.

The Health Service Executive, which has primary responsibility for implementing the recommendations of the expert report has stated that the national mental health directorate within the HSE will immediately establish an implementation group to ensure the recommendations are realised in a timely and co-ordinated manner.

Health Services.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

66 Ms Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of patients suffering from mental or behavioural problems sent out of the State for treatment in 2003, 2004 and 2005; when the report on neurological services will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8545/06]

As part of the Estimates for health services in 2006, additional funding of €3 million was allocated specifically for the further development of neurology and neurophysiology services. This funding was provided to allow the Health Service Executive to further progress the implementation of the recommendations made by the former Comhairle na nOspidéal in respect of these services. The Comhairle report, which has been published, recommended significant enhancement of services, including the appointment of additional consultants. While reaching the full complement of consultant posts, as recommended, will take some time, major improvements in patient care can be achieved in the shorter term through a combination of additional consultant posts and the appointment of a number of clinical nurse specialists and allied health professionals.

My Department is advised by the executive that the development of three new neurology units — one in the mid-west, one in the north west and one in the south east — will commence during 2006 with the appointment of multi-disciplinary teams comprising consultant neurologists and support staff. The HSE will also invest in neurophysiology services in 2006, with the development of an innovative tele-neurophysiology link between Sligo General Hospital and Beaumont Hospital. This initiative is designed to reduce waiting times for diagnostic testing.

On the Deputy's question regarding the number of patients suffering from mental or behavioural problems sent out of the State for treatment in 2003, 2004 and 2005, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

National Drugs Strategy.

Dan Boyle

Question:

67 Mr. Boyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the activities planned for 2006 under the national drug awareness campaign as part of the national drug strategy. [4346/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which includes the development and implementation of drug awareness campaigns. These are now the responsibility of the Health Service Executive established under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 68 answered with QuestionNo. 27.

Nursing Home Charges.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

69 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason for the continued delay in making refunds in respect of moneys illegally deducted from long-stay patients; the role outside consultants will play in this process; the expected cost of the use of such outside consultants; if consideration has been given to using expertise within the public service with experience of assessing and making large numbers of claims, such as the Department of Social and Family Affairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8557/06]

The Government has agreed the key elements of a scheme for the repayment of long-stay charges for publicly funded residential care. All those fully eligible persons who were wrongly charged and are alive and the estates of all those who were wrongly charged and died since 9 December 1998 will have the charges repaid in full. Draft heads of a Bill for a repayment scheme were submitted to Government in December and approved. The draft heads have been submitted to parliamentary counsel for drafting and it is my intention to have the Bill published in the current parliamentary session and have repayments commence shortly after the Bill is approved and signed into law.

In the preparation of the legislation there were many complex issues which required clarification. My Department had consultations with a wide range of Departments and agencies to ensure the provisions of the scheme adequately addressed these issues. These provisions included exempting from income tax those who are alive, to allow for repayments to take account of inflation by use of the consumer price index and to allow repayments to living persons and their spouses to be disregarded in means assessment for health and social welfare benefits. Consultations with the probate office of the High Court have also resulted in a streamlined process where a grant of probate is required for an application on behalf of a deceased person. The provisions of the Bill will also provide appropriate safeguards for those who are not in a position to manage their own affairs.

Extensive consultation has also taken place with the oversight committee appointed to provide an independent input into the design and monitoring of the scheme. The committee is fully briefed on all aspects of the scheme and has provided valuable input into the legislative process to date. The scheme will be designed and managed with the aim of ensuring that those who are eligible for repayments receive them as soon as possible and with the minimum possible imposition in terms of bureaucracy. Priority will be given to those who are still alive. Many of those eligible for repayments have already been identified as a result of initial payments made following my announcement in December 2004. In advance of the selection of an outside company, I have requested the HSE to begin to proactively identify and work up the details of repayments due to living persons to enable prompt repayments to be made. The scheme will include an independent transparent and thorough appeals process.

The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering this repayment scheme, including the recruitment of an outside company to manage the scheme within the agreed parameters. This outside company will also provide an independent assessment of the amount of repayment due to each applicant under the scheme. It will also help to reassure the public that the scheme is being operated in the most equitable and effective manner possible. The HSE has recently re-advertised a new procurement process for the selection of a company to administer the scheme. As the selection process is by negotiated procedure, it is not possible at this stage to indicate the expected cost of such a company.

As already indicated, the HSE is undertaking a procurement process to select this outside company. Consideration has been given to the involvement of public sector staff to assist in administering the scheme, albeit not specifically from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The HSE has informed my Department that the time constraints of the procurement process do not allow for comprehensive consideration of these possible options, which would materially alter the specifications of the tendering documentation due to issue on 6 March.

Departmental Funding.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

70 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the breakdown of the additional €9 million she has made available to the Health Service Executive for cancer services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8345/06]

I made available an additional €9 million to the Health Service Executive for the development of cancer services in 2006. The Deputy's question concerning the allocation of funds relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Services.

Martin Ferris

Question:

71 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the communications she has had with the Health Service Executive in 2006 with regard to the position in Tralee Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8464/06]

The Deputy will appreciate that the management and delivery of services at the hospital is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive in the first instance. As Minister, I am aware of the position regarding certain operational matters affecting the delivery of hospital services in different areas. With regard to Kerry General Hospital I have not been in formal contact recently with the Health Service Executive regarding services there.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

72 Mr. Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of acute hospital beds here currently closed due to inadequate staffing, inadequate funding, ongoing renovations and repairs and other reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8462/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Staff.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

73 Mr. McGinley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the locations where she intends to recruit the 2,500 consultants she claims the health service needs; her timescale for employing these consultants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8333/06]

Implementation of the European working time directive will necessitate the following reductions in the working hours of all doctors: a maximum of 58 hours per week on average from 1 August 2004; a maximum of 56 hours per week on average from 1 August 2007; and a maximum of 48 hours per week on average from 1 August 2009. The national task force on medical staffing was charged with examining how this directive could be implemented without adversely affecting service delivery. Against the background of the required decrease in non-consultant hospital doctor, NCHD, working hours, the task force recommended the introduction of a consultant provided service and an increase in the number of consultants. It also made detailed recommendations on the number of consultants required in many specialties. The HSE, in consultation with my Department, will determine the location of these new consultant posts.

General Practitioner Co-operatives.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

74 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the criteria to be used for the awarding of the contract for out of hours general practitioner service on the north side of Dublin; the reason for the delay in awarding the contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8551/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Nursing Home Care.

Phil Hogan

Question:

75 Mr. Hogan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she intends to take to protect patients in all care settings in view of the revelation of further mismanagement of elderly patients at Leas Cross Nursing Home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8355/06]

With regard to the standard and quality of services and facilities in nursing homes the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993, made under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990, set out the standards to which private nursing homes must adhere. The Health Service Executive currently carries out inspections in private nursing homes. In the context of the Health Bill 2006 the process has begun to review the current system with a view to strengthening the powers available to those involved in inspecting facilities and to extend a strengthened inspection system to public facilities.

It is also intended that the Bill will provide for the setting and monitoring of standards for residential facilities for older people. In addition, the Department has commenced a review of the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993, and is working in conjunction with the Health Service Executive, the social services inspectorate and the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board, IHSAB, with the intention of developing standards that will apply to all residential services for older people. It is intended that the Health Bill 2006 will establish both the health information quality authority, HIQA, and social services inspectorate on a statutory basis and will contain provisions to underpin a more robust inspectorial system.

Alcohol Policy.

John Gormley

Question:

76 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date on implementing the recommendations of the task force on alcohol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8600/06]

John Gormley

Question:

115 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date on implementing the recommendations of the task force of alcohol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8741/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 115 together.

The strategic task force on alcohol was established in January 2002 and given a remit to recommend specific evidence based measures to Government to prevent and reduce alcohol related harm. It has published two reports which together provide approximately 100 recommendations across a wide range of sectors. Significant progress has already been made across Departments in implementing the task force recommendations.

Legislative measures which have been adopted include the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 which assists in regulating availability. Happy hours have been abolished and restrictions on the access of children to licensed premises have been introduced. The Road Traffic Act 2003 extended the grounds for requesting a breath test to detect alcohol and the Minister for Transport has indicated his commitment to the introduction of random breath testing. A voluntary code of practice on alcohol advertising has been agreed between the Department of Health and Children and the drinks, media and advertising industries. This addresses many of the concerns about alcohol advertising. The Tánaiste has indicated her intention to introduce legislation if there is insufficient adherence to the voluntary code.

Significant progress has also been made in terms of research projects, the delivery of responsible server training, awareness raising campaigns, etc. Community mobilisation projects have been identified internationally as one of the most effective measures at reducing alcohol related harm. Resources have been allocated to the Health Service Executive to support such projects here. As the Deputy will be aware the executive functions of this Department have transferred to the Health Service Executive which will now have responsibility for progressing many of the task force recommendations.

Medical Education.

Michael Ring

Question:

77 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department had discussions with the University of Limerick regarding a proposal to establish a postgraduate medical school; if the proposal is or ever was Government policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8344/06]

On 1 February I and the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, announced details of a major reform programme in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and training, based on the recommendations in the report of the working group on undergraduate medical education and training, chaired by Professor Pat Fottrell, and the report of the postgraduate medical education and training group, chaired by Dr. Jane Buttimer. Both reports were published on that date.

One of the agreed reforms at undergraduate level involves the introduction of a new graduate entry programme for medicine from 2007, as part of the overall expansion of medical places for Irish and EU students from 305 to 725 places over a four year period. At the request of the president of the University of Limerick, I met a delegation from the university on 30 January 2006. The purpose of the meeting was to brief me on the university's proposal for the provision of a new graduate entry programme in medical education. Responsibility for decisions as to the appropriate arrangements for the provision of graduate entry programmes will rest with the Higher Education Authority. I understand that, in accordance with the recent Government decision on the Fottrell and Buttimer reports, the authority will issue shortly a call for proposals for the provision of new graduate entry programmes from 2007.

Question No. 78 answered with QuestionNo. 23.
Question No. 79 answered with QuestionNo. 33.
Question No. 80 answered with QuestionNo. 22.

Health Services.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

81 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the report on neurological services will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8542/06]

As part of the Estimates for health services in 2006, additional funding of €3 million was allocated specifically for the further development of neurology and neurophysiology services. This funding was provided to allow the Health Service Executive to further progress the implementation of the recommendations made by the former Comhairle na nOspidéal in respect of these services. The Comhairle report, which has been published, recommended significant enhancement of services, including the appointment of additional consultants. While reaching the full complement of consultant posts as recommended will take some time, major improvements in patient care can be achieved in the shorter term through a combination of additional consultant posts and the appointment of a number of clinical nurse specialists and allied health professionals.

My Department is advised by the executive that the development of three new neurology units will commence during 2006, one in the mid-west, one in the north west and one in the south east, with the appointment of multi-disciplinary teams comprising consultant neurologists and support staff. The HSE will also be investing in neurophysiology services in 2006, with the development of an innovative teleneurophysiology link between Sligo General Hospital and Beaumont Hospital. This initiative is designed to reduce waiting times for diagnostic testing.

Question No. 82 answered with QuestionNo. 22.
Question No. 83 answered with QuestionNo. 48.

Hospital Reports.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

84 Mr. Deenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she intends publishing the mapping of hospital processes inquiry carried out by the Health Service Executive on her behalf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8337/06]

My Department is advised by the Health Service Executive that the process mapping report referred to by the Deputy is currently at draft stage. The executive has established a group, chaired by the temporary director of the National Hospitals Office, to evaluate the report, its implications and its implementation. The date of publication of the report will be decided shortly.

Diabetes Incidence.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

85 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the Joint Committee on Health and Children being told that the increase in type 2 diabetes has reached crisis levels; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that people are getting the disease at a younger age and the average delay in diagnosis has moved from seven to 12 years; her views on the call for national screening for eye problems in particular and for implementation of care services including foot services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8549/06]

The national task force on obesity reported an increase in type 2 diabetes and that it is affecting people at a younger age. Additional funding of €3 million has been made available to the Health Service Executive to support the implementation of the report's recommendations.

The national diabetes working group submitted its report to the Tánaiste last summer. The report was forwarded to the chief executive of the Health Service Executive in October 2005. The HSE is treating the matter as a priority. It is currently considering the policy guidelines issued from my Department and is putting in place a structure to action the report. The issues raised by the Deputy relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 86 answered with QuestionNo. 27.

Emergency Services.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

87 Ms Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress made in regard to the need to resolve the lack of co-ordination and the duplication of services between the Health Service Executive ambulance service and the fire brigade ambulance service in the greater Dublin area; when the report on neurological services will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8546/06]

The first part of the Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Pre-hospital emergency care services in the eastern region are provided by the executive and Dublin City Council through Dublin Fire Brigade. My Department is advised by the executive that a review of command and control arrangements in the eastern region is currently being undertaken by representatives from the executive and Dublin City Council. My Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy on this matter.

With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, additional funding of €3 million was allocated specifically for the further development of neurology and neurophysiology services as part of the Estimates for health services in 2006. This funding was provided to allow the Health Service Executive to further progress the implementation of the recommendations made by the former Comhairle na nOspidéal in respect of these services. The Comhairle report, which has been published, recommended significant enhancement of services, including the appointment of additional consultants. While reaching the full complement of consultant posts as recommended will take some time, major improvements in patient care can be achieved in the shorter term through a combination of additional consultant posts and the appointment of a number of clinical nurse specialists and allied health professionals.

My Department is advised by the executive that the development of three new neurology units will commence during 2006, one in the mid-west, one in the north west and one in the south east, with the appointment of multi-disciplinary teams comprising consultant neurologists and support staff. The HSE will also be investing in neurophysiology services in 2006, with the development of an innovative teleneurophysiology link between Sligo General Hospital and Beaumont Hospital. This initiative is designed to reduce waiting times for diagnostic testing.

Question No. 88 answered with QuestionNo. 63.

Hospital Waiting Lists.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

89 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of patients waiting for elective procedures by hospital at over three months, over six months, and over 12 months at the latest date for which figures are available; the equivalent data in respect of children; the data available on the waiting times for public patients to see a specialist; when the report on neurological services will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8544/06]

Responsibility for the collection and reporting of waiting lists and waiting times now falls within the remit of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive of the NTPF to reply to the Deputy directly with the requested information.

Data on out-patient waiting times are not collated nationally by my Department. The management of out-patient waiting lists and waiting times is, in the first instance, a matter for the Health Service Executive and the individual hospitals concerned. However, in 2005 I asked the NTPF to examine the needs of patients waiting longest on out-patient waiting lists. As a result, the NTPF set up a number of out-patient pilot projects around the country. The outcome was that approximately 4,400 persons, who had been waiting longest in a number of specialties, received consultations at out-patient level in private hospitals. The NTPF intends to expand their out-patient initiative in 2006.

With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, additional funding of €3 million was allocated specifically for the further development of neurology and neurophysiology services as part of the Estimates for health services in 2006. This funding was provided to allow the Health Service Executive to further progress the implementation of the recommendations made by the former Comhairle na nOspidéal in respect of these services. The Comhairle report, which has been published, recommended significant enhancement of services, including the appointment of additional consultants. While reaching the full complement of consultant posts as recommended will take some time, major improvements in patient care can be achieved in the shorter term through a combination of additional consultant posts and the appointment of a number of clinical nurse specialists and allied health professionals.

My Department is advised by the executive that the development of three new neurology units will commence during 2006, one in the mid-west, one in the north west and one in the south east, with the appointment of multi-disciplinary teams comprising consultant neurologists and support staff. The HSE will also be investing in neurophysiology services in 2006, with the development of an innovative teleneurophysiology link between Sligo General Hospital and Beaumont Hospital. This initiative is designed to reduce waiting times for diagnostic testing.

Infectious Diseases.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

90 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the procedures in place to guard against the possible spread of H5N1 avian flu virus to the human population; if she has satisfied herself that such procedures are adequate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8534/06]

I am satisfied with progress on preparedness for a possible flu pandemic and with public health actions in response to a possible outbreak of avian flu in Ireland. For the sake of clarity, H5N1 avian flu is primarily a disease of birds. To date, there have been a very small number of human cases of H5N1 infection documented, in situations where there has been very close contact with infected birds. There is no evidence of human to human transmission.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian flu in birds and mammals other than humans. That Department has put in place a range of measures aimed at maintaining Ireland's avian flu-free status. The health sector's role with regard to avian flu relates to the human health implications that would arise were there to be an outbreak of avian flu in this country. My Department is working very closely with the Department of Agriculture and Food in this context.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is also an active participant in my Department's influenza pandemic expert group. A sub-group of the expert group has developed guidance documents for use in the event of an avian influenza outbreak in animals in Ireland. Guidance on the investigation and management of suspected human cases of avian influenza has also been developed and circulated within the health system. These guidance documents are available on the HSE health protection surveillance centre website, www.hpsc.ie.

The overall aims of influenza pandemic planning are to reduce mortality and morbidity and to minimise the resulting disruption to society. In line with information and evidence available internationally, my Department has consistently stated that the consequences of a global pandemic are likely to be serious. Pandemic planning can only mitigate the effects.

I would like to draw a very clear distinction between the current avian flu outbreak and the possibility of a future pandemic influenza in the human population. Experts advise that such a pandemic may arise as a result of the current H5N1 avian flu situation, but this is by no means inevitable. My Department and the Health Service Executive are working closely together on pandemic planning. This work is ongoing on a number of fronts, as follows: the influenza pandemic expert group is updating expert guidance; the pandemic influenza operational response plan is being updated in line with the most up to date expert advice.

This work is being progressed through working or implementation groups established by the HSE to address actions within the following functional areas — surveillance, health services, public health measures, vaccines and antivirals etc., communications, laboratories and materials management. My Department is a member of the HSE steering group and is also actively involved in the vaccines and antivirals and communications groups. My Department has established a standing interdepartmental committee to consider issues which go beyond the health aspects of an influenza pandemic.

Arrangements have been made to procure a stockpile of H5N1 vaccine for key health care workers and other essential workers. My Department is also actively pursuing an advanced purchase order for a pandemic strain vaccine. We are stockpiling 1 million treatment packs of the antiviral drug, Tamiflu. Some 600,000 packs have already been delivered. The remaining 400,000 packs will be delivered this year. Arrangements have also been made to purchase a supply of the active pharmaceutical ingredient oseltamivir phosphate powder to treat children aged between one to five years of age. Arrangements are also being finalised for the stockpiling of additional supplies of the other suitable antiviral drug, Relenza.

Accident and Emergency Services.

Dan Boyle

Question:

91 Mr. Boyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that the Irish Nurses Organisation figures for people on trolleys in accident and emergency units are correct; her plans to deal with the accident and emergency crisis in hospitals here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8607/06]

My Department is in ongoing discussions with the Health Service Executive with regard to the need for improvement in the accident and emergency services, with a particular focus on reducing the numbers on trolleys and the waiting times for patients in individual hospitals. There is a need to build on the existing action plan for accident and emergency services and, in particular, to adopt a more focused approach that concentrates on individual hospital performance. Arising from the discussions with the HSE, a number of proposals have been agreed, including provision for specific performance improvement targets for individual hospitals.

I am also of the opinion that media debates about the differences in numbers between the trolley count taken by the HSE and that taken by the INO add no value. Accordingly, it has been agreed that the HSE trolley count will in future be undertaken at the same time as the INO count, that is, at 8 a.m., as well as at the normal time of 2 p.m.

Obesity Levels.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

92 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date on the implementation of the recommendations of the task force on obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8601/06]

The report of the national task force on obesity, Obesity the Policy Challenges, was presented to the Taoiseach in May 2005. The report contains 93 recommendations aimed at tackling overweight and obesity. These relate to actions across six broad sectors: high-level Government; education; social and community; health; food, commodities, production and supply, and the physical environment.

Additional funding of €3 million has been made available to the Health Service Executive to support the implementation of the report's recommendations. The strategic planning and reform implementation of the Heath Service Executive have approved the following projects to take place this year: expanding the healthy food made easy programme; recruiting four physical activity officers to target obesity in all settings, providing four specialist community dietitian posts for obesity and weight management to support all initiatives; the procurement of equipment for growth monitoring; and further progress work with the food service sector on healthy food provision.

A multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach is required to implement the recommendations arising from a range of health promotion policies including the report of the national task force on obesity, which was launched in May 2005. The Department is currently considering how this approach could be advanced.

Nursing Homes.

Pat Breen

Question:

93 Mr. P. Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the report on deaths in Leas Cross nursing home will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8367/06]

The Health Service Executive has informed my Department that a draft copy of the report was received by the HSE Dublin north area on the evening of Thursday, 9 February 2006. It is understood from the HSE that this draft is currently being reviewed. The final report cannot be prepared until this process is completed. It is hoped that this process will be finalised by mid April 2006.

Child Care Services.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

94 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the large number of children who enter here unaccompanied and subsequently disappear; the measures she intends to take to safeguard against such disappearances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3569/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive, HSE, under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated.

The HSE advises that it has a system in place to notify the appropriate authorities with regard to missing children or young people. The largest number of the young people reported missing were residing in the eastern region, where there is an agreed template for reporting such an occurrence to the Garda, who are responsible for investigating. This template includes a photograph and physical description. The following agencies and personnel are also notified: Garda National Immigration Bureau, which monitors overall patterns and provide relevant information to local gardaí; child care manager, for circulation to CCM colleagues nationally; supt. community welfare officer, asylum seekers unit, for flagging on the national social welfare record system; Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, for circulation to other relevant asylum process agencies.

The child's name is added to the missing persons database in the separate children seeking asylum office. In some Garda districts, there are now regular reviews of missing children. At present the majority of separated children seeking asylum are accommodated in hostel type accommodation. This type of accommodation provides full board but does not include child care supports. Staffing levels reflect the need to meet minimum standards under fire safely legislation and do not include professional child care staff as part of the contract with proprietors. The specific child care and child protection elements of the service are provided by a dedicated social work team.

I can advise that, on 7 December 2005, my office met with the social services inspectorate and the HSE to discuss the issue of accommodation standards for separated children seeking asylum. It was agreed at the meeting that the standards for children in residential care will apply to accommodation for separated children 16 years of age and under. With regard to accommodation for those in the 17 to 18 year age group the same standards will apply, subject to guidance notes which are being drafted by the SSI in consultation with the HSE.

I am also advised by the HSE that currently there are a number of separated children in foster care and these arrangements are very satisfactory in terms of the service provided and the level of support offered to the children who benefit from them. In most cases these placements are taken up by the youngest or otherwise most vulnerable of the client group. In addition, six children are accommodated in a fully registered children's home in Tallaght. These children are cared for by a full, professionally qualified child care staff.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the HSE commissioned a review of services provided to separated children seeking asylum or unaccompanied minors in 2005. I have received a copy of this report which is under examination in my office and in that regard I have asked that an interdepartmental working group be established to consider the issues involved.

Care of the Elderly.

Billy Timmins

Question:

95 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the recent NESF report on the care of older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8328/06]

The National Economic and Social Forum report on care for older people was launched on 29 January 2006. The Department will be studying this report and will also be discussing it with the HSE in due course.

As the Deputy may be aware the Tánaiste, and Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, established a working group to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care, including improvements in community care and home care packages. The report of the working group on the future financing of long-term care has been presented to Government, where it is under consideration.

Question No. 96 answered with QuestionNo. 44.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Joan Burton

Question:

97 Ms Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the claim made by the former director of BreastCheck (details supplied) that breast cancer sufferers in remote rural areas face more than double the risk of having a mastectomy compared with women treated in Dublin due to the lack of screening facilities; the steps she is taking to address this situation; when the BreastCheck service will be available on a national basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8535/06]

Martin Ferris

Question:

101 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on progress to date in 2006 on the roll-out of BreastCheck; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8463/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 101 together.

I recently met with representatives of BreastCheck and they are fully aware of my wish to have the programme rolled out nationally as quickly as possible. For this to happen, essential elements of the roll out must be in place including adequate staffing, effective training and quality assurance programmes. I have made additional revenue funding of €2.3 million available to BreastCheck this year to provide among other things for the early recruitment and training of staff. BreastCheck is confident that the target date of 2007 for the commencement of roll out to southern and western regions will be met; a more exact date for roll out will depend on the availability of adequately trained medical and technical staff, particularly radiographers.

BreastCheck recently interviewed for clinical directors for both regions and is in the process of making appointments. BreastCheck is also recruiting radiographers and a second consultant radiologist for each region. BreastCheck also recently received planning permission for the screening unit at University College Hospital Galway and is now proceeding to tender for its construction. BreastCheck is awaiting planning permission for the unit at the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital, Cork.

Health Services.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

98 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress which has been made in ensuring access for radiotherapy patients from the north west in Belfast; the number of patients that have received treatment there to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8550/06]

Discussions have taken place between representatives of my Department, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and of Belfast City Hospital, BCH. It has been agreed that the most effective strategy to deliver radiation oncology to patients in Donegal at BCH is to commission Co-operation and Working Together, CAWT, which has a track record of successfully managing cross-Border projects.

A project board involving the relevant stakeholders, together with a project manager, is to be appointed shortly to deliver on the commitment to cancer patients in Donegal. Radiation oncology services at BCH will commence later this month for cancer patients in Northern Ireland as part of the hospital's integrated and comprehensive cancer care programme which I expect will be among the best in Europe.

Hospital Accommodation.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

99 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of public long stay beds for the elderly in 1997; the number of public long stay beds for the elderly in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8330/06]

The Deputy's questions relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Service Reports.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

100 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the health service reports, commissioned in the past ten years, she expects to use as a model for the administration of health services; the way in which it is intended to achieve transparency, accountability and value for money in view of the experiences since the abolition of the health boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8576/06]

Over the past ten years reports have been prepared in respect of many different aspects of health and personal social services. These range from services for children to services for older people and from acute hospital services to primary health care services. Such reports provided information, data or analysis which informed the development of health strategy, policy or services.

The Deputy asked about the model for the administration of health services and the achievement of transparency, accountability and value for money. The report of the commission on financial management and control systems in the health service, from 2003, and the audit of structures and functions in the health system, also from 2003, have greatly informed the preparation of the Government's health service reform programme, which is currently being implemented. Examples of pivotal reports in specific areas of service provision include the report of the expert group on mental health policy and the report of the National Cancer Forum, Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland 2006, which is due to be published shortly.

Question No. 101 answered with QuestionNo. 97.

Medical Cards.

Joe Sherlock

Question:

102 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of the 30,000 additional full medical cards that were promised in November 2004 that have been issued; the number and percentage of the population covered by full medical cards at the latest date for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8539/06]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

112 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of the promised 200,000 general practitioner cards that have been issued to date; if she has satisfied herself with the roll-out of these cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8540/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 112 together.

Information supplied to my Department by the primary care reimbursement service of the Health Service Executive, HSE, for February 2006 indicates there are 1,159,794 persons covered for services under the general medical services scheme who are medical holders, representing approximately 28% of the estimated current national population. This is 14,711 higher than the HSE's figure for January 2006, which represents December 2005 activity. A further 9,984 people currently hold general practitioner, GP, visit cards.

Since 2005 I have made significant improvements to the way in which people's eligibility for medical cards and GP visit cards is assessed. In January 2005, I increased the income guidelines used in the assessment of medical card applications by 7.5%. In June 2005, I simplified the means test for both medical cards and GP visit cards. It is now based on an applicant's and spouse's income after tax and PRSI and takes account of reasonable expenses incurred in respect of rent or mortgage payments, child care and travel to work. This is much fairer to applicants.

I announced on 13 October 2005 that the income guidelines for both medical cards and GP visit cards would be increased by an additional 20%. This means the income guidelines are now 29% higher than they were at the end of 2004. It will be noted that the income assessment guidelines based for GP visit cards are 25% higher than those used for medical cards. The HSE has publicised these changes to encourage people to apply and has made the application process as simple as possible.

In December 2005, my Department asked the HSE to take account of the welfare, taxation and other changes announced in the budget on the operation of the income guidelines and to identify any changes which may be required in order to ensure that medical cards and GP visit cards continue to be available to those who need them. The HSE has recently responded and its report is under consideration. My Department and the HSE will continue to monitor the number of cards issued and will examine any further changes to ensure the targets of an additional 30,000 medical cards and the provision of 200,000 GP visit cards are met.

Hospitals Building Programme.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

103 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether her plans for 1,000 new private beds on public hospital grounds remains a viable option if the consultant contract talks fail and if she has to implement public only contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8335/06]

The new consultant's contract will set out in detail formal employment arrangements for consultants practising exclusively in the public sector. The impact of the new contract on proposals to locate private facilities on public hospital sites will be considered as part of the transition arrangements under the new contract.

Question No. 104 answered with QuestionNo. 65.

Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

105 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the report on sudden cardiac deaths will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8543/06]

In September 2004, a national task force on sudden cardiac death was established in order to address the problem in Ireland. The task force, chaired by Dr. Brian Maurer, will make recommendations on the prevention of sudden cardiac death and on the detection of those at high risk. The task force will also advise on equipment and training programmes to improve the outcome in those suffering from sudden cardiac collapse and on the establishment of appropriate surveillance systems. The report was launched this morning.

National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Enda Kenny

Question:

106 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if people awaiting neurosurgery can be treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund scheme; the number of people who had neurosurgery on the National Treatment Purchase Fund scheme to date; if anyone was sent abroad to have such surgery; if anyone was treated in a hospital other than Beaumont Hospital in the Republic of Ireland; if any were treated in a private hospital in the Republic of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8332/06]

In general, patients waiting more than three months on an inpatient neurosurgical waiting list can qualify for treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF. However, within this specialty there are some treatments of a very specialised nature requiring the skills of specific consultant neurosurgeons and multidisciplinary teams and for reasons of complexity these cases are best treated within the public sector.

To date, over 500 people have been referred for neurosurgical procedures under the NTPF. The majority have been referred to private hospitals in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. A small number have received treatment in Beaumont Hospital and Cork University Hospital.

Question No. 107 answered with QuestionNo. 42.
Question No. 108 answered with QuestionNo. 8.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

109 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to whether the National Treatment Purchase Fund has issued instructions to its employees not to deal with inquiries from Oireachtas Members or other elected representatives; if the Health Service Executive has issued similar instructions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8465/06]

My Department has been informed by the chief executive of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, that it continues to deal with queries and representations from Deputies on behalf of constituents. If the Deputy has a particular instance in mind, he should contact the chief executive of the fund directly in order to resolve the matter.

The Deputy will be aware that arrangements have been put in place by the Health Service Executive, HSE, to facilitate the provision of information to Oireachtas Members. I wrote to Members on 19 January 2006 advising of these arrangements and providing the contact details for that purpose.

Question No. 110 with QuestionNo. 38.
Question No. 111 answered with QuestionNo. 27.
Question No. 112 answered with QuestionNo. 102.

Child Care Services.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

113 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the funding available for the building of a crèche child care centre; the way in which a person can apply for the funding; the criteria which must be met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8734/06]

As the Deputy may be aware, the national childcare investment programme from 2006 to 2010 is being implemented by the newly established office of the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. This programme builds on the success of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-06, EOCP, which will conclude in 2007. The new programme aims to provide a proactive response to the development of quality child care supports and services that are grounded in an understanding of local child care needs.

To achieve this approach arrangements are being put in place with the city and county child care committees, CCCs, to facilitate the initial development stage of applications for grant assistance for child care facilities at local level. Both private and community-not for profit sector child care providers may apply for capital funding under the new programme by completing expression of interest forms, which will be available from their local CCCs. The CCCs will provide the necessary assistance to applicants in developing their application to the pre-appraisal stage.

At the appropriate stage in the process applications will be forwarded by the CCCs to Pobal, which administers the programme on behalf of the office of Minister of State with special responsibility for children. Pobal will carry out a technical appraisal of the applications and make recommendations to the office. Decisions on the applications will be made by the office within the Department of Health and Children.

Private sector child care providers may apply for grant assistance of up to €100,000 towards the capital cost of developing a child care service in a catchment area where there is a demonstrated child care need. An applicant may apply for more than one grant under this scheme provided the subsequent child care facilities are in different catchment areas and subject to an overall ceiling of €500,000 per applicant. In each case, an applicant must provide at least 25% of the total cost of the project. All grant payments will be subject to the relevant criteria having been met, including demonstrated local need, quality of the proposal and value for money. Community-not for profit child care providers may apply for grant assistance up to a maximum of €1 million per project. Expression of interest forms will be available later this month. In the meantime existing applications will continue to be processed.

Question No. 114 answered with QuestionNo. 26.
Question No. 115 answered with QuestionNo. 76.

Mental Health Services.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

116 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she proposes to take to implement the mental health expert group’s report, A Vision for Change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8743/06]

The report of the expert group on mental health policy, A Vision for Change, was launched on 24 January 2006. The report proposes a holistic view of mental illness and recommends an integrated multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to mental health problems. It proposes a person centred treatment approach that addresses each of these elements through an integrated care plan, reflecting best practice and evolved and agreed with service users and their carers. Special emphasis is given to the need to involve service users and their families and carers at every level of service provision.

This policy envisions an active, flexible and community based mental health service where the need for hospital admission will be greatly reduced. It will require substantial funding but there is considerable equity in buildings and lands within the current mental health system, which could be realised to fund this plan. Therefore, this report recommends that steps be taken to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals and to re-invest the resources released by these closures in the mental health service. The closure of large mental hospitals and the move to modern units attached to general hospitals, together with the expansion of community services, has been Government policy since the publication of Planning for the Future in 1984.

The Health Service Executive, which has primary responsibility for implementing the recommendations of the expert report, has stated the national mental health directorate within the HSE will immediately establish an implementation group to ensure that the recommendations are realised in a timely and co-ordinated manner. I will also shortly appoint a group at national level, as recommended in the report, to monitor the implementation of its recommendations.

Housing Aid for the Elderly.

Pat Breen

Question:

117 Mr. P. Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the status of an application under the housing aid for the elderly for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8616/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. This includes responsibility for the provision of the housing aid scheme for the elderly on behalf of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

118 Ms Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the specific training given to people on FÁS community employment schemes who are employed by voluntary organisations to care for people with ABI; the structures are in place to monitor the voluntary organisations that care for people with ABI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8631/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have a reply on this issue sent directly to the Deputy.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

119 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the rehabilitation facilities available in the Carlow area for a person (details supplied). [8638/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

120 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average waiting period for admission to each of the nursing homes in Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8. [8639/06]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

121 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average annual cost for each of the nursing homes in Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8. [8640/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together.

The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Michael Ring

Question:

122 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway did not receive a bed for two weeks under the winter initiative scheme for the elderly following their admission to a nursing home when they required full time care and attention. [8670/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Pension Provisions.

Dan Neville

Question:

123 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding nurses having retired with full pension returning to work on a temporary basis in respect of their payment of pension. [8672/06]

The Pensions (Abatement) Act 1965 provides the legislative basis for the suspension or reduction of an allowance-pension where, after retirement, a scheme pensioner is employed in an agency or organisation in which the superannuation scheme paying the pension applies. Remuneration plus pension for the specified period should not exceed the uprated remuneration for the post from which the pensioner retired.

My Department issued a circular, No. 21/2005, in October 2005 with new arrangements applying to the abatement of public health sector pensions. In effect, pensioners working in agencies or organisations covered by the scheme from which their pensions are paid can earn up to 50% of the uprated remuneration of the former post, before abatement applies.

Departmental Schemes.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

124 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the statutory basis for the disabled person’s top-up grant scheme operated by the health board; if a copy of the qualifying criteria and administrative rules and procedures governing the processing of grant applications will be provided to this Deputy and the Houses of the Oireachtas Library; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8696/06]

While the Health Service Executive assists the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the local authorities in carrying out the assessment for the disabled person's grant, the scheme to which the Deputy refers does not come under the remit of my Department. Accordingly, the Deputy may wish to contact my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, regarding this matter.

National Cancer Strategy.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

125 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the new national cancer strategy; when she intends to publish same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8710/06]

I received the Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland 2006 from the chairman of the National Cancer Forum in January. I am currently examining it with a view to bringing proposals to the Government. I expect to have the strategy published shortly.

The strategy recommends a whole-population approach to cancer care, with a strong emphasis on integration and holistic care together with a strong focus on patients, their families and carers. It recommends greater emphasis on health promotion, prevention and on addressing inequalities. It also makes recommendations in relation to organisation, governance, quality assurance and accreditation across the continuum of cancer care from prevention and health promotion through to treatment, supportive and palliative care. It is a policy document which aims to reduce our cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality rates relative to other EU15 countries.

Hospital Services.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

126 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the provision of radiotherapy services at Waterford Regional Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8711/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal, social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

127 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the designated funding contained in the funding provided by her Department to the Health Service Executive in 2006 for transport for cancer patients who must travel long distances to avail of radiotherapy services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8712/06]

The National Service Plan 2006 of the Health Service Executive provides a commitment to develop proposals to support patients who have to travel long distances to access specialist services, with particular focus in 2006 on those travelling for radiotherapy treatment. I approved this plan in December and it was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas last month. I made available an additional €9 million to the executive for developments in cancer services in 2006, inter alia, to facilitate better access to radiation oncology services, including dedicated transport arrangements. The Deputy’s question also relates to the management and delivery of health and personal, social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Accommodation.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

128 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals to provide funding for six dedicated palliative care beds as an emergency measure at Waterford Regional Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8713/06]

The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

129 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the urgent proposals she has to provide a designated oncology ward at Waterford Regional Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8714/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

130 Mr. Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the names of all board appointments made by her for the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8715/06]

My Department has compiled the requested information which has been forwarded to the Deputy under separate cover due to the volume of data involved. The Deputy should note that this list takes no account of duplicate entries in the case of board members who may have been re-appointed to a board or appointed to more than one Board within the timeframe involved.

Nursing Home Subventions.

Joe Costello

Question:

131 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the criteria for assessing the contributions of an elderly patient in residential nursing home care who owns their own home and has some money in the bank; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8753/06]

As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and the Nursing Homes Regulations 1993 provide for the payment of subvention for private nursing home care for applicants who qualify on both medical and means grounds. General rules for the assessment of means in respect of an application for nursing home subvention are set out in the Second Schedule of the Nursing Homes Regulations 1993 and as amended by the 2005 regulations.

Under the regulations the Health Service Executive, when considering an application for subvention, carries out a means test which takes into account the means of the applicant and his or her spouse or cohabiting partner, where appropriate, and the assets of the applicant. The means test is carried out by the Health Service Executive and involves looking at the applicant's income for the previous 12 months. Income from all sources is taken into account and is assessed net of PRSI, income tax and the health contribution and the income of a married or cohabiting person is taken to be half the total income of the couple. In assessing an applicant's assets the first €11,000 of such assets is disregarded. The HSE may refuse to pay a subvention if an applicant has assets exceeding €36,000, excluding their principal residence.

On the principal private residence of an applicant, the HSE imputes an income of 5% of the estimated market value of the principal residence of an applicant for subvention, unless the residence is occupied by a spouse or son or daughter aged less than 21 years or in full-time education or in receipt of a social welfare pension or allowance as set out in the 2005 regulations.

The HSE may refuse to pay a subvention if the value of the applicant's principal residence is in excess of €500,000 or more, where the residence is located in the Dublin area, or €300,000 or more, where the residence is located outside the Dublin area, and the residence is not occupied by a spouse, a son or daughter aged less than 21 years or in full time education, or a relative in receipt of a social welfare pension or allowance as set out in the 2005 regulations.

Hospital Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

132 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the instructions she proposes to issue to the Health Service Executive with a view to addressing the serious issue of patients waiting on trolleys for attention at Naas General Hospital, Naas, County Kildare; if her attention has been drawn to the anxiety, pain and suffering of patients, relatives and friends in this situation; if she will issue instructions to facilitate approval in respect of the final phase of the Naas hospital development plan; if she expects to be in a position to do so in early date; if all staff requirements at the hospitals have been or will be met in early date; when she expects to see a reduction in the use of trolleys; if she will give an assurance of an early improvement in the situation. [8761/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

136 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she proposes to eliminate the widespread use of hospital trolleys in lieu of beds at Naas General Hospital, Naas, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8765/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 136 together.

The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. The HSE is responsible for considering new capital proposals and progressing them under the health capital programme. Accordingly, the Department of Health and Children has asked the parliamentary affairs division of the HSE to arrange to have the matter investigated and for a reply to issue directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 133 answered with QuestionNo. 44.

Infectious Diseases.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

134 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of MRSA cases recorded to date; if the number of incidences are on the decrease or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8763/06]

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre collects data on MRSA bacteraemia, also known as bloodstream infection or blood poisoning, for the purposes of the surveillance, prevention and control of MRSA as part of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System. The European system, which collects data on the first episode of bloodstream infection per patient per quarter, was designed to allow comparison of antimicrobial resistance data between countries and possibly regions but not between hospitals. The Irish data for the system, which is published on a quarterly basis by the HPSC, showed that 553 cases of MRSA were reported in 2004. The figure for the first nine months of 2005 is 454. Ireland will participate this year in the Hospital Infection Society's prevalence survey of health care-associated infections, to be carried out in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The survey will give the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive accurate and comparable data on the prevalence of health care-associated infections including MRSA in acute hospitals in Ireland. The data gathered from hospitals can be compares with similar data obtained in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Mental Health Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

135 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will give an assurance that the moneys realisable from the sale of psychiatric hospitals is likely to be sufficient to provide the level of community care required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8764/06]

The report of the expert group on mental health policy, A Vision for Change, which was launched on 24 January last, outlines an active, flexible and community-based mental health service in which the need for hospital admission will be greatly reduced. Such a policy would require substantial funding. As there is considerable equity in buildings and lands in the mental health system that could be realised to fund the plan, the report recommends that steps be taken to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals and to reinvest the resources released by such closures in the mental health service. The closure of large mental hospitals and the move to modern units attached to general hospitals, along with the expansion of community services, has been the policy of the Government since the publication of Planning for the Future in 1984.

A Vision for Change recommends that a four-stage process be pursued to effect the closure of psychiatric hospitals. First, the measures required to enable admission to cease should be identified and put in place. Second, admissions to the hospital should be ceased and plans for the relocation of existing patients should be drawn up. Third, plans for the relocation of existing patients should be implemented. Fourth, the hospital should be finally closed. The report emphasises that the process should take place on a phased basis with wards closing sequentially. The Health Service Executive anticipates that the closure of mental hospitals and the reinvestment of the proceeds will take place on a phased basis. It has emphasised that hospitals can close when the clinical needs of the remaining patients have been addressed in more appropriate settings, such as additional community residences, day hospitals and day centres. There will also have to be a substantial increase in the number of the well-trained, fully staffed, community-based and multi-disciplinary community mental health teams, in line with the recommendation in A Vision for Change.

Question No. 136 answered with QuestionNo. 132.

Health Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

137 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has devolved full control and authority including accountability to the Houses of the Oireachtas and to the Health Services Executive; if the Health Service Executive will in future determine its own budget or if the budget will derive from moneys voted to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8766/06]

The Minister for Health and Children is responsible for health policy and will continue to be accountable to the Oireachtas in that regard. The Health Service Executive, which is the national body with statutory responsibility under the Health Act 2004 for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, will be involved in informing the making of policy by the Minister. The 2004 Act, which provided for the establishment of the Health Service Executive on a statutory basis, contains a number of provisions to ensure that the HSE is accountable to the Oireachtas. Under the Act, the Minister for Health and Children is required to lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas the HSE's corporate plan and service plan after he or she has approved it. The HSE's audited financial statements and annual report, as well as the report of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, must also be laid before the Houses. Under the Act the HSE's chief executive is appointed as its accounting officer. This provision requires the establishment of a separate Vote for the HSE for the purposes of the Comptroller and Auditor General Acts 1866 to 1998. Therefore, the chief executive is accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts through the Comptroller and Auditor General for the HSE's appropriation accounts. The HSE is also obliged to prepare a set of income and expenditure accounts for which it is accountable to the Dáil through the Committee of Public Accounts. As accounting officer, the chief executive will be required to attend a meeting of that committee. The 2004 Act also requires that the chief executive must attend an Oireachtas committee to give an account of the HSE's general administration, if requested to do so, and that the chief executive or any other employee of the HSE must attend an Oireachtas committee if requested to do so by the Chairman of that committee. The funding available to the HSE is determined by Government at the conclusion of the annual Estimates process. The HSE's Estimate — Vote 40 — is presented to Dáil Éireann with the Estimates of all Departments and Government offices in abridged form in November of the preceding year.

Hospital Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

138 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she proposes to take to eliminate the use of hospital trolleys in lieu of beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8767/06]

Trolleys are used throughout acute hospitals, for example in emergency departments and day wards. Hospital trolleys are not used in lieu of inpatient beds. Trolleys can be used in the course of treatment to transport patients for diagnostic tests or medical and surgical procedures. They can also be used to allow patients to rest or recover in the course of treatment in emergency departments and day wards. They are essential to the operation of acute hospitals.

Hospital Accommodation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

139 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of hospital beds available at present; the number by which this has increased or decreased in the past 15 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8768/06]

On 31 December 1990, the bed complement of hospitals in the HSE network was 11,154 inpatient beds and 284 day places. The average number of beds available for use in hospitals in the HSE network between January and December 2005 was 12,038 inpatient beds and 1,213 day places. These figures are provisional and refer to the average number of beds available throughout 2005, including beds which were temporarily closed or opened. This data shows an increase of 884 in inpatient beds in publicly funded acute hospitals and an increase of 929 in day places. The Deputy will be aware that there are approximately 2,500 beds in private hospitals throughout the country.

Health Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

140 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the extent to which health expenditure has increased or decreased in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8769/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

141 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the health services have expanded in line with expenditure in the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8770/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together.

Gross current funding for the health services has increased by almost €6 billion, or 92%, over the last five years. When the increases required to fund general pay increases, benchmarking and other pay awards, non-pay inflation and increases in drugs costs are taken into account, approximately €1.8 billion has been provided for additional investment in services. The extra investment has provided for significant improvements in our health system across all of the main service areas including acute hospitals, primary care, disability, older people, mental health and child care.

I will outline some of the key achievements. The key goal of the national cancer strategy, which was to achieve a 15% decrease in mortality from cancer in the under-65 age group, was achieved three years ahead of target. There have been significant increases in cancer related services, particularly day care and inpatient treatments. BreastCheck had screened approximately 185,000 women by the end of 2004. The immediate benefits of the implementation of the Building Healthier Hearts strategy are evident. I refer, for example, to the increase of 153% in certain cardiology procedures, including forms of surgery, between 1999 and 2004. There were over 1 million inpatient and day case discharges from acute hospitals in 2005. This is equivalent to the population of Dublin, or to 2,900 patients being discharged every day. Over 38,000 people have been treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund. The number of inpatient beds and day treatment places in acute hospitals has increased by over 1,100 in the past five years.

Since the end of 2001, there have been increases, in wholetime equivalent terms of 924, or 14.7%, in the number of medical and dental personnel, of 3,449, or 11%, in the number of nurses and of 4,428, or 49%, in the numbers of health and social care professionals. Some 28% of the population was in receipt of a medical card at the end of last year. All people aged 70 and over have had a statutory entitlement to a medical card since July 2001. One of the most significant developments in general practice in recent years has been the advent of out-of-hours general practitioner co-operatives, which allow medical card and private patients to access appropriate qualified medical care out of hours, including domiciliary visits where deemed appropriate, simply by dialling a lo-call telephone number. An initial ten primary care teams have been established under the primary care strategy. The allocation of additional funding for services for older people has allowed for an extra 2,000 home care packages, which constitutes a trebling of the current service. Increases in such funding have also provided for an additional 1.75 million home help hours in 2006 and in excess of 1,325 extra places per week in day or respite care centres. Some 97% of those registered in the national intellectual disability database — 24,078 people — were receiving services in 2005. The relevant figure in 2002 was 91%.

The current national development plan has provided for significant improvements in capital investment in infrastructure across all health care programmes. The new developments range from major projects to minor capital works such as refurbishment, re-equipping, maintenance and health and safety. Along with some service developments, they underpin the delivery of a modern, high-quality health service across the country. I will make some international comparisons on public health spending. In 2002, which is the latest year for which comparable data is available, Ireland's publicly funded health expenditure per capita was $1,779 in purchasing power parities. This is above the average of 14 of the 15 pre-accession EU member states surveyed in the OECD database. It ranks Ireland eighth among these 14 EU countries in terms of per capita public spending on health. Furthermore, the latest OECD figures indicate that public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP increased by 14.6% from 4.8% in 1997 to 5.5% in 2002. Based on the methodology agreed with the OECD for the calculation of comparable health expenditure statistics, however, it is reasonable to project that Ireland’s public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP for 2006 will be approximately6%, which is a significant improvement and clearly demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the health service.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

142 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason home help hours for certain recipients were reduced in the past two years in view of the emphasis on primary care; when full home help hours will be restored to such persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8771/06]

The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

143 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons here whose home help hours were reduced in the past two years; the reason for the reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8772/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

General Medical Services Scheme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

144 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the Health Service Executive will nominate a doctor on foot of request submitted in November 2005 for change of GMS doctor in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8774/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Tax Code.

Richard Bruton

Question:

145 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the number of people taxed under the self-assessed system in each of the past five years; if the Revenue Commissioners have a policy of switching people with mixed PAYE and other income to a self-assessed basis; and the extent to which this has influenced the trend. [8633/06]

The numbers of self-assessed income earners whose main source of income is from non-PAYE sources are set out as follows.

Year

Self-Employed income earners

2001

208,100

2002

207,000

2003*

210,000

2004*

212,000

2005*

215,000

* Provisional and subject to revision.

The numbers above have been rounded to the nearest 100 as appropriate. The numbers of income earners for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 are based on actual data for 2002 projected forward in accordance with macro-economic data relating to actual and expected growth in incomes and employment. A married couple who has elected or has been deemed to have elected for joint assessment is counted as one tax unit.

The Revenue Commissioners do not have a policy of switching people with mixed PAYE and other income to a self-assessment basis. Whether an individual comes within the self-assessment system is determined by whether they are deemed a "chargeable person" under section 950 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. An individual whose income is derived solely from PAYE is excluded from self-assessment. However, an individual having both PAYE and non-PAYE income is strictly within the self-assessment system. For ease of administration, Revenue accepts that an individual whose net income from non-PAYE sources is €3,174 or less will continue to be taxed under PAYE and the non-PAYE income will be "coded in" against their tax credits.

Section 14 of the Finance Act 2005 amended the definition of a "chargeable person" for self-assessment purposes. This permits Revenue the discretion to look at an individual's gross non-PAYE income when deciding on assessment status.

For the 2005 tax year and subsequent years of assessment, substantial gross income is defined as gross non-PAYE income of €50,000 or more, for example, gross income from a trade or profession, gross rental income, dividends and distributions or foreign income and so on. An individual with PAYE income who also has substantial gross income from a non-PAYE source, but where this income has been reduced to nil or to a negligible amount because of deductions, losses, allowances and other reliefs, is regarded as a "chargeable person" and is required to make a return under the self-assessment system.

Except as outlined above, there is no change to the practice for individuals whose main source of income is subject to PAYE but who have assessable non-PAYE income of less than €3,174. These individuals can continue to have the liability on such income effectively assessed within PAYE by means of coding in the income against their tax credits. An individual with assessable non-PAYE income of more than €3,174 for any year is regarded as a "chargeable person" for self-assessment purposes and must file a Form 11 for that year. There are no indications that this practice has influenced the upward trend in the number of people who are taxed under the self-assessment system.

Richard Bruton

Question:

146 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the trend in tax relief on donations for the PAYE sector and self-assessed sector over the past five years; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the much more generous way of crediting tax relief on PAYE than on self-assessed has resulted in declining charity revenue when taxpayers become self-assessed. [8634/06]

The current scheme for tax relief on donations to approved bodies, which includes donations made to charities, is governed by section 848(a) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The scheme was introduced in the Finance Act 2001 and claims under the scheme arose from 2002 onwards. Arrangements for allowing tax relief for donations depend on whether the donor is a PAYE taxpayer or an individual on self-assessment, or a company. For a PAYE taxpayer, the relief is given on a grossed-up basis to the approved body rather than by way of a separate claim to tax relief by the donor. For example, if an individual who pays income tax at the higher rate gives a donation of €580 to an approved body, the body will be deemed to have received €1,000 less tax of €420. The approved body, such as a charity, will therefore be able to claim a refund of €420 from the Revenue Commissioners at the end of the tax year. Similarly, if a standard rate taxpayer makes a donation of €800 to an approved body, the approved body will be able to claim a refund of €200 from the Revenue Commissioners at the end of the tax year.

In the case of a donation made by an individual who pays tax on a self-assessment basis and by companies, it is the donor and not the recipient of the donation who claims the relief. For example, if a self-assessed individual who pays tax at the higher rate gives a donation of €1,000 to an approved body, the donor will be able to claim a refund of €420 from the Revenue Commissioners at the end of the tax year. The donation can be claimed as a deduction against the individual's income from all sources. The claim to the relief is made with the individual's normal tax return. There is a presumption that potential donors will be aware of the tax relief available and how it will be applied in particular cases, and that the level of the donation will reflect that knowledge.

The following figures cover the cost to the Exchequer of the scheme for donations to approved bodies for the years 2002 to 2005, inclusive.

Cost to the Exchequer of tax relief on donations to approved bodies under Section 848A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.

Year

2002

2003

2004

2005

PAYE Donors

Cost to the Exchequer € million

11.2

21.4

14.8

15.69

Number of donors

19,743

29,626

29,761

46,396

With regard to figures for donations by self-assessed donors, the only data available is for the tax year 2002. In that year 5,885 self-assessed donors made claims under the terms of the scheme, at a cost of €5.1 million to the Exchequer. Preliminary information on the tax year 2003 indicates that the figures will be of a similar order. There is no evidence of a reduction in charity revenue, as suggested by the Deputy. The reduction in the amount donated in 2004 compared with 2003 is due to the introduction in the Finance Act 2003 of a maximum limit on the amount of a donation that can attract relief where the donation is made by an individual to a charity or approved body with which he or she is associated. In such a case, where the aggregate of donations to any one charity or approved body in a year is in excess of 10% of the individual's total income, the excess does not attract tax relief.

The scheme of tax relief for donations to charities and approved bodies was one of the schemes reviewed as part of the internal review of certain tax schemes carried out by my Department in conjunction with the Revenue Commissioners last year. The review recommended that no change be made to the structure of the scheme at this stage.

Departmental Properties.

Gerard Murphy

Question:

147 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he can reconcile the replies to Questions Nos. 217 and 315; if he has taken into account the submissions made by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and his views on the case. [8694/06]

I refer to the responses to Question No. 217 of 29 November 2005 and Question No. 315 of 21 February 2006. The following information will reconcile the replies.

In order to progress matters on Question No. 217, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor stated that proceedings would be re-entered into the High Court on behalf of the Minister for Finance, on the basis of information available to the Office of the Chief State Solicitor at this time. This matter was discussed by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, in liaison with the Office of the Attorney General. At that time, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor was on notice that another party disputed the State's entitlement to the lands in question, but had not at that time submitted evidence of their claim.

With regard to the other parliamentary question, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor received a sworn affidavit from another party stating its claim for adverse possession against the company. On the basis of this new information, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, advised that it would now appear that the property may not now have been vested in the Minister for Finance. For the avoidance of any doubt and without necessarily accepting that the property or any part of it has vested in the Minister for Finance, the State is now considering waiving whatever interest it has, if any, to this party.

Garda Stations.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

148 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance if the independent assessor has been appointed by the Office of Public Works to consider the 98 public submissions on the new Leixlip Garda station; the set time for completion of the assessment; and when it is likely to be decided upon by the board of the Office of Public Works. [8701/06]

An independent assessor has been appointed by the Commissioners of Public Works to consider the submissions received on the planning consultation under Part 9 for the proposed new Garda station at Leixlip, County Kildare. It is anticipated that this assessment will be completed by mid March 2006. Following the completion of the assessment, the Commissioners expect to be in a position to make a formal decision in a number of weeks.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

149 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8716/06]

The following table lists the names of all board appointments made by me or my predecessor since March 2001.

Name of State Body

Name of appointee

Central Bank of Ireland (Replaced by CBFSAI on 1 May 2003

Mr. Tom Considine Mr. Michael McBennett

Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (CBFSAI) established 1 May 2003

Mr. John Hurley Mr. Brian Patterson Mr. Gerard Danaher Ms Deirdre Purcell Mr. Liam O’Reilly Mr. Liam Barron Mr. David Begg Mr. Friedhelm Danz Mr. John Dunne Mr. Tom Considine Mr. Roy Donovan Mr. Martin O’Donoghue

Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority

Mr. Brian Patterson Mr. Alan Ashe Mr. Friedhelm Danz Mr. Gerard Danaher Mr. John Dunne Ms Mary O’Dea Mr. Jim Farrell Ms Deirdre Purcell Mr. Dermot Quigley Mr. Liam O’Reilly

National Treasury Management Agency Advisory Committee

Mr. Tom Considine Mr. John Daly Ms Tytti Noras Mr. Graeme Wheeler

National Development Finance Agency

Dr. Michael Somers Mr. Jim Farrell Ms Ann Fitzgerald Mr. Tony Jones Mr. Peter McManamon Ms Anne Counihan Mr. Fred Barry Mr. Stewart Harrington

National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission

Mr. Donal Geaney Mr. Robert J. Curran Ms Bríd Horan Dr. Martin Kohlhaussen Mr. Donal C. Roth Mr. Daniel P. Tully Dr. Michael Somers Professor Brian Hillery Mr. John A. Canning Mr. Paul Carty

Credit Union Advisory Committee

Mr. Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill Mr. Ken Lillis Ms Olive McCarthy Mr. Donal Murphy Mr. Michael O’Conaill Ms Iris White Mr. Donal Yourel

Ordnance Survey Ireland

Mr. Kevin Bonner Mr. Bill Attley Mr. Rory M. Scanlan Mr. Liam O’Farrell Mr. Patrick J. O’Sullivan Mr. Anthony Murray Mr. Michael D. Hayes Mr. Thomas K. Madden Mr. Liam Egan Mr. Pat W. Fenton

An Post National Lottery Company

Mr. John Hynes Mr. Kieran McGowan Mr. Ray Bates Mr. Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh Mr. Paraic O’Rourke Ms Niamh McGowan Mr. Eamonn A. Ryan Mr. Donal Curtin Mr. James Hyland

Financial Services Consultative Industry Panel

Mr. James Deeny Mr. Jim Bardon Mr. Liam Carberry Mr. Denis Casey Mr. Tony Culley Mr. Billy Doyle Mr. Pat Farrell Mr. Donal Fitzgibbon Ms Ann Fitzgerald Mr. Sean Quirke Ms Sarah Goddard Mr. Tom Healy Mr. Robert Moynihan Mr. John Murphy Ms Carmel O’Connor Ms Aileen O’Donoghue Mr. John O’Halloran Ms Eimer O’Rourke Mr. Pat O’Sullivan Mr. Gary Palmer Ms Rachel Panagiodis Mr. Mike Ryan

Financial Services Consultative Consumer Panel

Mr. Liam Cohen Mr. Michael Connolly Mr. James Doorley Mr. Eddie Hobbs Ms Anne Hogan Mr. Michael Kilcoyne Ms Eileen Lynch Mr. John Maher Mr. David McWilliams Ms Joan Morrison Prof. Noel Mulcahy Ms Ann Owens Mr. Raymond O’Rourke Mr. Sean O’Sullivan Ms Aileen Power Ms Fiona Reynolds Mr. Brendan Burgess Ms Frances Byrne Ms Olive Byrne Mr. Peter Ryan Mr. William Ryan

Financial Services Ombudsman Council

Dr. Con Power Mr. John Colgan Mr. Crozier Deane Mr. Dermot Jewell Mr. Paul Joyce Mr. Paddy Leydon Mr. Paul Lynch Mr. Paddy Lyons Mr. Jim McMahon Ms Caitriona Ní Charra

Valuation Tribunal

Ms Leonie Reynolds Mr. Michael Connellan Ms Mairéad Hughes Mr. John O’Donnell Mr. Joseph Murray Mr. Brian Larkin Mr. William Nowlan Mr. Pat Riney Mr. Frank O’Donnell Mr. Frank Malone Mr. Maurice Ahern Mr. Michael F. Lyng Mr. Michael McWey Ms Margaret Cordial Mr. Fred Devlin Mr. John Kerr

Public Appointments Service

Mr. Frank Murray Mr. Bryan Andrews Mr. John O’Connell Ms Niamh O’ Donoghue Ms Geraldine Tallon Mr. Bernard Carey Ms Rosaleen Glackin Ms Maura McGrath Ms Catherine Clancy

Interim Board of the Civil Service Childcare Agency

Ms Joyce Nolan Mr. Ernan Tobin Ms Marie McLaughlin Mr. John Bradshaw Mr. John O’Connell Ms Deirdre McRory Ms Phyllis Behan Mr. Frank O’Brien Ms Mina Walsh

Public Service Benchmarking Body

Mr. Dan O’Keeffe SC, BCL, LL.B, A.C.A. Mr. Billy Attley Ms Olive Braiden Mr. John Malone Mr. Thomas McKevitt Mr. Willie Slattery Professor Brendan Walsh

Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector

Mr. Tony O’Brien Mr. John Doherty Mr. Brian Hillery Mr. Noel O’Neill

Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal

Dr. Peter Sweeney Dr. Ida Delargy Dr. Jacinta McElligot Dr. Jim Fagan Dr. Niall Mulvihill Professor Peter Eustace Dr. Jacques Noel Dr. John O’Keefe Dr. Áine Carroll Dr. Mark Delargy Dr. Nicola Ryall Mr. Martin Walsh FRCSI Dr. Pádraig Murray Dr. Frank X. Keane Dr. Angela McNamara Dr. Austin O’Carroll Dr. Muiris Houston Dr. Monica McWeeney

Civil Service Arbitration Board and Teachers Arbitration Boards

Mr. Gerard Durcan SC Mr. Derek Hunter Mr. Tom Wall (Civil Service and Teachers)

Permanent Defence Forces Arbitration Board

Mr. Gerard Durcan SCMr. Derek HunterMr. George Maybury

State Claims Agency

Professor Noel Whelan Ms Anne Nolan Mr. John F. Dunne Ms Margaret Lane Ms Anne Marie Hayes Mr. Frank Martin Mr. Michael Grace

Sealúchais Árachais Teoranta

Mr. William BeausangMr. Aidan Carrigan

Departmental Properties.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

150 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance when he expects negotiations to conclude regarding the plans for the takeover by the Office of Public Works of a museum (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8739/06]

It is not possible to indicate at this time when negotiations regarding the transfer to the Office of Public Works for the property referred to by the Deputy will be concluded. However, I can confirm that the matter will be dealt with as a priority and will be concluded in the shortest possible timeframe.

Vehicle Registration.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

151 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the position on full Irish participation in EUCARIS; the reason Ireland is not a full participant; and his proposals to become full participants in the near future. [8749/06]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium negotiated a treaty some years back to facilitate the exchange of driver and vehicle registration information between the participants through an electronic system, known as EUCARIS. The treaty has quite a narrow scope and its aim is to identify and prevent international trade in stolen vehicles and to identify stolen and fraudulent driving licences within the treaty area. To date, three of the five founding countries, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium, have ratified the treaty. Until one more of the original five countries ratifies the treaty, it is not open to other countries to accede and accordingly the question of full participation by Ireland does not arise at present.

In the meantime, the Revenue Commissioners, responsible for vehicle registration, have observer status and are following the work closely. The Revenue Commissioners are taking account of the structures established in accordance with the provisions of Council Decision 2004/919/EC on tackling vehicle crime with cross-border implications, which was adopted during the Irish Presidency of the EU; the existing mutual assistance provisions which already provide very significant exchange of information procedures; and the existing structures in EUROPOL and INTERPOL, whose specific stolen vehicle database is used extensively by the Revenue Commissioners. The Revenue Commissioners will consider in due course, in consultation with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, whether extra advantages are to be gained by full participation in the EUCARIS.

Tax Code.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

152 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the need for early traffic reduction measures to coincide with the inevitable traffic disruption of Transport 21, he will provide special tax incentives, similar to the tax saver scheme, for users of van pools. [8757/06]

The Revenue Commissioners advise me that under their published guidelines for the operation of PAYE and PRSI for certain benefits there is no charge to tax in respect of a van which is in a "van pool". A van can be treated by an employer as being in a van pool if: the van is made available to, and is actually used by, more than one employee and is not ordinarily used by one employee to the exclusion of the others; any private use of the van by the employees is merely incidental to business use; it is not normally kept overnight at the home of any of the employees.

I assume that the reference by the Deputy to the tax saver scheme relates to the commuter travel saver scheme. An exemption from taxation as a benefit-in-kind was provided for certain commuter travel passes given to employees by employers. The main reason for introducing this exemption was to underpin Government policy on the wider use of public transport and it was hoped these exemptions would encourage commuters who travelled to and from work by car to switch to public transport, thereby easing traffic congestion at peak times. Further tax incentives for van pools would not contribute to the move to public transport and I have no plans to introduce such special tax incentives.

Telecommunications Services.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

153 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the grant aid which has been made available from his Department to Údarás na Gaeltachta for the provision of a broadband radio system for the Cois Fharraige area, south Connemara; when is it likely that the necessary equipment will be erected there to provide a signal for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8649/06]

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

157 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the plans his Department has for the provision of broadband services in west Galway, particularly in Cois Fharraige; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8648/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 157 together.

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Under the second phase of the group broadband scheme administered by my Department grant aid of up to €41,173 was awarded to service provider, COM 1, for the Cois Fharraige Business Broadband Service. Údarás na Gaeltachta is the local organisation supporting the scheme. I have been informed that the project is operational and customers have been connected.

Information Technology.

Enda Kenny

Question:

154 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the development of open source centres of excellence here; the allocation made and progress achieved on such centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8611/06]

I understand the Deputy is referring to open source software. I am not aware of such an initiative. However, in the context of the public service any such initiative would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance, in the first instance.

Telecommunications Services.

John Perry

Question:

155 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the next call of a scheme will be opened with regard to the provision of broadband in Ballymote, County Sligo, in view of the huge interest by the residents and businesses in Ballymote and in view of the application which will shortly be lodged by the Border Regional Authority with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8622/06]

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg.

My Department administers a group broadband scheme which is designed to promote the roll out of broadband access through the establishment of sustainable broadband services in towns, villages, rural hinterlands and under-served areas of larger towns on the basis of local and regional authority co-ordination and community driven initiatives. It is my intention to hold a third call of the group broadband scheme and my officials are currently finalising the application procedure and documentation. I expect to be in a position to formally launch the third call shortly.

Fishing Industry Development.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

156 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to address the concerns of the chairman of the Southern Fisheries Board regarding the establishment of the National Ireland Fisheries Authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8628/06]

The views of the fisheries board were passed to this Department in mid-February. I have not yet had an opportunity to fully examine and consider the views expressed by the board but hope to be in a position to do so soon and to respond in the not too distant future.

Question No. 157 answered with QuestionNo. 153.

Telecommunications Services.

Pat Breen

Question:

158 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position within the top half of EU countries the Government’s broadband target is aimed at by the end of 2007; if more ambitious targets are being aimed at for beyond that date; when the Government expects to be in the top ten of EU countries for broadband provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8660/06]

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 116 and 151 on 16 November 2005, where I indicated that the Government's broadband target for Ireland is to be within the top half of EU countries in terms of broadband penetration by the end of 2007, and not a specific position. In a liberalised telecommunications market, the rate of broadband take-up will be largely determined by the private sector service providers supplying and marketing broadband products to meet the requirements of end-users.

Take-up targets after 2007 have not been set because they would not address the immediate needs of broadband in Ireland. With regard to the provision of broadband, that is, the availability or coverage of broadband services, internationally comparable benchmarks are not widely used and it is, therefore, difficult to establish international rankings.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

159 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8717/06]

The information requested by the Deputy on appointments made to the boards of State-sponsored bodies since June 2002 is set out in the table.

Appointments to the Boards of State-sponsored Bodies under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources made since June 2002

An Post

Board Member

Appt. Date

Ms Margaret McGinley (Chairperson)

04.02.2003

Mr. Donal Curtin (Chief Executive)

14.07.2003

Ms Cathy Herbert

04.02.2003

Mr. Peter Wyer

04.02.2003

Mr. James Quinlivan

09.05.2003

Mr. James Hyland

11.12.2003

Mr. James Alan Sloane

01.01.2004

Mr. Jerry Condon

01.11.2004

Mr. Patrick Compton

01.11.2004

Mr. Patrick Davoren

01.11.2004

Mr. Thomas Devlin

01.11.2004

Mr. Terry Keller

01.11.2004

Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Conleth Bradley

17.07.03

Mr. Sean Murphy

17.07.03

Mr. Mario J. Minehane

17.07.03

Mr. Lorcan Ó Cinnéide

17.07.03

Mr. Sean Murphy

01.01.05

Mr. Lorcan Ó Cinneide*

01.01.05

Mr. Mario J. Minehane*

01.01.05

Ms Mary McMahon

01.01.05

Ms Karin Dubsky

01.01.05

Mr. Damian McDonald

01.01.05

Bord na Móna

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Donagh O’Donoghue

13.11.02

Mr. Fergus McArdle

13.11.02

Mr. Paschal Campbell

13.11.02

Ms Johanna Downes

13.11.02

Mr. Pat McEvoy

01.01.03

Mr. P.J. Minogue

01.01.03

Mr. Paddy Rowland

01.01.03

Mr. Paddy Fox

01.01.03

Mr. P.J. Coghill

19.05.03

Ms Anne Heraty

28.09.04

Mr. Gabriel Cribbin

09.09.05

Bord Iascaigh Mhara

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Ms Rose McHugh

29.09.04

Bord Gáis Éireann

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Pearse O’Hanrahan

19.12.02

Mr. Aidan Eames

03.03.04

Mr. Tom Donlon

26.03.03

Mr. Micheal O’Faolain

19.05.03

Broadcasting Complaints Commission

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Michael McGrath (Chairperson)

18.10.05

Sean O’Sullivan

18.10.05

Eucharia Meehan

18.10.05

David Tighe

18.10.05

Miriam O’Callaghan

18.10.05

Susan Nolan

18.10.05

Phil Brady

18.10.05

Broadcasting Commission of Ireland

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Conor J. Maguire (Chairperson)

02.12 2003

Mr. John Waters

02.12 2003

Ms Mary Davis

02.12 2003

Ms Angela Kerins

02.12 2003

Ms Kay McGuinness

02.12 2003

Mr. Tom Collins

02.12 2003

Ms Vivienne Jupp

02.12 2003

Mr. John O’Brennan

02.12 2003

Ms Mary Kerrigan

02.12 2003

Mr. Joe Griffin

02.12 2003

Central Fisheries Board

Board Member

Date of Appt.

David Mackey (Chairman

24.06.05

Ms Mary Bohan

24.06.05

Éamon de Buitléir

24.06.05

Myles Kelly

24.06.05

Naul McCole

24.06.05

John Henry McLaughlin

24.06.05

Coillte Teoranta*

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Brendan McKenna (Chairperson)

26.06.02

Ms Sinead Leech

Mr. Martin Lowery (Chief Executive)

Mr. Breffni Byrne

07.08.02

Mr. Richard Howlin

14.05.03

Mr. Frank Toal

29.07.03

Appointments made up to transfer of responsibility to Minister for Agriculture and Food on 01.01.2004.

Commission for Energy Regulation — CER

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Tom Reeves (Chairman)

14.10.04

Mr. Michael Tutty

14.10.04

Ms Regina Finn

01.02.05

Commission for Communications Regulation — ComReg

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. John Doherty

02.01.2003

Ms Isolde Goggins

02.01.2003

Mr. Mike Byrne

01.12.2004

The Digital Hub

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. William Burgess (Chairperson)

21.07.03

Mr. Philip Flynn (Chief Executive)

31.07.03

Dr. Don Thornhill

31.07.03

Mr. Dan Flinter

31.07.03

Mr. John Fitzgerald

31.07.03

Mr. Sean Dorgan

31.07.03

Mr. Paul Kavanagh

31.07.03

Mr. Peter Cassells

31.07.03

Ms Jackie Harrison

31.07.03

Mr. Paul McGuinness

31.07.03

Mr. Joe Murphy

29.09.04

Drogheda Harbour Board

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Tom O’Reilly

24.01.03

Mr. Frank Maher

Cllr. Jacqui McConville

21.12.03

Mr. Paddy Traynor (Chairperson)

20.12.04

Ms Maria O’Brien-Campbell

23.05.05

Mr. Cormac Bohan

29.09.04

Cllr. Paul Bell

04.08.04

Dublin Port Company

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Ms Brenda Daly

22.09.02

Mr. Seamus Martin

Cllr. Kevin Humphries

10.09.04

Cllr. Christy Burke

10.09.04

Cllr. Paddy Bourke

10.09.04

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Thomas Quinn

05.12.02

Mr. Don McManus

05.02.04

Dundalk Port Company

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Kevin Meenan

05.04.05

Eastern Regional Fisheries Board

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Ms Betty Hayes

08.12.03

Electronic Communications Appeals Panel*

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Hugh Mohan SC

21.09.04

Margaret Heneghan BL

21.09.04

Catherine Woods BA

21.09.04

Mary Sadlier

23.05.05

Sean Barrett

23.05.05

Paul Burns SC

23.05.05

Finbarr Fox SC

23.05.05

Patrick Butler SC

24.05.05

Liam Cahill

20.06.05

Brian O’Moore SC

14.07.05

Eileen Barrington JC

15.06.05

*Pool from which three persons will be appointed by Minister to an appeal panel. Two panels currently exist, each with its own chairperson

Eirgrid

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Ms Martina Moloney

15.09.04

Mr. Maurice Holly (staff representative)

21.09.04 (re-appointed)

Ms Emer Daly

20.03.05 (2nd term)

Mr David Mackey

20.03.05 (2nd term)

Mr. Dermot Byrne CEO (ex officio)

04.07.05

Ms Bernie Gray

08.09.05

ESB

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Pádraig McManus (Chief Executive)

17.02.02

Mr. Joe Lacumbre (Deputy Chairperson)

01.01.03

Mr. John McGinley

01.01.03

Mr. Pat Smith

01.01.03

Mr. Eamonn Connelly

01.01.03

Mr. Brendan Byrne

01.09.04

Mr. Tadhg O’Donoghue

07.09.05 (2nd term)

Ms Georgina Kenny

18.05.05 (2nd term)

Galway Harbour Board

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Robert Molloy

10.02.03

Mr. Martin Connolly

04.12.03

Cllr. Joe Tierney

13.08.04

Cllr. Sean Kyne

05.04.05

Irish National Petroleum Corporation

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Edmund O’Connell (Chairperson)

22.06.02

Mr. Seamus Ó Scolláin

25.09.03

Ms Mary Austin

Mr. Vincent Caffrey

Loughs Agency — these appointments were made jointly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Board Member

Appt. Date

Mr. Jack Allen

13.12.02

Mr. Keith Anderson

13.12.02

Mr. Francis Feeley

13.12.02

Mr. Dick Blackiston-Houston

13.12.02

Dr. Patrick J. Griffin

13.12.02

Lord Cooke of Islandreagh

13.12.02

Ms Siobhán Logue

13.12.02

Ms Jacqui McConville

13.12.02

Mr. Joseph Martin

13.12.02

Mr. Tarlach Ó Crosáin

13.12.02

Mr. Peter Savage

13.12.02

Mr. Andrew Ward

13.12.02

Marine Institute

Board Member

Appt. Date

Ms Terry Fleming

29.09.04

Mr. Kevin Bonner (Chairperson)

24.06.05

Ms Dairine McFadden

19.12.05

Mining Board

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Philip O’Brien (Chairperson)

21.07.03

Mr. John Shackleton

04.12.03

Mr. Eoin Ó Buachalla

National Salmon Commission

Board Member

Appt. Date

Dr. Philip McGinnitty

31.01.03

Mr. Brian Sheerin

20.08.03

Mr. Brendan O’Rourke

31.01.03

Mr. Joey Murrin (Chairperson)

30.09.05

Jim Curran

30.09.05

Brian Curran

30.09.05

John H. O’Brien

30.09.05

Peter Hunt

30.09.05

Vincent Roche

30.09.05

Michael Keatinge

30.09.05

Derick Anderson

30.09.05

Noel Carr

30.09.05

Lal Faherty

30.09.05

Martin McEnroe

30.09.05

Luke Boyle

30.09.05

Jerome Dowling

30.09.05

John Doherty

30.09.05

Michael Conners

30.09.05

Seamus De Burca

30.09.05

Carmel Lynn

30.09.05

Frank Flanagan

30.09.05

Peter Dunn

30.09.05

Richie Flynn

30.09.05

New Ross Port Company

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Ms Rosie Kehoe

17.02.04

Cllr. Sean Connick

Cllr. Larry O’Brien

26.11.04

Northern Regional Fisheries Board

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Billy Grimes

July 2003

Port of Cork Company

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Cllr. Tim Falvey

14. 02.02

Mr. Paul Millard

15.10.02

Mr. David Doolan

Cllr. Michael Hegarty

04.08.04

Port of Waterford Company

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Ald. Thomas Cunningham

19.08.02

Mr. Ben Gavin (Chairperson)

05.02.04

Ms Fiona Robbins

Mr. Pádraig Ó Gríofa

Mr. Maurice Lonergan

Mr. Michael Flynn

Mr. Patrick Murphy

Mr. Derek Donnelly

Ms Lola O’Sullivan

29.08.04

Mr. Derek Madigan

16.03.05

Radio Telefís Éireann Authority

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Des Geraghty

22.10.02

Fintan Drury

21.06.05

Maria Killian

21.06.05

Patricia King

21.06.05

Ian Malcolm

21.06.05

Úna Ní Chonaire

21.06.05

Stephen O’Byrnes

29.06.05 (2nd term)

Patrick Marron

29.06.05 (2nd term)

Emer Finnan

14.09.05

Joe O’Brien

14.09.05

Shannon Foynes Port Company

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Gerard Reidy

17.07.02

Mr. Joe Treacy

Southern Regional Fisheries Board

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Pat Bowe

14.12.04

Sustainable Energy Ireland

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Martin Finucane

24.10.03

Regional Harbour Authorities

Arklow Harbour

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Cllr. Sylvester Bourke

28.09.04

Cllr. Pat Doran

28.09.04

Cllr. Peter Dempsey

28.09.04

Cllr. Donal O’Sullivan

28.09.04

Mr. James Tyrell

28.09.04

Mr. Lorcan O’Toole

28.09.04

Mr. Austin Gaffney

28.09.04

Ms Ann Lee

28.09.04

Mr. Paddy Mordaunt

28.09.04

Cllr. Pat Fitzgerald

28.09.04

Cllr. Pat Sweeney

28.09.04

Annagassan Harbour

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Cllr. Tommy Reilly

28.09.04

Cllr. Finnan McCoy

28.09.04

Cllr. Pearse McGeough

28.09.04

Cllr. Jim Lennon

28.09.04

Mr. Terry Butterly

28.09.04

Ms Rosemarie Coyle

28.09.04

Mr. Liam Reilly

28.09.04

Mr. Tommy McGrory

28.09.04

Mr. Gerard Sheridan

28.09.04

Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Cllr. Tadgh O’Donovan

28.09.04

Cllr. Joe Carroll

28.09.04

Cllr. Brendan Leahy

28.09.04

Cllr. Berndan McCarthy

28.09.04

Mr. Michael Harte

28.09.04

Mr. Vincent O’Driscoll

28.09.04

Mr.Danny O’Driscoll

28.09.04

Mr. Dermot Sheehy

28.09.04

Mr. Kieron Cotter

28.09.04

Bantry Harbour

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. John O’Riordan

28.09.04

Mr. Michael Hennebry

28.09.04

Cllr. Eugene Cronin

28.09.04

Cllr. Patrick Kelly

28.09.04

Mr. John O’Shea

28.09.04

Mr. Donal Casey

28.09.04

Mr. Aiden McCarthy

28.09.04

Mrs. Kathleen Tessyman

28.09.04

Ms Letty Baker

28.09.04

Mr. Mario Minehane

28.09.04

Mr. Tim Minihane

28.09.04

Dingle Harbour

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Tom Fitzgerald

28.09.04

Mr. Eoin O’Cathain

28.09.04

Mr. Paddy Flannery

28.09.04

Mr. Denis O’Conner

28.09.04

Mr. Tom Kennedy

28.09.04

Cllr. Seamus Fitzgerald

28.09.04

Cllr. Breandân Mac Gearailt

28.09.04

Dr. Fionnbar O’Shea

28.09.04

Mr. Timothy O’Sullivan

28.09.04

Kinsale Harbour

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Billy Lynch

28.09.04

Mr. Charles Hendeson

28.09.04

Mr. Kevin Murphy

28.09.04

Cllr. Alan Coleman

28.09.04

Mr. Eamon O’Neill

28.09.04

Mr. Frank Kiernan

28.09.04

Mr. John Twomey

28.09.04

Mr. Courtney Good

28.09.04

Mr. Michael T. Frawley

28.09.04

River Moy Harbour

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. John Keane

28.09.04

Mr. Dessie Padden

28.09.04

Mr.Jimmy Sheridan

28.09.04

Cllr. Annie May Reape

28.09.04

Mr. John Farrell

28.09.04

Mr. Edward Melvin

28.09.04

Mr. Tommy Ginley

28.09.04

Mr. Paddy Jackson

28.09.04

Mr. Judd Ruane

28.09.04

Cllr. Jimmy Moloney

28.09.04

Mr. Michael McDonagh

28.09.04

Sligo Harbour

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Albert Higgins

28.09.04

Mr. Patsy Barry

28.09.04

Ms Veronica Cawley

28.09.04

Mr. Johnathan McGoldrick

28.09.04

Mr. Gerry McCanny

28.09.04

Mr. Stephen Rundle

28.09.04

Mr. Seamus Monaghan

28.09.04

Mr. Jim McMorrow

28.09.04

Mr. Gene O’Carroll

28.09.04

Mr. Liam Gannon

28.09.04

Mr. Padraic Branley

28.09.04

Tralee and Fenit Harbour

Board Member

Date of Appt.

Mr. Roland Blennerhassett

28.09.04

Mr. Con Casey

28.09.04

Mr. Dermot Crowley

28.09.04

Mr. James Browne

28.09.04

Ms Norma Foley

28.09.04

Mr. Michael Moriarity

28.09.04

Mr. John Wall

28.09.04

Ms Toireasa Ní Fhearaíosa

28.09.04

Mr. Christopher Lynch

28.09.04

Mr. Vincent Locke

28.09.04

Mr. Liam Sullivan

28.09.04

Fisheries Protection.

Jim Glennon

Question:

160 Mr. Glennon asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the Marine Institute report comparing EU log book data and the results of scientific surveys was provided to him; and when and the way in which it was conveyed to the European Commission. [8788/06]

The Marine Institute formally reported to the Department in October 2005 that it had wide ranging data from its scientific work which showed a consistent high level of illegal landings by whitefish boats in respect of trips where Marine Institute staff were on board the vessel. The report was submitted by the chief executive of the Marine Institute to the Secretary General of my Department on 26 October 2005 and was forwarded to me the following day.

Following consideration of the matter by the Government and once the advice of the Attorney General had been received, the then Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, wrote to Dr. Joe Borg, the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, seeking a meeting to discuss this and other matters relating to possible illegal fishing. I, together with Minister of State, Deputy Browne, met the Commissioner on 20 February 2006 and presented him with the report, excluding an appendix which listed individual fishing vessels by name. In this regard I wish to clarify to the House, regarding my contribution on Report and Final Stages in the Dáil on the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2005 on 22 February 2006, that the Marine Institute's findings were not sent directly to the Commission by the Marine Institute.

At the meeting on 20 February we also outlined to the Commissioner the measures which the Government has taken, and which it plans to take, to substantially strengthen fisheries control and to address this very serious issue. These measures, of which the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill is a critical part, are vital to place the fishing industry on a sustainable, legally secure and equitable footing for the future.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

161 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8718/06]

Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs on 29 September 2004, I made the following board appointments. The advisory board of Ireland Aid was established in August 2002. The name of the board was subsequently changed to the Advisory Board for Development Co-operation Ireland in September 2003. In November 2005, the board was reconstituted and the following people were appointed.

Name

Background

Mr. Chris Flood

Former Dáil Deputy and Minister of State. Irish representative to the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance.

Mr. David Andrews

Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Irish Red Cross Society. Former Government Minister.

Mr. David Begg

General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Former Chief Executive of Concern Worldwide.

Mr. Denis Cahalane

Director of Social Inclusion, Health Service Executive, HSE, County Louth. Chairperson of Dundalk Employment Partnership.

Dr. Abdullahi El-Tom

Lecturer, Department of Anthropology at NUI Maynooth.

Ms Detta Fanning

Partner in Detta Communications and expert in business development and marketing.

Ms Fumi Anike Guiwa-Byrne

Managing Director of Anike Ireland. Involved with the UK telethon fundraising event from 1987 to 1995.

Mr. Eamonn Meehan

Deputy Director and Head of Communications and Education Department of Trócaire.

Fr. Gerard O’Connor

Redemptorist priest. Previously worked with GOAL in Africa.

Mr. Larry O’Loughlin

Head of Public Relations with Teagasc. Board member of Self Help Development International.

Ms Anne O’Mahony

Regional Director with Concern Worldwide, based in Dublin. Serves on the board of EuronAid, a European NGO food security network.

Ms Maura Quinn

Executive Director, UNICEF Ireland.

Ms Lorraine Sweeney

Businessperson. Former chairperson of the Small Firms Association.

I appointed two new members to the advisory board in February 2006.

Name

Background

Ms Marie Brady

Former Religious Education teacher. Assistant Chief Inspector for Religious Education in the Department of Education of Northern Ireland

Ms Geraldine Wall

Senior executive officer with Catholic Youth Care

The development education advisory committee, DEAC, was set up in 2003 to offer policy advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development Co-operation Ireland on development education and on ways to increase knowledge and understanding of development issues in Ireland. The following members were appointed to the committee in 2005.

Name

Background

Dr. Peadar Ó Croimín

President Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

Mr. Peter Johnson

Education Officer for Educational Disadvantage, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

Mr. Robert Kirkpatrick

Senior Inspector, Department of Education and Science

Mr. Conor Sludds

Manager, Community Training Centre, Finglas

Mr. Brendan Hester

Deputy Principal, Inchicore College of Further Education

Dr. David Irwin

Head of Department of Humanities Institute of Technology Tallaght

Ms Moira Leydon

Assistant General Secretary, Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland, ASTI

Ms Mercy Ebun Peters *

Co-ordinator, Association of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Ireland

Mr. Liam Kilbride

Education Development Officer, Presentation Education Office

Mr. David Joyce

Development Education Officer, Irish Congress of Trade Unions

Ms Mary McGillicuddy

Co-ordinator, Kerry Action for Development Education, KADE

Dr. Colm Regan

Co-ordinator 80:20, Educating and Acting for a Better World

Mr. John Daly

Communications and Fundraising Manager, Actionaid Ireland

Ms June Barry

Education Officer Ógra Chorcaí— Youth Organisation based in Cork

Professor Sheelagh Drudy

Head of Education Department, University College Dublin

Mr. Michael Doorly

Development Education Manager, Concern and Chairperson, Development Education Working Group, Dóchas

* Mercy Ebun Peters resigned on 10 January 2006 and was replaced on 23 February by Ms Angela McCormack, public relations and events management consultant.

In September 2005, I appointed Ambassador Anne Anderson, Ambassador of Ireland to France, to the Conseil d'Administration — Administration Council — of the Fondation Irlandaise, which formally administers the Irish College in Paris, in place of Ambassador MacKernan, who has since retired. In October 2004, I appointed Ms Maggie Doyle, a Paris based literary agent, to the college's board of management in place of Professor Prionsias Mac Cana, since deceased.

The Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange, the Fulbright Commission, finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States of America. I appointed the following members to the commission for the 2004-06 period.

Name

Background

Dr. Donal Thornhill

Former Chairperson, Higher Education Authority

Prof. Joyce O’Connor

President, National College of Ireland

Ms Una Halligan

Government and Public Affairs Director, Hewlett Packard

Dr. Tom Collins

Director, Dundalk Institute of Technology, DKIT

In the period January 2001 to September 2004, when my predecessor, Deputy Cowen, was Minister for Foreign Affairs, the following appointments were made to the following boards.

The Advisory Board of Ireland Aid

Name

Background

Mr. Desmond O’Malley

Former Government Minister and former Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Chris Flood

Former Dáil Deputy and Minister of State. Irish representative to the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance.

Mr. David Andrews

Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Irish Red Cross Society. Former Government Minister.

Mr. David Begg

General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Former Chief Executive of Concern Worldwide.

Ms Sally O’Neill

Trócaire’s Regional Director for Central America, based in Honduras.

Ms Lorraine Sweeney

Businessperson. Former Chairperson of the Small Firms Association.

Mr. Larry O’ Loughlin

Head of Public Relations, Teagasc. Board member of Self Help Development International.

Mr. Howard Dalzell

Concern Worldwide, Director of Policy Development and Evaluation Unit.

Fr. Gerard O’Connor

Redemptorist priest. Previously worked with GOAL in Africa.

Mr. Jerry Liston

Executive Chairman, Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business.

Ms Morina O’Neill

Development Education Officer with Comhlámh. Previously worked as a development worker in Belize.

Mr. Pádraig McManus

Chief Executive, Electricity Supply Board of Ireland. Worked in West Africa for a number of years.

The advisory board was chaired by Mr. Desmond O'Malley from August 2002 until July 2003. Mr. Chris Flood was appointed chairperson in September 2003.

The following were appointed to the development education advisory committee, DEAC, on its inception in 2003.

Name

Background

Dr. Peadar Ó Croimín

President, Mary Immaculate College

Mr. Michael Doorly

Development Education Manager, Concern and Chair of Development Education Working Group, Dóchas

Ms Morina O’Neill

Education Officer, Comhlámh

Ms June Barry

Education Officer, Ogra Chorcai — Youth Organisation based in Cork

Fr. PJ Gormley

Superior, SMA Fathers

Mr. Robert Kirkpatrick

Senior Inspector, Department of Education and Science

Mr. Peter Johnson

Education Officer for Educational Disadvantage, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA

Rev. Sahr Yambasu

Methodist Minister in Galway. Part-time chaplain in UCG and works with various refugee groups.

Ms Jacqui Harrison

Director of Social Policy, IBEC

Ms Alisa Keane

Originally employed by ICTU, now with NGO sector

On 20 March 2001, the following were appointed to the Conseil d'Administration — Administration Council — of the Fondation Irlandaise in Paris.

Name

Background

Mr. Jean Bijasson

Director of an asset management and a property management company in Paris

Ms Jennifer Campbell

Secretary and incoming Chairperson of the Friends of the Linen Hall Library, Belfast

Very Rev. Hugh Connolly, STD

Vice President of St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth

Mr. Seamus Crimmins

Head of Lyric FM

Mr. William J. Glynn

Retired banker

Mr. Patrick Mac Entee

Senior Counsel

Mr. Patrick O’Connor

then Ambassador of Ireland to France

In May 2003, Minister Cowen appointed the following to the Conseil d' Administration and the board of management of the Fondation Irlandaise.

Conseil d'Administration

Name

Background

Mr. Jean Bijasson (Secretary)

Director of an asset management and a property management company in Paris

Ms Jennifer Campbell (Treasurer)

Secretary and Chairperson of the Friends of the Linen Hall Library, Belfast

Very Rev. Hugh Connolly STD

Vice President of St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth

Very Rev. Thomas O’Connor

Representative of St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth

Mr. Fiach Mac Conghail,

Director, Abbey Theatre

Mr. Patrick Mc Entee

Senior Counsel

Ambassador Pádraic Mac Kernan

then Ambassador of Ireland to France

Management Board

Name

Background

Ms Áine Ades

Tourism Ireland

Ms Doireann Ní Bhriain

Imaginaire Irlandais and Cultural Consultant, Culture Ireland

Very Rev Brendan Devlin

Recteur, College des Irlandais, Paris

Mr. Eugene Downes

Cultural Consultant

Mr. Pierre Joannon

Honorary Consul, Antibes

Professor Prionsias Mac Cana

School of Cetic Studies, Institute for Advanced Studies

Mr. Patrick Thomas

Counsellor, French Embassy, Dublin

In February 2003, the budgetary allocation for the DION committee on emigrant support in Britain was transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The DION committee has come under the aegis of my Department since then. The following were appointed or reappointed to the DION committee on 1 September 2004.

Name

Background

Mr. Séamus McGarry

Former Chair of the Federation of Irish Societies

Dr. Breda Gray

Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Limerick

Mr. Jim O’ Hara

Chairman, Irish Youth Foundation, UK

Mr. Michael Forde

Managing Director, Ceiling Grids Group, Manchester and Chairman, Irish World Heritage Centre, Manchester

Dr. Theresa Joyce

South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

Ms Catherine Quinn

Member of the then Eastern Health Board and Dublin Vocational Education Committee, VEC

The chair and secretary of the committee are serving officials in the Embassy of Ireland in London.

The Irish Refugee Agency was created in 1991. Board members were appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs for two year periods and boards were composed of an independent chairperson and representatives of relevant Departments connected with the admission of refugees to Ireland. Observers also attended on behalf of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, a number of voluntary agencies and individuals active in the field of refugee welfare. The Refugee Agency ceased operation and was integrated in April 2001 into the Reception and Integration Agency, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The following were appointed to the board of the Irish Refugee Agency in the 2000-01 period.

Name

Background

Ms Anne Colley (Chairperson)

Solicitor

Sr. Phil Sinnott

Sacred Heart Sister working with Vietnamese communities

Col. Jim Croke

Irish Red Cross

Rev. Dermot Clifford

Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants

Ms Mary Aylward

Department of Health

Ms Hope Hanlon

Observer, UNHCR

Mr. Peter O’Mahoney

Observer, Irish Refugee Council

Ms Denise Barry

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Ms Mary Walshe

Department of the Environment

Mr. Denis Hayes

Department of Foreign Affairs

The Agency for Personal Service Overseas, APSO, was established in 1973 as a semi-State body operating under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs, with a board of directors appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. APSO was integrated into the Department of Foreign Affairs on 1 January 2004. The following is a list of the board of directors of APSO as at 31 December for each of the years 2001 to 2003.

31 December 2001

Name

Background

Ms Mairéad Hayes

Human Resources, Aer Lingus

Mr. Aidan Eames

Solicitor

Mr. Brendan Rogers

Department of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Dónal MacDonald

Staff Nominee

Mr. Robin Hanan

Development Non-Governmental Organisation

Ms Mary Sweeney

Development Non-Governmental Organisation

Mr. Mick Kiely

Development Non-Governmental Organisation

Mr. Seán Burke

Accountant

Sr. Teresa Walsh

Missionary — Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary

Sr. Margaret Quinn

Missionary — Medical Missionaries of Mary

Ms Maeve Healy

Financial Sector

31 December 2002

Name

Background

Mr. Aidan Eames

Solicitor

Mr. Brendan Rogers

Department of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Dónal MacDonald

Staff Nominee

Ms Mary Sweeney

Development Non-Governmental Organisation

Mr. Mick Kiely

Development Non-Governmental Organisation

Mr. Séan Burke

Accountant

Sr. Teresa Walsh

Missionary — Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary

Sr. Margaret Quinn

Missionary — Medical Missionaries of Mary

Mr. Joseph O’Hara

Lecturer

Mr. John Murphy

Financial Consultant

31 December 2003

Name

Background

Mr. Aidan Eames

Solicitor

Mr. Pat Bourne

Department of Foreign Affairs

Ms Catherine Boylan

Staff Nominee

Ms Mary Sweeney

Development Non-Governmental Organisation

Mr. Mick Kiely

Development Non-Governmental Organisation

Mr. Séan Burke

Accountant

Sr. Teresa Walsh

Missionary — Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary

Sr. Margaret Quinn

Missionary — Medical Missionaries of Mary

Mr. Joseph O’Hara

Lecturer

Mr. John Murphy

Financial Consultant

Mr. Aidan O’Connor

Engineer

The former Minister, Deputy Cowen, appointed the following to the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange — the Fulbright Commission — for the 2002-04 period.

Name

Background

Dr. Donal Thornhill

Former Chairperson, Higher Education Authority

Prof. Patrick Fottrell

Former President, NUI Galway

Prof. Joyce O’Connor

President, National College of Ireland

Prof. Brian Hillery

Emeritus Professor, Graduate School of Business, UCD

M. J. Nolan

Question:

162 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8719/06]

Since the establishment of my Department in June 2002 I have made the following appointments to the State bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Name of Body / State Board

Appointments since June 2002

Arts Council

Ms Olive Braiden

Mr. Jerome Hynes

Ms Mary Nunan

Ms Rosaleen Linehan

Ms Noelle Campbell Sharp

Ms Orlaith McBride

Mr. Theo Dorgan

Mr. John McGahern

Mr. Philip King

Ms Una Ó Murchú

Mr. Patrick Sutton

Ms Emer O’Kelly

Mr. Willie Doherty

Mr. Alan Stanford

Ms Aibhlín McCrann

Mr. Maurice Foley

Mr. John Crumlish

Ms Jaki Irvine

Abbey Theatre

Dr. John O’ Mahony

Ms Eithne Healy

His Honour Judge Bryan McMahon

Mr. Tom Hickey

Ms Suzanne Kelly

Bord Scannán na hÉireann

Mr. James Morris

Mr. Alan Gilsenan

Ms Margaret McCarthy-MacIntyre

Mr. Tristan Orpen Lynch

Ms Lesley McKimm

Mr. Kevin Moriarty

Ms Kirsten Sheridan

National Museum of Ireland

Dr. John O’ Mahony

Mr. Peter Barry

Mr. Gerard Collins

Mr. Brian Coyle

Dr. Dervilla Donnelly

Ms Niamh Fitzpatrick

Ms Susan McGrath

Mr. David Hanna

Ms Bernardine Hurley

Mr. Eamon Lankford

Mr. Proinnsías Ó’Cillín

Ms Nessa O’Connor

Mr. Fergus McKenna O’Hagan

Mr. Nollaig Ó’Muraíle

Mr. John Sheehan

Dr. Ruth Whelan

Irish Museum of Modern Art

Mr. Gerard Mannix Flynn

Mr. Eoin McGonigal

Mr. Frank X. Buckley

Ms Valerie Connor

Mr. Michael Dwyer

Mr. Brendan Flynn

Ms Áine O’Driscoll

Mr. Brian Ranalow

Ms Patricia Tsouros

National Library of Ireland

Mr. Gerard Danaher

Mr. Patrick F. Clyne

Mr. Bob Collins

Ms Ida Delamer

Ms Breda Kelly

Ms Máire MacConghail

Ms Susan McGrath

Mr. Niall McMonagle

Mr. Brendan O’Donoghue

Mr. Jim O’Shea

Ms Margaret Toomey

Ms Noreen Whelan

National Library of Ireland Board of Trustees

Mr. John Gray

Mr. Jim O’Shea

Governors and Guardians of Marsh’s Library

Mr. Patrick Kilroy

Ms Marilyn Taylor

Chester Beatty Library

Ms Madeline O’Sullivan

Ms Louise O’Mahony

National Archives Advisory Council

His Honour Judge Bryan McMahon

Dr. John Bowman

Mrs. Kathleen Browne

Dr. Maurice Bric

Mr. Christopher O’Connell

Ms Máire MacConghail

Prof. Eunan O’Halpin

Ms Carol Quinn

Dr. Raymond Refaussé

Ms Joan Johnson

Prof. Mary E Daly

Mr. John Wilson

Ms Mairead Dunlevy

National Gallery of Ireland Board of Governors and Guardians

Mr. Lochlann Quinn

Mr. Bruce Arnold

Mr. Anthony Cronin

The Duke of Abercorn K.G.

Ms Pauline Bewick

Mr. Bernard McNamara

Dr. Abdul Bulbulia

Desmond Fitzgerald, Knight of Glin

Irish Manuscripts Commission

Prof. JFM Lydon

Prof. DW Harkness

Dr. Mary Daly

Dr. Anngret Simms

Dr. Mary O’Dowd

Prof. Nicholas Canny

Mr. James McGuire

Irish Sports Council

Mr. Ossie Kilkenny

Mr. Niall Quinn

Mr. Maurice Ahern

Mr. Ronnie McBrien

Ms Mary Davis

Mr. Brian Mullins

Mr. Peter McLoone

Mr. Mick O’Dwyer

Ms Marian McGennis

Mr. Tony McCarthy

Ms Tracy Piggott

Ms Sheila Dickson

Mr. Pat O’Neill

Horse Racing Ireland

Mr. John Kidd

Mr. Jerry L Desmond

Mr. William Flood

Ms Jessica Harrington

Mr. Cahir O’Sullivan

Mr. Frank Clarke

Mr. John G Moloney

Mr. John Power

Mr. Dan Kirwan

Mr. Noel Cloake

Mr. Pierce G Moloney

Mr. Nicholas Wachman

Mr. Francis Hyland

Mr. Dermot Cantillon

Bord na gCon

Mr. Cathal Curley

Mr. John Hegarty

Ms Helen Nugent

Mr. Tony McKenna

Mr. Padraic Feeney

Mr. Paschal Taggart

Mr. Daniel Reilly

Mr. Frank O’Connell

Fáilte Ireland (National Tourism Development Authority)

Ms Mary McKeon

Mr. Patrick O’Donoghue

Ms Gillian Bowler

Mr. Dominic Dillane

Mr. John McDonnell

Ms Catherine Reilly

Mr. Noel McGinley

Mr. Padraig Ó Céidigh

Ms Maureen Cairnduff

Ms Eithne Scott — Lennon

Mr. Noel O’Callaghan

Mr. PáidíÓ Sé

Mr. Brian Dowling

Bord Fáilte

Mr. Noel McGinley

Mr. Patrick O’Donoghue

Mr. PáidíÓ Sé

Mr. Sean Dunne

Culture Ireland

Prof. Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin

Mr. John O’Shea

Ms Mary McCarthy

Mr. Mark Mulqueen

Ms Doireann Ní Bhriain

Mr. Patrick Sutton

Ms Eve Molony

Mr. Peter Sirr

Ms Dearbhla Collins

Mr. Davey Arthur

Ms Mary Cloake

Mr. Michael Grant

Mr. Gearóid Ó Broin

Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú

Ms Philomena Murnaghan

Retail Pricing.

Jerry Cowley

Question:

163 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether Irish consumers are currently being ripped off due to the ever increasing practice by retailers of labelling goods in both euro and sterling prices; his further views on whether there is a serious problem in this regard and legislation is necessary; if this problem will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8624/06]

There is an obligation to display the selling price of a product under regulation 4 of Statutory Instrument No. 639 of 2002 [European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations, 2002]. The regulations stipulate that the indication of the selling price be "unambiguous, easily identifiable as referring to that product, clearly visible and legible to prospective customers and in proximity to the product, or in the case of a product for sale by distance contract, to the description of the product". There is nothing in the legislation which forbids the indication of sterling prices on products. However, I accept that difficulties can arise for consumers if a sterling price is shown more prominently than the price in euros. This can be misleading and is not in keeping with the spirit of the legislation. Neither is it in keeping with Government policy that consumers be in a position to make informed choices before proceeding to complete a transaction.

I am reviewing the operation of these regulations and will be seeking legal advice on the issue of dual pricing. I will keep the Deputy informed on any proposed changes in the legislation.

Work Permits.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

164 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the decision to refuse work permits to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be reviewed as two separate advertisements with FÁS callnet service failed to elicit any applications for the vacant positions; the alternative efforts this employer is required to make in order to fulfil the conditions for obtaining work permits for non-EU nationals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8625/06]

The work permit section of my Department has advised me that applications for work permits to employ the named individuals were refused on 28 February 2006 on the basis that the positions were not highly skilled and highly paid.

Job Creation.

Michael Ring

Question:

165 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will ascertain from the IDA if a factory (details supplied) in County Mayo has now been sold; if so, the price it was sold for; if not, the position in relation to locating jobs at the location. [8664/06]

IDA Ireland is an autonomous statutory agency set up under the Industrial Development Acts 1986 to 2003. The agency operates in accordance with the provisions of the Acts and under the aegis of my Department. The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio, including the purchase and disposal of property, is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas and not a matter in which I have any function.

I understand, however, that the IDA is currently at the advanced stage of negotiations with the owners of the factory premises at Ballinrobe, County Mayo with a view to making the property — the building and associated lands — available for further development. Meanwhile, the building and associated lands continue to be available for marketing purposes for appropriate projects interested in locating in County Mayo.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

166 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8720/06]

The board appointments to bodies under the aegis of my Department over the past five years are set out in the following table:

State Body

Appointees

Motor Insurance Advisory Board

Ms Cora Collins Mr. Joe Langan

Mr. Adrian Cummins Ms Oonagh McPhillips Mr. Niall Cullen Mr. Barry O’ Connor Ms Hilary D’alton Mr. Seamus O’Hare Mr. Liam Dolan Ms Rady Redmond Mr. John Doyle Ms Anne Troy Mr. Denis Fitzpatrick Mr. Stephen Watkins

Interim Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Ms Patricia Byron Mr. Chris Flood Ms Frances Cooke Mr. Pat Healy Mr. Frank Cuneen Mr. Tom Noonan Professor Denis Cusack Ms Mary O’Dea Ms Dorothea Dowling (Chairperson) Senator Joe O’Toole Ms Carmel Foley Mr. Tom Wall

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Ms Patricia Byron Ms Carmel Foley Ms Frances Cooke Mr. Pat Healy Mr. Frank Cuneen Ms Mary O’Dea Professor Denis Cusack Senator Joe O’Toole Ms Dorothea Dowling (Chairperson) Mr. Tom Noonan Mr. John Fay

IDA Ireland

Ms Loretta Brennan Glucksman Mr. Ronald Long Mr. Bernard Collins Mr. Thomas G. Lynch Mr. Kieran Corrigan Mr. Frank McCabe Mr. John Dunne Mr. Paul MacKay Ms Ann Marie Gill Mr. Gerard O’ Mahoney Mr. Denis Hanrahan Mr. Niall Ring Ms Bríd Horan Mr. Brian Whitney Mr. Gary Kennedy

National Competitiveness Council

Mr. Rory Ardagh Ms Annette Hughes Mr. Donal Byrne Ms Áine Mizzoni Mr. Kevin Bonner Mr. Peter McLoone Mr. William Burgess Mr. Patrick O’Brien Mr. Brendan Butler Mr. Seamus O’Morain Ms Joan Carmichael Mr. Neil Ormonde Mr. Martin Cronin Mr. Willy Slattery Bernard Collins Mr. Paul Sweeney Mr. Pat Delaney Dr. Don Thornhill Dr. John Fingleton Mr. John Travers Ms Jackie Harrison Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski Ms Thia Hennessey Ms Jane Williams

Enterprise Ireland

Ms Lorraine Benson Mr. David McKenna Mr. John Connolly Ms Heather Ann McSharry Ms Margaret Daly Mr. Pat Molloy Ms Elaine Farrell Mr. Gerard O’Malley Mr. Gus Fitzpatrick Ms Veronica Perdisatt Mr. Brian Kearney

Craft Council of Ireland

Ms Jean Byrne Ms Mary Ann O’Brien Mr. Jim Dunne Mr. Giles O’Neill Ms Ann Foy Dr. Frances Ruane Ms Cathy Honan Mr. Martin Walsh (Chairperson)

Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd

Mr. Ron Carroll Mr. William Loughnane Ms Patricia Collins Mr. Liam McElligott Mr. Roger Downer Mr. Paul O’Brien Mr. Noreen Foran Mr. Brian O’Connell Mr. Kieran Grace Mr. Peter Schutz Ms Frieda Keane-Carmody

Forfas

Mr. Sean Gorman Mr. Eoin O’Driscoll Prof. M. Hillery Mr. F. O’Rourke Ms Rosheen McGuckian Dr. D. Thornhill Mr. Rody Molloy Mr. T. Wall Mr. William Murphy Ms Jane Williams

Intertrade Ireland

Ms Mary Ainscough Ms Jackie Harrison Ms Mary Breslin Ms Inez McCormack Mr. Trefor Campbell Mr. Feargal McCormack Mr. John Fitzgerald Mr. Carl McCann Mr. Barry Fitzsimons Dr. Martin Naughton (Chairman) Mr. Jack Gilmour Mr. Robbie Smith

NSAI

Mr. Paul Bennett Mr. Simon Kelly Dr. Catherine Caulfield Mr. Martin Lynch Mr. Patrick Coffey BE Mr. John McGowan Mr. Vincent Delaney Dr. Ursula MacEvilly Ms Dorothea Dowling Mr. D. O’Loughlin Mr. Niall Fitzsimons Mr. Conor O’Mahony Ms June Finnegan Dr. Sean J. McCarthy Mr. Páraig Hennessy Ms Anne Riordan Mr. John N. Hewitt Mr. Patrick Rigney Ms Rose Hynes Mr. Edmond Stack

FÁS

Mr. William Attley Mr. Dermot Lacey Mr. Sexton Cahill Mr. Joe Morgan Ms Ruth Carmody Mr. Danny McCoy Ms Caroline Casey Mr. Peter McLoone (Chairman) Ms Cathy Crowley Ms Kathleen McLoughlin Mr. Peter Cullen Ms Margaret Mernagh Mr. Michael Dolan Mr. Dermot Mulligan Mr. Tim Duggan Mr. Jim O’Brien Mr. Brian Geoghegan (Chairman) Mr. Dermot O’Callaghan Mr. Seán Gorman Mr. James O’ Leary Mr. Jenny Hayes Mr. Brian O’ Raghallaigh Mr. Brian Keogh Ms Alice Prendergast Ms Sally Anne Kinahan Mr. Niall Saul Mr. Eamonn Kearns Mr. Frank Walsh Ms Bernadette Lacey Mr. Owen Wills

Science Foundation Ireland

Mr. Erich Bloch Dr. Jim Mountjoy Mr. Ned Costello Dr. Martina Newell McGloughlin Prof. Patrick Fottrell (Chairperson) Mr. Frank Mc Cabe (Deputy Chairperson) Dr. Jane Grimson Mr. Peter McDonagh Dr. Kristina Johnson Dr. Don Thornhill Dr Anita Jones Mr. John Travers Dr. Jacqueline Hunter

Patents Agents Board

Mr. Neil Buckley Mr. Peter Shortt Ms Dolores Cassidy Dr. Jacob Rajan Mr. Sean Fitzpatrick

Trade Mark Agents Board

Mr. Neil Buckley Mr. Dermot Sheridan Mr. Sean Fitzpatrick Mr. Colm Treanor Mr. Michael Kiernan

National Consumer Agency (Interim Board)

Ms Inez Bailey Ms Celia Larkin Mr. Stephen Costelloe Ms Deirdre McDonnell Dr. John Fingleton Mr. Robin O’ Sullivan Ms Ann Fitzgerald (Chairperson) Ms Marie Barry Ring Ms Carmel Foley Mr. Alex Schuster Ms Gillian Kelly Mr. John Shine Mr. Eddie Hobbs Dr. Edward Shinnick

Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority (Interim Board)

Mr. Paul Appleby Mr. Tony Kelly Mr. John Corcoran Mr. Jim Kelly Mr. Michael Deasy Mr. Ronald Long Mr. Brendan Dennehy Ms Anne Maher Ms Karen Erwin (Chairperson) Mr. Liam O’ Reilly Ms Anne Fitzgerald Mr. Donal O’ Connor Mr. Sean Hawkshaw Senator Joe O’ Toole Mr. Tom Healy Mr. Ben Power Mr. Pat A. Houlihan

Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority

Mr. Paul Appleby Mr. Tony Kelly Ms Helene Coffey Mr. Pat A. Houlihan Ms Marie Daly Mr. Jim Kelly Mr. Michael Deasy Ms Anne Maher Ms Karen Erwin (Chairperson) Mr. David Martin Mr. Sean Hawkshaw Mr. Donal O’ Connor Mr. Tom Healy Senator Joe O’ Toole

Competition Authority

Mr. Terry Calvani Mr. Ted Henneberry Dr. John Fingleton Ms Noreen Mackey Ms Isolde Goggin Mr. William Prasifka Dr. Paul Gorecki Mr. Declan Purcell Mr. Stanley Wong

Labour Court

Mr. Eamon Carberry Mr. Peter Murphy Mr. John Doherty Mr. Jack Nash Mr. Kevin Duffy Mr. Pádraigín Ní Mhurchú Mr. Finbarr Flood Mr. Jimmy Somers Mr. Robert Grier Mr. Noel O’Neill Mr. Vincent Keogh Mr. Hugh O’Neill Mr. Cormac McHenry Mr. Patrick Pierce Mr. Raymond McGee

Labour Relations Commission

Mr. Peter Bunting Mr. Brendan McGinty Mr. Maurice Cashell Mr. Peter McLoone Mr. Liam Downey Ms Caitriona Murphy Ms Josephine Feehily Mr. Kieran Mulvey Ms Breege O’Donoghue

Rights Commissioners Service

Mr. Tony Bregazzi Mr. Finn Lawless Ms Joan Carmichael Mr. Mark A McGrath Gerry Fleming Ms Lenore Mrkwicka Janet Hughes Mr. Michael Rooney Mr. David Iredale

Employment Appeals Tribunal. Period of Appointment: January 2001-2004

Sarah Berkely Gerard Brady Anne Bunni Ailbhe Burke Emile Daly Triona Daly Tony Halpin Dan Horan Elva Kearney Dermot MacCarthy Lisa McDonald Paul McGarry Penelope McGrath Rosemary O’Connell Peter J O’Leary Kate O’Mahony Moya Quinlan Joe Revington Patricia Ryan Tom Ryan Jeremiah Sheedy Eveta Brezina Nick Broughall Mary Burke Anne Clune Jim Dorney Breda Fell Sean Galavan Noirin Greene Philomena Harrington John Kane Ben Kearney

Nuala Kehir Tony Kennelly Mary Maher Des Mahon Aidan McCormack John McDonnell Michael McGarry Bernard McKenna Alice Moore Lenore Mrkwicka Clare O’Connor Kevin O’Connor Seamus O’Donnell Paddy O’Shaughnessy Tommy Perkins Sean Redmond Ciaran Ryan Kitty Warnock Paddy Woods Harry J Baird Patrick Bracken Clare Carroll Ann Delahunt Michael Dunne Carl Fay T P Flood Michael Forde Pat Harrington Michael C Hennigan Richard Keating Ben Kealey Richard Kennan Tina Leonard Gerry McAuliffe Patrick McKeown Des Morrison Billy O’Carroll Paul O’Grady Margaret O’Leary Paul O’Leary James O’Neill C A Ormond Jas A Power William Power Robert D E Prole Jim Redmond John Reid Edmond Sheehy Declan F Winston Mary Faherty (January April, 2002)

Period of Appointment January 2004-2007:

Kieran Buckley Dympna Cusack Emile Daly Catherine Egan John Fahy Fergal T Fitzgerald-Doyle James Flanagan Myles Gilvarry Clodagh Gleeson Bernadette Glynn Patrick G Goold Con Guiney Tony Halpin Dara Hayes Elva Kearney Kevin P Kilrane Margaret Levey Dermot MacCarthy Sean Mahon Eoin Martin Penelope McGrath Leachlain Ó Catháin Mark O’Connell Thomas O’Donoghue

Peter J O’Leary Marian Petty Moya Quinlan Joe Revington Tom Ryan Jeremiah Sheedy Geraldine Small Patrick Bracken Joe Browne William Brown Pat Casey Frank Cunneen Anne Delahunt T P Flood Michael Forde Tom Gill James Goulding John Guinan Richard Keating Ben Kealy Mel Kennedy Gerry McAuliffe Cyril McHugh Don Moore Desmond Morrison Michael J Murphy Roger Murphy Terence O’Donnell Paul O’Leary James O’Neill C A Ormond Gerry Phelan Pat Pierce Peter Pierson Jas A Power William Power Robert Prole Jim Redmond John Reid Eamonn Ryan Maire Sweeney John Walsh Declan Winston Frank Barry Rita Bergin Eveta Brezina Nick Broughall Brendan Byrne Paul Clarke Anne Clune Jim Dorney Breda Fell Kay Garvey Noirin Greene George Hunter Ben Kearney Hilary Kelleher Tony Kennelly George Lamon Sean Mackell Mary Maher Des Mahon Rita McArdle John McDonnell Dominic McEvoy Michael McGarry Bernard McKenna Alice Moore Jim Moore Sam Nolan Owen Nulty Clare O’Connor Kevin O’Connor Seamus O’Donnell Emer O’Shea Ciaran Ryan Catherine Warnock Patrick Woods Tom Wall Kate O’Mahony (January 2005-2008)

Health & Safety Authority (National Authority for Occupational Safety & Health)

Mr. T. Briscoe Mr. J. Lyons Ms M. Coy Mr. M. Lynch Ms S. Corbett Ms C. McEleney Mr. S. Cronin Mr. P. McCabe Mr. F. Cunneen Ms L. Mrkwicka Mr. F. Cunneen Ms L. Mrkwicka Mr. S. Daly Mr. C. O’Cuinneagain Ms M. Dorgan Ms L. O’Donnell Mr. D. J. Gilroy Ms M Rock Ms AM. Hayes Ms R. Sheerin Mr. J. Hegarty Ms Y. Sullivan Mr. P. Kearney Mr. F. Whelan

Job Creation.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

167 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of potential employers the IDA or Enterprise Ireland have had visit a factory (details supplied) in County Wexford that is awaiting an occupier; if his attention has been drawn to any company or person who is at present in negotiations with the IDA or Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8733/06]

There have been two IDA site visits to the advance technology building in Enniscorthy but neither of the companies in question took up the option on the facility. However, I now understand that negotiations with a potential tenant are ongoing in relation to the facility and I will inform the Deputy of the outcome of these negotiations in due course.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Jerry Cowley

Question:

168 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8681/06]

The person concerned was awarded disability benefit from 15 February 1996. Her claim was disallowed from 23 February 2004 after she was found capable of work by a medical assessor of the Department. She appealed against the disallowance and she was examined by a different medical assessor who also considered her to be capable of work. Her case was then referred to an appeals officer who upheld the decision to disallow disability benefit. She was notified of this decision on 19 January 2005.

The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 23 February 2004 until her entitlement to unemployment benefit was exhausted on 21 May 2005. She signed for unemployment credits until 29 October 2005. No application for disability or unemployment payments has been received since that date. The person concerned would not qualify for payment of disability benefit at this time as she does not have the required number of recent reckonable PRSI contributions. However, she will qualify for the award of credited contributions which could help to qualify her for benefit in the future.

Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under age 66. The disability must be expected to last for a least one year and the allowance is subject to both a medical assessment and a means test. A disability allowance claim form was issued to the person concerned on 28 February 2006. To apply for same, she should complete the claim form and return it to the Department. Her case will then be examined and she will be notified of the outcome accordingly.

In the meantime, if her means are not sufficient to meet her needs, the person concerned should contact the community welfare officer at her local Health Service Executive office who will advise her of her possible entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance.

Michael Ring

Question:

169 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded rent supplement; if his staff will be directed to award rent supplement to people in full-time education and in similar circumstances. [8686/06]

Rent supplements are available to eligible people through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in determining entitlement in individual cases.

Section 190(1) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 provides that people in full-time education are not normally eligible to receive assistance, including rent supplements, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Section 190(3) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 and regulations made thereunder provide that in a case where there are exceptional circumstances, supplementary welfare allowance may be granted to a person who would qualify other than for their exclusion under section 190(1). This discretion is aimed at enabling assistance to be provided through the scheme if necessary to people who face an exceptional non-recurring cost which they cannot meet from their own resources. This exceptional needs provision is not intended to circumvent existing standard rules for other schemes. The executive has previously advised that, in its opinion, there are no special circumstances in this case to merit payment of assistance on an exceptional basis.

The position therefore remains the same to that given in my response to a question from the Deputy on 23 February 2006. The executive has advised that in considering her application for rent supplement in her college location, it has thoroughly examined all information available to it in relation to the circumstances of the person concerned and has determined that she is not eligible on the basis that she is a full-time student. It has further advised that this decision has been upheld by the executive's designated appeals officer.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

170 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8721/06]

The five statutory agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, Comhairle, the Family Support Agency and the Social Welfare Tribunal. In addition, the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of my Department. Appointments made to these agencies since 1 March 2001 are outlined in the following tables.

The Pensions Board was established in December 1990 under the Pensions Act 1990. The role of the board is to monitor and supervise the provisions of the Pensions Acts, as amended, relating to occupational pensions and to advise the Minister on all matters relating to its functions and on matters relating to pensions generally.

Name

Date Appointed

Dermot Quigley

24/09/01

Michael O’Halloran

01/06/02

Carmel Foley

01/06/02

Michael McNulty

16/02/04

William Beausang

21/12/05

Kevin Brabazon

21/12/05

Rosalind Briggs

21/12/05

Rosheen Callender

21/12/05

Julian Caplin

21/12/05

Marie Daly

21/12/05

John Dillane

21/12/05

Mary O’Donnell

21/12/05

Emer O’Flanagan

21/12/05

Michael O’Halloran

21/12/05 (Reappointed)

Tiarnan O’Mahoney

21/12/05

Gerry Ryan

21/12/05

Dervla Tomlin

21/12/05

Anne Vaughan

21/12/05

Mary Wade

21/12/05

Fergus Whelan

21/12/05

Tom Wright

21/12/05

The Combat Poverty Agency was established in September 1986 under the Combat Poverty Agency Act 1986. The main functions of the agency are to advise the Minister for Social and Family Affairs on all aspects of economic and social planning in relation to poverty; to initiate and evaluate measures aimed at overcoming poverty; and to promote greater public understanding of the nature, causes and extent of poverty and the measures necessary to overcome poverty.

Name

Date Appointed

Brian Duncan

08/03/01

Bernard Feeney

08/03/01

Mary Kennedy

08/03/01

Seamus McAleavey

11/07/01

Helen Johnston

06/09/01

Joan O’Flynn

05/12/02

Tony Lane

31/01/03

Maria Gorman

31/01/03

Frank Curran

31/01/03

Anthony Gavin

31/01/03

Alice Robertson

31/01/03

Marie O’Neill

20/02/03

Olive Sweetman

07/05/03

Maria Corrigan

07/05/03

Margaret Sweeney

20/08/03

Tony O’Callaghan

20/08/03

Pearse O’Hanrahan

06/12/03

Brian Duncan

08/03/04 (Reappointed)

Callista Bennis

01/06/04

Helen Johnston

01/06/04 (Reappointed)

Orlaigh Quinn

15/06/04

Seamus McAleavey

02/09/04 (Reappointed)

Helen Johnston

01/06/05 (Reappointed)

Barbara Walshe

25/01/06

Comhairle was established on 12 June 2000 under the provisions of the Comhairle Act 2000. Comhairle is responsible for supporting the provision of independent information, advice and advocacy services for citizens throughout the country, including people with disabilities.

Name

Date Appointed

John Quinlivan

30/08/01

Rosemary Farrell

30/08/01

Brian Flynn

30/08/01

Rosarie Moylan

30/08/01

Ian Coulter

30/08/01

Fionnuala McCarthy

05/10/01

Tom Daly

12/09/02

Paul Hogan

12/09/02

John Bosco Conomo

12/09/02

Caroline Casey

12/09/02

Nigel Brander

12/09/02

Inez Bailey

12/09/02

Máirín Byrne

12/09/02

Clare Young

12/09/02

John Hogan

19/06/03

Joe Meagher

19/06/03

David Ormond

19/06/03

Michael Walsh

19/06/03

Patricia Walshe

19/06/03

Martin Naughton

19/06/03

Maria Mangan

08/07/03

Hubert Kearns

04/11/03

Brian Flynn

01/09/04 (Reappointed)

Mary Lyne

01/09/04

Chris Glennon

16/01/06

Hilary Hayden

16/01/06

Mary B. Fanning

16/01/06

James Smyth

16/01/06

Máirín Byrne

16/01/06 (Reappointed)

Gerry Daly

08/02/06

The Family Support Agency was established on 6 May 2003, under the Family Support Agency Act 2001. The remit of the agency is to provide a family mediation service, support, promote and develop the provision of marriage and relationship counselling and other family supports, support, promote and develop the family and community and to undertake research, provide and disseminate information about parenting and family issues and provide advice to the Minister on matters relating to its functions.

Name

Date Appointed

Michael O’Kennedy

06/05/03

Clare Cashman

06/05/03

Paddie Connellan

06/05/03

Sinead Hanly

06/05/03

Dick Hickey

06/05/03

Gerry Mangan

06/05/03

Brendan Murphy

06/05/03

Dilly O’Brien

06/05/03

Colm O’Connor

06/05/03

Brid Rocks

06/05/03

Muriel Walls

06/05/03

Magaret Farrell

31/07/03

Rita Hayes

06/05/05

Dick Hickey

06/05/05 (Reappointed)

Paddie Connellan

06/05/05 (Reappointed)

Brid Rocks

06/05/05 (Reappointed)

Muriel Walls

06/05/05 (Reappointed)

Helen Faughnan

31/05/05

Geoffrey Corry

18/11/05

Angela Gaule

12/12/05

The Social Welfare Tribunal is a statutory body set up in 1982 to deal with cases where entitlement to unemployment benefit or assistance is refused due to an involvement in a trade dispute. The tribunal is an independent agency. The members are appointed by the Minister on foot of nominations by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Irish Business Employers Confederation.

Name

Date Appointed

Colin Walker

07/03/03

Colin Walker

04/10/03 (Reappointed)

Fergus Whelan

04/10/03

Dympna Harper

04/10/03

Richard Keating

04/10/03

Patrick Pearse

04/10/03

Social Welfare Benefits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

171 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the full extent of rent support available to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8789/06]

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department have any function in relation to decisions on individual claims. Under supplementary welfare allowance rules, rent supplement is not normally payable to couples where either of them is engaged in full-time employment. For these purposes, employment for 30 hours or more per week is regarded as full-time.

The position in relation to this case remains the same as that given in my response to a question from the Deputy on 8 February 2006. The executive has advised that the persons concerned were refused a rent supplement on the grounds that one of the applicants was engaged in full-time employment. It is open to the persons concerned to appeal this decision to the executive's designated appeals officer.

Road Traffic Accidents.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

172 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the number of collisions resulting in a fatality and a serious injury in each of the past ten years by vehicle age. [8748/06]

Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority, NRA, in its annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report, now entitled Road Collision Facts, relates to 2004 and is available in the Oireachtas Library and on the NRA website. The reports do not give details of the number of collisions resulting in a fatality and a serious injury by vehicle age.

International Agreements.

Pat Breen

Question:

173 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Transport if he is proposing to include for the joint committee under Article 17 of the US-EU Air Transport Agreement a periodic review of the way in which the new open skies regime will affect Shannon Airport following the ending of the dual gateway policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8621/06]

The overall purpose of the joint committee is, at least once a year, to conduct consultations relating to the EU-US Air Transport Agreement, and to review its implementation. Any party to the agreement may also call a meeting of the joint committee to discuss questions relating to the interpretation or application of the agreement.

One of the fundamental purposes of the EU-US agreement is to grant open traffic rights across the Atlantic to all EU and US airlines to every point in each other's territory, to include Ireland from April 2008 after the transitional period. There is no question of this fundamental principle of open skies being open for amendment by the joint committee.

Haulage Industry.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

174 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the number of tachograph inspections or checks carried out by transport officers from his Department on heavy goods vehicles in 2003, 2004 and 2005; the number of such vehicles found to be in breach of the law in each year; the number of prosecutions which resulted in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8675/06]

Details of drivers' records inspected by transport officers during visits to operator premises and at roadside checks for the years in question are set out in the following table.

Year

2003

2004

2005

Premises

3,704

3,506

3,788

Checkpoints

2,342

2,106

1,388

The number of drivers' hours infringements detected in each of the years in question is as follows:

Year

2003

2004

2005

Infringements

3,622

4,603

4,254

The number of prosecutions taken in each of the years in question is as follows:

Year

2003

2004

2005

Prosecutions

244

158

103

Road Traffic Offences.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

175 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if it is his intention as reported to ban heavy goods vehicles including bus-coaches from the outside lane of motorways and to make them liable for penalty points or if this ban is to apply to passenger carrying vehicles. [8687/06]

Under article 33 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997, it is prohibited to drive a heavy good vehicle, a bus or coach that accommodates more than eight passengers and any vehicle that is towing a trailer etc, in the outside lane of a motorway except where it is necessary to proceed in that lane due to an obstruction or because another lane or lanes is or are for the time being closed to traffic.

Those classes of vehicles are subject to a maximum, vehicle-related speed limit of 80 km/h whereas the default motorway speed limit is 120 km/h. This 1997 ban on driving in the outside lane of motorways is included in the Schedule of offences listed in the Road Traffic Act 2002 to which the penalty points system can be applied and it is one of the 31 offences to which I propose to extend the penalty points system in April 2006. From April penalty points will be applied to the driving licence records of drivers of vehicles in the classes mentioned who are convicted in court or after payment of a fixed charge in lieu of going to court as a result of breaching this motorway driving rule.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

176 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the statutory instrument governing the use of bus lanes; the regulation regarding the use of contra-flow bus lanes by taxis; the reason taxis are permitted to use some of these but not others; his views on whether they should be allowed to use all bus lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8697/06]

Provisions regarding the use of bus lanes are set out in articles 32 and 39 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997, SI 182 of 1997, as amended in article 2 of Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) Regulations 1998, SI 441 of 1998.

Article 32 provides that only large public service vehicles and cyclists can enter bus lanes during the operative period and that an exception is made for a taxi or a wheel chair accessible taxi which is being used in the course of business. It is also provided that, except for the purpose of access, only large public service vehicles can enter a bus-only street. The result of this measure is that taxis and other vehicles can use a bus-only street if access to premises on that street is required.

In addition, the article provides that only a large public service vehicle can enter a contra-flow bus lane. This prohibition and single user status is based on road safety considerations and to give priority to the operation of large public service vehicles. I have no plans to permit taxis to use all bus lanes.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

177 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8722/06]

The Department of Transport was set up in June 2002. The appointments made since that date are outlined in the following table. Those marked with an asterisk were made during my tenure of office.

Names

National Roads Authority

Mr. Fred Barry *

Mr. Eddie Breen *

Mr. Eric Fleming *

Mr. David Holden

Mr. John Newell

Mr. Donncha Ó Cinnéide *

Mr. Brendan O’Meara

Irish Aviation Authority

Mr. Eamonn Brennan

Mr. Neil Branagan

Mr. Frank Conway

Ms Jacqueline Jameson *

Mr. Philip Caffrey *

Mr. Jerry V. Liston *

Mr. Donal Geaney

Taxi Regulator

Mr. Ger Deering

Mr. Pat Byrne

Chief Supt Denis Fitzpatrick

Ms Noreen Mackey

Ms Sadie Doherty

Mr. Jerry Brennan

Mr. John Ussher

Ms Deirdre Power

Dr. Deirdre O’Keeffe

Mr. Michael Kilcoyne

Mr. Vincent Kearns

Ms Denise Kinahan

Mr. Tom Fannin

Mr. Brian Killeen

Ms Mary Keogh

Mr. Vincent Thornton

Mr. Christopher Humphrey

Mr. Joe Gavin

Ms Carmel Mulroy

Ms Lucy O’ Donoghue

Chief Supt John T. Farrelly *

Mr. Douglas Jordan *

Mr. Derek Dalrymple *

Mr. Donie O’Shea *

Mr. Tommy Gorman *

Railway Procurement Agency

Mr. Frank Allen

Mr. John Maguire

Mr. Brendan P. Malone *

Mr. Hamid Foroughi

Aer Lingus

Mr. John Sharman (as Chairman) *

Mr. Chris Wall

Mr. Brian Dunne

Mr. Sean Fitzpatrick

Ms Anne Mills

Mr. Ivor Fitzpatrick *

Mr. Dermot Mannion *

Mr. Francis Hackett *

CIÉ

Mr. Paul Kiely

Mr. John Sorohan

Mr. Justin Baily

Mr. Norman Wilkinson

Mr. Kevin Cronin

Dr. John J. Lynch *

Mr. Paul Kiely *

Mr. John Sorohan *

Mr. Niall Ormonde *

Ms Mary Canniffe *

Ms Yvonne Scannell *

Dublin Transportation Office

Mr. Kevin Ring

Mr. Finian Matthews *

Mr. John Tierney *

Mr. Tom Dowling

Mr. Bill Lilley

Mr. Tim Hayes *

Mr. Joe Meagher *

Asst. Comm. Al McHugh *

Ms Mary Darley *

Mr. Frank Allen

Mr. Tony Kelly *

Medical Bureau of Road Safety

Prof. Denis Cusack

Prof. Bernadette Herity

Mr. Brendan Gogarty B.L.

Dr. Fenton Howell

Ms Hilary Dalton

National Safety Council

Mr. John Weafer *

Mr. Brian Huston *

Mr. Harry Cullen *

Mr. Eddie Shaw *

Ms Bernadette Kinsella *

Ms Mary Roche *

Mr. Declan McDonnell *

Ms Gráinne Harte *

Mr. Edward Rock *

Aer Rianta

Mr. Joe Gantly

Mr. Patrick Shanahan

Ms Margaret Sweeney

Mr. Aidan Mullally

Dublin Airport Authority

Mr. Gary McGann *

Mr. Declan Collier *

Sir Michael Hodgkinson *

Mr. Colm Barrington *

Ms Marie O’Connor *

Mr. Bill Cullen *

Mr. Anthony Spollen *

Mr. Desmond Cummins *

Ms Mary Davis *

Mr. Arthur Hall *

Mr. Michael Landers *

Ms Linda Tanham *

Mr. Dermot O’Loughlin *

Mr. Patrick Fitzgerald *

Mr. Barry Nevin *

Ms Marion Keating *

Mr. Brian Lynch *

Shannon Airport Authority

Mr. Patrick Shanahan

Mr. Patrick Blaney

Ms Rose Hynes

Mr. Tadhg Kearney

Mr. Michael B. Lynch

Mr. Padraic Burke

Mr. Reg Freake

Ms Olivia Loughnane

Mr. Joe Buckley *

Mr. John McCarthy *

Mr. Eddie O’Grady *

Mr. Eddie Russell *

Mr. Paul Dagger *

Cork Airport Authority

Mr. Joe Gantly

Mr. Pat Keohane *

Ms Loretta Glucksman

Mr. Eoin Ó Catháin

Ms Veronica Perdisatt

Mr. Don Cullinane

Mr. Humphrey Murphy

Mr. Alf Smiddy

Mr. Tom O’Neill *

Mr. Seán Mac Suibhne *

Mr. Pat Dalton

Ms Mary O’Halloran *

Mr. Tony O’Connell *

Mr. Garrett Lyons *

Driving Tests.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

178 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver testers which were on duty in an area (details supplied) each day in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8730/06]

The number of driver testers assigned to the Gorey test centre over the past 12 months is outlined in the following table.

Date (W/C = week commencing)

No. of Testers Assigned

Date

No. of Testers Assigned

W/C 28/02/05

1

W/C 29/08/05

1

W/C 07/03/05

2

W/C 05/09/05

2

W/C 14/03/05

NIL

W/C 12/09/05

2

W/C 21/03/05

1

W/C 19/09/05

2

W/C 28/03/05

NIL

W/C 26/09/05

2

W/C 04/04/05

2

W/C 03/10/05

2

W/C 11/04/05

1

W/C 10/10/05

2

W/C 18/04/05

1

W/C 17/10/05

2

W/C 25/04/05

2

W/C 24/10/05

2

W/C 02/05/05

NIL

W/C 31/10/05

2

W/C 09/05/05

1

W/C 07/11/05

2

W/C 16/05/05

2

W/C 14/11/05

2

W/C 23/05/05

1

W/C 21/11/05

2

W/C 30/05/05

2

W/C 28/11/05

2

W/C 06/06/05

NIL

W/C 05/12/05

2

W/C 13/06/05

1

W/C 12/12/05

2

W/C 20/06/05

2

W/C 19/12/05

2

W/C 27/06/05

NIL

W/C 26/12/05

NIL

W/C 04/07/05

NIL

W/C 02/01/06

2

W/C11/07/05

1

W/C 09/01/06

2

W/C 18/07/05

NIL

W/C 16/01/06

2

W/C 25/07/05

2

W/C 23/01/06

1

W/C 01/08/05

NIL

W/C 30/01/06

1

W/C 08/08/05

2

W/C 06/02/06

2

W/C 15/08/05

1

W/C 13/02/06

2

W/C 22/08/05

NIL

W/C 20/02/06

2

W/C 27/02/06

2

National Car Test.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

179 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the way in which the national car testing service is accountable to him; the monitoring arrangements that are in place to ensure that the service is operating in compliance with its contract and terms of operation; and if he has satisfied himself with the accountability of the service and the monitoring arrangements. [8750/06]

National Car Testing Service Limited, NCTS, is required, under the car testing contract, to meet a range of performance standards for the service. These standards, which are designed to ensure test integrity and a high level of customer service, cover premises, test equipment, staff, test arrangements, facilities management, information technology and customer service.

The Department of Transport monitors the performance of NCTS to ensure that it delivers the service to the required standard. To assist the Department in that function a supervision services contractor — a consortium involving PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Automobile Association with engineering, financial, legal, IT and operational expertise — has been engaged and is working to an agreed programme for the Department. This programme includes: detailed monthly operational audits of the company's performance; regular controlled checks to ensure that consistent test results are obtained across the NCTS test centre network; each month reviewing the performance of a sample of vehicle testers as they carry out tests; carrying out spot checks without any advance warning on a representative sample of cars that have just undergone the NCT; carrying out detailed interviews with a representative sample of customers to assess customer satisfaction levels; and an annual review of the company's overall performance.

These measures ensure that the car testing service is comprehensively monitored and supervised and I am satisfied that the company is meeting the performance standards set for the service in the contract.

Traffic Management.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

180 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if, in view of the need for early traffic reduction measures to coincide with the inevitable traffic disruption of Transport 21, he will seek special tax incentives, similar to the tax saver scheme, for users of van pools. [8752/06]

The implementation of the major infrastructure projects in Transport 21 will have some traffic impact during construction and major traffic benefits once operational. The various implementing agencies are acutely conscious of the need to minimise traffic impact during construction and will develop appropriate traffic management strategies in consultation with the local authorities, as traffic authorities.

On a wider front, the Department of Transport is looking at a range of possible options for promoting a more sustainable approach to transport, including the use of fiscal incentives. If it is felt that fiscal incentives such as the one referred to by the Deputy could play a significant role in promoting sustainable solutions, proposals will be put to the Minister for Finance for consideration as part of the annual budget preparations.

Grant Payments.

Michael Ring

Question:

181 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, further to Question No. 40 of 14 December 2005, the reason that the applicant did not have an opportunity to seek such a grant from other organisations outside the Gaeltacht; his views on whether he needs to clarify these matters more; what he meant when he said the applicant did not have the opportunity to obtain a grant anywhere else outside the Gaeltacht in view of fact that the applicant’s quarry operation was clearly outside the Gaeltacht at the time. [8665/06]

Michael Ring

Question:

182 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding correspondence (details supplied); if, in view of the EI report and its caution to Údarás the reason they acted directly against such recommendations in their capital grant aid decision; the further reason Údarás did a U-turn on the matter less than two months later in view of its own correspondence to the applicant of 21 October 1998 not to recommend a capital grant. [8666/06]

Michael Ring

Question:

184 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, given that the real problem in a case was that a bogus address was used on the grant application (details supplied) in the first place, his views on whether this was a mistake or a misunderstanding due to townland boundary definition difficulties; and his further views on whether there was never any need for Údarás to take any steps given that the said townland boundary, mapped the same now as it has been since pre-Famine times, is fully visible and definable along its entire length in this area by a solid 6 ft high stone wall with a number of large boulders in it. [8668/06]

Michael Ring

Question:

185 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the company which was the grant recipient of a grant referred to during the Committee of Public Accounts meeting on 17 November 2005; when it was paid; the amount paid; what it was for; the townland address which was on the grant application at the time; and the relations it had to the 1998 approved grant. [8669/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 181, 182, 184 and 185 together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 921 and 922 of 25 January 2006.

Grant Applications.

Michael Ring

Question:

183 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether any person, body or company that knowingly uses a bogus address on an Údarás grant application commits a crime; that any person, body or company who obtains an Údarás grant using a bogus address on the application should not be allowed to keep it but should be required to pay it back with interest and penalties; and that if it were found that a person, body or company used a bogus address on an Údarás grant application, the file and all third party correspondence should be passed to the Garda Síochána for investigation. [8667/06]

The Deputy is asking a hypothetical question and also seeking interpretations of law. If the Deputy has any specific case in mind and gives me the relevant information, I will consider the issue further.

Questions Nos. 184 and 185 answered with Question No. 181.

Craoladh Gaeilge.

Tony Gregory

Question:

186 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Gregory den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta i bhfianaise na maitheasa atá déanta don Ghaeilge agus d’íomhá na Gaeilge sa phobal de thoradh an mhéadaithe ar chraolachán Gaeilge ar na stáisiúin a thagann faoi chúram Choimisiún Craolacháin na hÉireann, CCÉ, cad é an tuairim atá aige ar chinneadh CCÉ deireadh a chur leis an bpost mar chomhordaitheoir Gaeilge ar fhoireann an choimisiúin; agus, dá bhrí sin, an bhfuil sé i gceist ag an Aire scéim a ullmhú faoin Acht teanga chun an neamart seo a réiteach. [8691/06]

Dírím aird an Teachta ar an bhfreagra a thugas ar Cheisteanna Uimh. 349 agus 352 faoin ábhar seo ar 28 Feabhra 2006.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

187 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8723/06]

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 366 of 22 March 2005, which gave details of the names of appointments made by me or the Government to public boards and bodies under the aegis of my Department.

The appointments made since that date are as follows.

POBAL

Appointments by Government to the Board of Pobal, formerly ADM Limited

Name

Date of Appointment

Dr. Tom Collins

11/11/2005

Dan Joe O’Donovan

11/11/2005

Pauline Dooley

11/11/2005

Monica Duff

11/11/2005

Joe Horan

11/11/2005

Áine Breathnach

11/11/2005

Sr. Carmel Earls

11/11/2005

National Drugs Strategy Team, NDST

Name

Date of Appointment

Tom Gallagher

Jan 2006

Anna-May Harkin

Dec 2005

Cathal Morgan

April 2005

National Advisory Committee on Drugs, NACD

Name

Date of Appointment

Cathal Morgan

July 2005

Michael Conroy

Oct 2005

Jackie Blanchfield

10/11/2005

Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board

Name

Date of Appointment

David Brennan (re-appointed)

15/06/2005

Una Henry

15/06/2005

Gerry Ryan

15/06/2005

Seamus Thompson

15/06/2005

On 4 January 2006, the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board was dissolved, and the Dormant Accounts Board established. Details of appointments to the Dormant Accounts Board are listed in the following table.

Dormant Accounts Board

Name

Date of Appointment

Michael Morley

04/01/2006

Gerry Ryan

04/01/2006

Séamus Thompson

04/01/2006

Dónal Ó Síocháin

04/01/2006

Enda Twomey

04/01/2006

Áine Hyland

04/01/2006

Frank Ward

04/01/2006

Kathleen Feely

04/01/2006

Noel McPartland

04/01/2006

David Martin

04/01/2006

Rosaleen Glackin

04/01/2006

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Name

Date of Appointment

Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, Chairperson

19 April 2005

Cathy Ní Ghoill

27 April 2005

Treasa Uí Lorcáin

3 October 2005

Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge

Name

Date of Appointment

Pól Ó Goill

9 November 2005

Noreen D’Arcy

28 February 2006

Regarding An Foras Teanga, nominations to fill vacancies are made by the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland authorities, with appointments being made by the North-South Ministerial Council. Mark Thompson was appointed to the Ulster-Scots Agency to fill a casual vacancy in that position with effect from 20 June 2005 and subsequently as chair of the agency, with effect from 12 October 2005. I might also mention that the term of office of all existing Foras Teanga board members was extended in December 2005 for a period of one year.

Grant Payments.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

188 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a single farm payment will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8676/06]

The person named submitted an application under the single payment scheme on 22 April 2005. He also applied to have his entitlements consolidated under the 2005 single payment scheme. The entitlements of the person named have now been consolidated, and full payment will issue to the applicant shortly.

Decentralisation Programme.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

189 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of Bord Bia and Bord Glas staff that have applied for decentralisation to the proposed new headquarters in Enniscorthy, County Wexford under the Government’s decentralisation plan; the percentage of the total number that it represents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8737/06]

The central applications facility, CAF, shows that out of 67 positions in Bord Bia, there are 18 personnel willing to transfer with Bord Bia, and one who wants to transfer out of the organisation.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

190 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a location and premises have been secured for the proposed Bord Bia and Bord Glas headquarters to be located at Enniscorthy, County Wexford under the Government’s decentralisation plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8738/06]

Working in conjunction with the OPW, the board and senior management of Bord Bia inspected a number of properties in Enniscorthy. Arising therefrom, one was selected as the preferred site, and the matter of site acquisition is now being pursued by the OPW.

Grant Payments.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

191 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a REP scheme payment has not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8678/06]

Following an inspection, an amended REPS plan was requested from the person named, and a penalty was applied for non-compliance. The amended plan has been received, and he has appealed the penalty. The amended plan is being processed, and the appeal is being considered. Both will be completed within the next ten working days, and the person named will be notified of the outcome.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

192 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the grants which are available for the relocation of livestock marts; if there are grants, either nationally or at EU level available to help fund the building of such projects; if there are grants available to help provide a pollution free environment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8680/06]

There is no grant aid currently available from my Department, either nationally or at EU level, for the relocation of livestock marts.

Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, grant aid was available under my Department's capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of certain agricultural products. Following general calls for applications in 2001 and 2004, which included the livestock marketing sector and targeted calls in the grain and horticulture sectors in 2005, there are no plans for further calls under the scheme.

As for livestock marts, under the scheme a total of €2.2 million has been allocated to ten projects geared towards improvement of facilities in the sector.

Tuberculosis Incidence.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

193 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of animals in each county which have been diagnosed with tuberculosis in the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005; the number of these animals which were tuberculosis free when slaughtered in factory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8693/06]

The following table shows the number of tuberculosis reactors disclosed between 2002 and 2005. Ireland's bovine tuberculosis eradication programme comprises the comprehensive surveillance of all herds, which are tested annually, and additional risk-based testing in other herds, a proactive wildlife programme in the area of infective outbreaks, the routine application of gamma interferon assay in infected herds and full herd tests at six-monthly intervals post derestriction in respect of the latter herds for a two year period.

Cattle are tested on holdings using the approved single intradermal comparative tuberculin test. The test is highly reliable with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 99.9%. Cattle which react positively to the test must be deemed to be reactors for the purpose of the programme.

With regard to the number of reactors which are "tuberculosis free" at slaughter, the position is that many animals exposed to and infected with bovine tuberculosis are slaughtered as reactor animals without confirmation of tuberculosis, for example, the detection of visible lesions. This is normal and to be expected in a situation where the examination is done as part of a routine slaughter at commercial "kill" speeds and conditions and where tuberculin testing is conducted annually. In view of this, it is not possible to state the number of these animals which were tuberculosis free when slaughtered in the factory.

TB REACTORS

COUNTY

2002

2003

2004

2005

CARLOW

285

180

208

310

CAVAN

2302

1802

1,248

1,250

CLARE

1,228

1,182

984

1,266

CORK N/E

1,568

2,417

1,139

1,195

CORK CENTRAL

*

*

1,462

1,226

CORK S/W

2,413

2,194

1,467

1,951

DONEGAL

400

426

403

668

DUBLIN

116

144

74

71

GALWAY

1,916

1,977

1,752

2,022

KERRY

837

905

800

887

KILDARE

379

345

220

281

KILKENNY

1,100

1,148

1,075

1,179

LAOIS

452

569

451

530

LEITRIM

432

582

392

434

LIMERICK

737

1,050

713

958

LONGFORD

916

858

654

688

LOUTH

387

390

301

349

MAYO

897

663

612

529

MEATH

2,124

1,869

1,010

1,402

MONAGHAN

1,399

1,608

877

1,208

OFFALY

473

457

603

530

ROSCOMMON

1,585

1,097

875

885

SLIGO

623

377

428

466

TIPP NORTH

925

757

1,065

1,190

TIPP SOUTH

823

1,014

945

1,034

WATERFORD

1,542

1,126

896

1,140

WESTMEATH

1,181

1,176

1,024

979

WEXFORD

1,122

973

777

822

WICKLOW E

471

558

395

268

WICKLOW W

297

134

117

166

TOTALS

28,930

27,978

22,967

25,884

*For administrative purposes Cork Central and South West are calculated together.

Grant Payments.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

194 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a payment under the single payment scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8707/06]

The person named submitted an application for the transfer of single payment entitlements by way of inheritance following the death of his uncle in June 2005. The person named has been requested to submit a copy of the grant of probate. When the requested documentation is submitted my Department can issue the 2005 single payment to the estate of the deceased uncle, who was the applicant under the 2005 single payment scheme, and the inherited entitlements can be transferred to the person named.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

195 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the names of all board appointments made by her for the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8724/06]

I understand the Deputy seeks details of appointments to State bodies under the aegis of my Department from 29 September 2004 to date. The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following schedule.

Appointments to Bord Bia

Mr. Philip Lynch

Mr. Joe Hyland

Mr. John Malone

Mr. Ray Carolan

Ms Angela Kennedy

Mr. Mel O’Rourke

Ms Marian Byrne

Mr. Padraig Walshe

Mr. Michael Kilcoyne

Mr. Jackie Cahill

Coillte

Mr. Eugene Griffin.

Irish National Stud

Mr. Shane Broderick

Mr. John Osborne

The Veterinary Council of Ireland

Ms Barbara Bent

Mr. John O’Rourke

Mr. Seamus Quinn

Mr. Paddy Rogan

Mr. Donal Connolly

Mr. Thomas Hanley

Mr. Frank J. McRory

Ms Melanie O’Donoghue

Mr. Timothy F.O’Leary

Ms Meta Osborne

Mr. John A. Strumble

Mr. Patrick J. Talty

Ms Lindy Vaughan

Professor Boyd R. Jones

Dr. Finbar Mulligan

Dr. Clíodhna Foley-Nolan

Professor Grace Mulcahy

Ms Bríd O’Connor

Farm Retirement Scheme.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

196 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to change the guidelines regarding the early retirement scheme; if a person would be able to go to the mart to sell animals on behalf of their son or do minimum farm yard duty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8756/06]

The EU regulations governing both the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming and the early retirement, ERS2, 2000 scheme require scheme participants to cease commercial farming definitively. As work such as selling animals on behalf of a family member at a mart or carrying out work in the farm yard is considered part of normal farming activities, a retired farmer would be precluded from carrying out such work after his or her retirement.

This requirement must be adhered to and is central to the operation of the scheme, and it is not open to my Department to waive it. However, in a concession secured from the European Commission, farmers who have retired under one or other of the early retirement schemes are allowed to work as insured employees in farming-related businesses. Examples of such employment would include work for co-ops and private companies that provide services to farmers on a contract basis, such as relief milking, silage making, hedge cutting and other such activities.

Grant Payments.

Joe Walsh

Question:

197 Mr. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will sanction the revised farm waste management scheme of on-farm grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8758/06]

The revised farm waste management scheme will be introduced as soon as the required EU state aid approval is received from the EU Commission. Subject to receipt of this approval, the scheme will provide for an increase in the current standard grant rate from 40% to 60%, with 70% being available in the four zone C counties; be extended to include horses, deer, goats, pigs and poultry, and mushroom compost; permit all small farmers to participate in the scheme by the removal of any minimum income requirements from farming from the scheme; and provide for an increase in the maximum eligible investment ceiling from €75,000 to €120,000. I am confident that the required EU approval will be received very shortly.

Private Security Authority.

John Deasy

Question:

198 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the private security authority will be requested to review the minimum fee of €1,250 for an intruder alarm installer contractor licence; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this minimum fee is based on an annual turnover of €625,000; his views on whether in the case of sole traders who are not exclusively engaged in installing intruder alarms, their annual relevant turnover is only a small fraction of the minimum figure; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that there is also an administration fee of €1,000 for such a licence making a total fee of €2,250; his further views on whether this level of licence fees will force sole traders out of the security installation business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8620/06]

The private security authority licence fee structure reflects the variety between the different sectors of the industry and takes account of companies and employees who might be working in multiple sectors. Fees also take account of the relative size of companies operating in any given sector. Moreover, the authority is obliged to become self-financing so licence fees must reflect the overall operating costs of the authority.

The two-year licence fee was set taking into account the huge variety of cost models in the various sectors of the industry. These range from low turnover but high staffing levels in the guarding sector, to lower staffing levels but higher turnover in sectors such as electronics.

The private security industry itself supports regulation and has actively campaigned for it for many years. The provision of a regulatory environment for the industry will understandably lead to structured cost implications. However, it is the industry which will benefit from regulation and it is in line with Government policy that the industry should fund such a development.

This matter was examined by the board of the private security authority at its meeting of 21 November 2005, which re-affirmed its previous decision with regard to the fee structure and decided that this issue would be revisited by the board in the context of a review of licensing in two years' time.

Prison Staff.

Billy Timmins

Question:

199 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the qualifications for entry as a prison officer; if it is necessary to have the leaving certificate; and if exemptions can be made for mature personnel. [8623/06]

The education requirements for entry as a recruit prison officer provide that the applicant is qualified at Irish leaving certificate level at specified grades in mathematics and at least two languages, one of which must be English or Irish, and in not less than two other subjects.

In the absence of these qualifications the merit grade in the applied leaving certificate or a qualification in another examination which is not of a lower standard than that of the Irish leaving certificate is acceptable. Such applicants must have the required standard in mathematics, two languages, one which must be English or Irish, and two other subjects.

There are no arrangements currently for exempting mature persons. These education qualifications are however under review in the light of accredited training developments at recruit prison officer level and due consideration will be given in that context to whether or not specific arrangements can be adopted in respect of mature persons at future recruit competitions.

Registration of Title.

John Ellis

Question:

200 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a dealing number will be registered in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [8651/06]

John Ellis

Question:

201 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will clarify the position with regard to Question No. 530 of 14 February 2006. [8652/06]

John Ellis

Question:

202 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding Questions Nos. 531, 532, 533 and 534 of 14 February 2006 in the names of persons (details supplied) on the basis that promised action has not been taken. [8653/06]

John Ellis

Question:

203 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding Question No. 535 of 14 February 2006 in the name of a person (details supplied) as the Land Registry office has not contacted this Deputy as promised. [8654/06]

John Ellis

Question:

204 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding Question No. 536 of 14 February 2006 in the name of a person (details supplied) as the promised action has not been taken. [8655/06]

John Ellis

Question:

205 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding Question No. 537 of 14 February 2006 in the name of a person (details supplied) as no correspondence has been received from the Land Registry office. [8656/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 to 205, inclusive, together.

I am informed that the Land Registry has written directly to the Deputy in respect of each of the cases referred to. It is also my understanding that the Deputy's original queries were in fact dealt with by the Land Registry but that the transmission of responses was unsuccessful due to an e-mail error. Any inconvenience experienced is regretted.

Extradition Application.

Tony Gregory

Question:

206 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if arrangements will be made for an application to the Dutch authorities for the extradition here of a person (details supplied) who is a main suspect in the murder of a person and who is currently serving a sentence on drugs charges in Amsterdam. [8688/06]

The initiation of an outgoing request for extradition is a matter for the Garda Síochána in consultation with the DPP and neither I as Minister nor my Department have any role in the procedure.

Garda Investigations.

Tony Gregory

Question:

207 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of expatriate Irish based in each EU state in a category (details supplied). [8689/06]

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána is aware of the identities of a number of Irish citizens who currently reside outside this jurisdiction and are believed to be involved in criminal activity related to the drugs trade. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for the Garda authorities to be absolute about numbers but I am satisfied that the Garda Síochána, through its ongoing liaison and contacts with law enforcement agencies in other EU member states, continues to target these individuals.

The persons in question choose to reside abroad for a variety of reasons, including ongoing Garda activities to counter criminal activity within the State. Although resident outside this jurisdiction, the Garda Síochána, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, continues to target the activities of these individuals both at home and abroad through the following methods: (i) conducting targeted operations against individuals and organisations operating within this jurisdiction with known links to international criminals, including Irish nationals based abroad; (ii) exchanging strategic and operational intelligence with other law enforcement agencies, including Interpol and Europol, in accordance with legislation and operational protocols; and (iii) assisting EU law enforcement agencies conducting investigations of criminal activity with suspected involvement by Irish nationals by conducting inquiries in accordance with mutual legal assistance arrangements.

In order to facilitate the exchange of information and intelligence between EU law enforcement agencies the Garda Síochána has posted liaison officers in a number of locations in Europe, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Spain, as well as at Interpol and Europol.

Road Traffic Accidents.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

208 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of members of the Garda Síochána who are obliged to attend the scene of a road traffic accident; if this is the same obligation for 999 calls and calls direct to the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8706/06]

I am informed by the Garda authorities that road traffic collisions vary widely in nature and degree, and the number of personnel who attend and the action taken vary accordingly. The number of members of the Garda Síochána who attend at the scene of a traffic collision is dependent upon the prevailing circumstances and is not influenced by the manner in which notification of the collision is received.

The duties of Garda personnel at the scenes of collisions include: rendering assistance to injured persons, procuring medical and spiritual aid for them and arranging for their removal to hospital as appropriate; preserving the scene, that is, preventing interference with vehicles, debris, tracks, marks, etc., until properly noted or, if deemed appropriate, until the scene has been technically examined; reducing any obstruction to traffic as soon as possible or, when necessary, arranging for the temporary diversion of traffic; and noting and collecting all available evidence at the scene.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

209 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8725/06]

The following tabular statement details all board appointments made by me since taking up office in June 2002.

Name of Person/Appointment Made

Date of Appointment

Censorship of Publications Appeals Board

Ms Paula Mullooly — Chairperson

24 March, 2004

Ms Mary Banotti, MEP

24 March, 2004

Mr. David Quinn

24 March, 2004

Mr. David Goldberg, SC

24 March, 2004

Ms Clare Martin

24 March, 2004

Censorship of Publications Board

Ms Doirbhile Flanagan SC — Chairperson

17 February, 2003

Ms Noreen Kennedy

17 February, 2003

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

Ms Carol Fawsitt — Solicitor -Chairperson

21 July, 2004

Ms Olive Brennan, BL

21 July, 2004

Mr. Maurice Dockrell, BL

21 July, 2004

Mr. Conor Bowman, BL

21 July, 2004

Ms Sinead Behan, Solicitor

21 July, 2004

Mr. Con Murphy, Solicitor

21 July, 2004

Mr. Patrick F. O’Connor, Solicitor

21 July, 2004

Mr. David Hickey

4 May, 2004

Censorship of Films Appeal Board

Mr. Paul O’Higgins SC — Chairperson

5 December, 2002

Ms Ann Walsh

5 December, 2002

Ms Ann Mooney

5 December, 2002

Mr. Kevin Myers

5 December, 2002

Mr. Dave Tyndall

5 December, 2002

Ms Cathy Herbert

5 December, 2002

Ms Sara Moorhead

5 December, 2002

Fr. Damien McNiece

5 December, 2002

Rev. David Pierpoint

5 December, 2002

Ms Nicola Byrne

22 November 2004

National Disability Authority

Ms Angela Kerins — Chairperson

21 June, 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Mr. Aidan Browne

29 July, 2005 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Ms Betty O’Leary, BL

21 June, 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Mr. Brendan Ingoldsby

21 June, 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Mr. Christy Lynch

21 June, 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Mr. Diarmuid Ring

21 June, 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Mr. Donie O’Shea

18 October, 2005 (reappointed 18 October, 2005)

Mr. Gene Lambert

21 June, 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Ms Helen Caesar

21 June, 2004

Mr. Jack Callanan

29 July, 2005

Mr. James Martin

21 October 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Mr. Jim Casey

21 June, 2004

Mr. John Dolan

21 June, 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Mr. John Finnerty

21 June, 2004

Mr. John O’Gorman

21 June, 2004

Ms Lottie McClure

21 June, 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Ms Maisie Dooley

21 June, 2004

Ms Maria Cronin

29 July, 2005

Mr. Matt Connor

21 June, 2004

Mr. Muiris O’Donoghue

21 June, 2004

Ms Noreen Gidlea

21 June, 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Ms Paula Carey

21 June, 2004 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Mr. Robert Grier

21 June, 2004

Ms Sadie Tierney

10 June, 2002 (reappointed 29 July, 2005)

Ms Landford

21 June, 2004

Equality Authority

Ms Karen Erwin — Chairperson

24 June, 2003

Mr. Leonard Hurley — Vice Chair

24 June, 2003

Mr. Tony Donoghue

24 June, 2003

Ms Marie Moynihan

24 June, 2003

Mr. Paddy Keating

24 June, 2003

Ms Carol Fawsitt

24 June, 2003

Ms Mary Keogh

24 June, 2003

Mr. Thomas McCann

24 June, 2003

Mr. Bob Quinn

24 June, 2003

Ms Sally Ann Kinihan

4 October, 2004

Private Security Authority

Ms Michelle Doyle — Chairperson

19 October, 2004

Ms Mary Barrett

19 October, 2004

Mr. Bill Brown

19 October, 2004

Ms Catherine Byrne

19 October, 2004

Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Crummey

19 October, 2004

Mr. Ray Guinan

19 October, 2004

Ms Margaret Lovatt

19 October, 2004

Mr. Kevin McMahon

19 October, 2004

Mr. Liam O’Dubin

19 October, 2004

Ms Esther Lynch

8 January, 2005

Courts Service

Mr. Michael Mellett

9 November, 2002

Ms Olive Braiden

9 November, 2002

Mr. Gerry McCaughey

9 November, 2002

Mr. Caoimhín Ó hUiginn

January, 2004

Mr. James Martin

April, 2005 (reappointed 9 November, 2005)

Ms Olive Braiden

9 November, 2002

Mr. Gerry McCaughey

9 November, 2002

Judicial Appintments Advisory Board

Ms Olive Braiden

8 March, 2005

Mr. John Coyle

8 March, 2005

Mr. Tadhg O’Donoghue

8 March, 2005

Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime

Mr. Jim McHugh (Chair)

8 March, 2005

Ms Marian Finucane

8 March, 2005

Ms Nora Owen

8 March, 2005

Mr. Sean Lowry

8 March, 2005

Mr. Michael Whealan

8 March, 2005

Internet Advisory Board

Ms Audrey Conlon — Chair

September, 2003

Mr. Paul Durrant

January, 2003

Mr. Cormac Callanan

May, 2004

Mr. Philip Watt

February, 2004

Refugee Appeals Tribunal

Ms Olive Brennan, BL

30 April, 2003 (reappointed 23 January, 2004)

Mr. Eamonn Cahill, SC

20 November, 2003

Mr. Aiden Eames, Solicitor

20 November, 2003

Mr. Eamonn Barnes, BL

20 November, 2003

Mr. Jim Nicholson, BL

20 November, 2003

Mr. Donal Egan, BL

20 November, 2003

Mr. Patrick Hurley, Solicitor

20 November, 2003

Mr. Des Zaidan, BL

20 November, 2003

Mr. Bernadette Cronin, SC

20 November, 2003

Mr. Michael O’Kennedy, SC

20 November, 2003

Mr. Bernard MacCabe, BL

12 January, 2004

Ms Mary Laverty, SC

12 January, 2004

Mr. David McHugh, BL

12 January, 2004

Mr. Ricardo Dourado, BL

12 January, 2004

Ms Elizabeth O’Brien BL

12 January, 2004

Ms Susan Nolan, Solicitor

8 March, 2004

Samantha Cruess Callaghan BL

10 March, 2004

Margaret Levey, BL

10 June, 2004

Ms Michelle O’Gorman, BL

17 July, 2004

Mr. Rory MacCabe, SC

31 July, 2004

Mr. David Andrews, SC

3 August, 2004

Mr. Ben Garvey, BL

26 September, 2004

Mr. Declan McHugh, BL

10 October, 2004

Ms Judy Blake, BL

20 December 2004

Mr. Sean Deegan, BL

20 December, 2004

Mr. Noel Whelan, BL

20 December, 2004

Mr. Joseph Barnes, BL

17 January, 2005

Mr. David Goldberg, SC

20 January, 2005

Mr. Paul McGarry, BL

21 January, 2005

Mr. Bruce St. John Blake, Solicitor

22 February, 2005

Mr. Denis Linehan, Solicitor

4 March, 2005

Ms Ann Tait, Solicitor

12 March, 2005

Mr. John Hayes, Solicitor

12 March, 2005

Arbour Hill Prison Visiting Committee

Mr. John Murphy

20 September, 2002

Ms Eithne Killeen

20 September, 2002

Mr. Seamus Quinn

1 October, 2002

Ms Rita Hayes

1 October, 2002

Mr. Jim Hanrahan

17 February, 2003

Ms Ita Greene

17 February, 2003

Mr. Paddy Culloty

20 September, 2005

Ms Wilheimina Daly

20 September, 2005

Mr. Eamon Walsh

20 September, 2005

Ms Eithne Killeen

20 September, 2005

Ms Angela O’Connor

20 September, 2005

Ms Rita Hayes

1 October, 2005

Ms Máirín Hyland

24 October, 2005

Mr. Brian O’Reilly

24 October, 2005

Castlerea Prison Visiting Committee

Ms Mary Devine O’Callaghan

20 Septmeber, 2002

Ms Nuala Carroll

17 February, 2003

Mr. Ken Glynn

17 February, 2003

Ms Susan Meagher

17 February, 2003

Mr. Christy Gorman

17 February, 2003

Mr. Michael Nevin

17 February, 2003

Mr. Paul Hogan

17 February, 2003

Mr. Eddie Brady

26 March, 2003

Ms Geraldine Lambert

3 July, 2003

Ms Mary Hoade

9 November, 2004

Ms Eileen Morrris

17 December, 2004

Ms Marie Cleary

17 December, 2004

Mr. Michael Geraghty

17 December, 2004

Mr. Luie McEntire

4 May, 2005

Mr. Paddy Greaney

5 June, 2005

Cloverhill Prison Visiting Committee

Ms Peggy Downey

7 December, 2003

Mr. Fintan Hudson

7 December, 2003

Mr. Eddie Martin

7 December, 2003

Mr. Dermot Flynn

7 December, 2003

Ms Christine Ryan

7 December, 2003

Mr. Michael Coyle

7 December, 2003

Mr. David Delaney

11 March, 2005

Mr. Tony Williams

7 October, 2005

Mr. Gerry O’Dea

7 October, 2005

Mr. Fergus O’Tuama

7 October, 2005

Cork Prison Visiting Committee

Ms Sadie Jordan

20 September, 2002

Ms Colette Carter

20 September, 2002

Mr. Jack Roche

20 September, 2002

Mr. Eddie Creighton

1 Ocotber, 2002

Ms Anne Butler

1 October, 2002

Mr. Ray O’Mahony

1 October, 2002

Mr. Donal O’Shea

16 October, 2002

Mr. Terry Kelly

17 February, 2003

Ms Cáit Ní Fhaoláin

18 December, 2003

Mr. Thomas J. Lynch

18 December, 2003

Ms Eileen Curran

18 December, 2003

Mr. Oliver Cleary

6 December, 2004

Mr. Michael Burns

20 September, 2005

Mr. John Murphy

20 September, 2005

Mr. Jimmy Collins

20 September, 2005

Mr. Pat McCarthy

1 October, 2005

Mr. Eddie Creighton

1 October, 2005

Ms Anne Butler

1 October, 2005

Mr. Donal O’Shea

16 October, 2005

Mr. Ray O’Mahony

24 October, 2005

Curragh Place of Detention Visiting Committee

Mr. Gerry Mahon

17 February, 2003

Mr. Paddy Cullotty

17 February, 2003

Ms Evelyn Varley

17 February, 2003

Ms Clare Murphy

17 February, 2003

Ms Mary Ryan

17 February, 2003

Ms Máirín Hyland

17 February, 2003

Mr. Michael Hanrahan

17 February, 2003

Ms Wilhelmena Daly

17 February, 2003

Mr. Brian O’Reilly

26 March, 2003

Fort Mitchel Place of Detention Visiting Committee

Mr. John Hodnett

20 September, 2002

Ms Angela O’Connor

20 September, 2002

Ms Elizabeth O’Beirne

20 September, 2002

Mr. Eamon Rafter

20 September, 2002

Mr. Kevin O’Neill

20 September, 2002

Ms Elizabeth Leahy

1 October, 2002

Mr. Dan Collins

12 November, 2002

Ms Margaret Coady

17 February, 2003

Limerick Prison Visiting Committee

Mr. Ger Connolly

20 September, 2002

Ms Collette Scanlon

20 September, 2002

Mr. Tom O’Keeffe

20 September, 2002

Mr. Robert Mulcahy

20 September, 2002

Ms Ann O’Keeffe

20 September, 2002

Ms Eileen O’Brien

2 October, 2002

Ms Noirin Mitchell

2 October, 2002

Ms Teresa Lynch

15 October, 2002

Mr. Pat Driscoll

15 November, 2004

Mr. Michael O’Shea

15 November, 2004

Mr. James Lynch

2 December, 2004

Mr. Tom Harrington

24 February, 2005

Mr. Tony Lane

11 March, 2005

Mr. John Flynn

20 September, 2005

Mr. Michael Hoctor

20 September, 2005

Mr. Seamus Quinn

1 October, 2005

Mr. Liam Sadlier

2 October, 2005

Ms Eileen O’Brien

2 October, 2005

Ms Nóirín Mitchell

2 October, 2005

Ms Teresa Lynch

15 October, 2005

Mr. Eddie Creighton

21 October, 2005

Mr. John Hodnett

24 October, 2005

Loughan House Place of Detention Visiting Committee

Mr. Eddie Feeley

31 October, 2002

Mr. Clifford Kelly

31 October, 2002

Ms Kathleen Richie

31 October, 2002

Mr. Niall McCole

31 October, 2002

Ms Alice Boner

31 October, 2002

Mr. Brendan Hughes

31 October, 2002

Mr. Martin Dooonan

31 October, 2002

Ms Mary Kathleen Johnston

12 November, 2002

Mr. Eugene Delaney

20 December, 2004

Ms Rita Delahunty

20 December, 2004

Ms Sirena Campbell

7 October, 2005

Mr. Phil Cantwell

31 October, 2005

Mr. Eddie Feeley

31 October, 2005

Mr. Clifford Kelly

31 October, 2005

Ms Kathleen Richie

31 October, 2005

Mr. Niall McCole

31 October, 2005

Ms Alice Bonner

31 October, 2005

Mr. Brendan Hughes

31 October, 2005

Mr. Declan Connolly

10 November, 2005

Midlands Prison Visiting Committee

Mr. Colm Wiley

9 April, 2004

Ms Teresa Mulhare

9 April, 2004

Ms Jennifer Murnane O’Connor

9 April, 2004

Mr. Patrick Boland

9 April, 2004

Ms Nuala Halpin

9 April, 2004

Ms Brigid Teefy

19 April, 2004

Ms Jody Gunning

15 November, 2004

Mr. John Sheehy

6 January, 2005

Mr. Jim Casey

6 January, 2005

Ms Colette Fennelly

11 March, 2005

Mr. Jack Bourke

22 June, 2005

Mr. Michael McKeever

24 October, 2005

Mountjoy Prison Visiting Committee

Mr. Pierce Wyse

2 October, 2002

Mr. Desmond Gibney

2 October, 2002

Ms Betty Minihane

2 October, 2002

Ms Carmel Bolger

12 November, 2002

Ms Bernie Nolan

4 April, 2004

Mr. Paddie Conellan

4 April, 2004

Mr. Liam Hogan

6 January, 2005

Mr. Stephen Langton

6 January, 2005

Ms Nicola Byrne

24 February, 2005

Mr. Noel Cloak

20 September, 2005

Ms Betty Minihane

2 October, 2005

Mr. Desmond Gibney

2 October, 2005

Mr. Niall Tempany

7 October, 2005

Mr. Eoin Hardiman

7 October, 2005

Ms Carmel Bolger

12 November, 2005

Portlaoise Prison Visiting Committee

Ms Catherine Quinn

30 August, 2002

HHJ Gray

20 September, 2002

Ms Mary Wheatley

20 September, 2002

Ms Catherine Rochford

2 October, 2002

Mr. Tom Colgan

18 December, 2003

Michael Hough

18 December, 2003

Ms Elis Croke

3 March, 2004

Ms Ann Turley

3 March, 2004

Mr. Walter Lacey

20 December, 2004

Mr. Eithne Reddy

6 January, 2005

Shelton Abbey Place of Detention Visiting Committee

Mr. Kevin Fitzgerald

13 August, 2002

Mr. Pat Doran

13 August, 2002

Ms Oonagh Doyle

13 August, 2002

Mr. Pt Fizgerald

13 August, 2002

Ms Colette Douglas

9 September, 2002

Mr. Hugh O’Keeffe

31 October, 2002

Mr. P.J. Sheridan

31 October, 2002

Mr. John Byrne

31 October, 2002

Mr. Peadar Clohessy

31 October, 2002

Ms Kathleen Maher

31 October, 2002

Mr. John Murphy

17 February, 2003

Ms Colette Douglas

9 September, 2005

Mr. Michael Hanrahan

20 September, 2005

Ms Colette Garvey

31 October, 2005

Mr. Sean Quirke

31 October, 2005

Mr. Hugh O’Keeffe

31 October, 2005

Mr. P.J. Sheridan

31 October, 2005

Mr. John Byrne

31 October, 2005

Mr. Kathleen Maher

31 October, 2005

Mr. Pat Fitzgerald

10 November, 2005

Ms Oonagh Doyle

20 December, 2005

St. Patrick’s Institution Visiting Committee

Ms Mary Murphy

20 September, 2002

Mr. Hugh Lynn

20 September, 2002

Mr. Noel Cloak

20 September, 2002

Mr. Michael Burns

20 September, 2002

Mr. Anthony Gavin

17 December, 2004

Mr. Michael Billane

5 June, 2005

Mr. Gerry Gaughan

20 September, 2005

Mr. Victor Boyhan

20 September, 2005

Mr. Cormac Bohan

20 September, 2005

Mr. John Bielenberg

20 September, 2005

Ms Catherine Quinn

20 September, 2005

Ms Paula McCormack

7 October, 2005

Mr. Dick O’Leary

7 October, 2005

Mr. Denis Murphy

7 October, 2005

Training Unit Place of Detention Visiting Committee

Ms Tras Honan

20 September, 2002

Ms Kathleen Diamond

31 October, 2002

Mr. Noel Coade

31 October, 2002

Ms Deirdre Kenneally

31 October, 2002

Ms Geraldine Foster

31 October, 2002

Ms Mary Kelly

31 October, 2002

Ms Patsy Geraghty

12 November, 2002

Mr. Donal Doran

20 September, 2005

Mr. Paul McAuliffe

7 October, 2005

Ms Tras Honan

7 October, 2005

Ms Kathleen Diamond

31 October, 2005

Mr. Noel Coade

31 October, 2005

Ms Deirdre Kenneally

31 October, 2005

Ms Geraldine Foster

31 October, 2005

Mr. Christopher Faulkner

29 November, 2005

Wheatfield Visiting Committee

Mr. John O’Neill

8 November, 2004

Mr. Stephen O’Neill

8 November, 2004

Mr. Gerry Hannon

17 December, 2004

Ms Elva MacKay

17 December 2004

Ms Teresa Clarke

17 December, 2004

Mr. Jeffrey Ahern

24 February, 2005

Mr. Thomas Lillis

20 September, 2005

Ms Sadie Jordan

20 September, 2005

Ms Colette Carter

7 October, 2005

Interim Parole Board

Mr Martin Tansey

1 July, 2002

Mr. Sean Lowry

1 July, 2002

Mr. Martin Tansey

1 July, 2004

Ms Daisy O’Reilly

1 July, 2004

Mr. Frank McCarthy

1 July, 2004

Mr. Tim O’Donoghue

1 July, 2004

Ms Lillian McGovern

1 July, 2004

Ms Anne O’Gorman

1 July, 2004

Mr. Sean Lowry

1 July, 2004

Mr. Brian Purcell

1 July, 2004

Mr. John Kilcommns

9 March, 2005

Ms Mary Burke

1 September, 2005

Mr. Michael Donnellan

12 September, 2005

Prisons Authority Interim Board

Mr. James Martin

31 May, 2004

Mr. Jim Hanrahan

1 May, 2005

National Crime Council

Mr. Padraic White

July, 2005

Deputy Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald

July, 2005

Judge Michael Reilly

July, 2005

Mr. Fergus McCabe

July, 2005

Ms Lillian McGovern

July, 2003

Mr. Jack Marrinan

July, 2005

Mr. Rosemary Tierney

July,2005

Ms Mary Ellen Ring

July, 2003

Professor Dermot Walsh

July, 2003

Mr. Ken O’Leary

July, 2005

Ms Deirdre Kenneally

July, 2005

Dr. Dorothy Watson

July, 2005

Ms Margaret O’Doherty

July, 2005

Ms Graine McMorrow

July, 2005

Mr. Sean Lowry

July, 2005

Mr. Philip Maguire

July, 2005

Rev. Gerard Godley

July, 2003

Mr. Sean Hegarty

July, 2003

Mr. Tom Coffey

July, 2005

Mr. John Kenny

July, 2005

Mr. Neilus Moriarty

June, 2002

Legal Aid Board

Ms Anne Colley — Chair

19 September, 2003

Mr. Caoimhín Ó hUiginn

12 October, 2003

Ms Clare Pilkington

12 September, 2002

Ms Nóirín Slattery

30 October, 2002

Mr. Frank Goodman

30 October, 2002

Mr. David Barniville, BL

19 September, 2003

(Please note that in respect of some of the above boards, where the name of a board member appears more than once, the second reference is to their reappointment.)

Garda Reserve.

David Stanton

Question:

210 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which members of the new Garda reserve force will be compensated in the event of loss of wages from their civilian employment due to injuries received in the course of carrying out duties as members of the Garda reserve force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8745/06]

Section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a Garda reserve and Deputies will recall that the measure won widespread support in the House during the passage of the Act.

I have just recently received the Commissioner's proposals for the Garda reserve and I can advise the Deputy that these proposals specifically address issues relating to the training, powers and duties of reserve members and other issues including compensation. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the detail of the proposals before I have had an opportunity to examine them closely and to consult with the Commissioner on them, as required. Following examination of the Commissioner's proposals, I will be drawing up the necessary regulations for the approval of Government under the Act and, as part of that process, there will be consultations with the Garda representative associations.

The Garda reserve will be a supplement to, and emphatically not a replacement, for gardaí. Proof of this is the current increase in the strength of the force from 12,000 to 14,000 members. This programme is well under way and will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. The Garda budget is also at an all time high. This year's allocation of €1.29 billion represents an increase of 13% on the allocation for 2005. It includes provision of over €83.5 million for overtime, an increase of €23 million on last year's allocation, which will yield over 2.7 million hours of Garda overtime for front-line policing throughout the State.

The Garda reserve will be a valuable additional support for the Garda Síochána. It will enhance its capacity to respond to emerging policing challenges and will reinforce its links with local communities. At a time when gardaí increasingly do not live in the areas that they police, the Garda reserve will be a valuable source of local strength and knowledge. The proposal for the reserve has the support of the Oireachtas and, I believe, the support of the public. I have undertaken to consult constructively with the Garda representative associations on the proposals, and I will be asking them, for their part, to undertake to respect the clear will of the Oireachtas in this matter and to engage positively in those consultations.

Road Traffic Accidents.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

211 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Garda Síochána road accident report form was last updated; the reason no regular statistics are provided on the collision data of provisional licence holders when this is supposed to be recorded in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8746/06]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

212 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will ensure that the Garda Síochána road accident report form is updated as soon as possible in order that information (details supplied) can be recorded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8747/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together.

The gardaí supply details of road accidents on Form C(T) 68 to the National Roads Authority. The authority prepares and publishes a detailed report on road accidents entitled Road Collision Facts. The most recent report relates to 2004 and is available in the Library and on the NRA website.

Excluding the changeover to the PULSE system, which changed the method of collection of data, the last change to the form occurred in 1995. The National Roads Authority may propose changes to the accident report form, in consultation with the Garda Síochána, should it feel that further data should be captured on the form.

Citizenship Applications.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

213 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for post nuptial naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8775/06]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 12 July 2005. His application was examined shortly after receipt and it was determined that he did not have the required reckonable residency and was, therefore, ineligible for naturalisation. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. In the case of a non-national applicant who is the spouse of an Irish citizen those conditions are that the applicant must be of full age; be of good character; be married to the Irish citizen for at least three years; be in a marriage recognised under the laws of the State as subsisting; be living together as husband and wife with the Irish spouse; have had a period of one year's continuous residency in the island of Ireland immediately before the date of the application and, during the four years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the island of Ireland amounting to two years; intend in good faith to continue to reside in the island of Ireland after naturalisation; and have made, before a judge of the District Court in open court or in such a manner as the Minister, for special reasons allows, a declaration in the prescribed manner, of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State. The individual concerned and his wife were married on 5 March 2004. The earliest he is eligible to apply for naturalisation is 5 March 2007, provided he has been resident in the island of Ireland continuously during that three-year period.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

214 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he is likely to again accept an application for residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8776/06]

On the basis that the reference number included in the details accompanying the question is a naturalisation application reference number, I have assumed the Deputy is seeking clarification regarding an application for naturalisation by the person concerned. An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person concerned was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 11 June 2004. This application was examined in February 2006 and it was determined that the individual concerned did not have appropriate reckonable residency for the purposes of naturalisation. He arrived in the State in October 1999 and obtained permission to remain for study purposes from the time of his arrival until September 2001 and for periods between March 2003 and May 2004. Time spent in the State for the purposes of study cannot be reckoned for naturalisation purposes and, consequently, at the time of his application in June 2004, the person concerned had a total of 16 months reckonable residence, well short of the necessary five years. He was informed he did not meet the statutory residency criteria by letter on 22 February last. The person concerned is still residing in the State for the purposes of study and his current permission expires on 30 September 2006. It is unlikely, therefore, that he will be eligible for naturalisation in the near future.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

215 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has studied the medical evidence and other information provided in the course of the raising of the matter on the adjournment of Dáil Éireann in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin with particular reference to the medical evidence to the effect that it was and is unsafe to move this patient from hospital at the present time; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the person in question cannot be expected to present at a Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8777/06]

I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos. 149, 181 and 249 on Thursday, 26 January 2006, Thursday, 9 February 2006 and Thursday, 16 February 2006, respectively, and the adjournment debate on Thursday, 23 February 2006, regarding this case. I reiterate that I am not disputing this person's medical reports presented by her legal representative, the Refugee Legal Service, but medical reasons alone are not criteria under the Dublin II regulation for processing her asylum claim in Ireland. As I stated in my previous replies, this person's transfer will be dealt with in a sympathetic and humane way when she is discharged from hospital. Her medical needs will be fully taken account of in arranging the transfer. In this regard, I have requested her legal representative to keep the Garda national immigration bureau informed of her up-to-date medical condition and whereabouts for the purpose of arranging the transfer. If necessary, medical escorts to accompany her on the flight will be provided. The Belgian authorities will also be notified in advance of her condition so that suitable reception arrangements can be made for her.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

216 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residential status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8778/06]

The person in question made an application for permission to remain in Ireland on the basis of being the parent of an Irish-born child, born before 1 January 2005, under the revised arrangements I announced on 15 January 2005. This application was submitted in March 2005. The application is being processed and I will notify the Deputy as soon as the outcome is known.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

217 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residential status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8779/06]

The person concerned claimed asylum in the State on 29 October 2002 and had his claim examined by the offices of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, following which it was recommended that he should be recognised as a refugee. Based on this recommendation, the person concerned was advised of my decision to issue him with a formal declaration of refugee status by letter dated 29 April 2004. This communication also advised the person concerned of the rights and entitlements accompanying refugee status in the State. The person concerned continues to hold the status of refugee in the State.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

218 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residential status in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8780/06]

The persons in question applied for permission to remain in Ireland on the basis of being the parents of an Irish-born child, born before 1 January 2005, in accordance with the revised arrangements I announced on 15 January 2005. One of the requirements for permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements, is that the parents must have been continuously resident in the State since the date of birth of their Irish-born child. The child in question was born on 10 March 2004, but neither of the parents has submitted evidence of continuous residence from that time until the date they submitted their applications in March 2005. Accordingly, their applications did not meet the requirements of the revised arrangements and were refused.

Asylum Applications.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

219 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8781/06]

The person concerned arrived in the State on 14 April 1998 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by asylum division of my Department and, on appeal, by the appeals authority. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed by letter dated 17 August 2000 that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him. He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons he should be allowed to remain temporarily in the State; leaving the State before an order is made; or consenting to the making of a deportation order. Representations setting out reasons he should not be deported were subsequently received. I expect the case file in this matter to be submitted to me shortly for decision. This decision will be taken having regard to considerations specified in section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended. These considerations include matters relating to the common good, the person's family and domestic circumstances, as well as humanitarian considerations. Consideration will also be given to the prohibition of refoulement which is contained in section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended.

Citizenship Applications.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

220 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8782/06]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 1 February 2006. The average processing time for an application for naturalisation is 24 months. However, the person referred to by the Deputy is a minor. Due to the fact that such applications are more straightforward than standard adult applications, it is usually possible to finalise them in a shorter period. Based on current processing trends, it is likely that the application on behalf of the person concerned will be finalised in or around the end of this year. I will be in touch with the Deputy and the applicant when I have reached a decision in the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

221 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for naturalisation in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8783/06]

I am advised by officials in the citizenship section of my Department that there is no record of applications for certificates of naturalisation having been received from or on behalf of the persons referred to by the Deputy. An application on behalf of a third member of the family referred to by the Deputy was received in citizenship section on 1 February last. My officials have been informed by a member of staff in the Deputy's office that applications on behalf of the two persons concerned were sent from the Deputy's office to my Department a few days after that of the third family member, but it appears that these did not reach citizenship section. I have asked my officials to send further application forms to the Deputy's office and when these are appropriately completed, they should be forwarded directly to the Citizenship Section, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.

State Examinations.

Enda Kenny

Question:

222 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science when the SCG examination in Irish will take place in 2006; the centre in which the examination will take place; the funding allocated by her Department for SCG courses for each of the past three years to enable teachers to participate and qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8612/06]

Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, is responsible for holding the SCG examination in 2006. The examination will be held in a number of centres throughout the country in the week beginning 17 April. Full details are available from Coláiste Mhuire.

Regarding course provision, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a number of education centres throughout the country, which are directly funded by my Department, are providing preparation courses for the SCG examination at a reasonable cost that has been set by my Department. These courses are based upon a training programme, also funded by my Department, which was developed by the Irish Department in Coláiste Mhuire Marino.

The expenditure by education centres on SCG courses for the past three years was of the order of €68,500 in 2003, €82,700 in 2004 and €67,500 in 2005.

Since 2005, a small standardised fee applies for teachers who follow SCG courses in the education centres, which supplements the Department's grant.

Schools Building Projects.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

223 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason there is no funding available for the building of drama or performing arts facilities in secondary schools. [8641/06]

My Department's planning guidelines for new post-primary school buildings allows for the provision of an 80 sq. m. music-drama room for schools that offer music as a subject on the school curriculum. The guidelines also allow for the provision of fixed and loose furniture and demountable staging. In addition, my Department provides grant aid for the purchase of musical instruments and equipment.

Where an application is made for major capital improvement works by the management authorities of an existing school, it is the policy of my Department to assess the overall future accommodation needs of the school for inclusion in the accommodation brief.

School Insurance.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

224 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the average annual cost of insurance incurred by both primary and secondary schools in the Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8 areas; if she will provide a breakdown of these costs on a school basis; and the details of assistance provided by her Department in meeting such costs. [8642/06]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

225 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the average waiting period for admission to each of the primary and secondary schools in Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8. [8643/06]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

226 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the percentage of children attending each of the primary and secondary schools in Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8 who were born outside the State. [8644/06]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

227 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the percentage of children attending each of the primary and secondary schools in Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8 who do not have English as their first language. [8645/06]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 227, inclusive, together.

I am not aware of the cost of insurance incurred by individual primary and secondary schools as it is a matter for the managerial authorities of the individual schools to arrange insurance cover on school property and against public liability.

Funding is provided to primary and secondary schools by way of per capita grants, which afford schools considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to cater for the needs of their pupils.

There have been significant improvements in the level of funding provided to primary and post-primary schools. Since 1997 the standard rate of capitation grant at primary level has been increased from €57.14 per pupil to €133.58 with effect from 1 January 2005 and has recently been further increased by €12 per pupil with effect from 1 January 2006, bringing the standard rate to €145.58. This represents an increase of almost 155% in the standard rate of capitation grant at primary level since 1997.

At second level, the standard per capita grant, which stood at €256 per pupil in the school year 2001-02, has been increased by a further €12 to €298 per pupil from January 2006. Under the school services support fund initiative, secondary schools will also benefit from the further significant increases. The grant that was increased for secondary schools from €131 per pupil in January 2005 to €145 per pupil, has been increased by a further €14 per pupil to €159 per pupil from January 2006. These grants are in addition to the per capita funding of up to €40,000 per school that is provided by my Department to secondary schools towards secretarial and caretaking services. A secondary school with 500 pupils now receives annual grants of up to €270,000 towards general expenses and support services as against annual grants of up to €237,000 in 2002.

These significant increases in the funding of primary and post primary schools are a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources to address the needs of schools.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the average waiting period for admission and children born outside the State and children who do not have English as their first language is not available as schools are not required to return this information to my Department.

Teaching Qualifications.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

228 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow has not had his English university qualifications recognised for teaching purposes here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8646/06]

The person concerned applied to the registration council on 18 January 2006 to have his qualifications assessed to determine their suitability for the purposes of teaching at post-primary level. The council is in the process of carrying out this assessment at present and the applicant will be notified of its decision on the matter in due course.

School Staffing.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

229 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science when the staffing schedules for primary schools will be announced in 2006; if the points figure for 2006 will be reduced when the staffing schedules are announced in view of her desire to reduce class sizes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8647/06]

Major improvements in school staffing have been made in recent years with the hiring of more than 5,000 additional primary teachers. This represents the largest increase in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. Today there is one teacher for every 17 children, the lowest pupil teacher ratio in the history of the State.

Aside from decreasing average class size, the unprecedented increase in school staffing in recent years has also greatly improved the services provided for children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas. Under the action plan for tackling disadvantage published in 2005, there will be a reduction in class sizes to 24:1 at senior level and 20:1 at junior level in 150 primary schools serving communities with the highest concentrations of disadvantage. With more than 600 extra resource teachers put in place in this school year, children with special needs are getting more support than ever before. It should be acknowledged how much progress has been made in this area in recent years.

Recently I announced that I have secured sufficient funding to provide even smaller classes in our primary schools in the next school year, and the Minister for Finance has committed to a further reduction in class size in the following year. Accordingly, over the next two years, my Department will put 500 extra teachers into primary schools to reduce class size and to tackle disadvantage.

The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued annually to all primary schools. The general rule is that the schedule provides at least one classroom teacher for every 29 pupils in the school. Of course, schools with only one or two teachers have much lower staffing ratios than that, with two teachers for just 12 pupils in some cases and so on. The general rule is that there is at least one classroom teacher for every 29 children in the school. Next year this will be reduced to 28 children per classroom teacher and in 2007-08 it will be reduced to 27 children per classroom teacher. The circular outlining the revised staffing schedule is being finalised. It is expected that the circular will be published on my Department's website this week. Hard copies of the circular will be printed and issued to all primary schools as soon as possible thereafter.

Schools will be asked to use the extra class teachers provided as a result of the revised schedule to provide for smaller classes in the junior grades.

In speaking about staffing in our schools, we have consistently said that priority would be given in the first instance to children in disadvantaged schools and those with special needs. We have done this. Now, in line with the Government commitment, mainstream class sizes are also being reduced.

Special Educational Needs.

Finian McGrath

Question:

230 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will support a group of northside parents of autistic children currently awaiting a decision on approval for a specialised school entitled Acorn Aba; and if this will be made a priority issue. [8661/06]

My Department is currently considering a report from the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, in relation to the application in question. My officials will notify all relevant parties when a decision on the application has been made.

Schools Building Projects.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

231 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if funding will be made available for an extension to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8683/06]

An application for a PE hall at the school referred to by the Deputy has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. This project has been assigned a band 4 rating and its progress will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

Denis Naughten

Question:

232 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in approving funding for a post-primary school building project (details supplied); the status of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8684/06]

The proposed refurbishment and extension project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. Following increased enrolments in the school, a revised schedule of overall accommodation issued to the school in late 2005. A planning and briefing meeting was held in October 2005 and the school's mechanical and electrical engineer was requested to forward a detailed condition report on current installations in the school. This project cannot be progressed until the documentation requested has been received and examined by officials in my Department.

A decision on which school building projects will advance to tender and construction will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2009.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

233 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction the selection of the preferred tender for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [8698/06]

The tender report in respect of the new school in question was received by my Department in early December 2005 and has since been assessed. When the legalities associated with the site transfer are concluded, I expect that my Department will be in a position to approve the appointment of the successful contractor and for the construction phase to commence.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

234 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in approving the stage three submission relating to the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [8700/06]

The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The school in question was listed in my announcement of April 2005 as a project to progress through architectural planning up to pre-tender stage, that is, up to and including advanced architectural planning.

In order to bring this project to the required stage, my Department's officials have requested and received various amendments to the stage three submission, including detailed plans and costs during 2005. My Department's officials wrote to the school authorities on 21 September 2005 with some further queries and a response has been received. This will be examined as soon as possible and my officials will then be in further contact with the school authorities with regard to the next steps involved in progressing this project.

Progression of projects to construction will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2009.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

235 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if the Chief State Solicitor’s office has cleared the contract documents relating to the purchase of a site for a new national school in Ardclough, County Kildare. [8704/06]

The contract documents for the purchase of the site for a new national school in Ardclough, County Kildare, were received by the Chief State Solicitor's office on 24 January 2006. The conditions under which the property is being offered are currently being examined.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

236 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Science the names of all board appointments made by her for the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8726/06]

The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled in my Department and will be forwarded to him directly on completion.

Third Level Fees.

Jack Wall

Question:

237 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the mechanism available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare relating to her application for a college course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8729/06]

Under the terms of the free fees initiative my Department meets the tuition fees of eligible students. The main conditions are that students must be first-time undergraduates and hold EU nationality or official refugee status and have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course.

The candidate referred to by the Deputy does not satisfy the eligibility conditions for the free fees initiative and is therefore liable for the cost of the tuition fees on her chosen course.

I emphasise the distinction between the criteria that determines eligibility under the free fees initiative and the criteria by which individual third level institutions establish what rates of tuition fees should be charged in cases where a student does not qualify for free fees. The third level institutions are autonomous bodies and, as such, may determine the level of fees to be charged in any cases where the free fees initiative does not apply.

I advise the Deputy of the provisions under section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. This section provides tax relief for eligible persons, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU member states and postgraduate courses in non-EU countries.

Tax relief at undergraduate level extends to approved full and part-time courses in both private and publicly funded third level colleges in the State and any other EU member state and approved full and part-time courses operated by colleges in any EU member State providing distance education in the State.

In 2001, section 29 of the 2001 Finance Act amended the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 to provide for the amalgamation of the then existing four tax reliefs for third level education fees. The section also extended the relief by removing the restrictions for repeat years, for individuals undertaking more than one course and for those already holding a third level qualification. It also removed the exclusion of certain courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and teacher training. The relief is also extended to postgraduate fees paid for third level education in private and publicly funded third level colleges in non-EU countries. Tax relief for undergraduate fees is also now available in EU countries for duly accredited private third level colleges.

Tax relief on tuition fees is claimed directly from the tax office using an IT 31 form. Details of approved colleges and courses are also available on Revenue's website at www.revenue.ie.

Approved undergraduate courses must be of at least two years' duration and both the college and the course must satisfy the codes of standards as laid down by the Minister for Education and Science with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

Education Welfare Service.

Joe Costello

Question:

238 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin has not attended school for the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8754/06]

This issue is a matter for the National Educational Welfare Board, which is established under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 and is the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework for promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. Therefore, I have requested the National Education Welfare Board to respond directly to the Deputy on the particular issue raised.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Dan Boyle

Question:

239 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which resources are provided to allow people with disabilities to participate in further education. [8760/06]

It is the Department's policy to seek to encourage and facilitate the participation of people with disabilities on programmes offered in the further education sector. It is acknowledged, however, that while further education programmes are open to people with disabilities, the supports required to enable them to access these options are in need of further development. Generally, issues of access for individuals to further education programmes are addressed at local level.

In December 2005, special grants were provided by my Department to vocational education committees to upgrade services through the purchase of equipment and materials, refurbishment and minor structural works to enhance the provision for students with disabilities.

The vocational training opportunities scheme is primarily for unemployed people but people with disabilities are also a target group. Under the scheme, full-time courses of one or two years' duration are provided to participants to enhance their employability.

The back to education initiative provides part-time further education programmes for adults to give them an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. People with disabilities are one of the target groups of the programme.

People with disabilities may also avail of adult literacy courses provided by the VECs around the country. A grant has also been provided to the Irish Deaf Society to train tutors to give literacy tuition. A grant is awarded annually to the Dyslexia Association of Ireland as a contribution towards assessments.

People with disabilities also benefit from grants under the education equality initiative. This is one of a range of initiatives which seek to address educational disadvantage by promoting equality of access and equality of treatment. This is achieved through the provision of short-term, two-year or three-year grants to organisations for specific purposes. Under the current phase of the initiative, running from 2003 to 2006, grants have been awarded to three projects catering for people with disabilities.

An action research pilot project was developed in a number of further education colleges in the Dublin area. This pilot project continues to be supported by two disability support officers, the National Training and Development Institute as well as flexible additional funds for transport, equipment, interpreters and so forth. The service identifies and offers supports to students and staff around the area of disability. The provision of awareness-raising sessions and participation in college open and recruitment days is also an integral element of the role of the support officer.

Departmental Staff.

Bernard Allen

Question:

240 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence, further to Question No. 1411 of 25 January 2006, if he will reconsider his decision in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [8692/06]

The person concerned has exhausted his entitlement to sick pay under the terms of the departmental sick leave scheme as he has availed of over 365 days sick leave in the past four years. As I explained in my reply to Question No. 1411 of 25 January,2006, the terms of the departmental sick leave scheme are of general application and they cannot be altered to suit individual circumstances. Accordingly, it is not possible to authorise additional payment under the departmental sick leave scheme in this particular case.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

241 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Defence the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8727/06]

The following appointments to boards were made by me and my predecessor at the Department of Defence, Deputy Michael Smith, in the past five years:

Coiste An Asgard

Mr. Sean Flood appointed 31 July 2002.

Mr. Gerard O'Donnell appointed 9 August 2002.

Mr. Patrick J. O'Hara appointed 30 September 2002.

Mr. Frederick Morris appointed 27 February 2003, resigned October 2004.

Mr. Pat Hogan appointed 9 June 2005.

Ms Joannes Berkery appointed 9 August 2002.

Dr. Roy Browne appointed 9 August 2002.

Mr. Michael Murphy appointed 9 August 2002.

Ms Kalanne O'Leary appointed 24 September 2002.

Mr. Seamus McLoughlin appointed 9 October 2002

Commodore Frank Lynch appointed 5 October 2003.

Mr. Gerry Donnelly appointed 11 February 2004.

Mr. Brian Byrne appointed 19 May 2005.

Mr. Gerry McMahon appointed 19 May 2005.

Mr. Gerard Kiely appointed 8 November 2005.

Except where indicated above, appointments were for a period of five years.

Army Pensions Board

Mr. Thomas Harrington, Chairperson, appointed 22 May 2001.

Commandant John Tobin appointed 24 October 2002.

Civil Defence Board

Dr. Michael P.Ryan appointed 5 June 2002.

Mr. Gerry Gervin appointed 5 June 2002, re-appointed 30 June 2005,

Councillor Margaret Adams appointed 5 June 2002.

Mr. Tony Kelly appointed 5 June 2002, re-appointed 11 July 2005.

Mr. Paddy Durack appointed 5 June 2002.

Mr. Ned Gleeson appointed 5 June 2002, re-appointed 30 June 2005.

Mr. Sean Hogan appointed 5 June 2002, re-appointed 21 Sept 2005.

Dr. Ann McGarry appointed 5 June 2002.

Mr. Declan Burns appointed 5 June 2002.

Mr. Michael Fitzsimons appointed 5 June 2002.

Colonel Michael Cleary appointed 5 June 2002.

Chief Superintendent Denis Fitzpatrick appointed 5 June 2002.

Ms Frances Moynihan appointed 5 June 2002.

Ms Irene O'Meara appointed 5 June 2002.

Mr. Patrick J. Cooney appointed 25 June 2004, terminated 5 June 2005.

Chief Superintendent. John T. Farrelly appointed 13 October 2004 up to 5 June 2005, re-appointed 21 September 2005.

Commandant Kevin Houston appointed 5 November 2004 up to 5 June 2005, re-appointed 21 September 2005.

Ms Gabrielle Willis appointed 30 June 2005.

Mr. Gerry Naylor appointed 30 June 2005.

Ms Roisin McGuire appointed 30 June 2005.

Mr. Joe Maher appointed 11 July 2005.

Ms Kay Caball appointed 11 July 2005.

Mr. Oliver O'Loughlin appointed 11 July 2005.

Dr. Barbara Rafferty appointed 21 September 2005.

Ms Majella Byrne appointed 21 September 2005.

Except where indicated above, appointments to the Civil Defence Board were for a period of three years.

Defence Forces Claims.

David Stanton

Question:

242 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the number of claims made by members of the Reserve Defence Forces each year since 2000 for injuries received in the course of training or duty as members of the Defence Forces; the number of these claims that were settled and the costs to the State in each respective year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8755/06]

Details of the claims made by members of the Reserve Defence Force in each of the years in question are contained in the following tabular statement:

Number of Claims Registered by Members of the Reserve Defence Forces

Year

No. Registered

Outstanding

Finalised

Amount Paid

Costs Paid

2000

192

19

173

1,659,579.10

814,648.37

2001

163

18

145

1,298,631.82

730,242.16

2002

206

72

134

980,072.00

514,329.66

2003

67

27

40

196,581.00

143,272.38

2004

22

16

6

9,500.00

5,541.71

2005

10

10

0

0.00

0.00

2006

2

2

0

0.00

0.00

Total

662

164

498

4,144,363.92

2,308,034.28

Soil Erosion.

Enda Kenny

Question:

243 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reasons for farmers being obliged to remove all sheep from the Nephin Beg Range, County Mayo for a six month period each year; the surveys carried out regarding recovery from erosion of soil as a consequence of destocking over the past five years; the progress achieved in soil recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8613/06]

Overgrazing has led to environmental problems, particularly loss of vegetation and soil erosion in commonages throughout the country, including the Nephin Beg range.

Payments to farmers for destocking under commonage framework plans, were introduced from end of 1998 as an attempt to aid vegetation recovery in these areas. A recent monitoring survey in this area, carried out as part of an intended wider monitoring of commonages, has shown that, apart from some small areas, there has not been satisfactory recovery of the habitat vegetation.

Accordingly, it is necessary to amend the requirements for this commonage by providing that it should be destocked completely for five months of the year — November-December, and mid-February to mid-May. Further monitoring will, of course, be carried out to check the rate of recovery.

The above developments are also being communicated to the European Commission in the context of Ireland's response to the European Court of Justice judgment against Ireland on the issue of overgrazing in the Owenduff-Nephin Beg area.

Waste Disposal.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

244 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the criteria he used in assessing the contract for the Poolbeg incinerator which he signed in 2006; and the transport infrastructure he envisages to cope with the predicted extra 400 trucks per day travelling to and from the proposed facility. [8637/06]

I refer to the reply to Question No. 257 of 1 March 2006.

It will be a matter for Dublin City Council and its PPP partner to provide assurance to the statutory planning process that waste can be delivered to the proposed plant satisfactorily having regard to considerations of local amenity and infrastructure.

Environmental Policy.

Jerry Cowley

Question:

245 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if owners of bogland have to obtain planning permission to cut turf on their land; if so, the locations where in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8673/06]

The Planning and Development Regulations 2005 generally exempt peat extraction below a threshold of ten hectares from the requirement for planning permission. However, there are exceptions where the peat extraction would have significant effects on the environment.

In these limited cases, planning permission must be applied for, accompanied by an environmental impact statement. Where the peat extraction takes place within peatland areas that have been afforded protection either as special areas of conservation or natural heritage areas, these are subject to a separate control system which is unaffected by the change to the regulations.

Flood Relief.

Denis Naughten

Question:

246 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will allocate specific funding to Roscommon County Council to address the flooding vulnerability of the Athlone to Clonown Road; if he will ensure the erection of crash barriers on the road in question due to the serious safety hazard when flood waters are high; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8685/06]

The provision and improvement of non-national roads in County Roscommon is a matter for Roscommon County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State grants.

In August 2005, my Department sought applications from road authorities for funding under the 2006 EU co-financed specific improvements grant scheme. The initial selection of projects to be submitted for consideration for funding under this scheme is a matter for road authorities. Roscommon County Council submitted a number of applications but these did not include an application for funding for the Athlone to Clonown Road.

On 25 January 2006, Roscommon County Council wrote to my Department seeking a special allocation of €100,000 for a study on the ground conditions, methods of construction and cost of carrying out improvement works on the Athlone to Clonown Road. The council was informed that the 2006 grants were fully allocated; that there were no funds available to fund these works; but that it was open to the council to use a combination of its own resources and discretionary improvement grant allocation for this purpose. The 2006 discretionary improvement grant allocation to Roscommon County Council is €1,014,000, an increase of 7% on the initial 2005 allocation. The selection of works to be funded from this allocation is entirely a matter for the council.

The council was also informed that, as an alternative, it could submit a formal application under the 2006 EU co-financed specific improvements grant scheme for consideration. While moneys have been fully allocated for 2006, if a suitable application were submitted, my Department would be prepared to consider giving approval to the council to proceed with the study on the condition that the scheme would be submitted as a priority on the council's 2007 EU co-financed specific improvements grant list of applications. This would allow the council to recoup approved expenditure of up to €100,000 in 2007.

Housing Grants.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

247 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in calculating the amount allocated and amount spent by each local authority on the disabled person's grant and essential repairs grants schemes in 2005. [8702/06]

Details of the amounts allocated to each local authority on the disabled person's and essential repairs grants schemes in 2005 were set out in the reply to Question Nos. 1507, 1508 and 1512 of 25 January 2006. Expenditure outturn details on the grant schemes in 2005 have not yet been received from all authorities. I will arrange for a copy of the compiled information to be forwarded to the Deputy, when completed.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

248 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has approved the contract documents for the Lower Liffey Valley sewerage scheme. [8703/06]

In May 2005 I approved Kildare County Council's proposals to proceed with work on an advance section of the scheme at Straffan which I understand is now in progress. Kildare County Council's contract documents for the major elements of the scheme are under examination in my Department and a decision will issue shortly. Approval of the contract documents will enable the council to invite tenders for the carrying out of the works.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

249 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is in a position to approve Kildare County Council’s revised preliminary report and water services pricing policy report in relation to the Upper Liffey Valley sewerage scheme, stage three. [8705/06]

I refer to the reply to Question No. 515 of 28 February 2006.

Appointments to State Boards.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

250 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the names of all board appointments made by him for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8728/06]

A number of different statutory processes are involved in appointments to public bodies. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Government or by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In other cases only particular public office holders may be appointed to certain boards. In a number of situations, only some appointments to the body concerned are made by the Minister.

In the context of the above, the names of those appointed by me to State boards since my appointment as Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government in September 2004 are set out in the following table:

Name of state board

Names of Ministerial appointees to board since 29 September 2004

Affordable Homes Partnership

Des Geraghty

Mary Lambkin

Maureen Lynott

Mary Higgins

An Bord Pleanála

Margaret Byrne

Mary Bryan

Jane Doyle

Building Regulations Advisory Board

Sean Balfe

Fire Services Council

Donal Connolly

Margaret Adams

Mary Bohan

Stephen Brady

Gus Byrne

Anne Costello

Majella Dempsey

Frank Dennison

Jim Dunphy

Tony Gleeson

John L’Estrange

Brendan McCoy

Frances Murray

Theresa White

Heritage Council

Tom O’Dwyer

Betty Coffey

Billy Colfer

Professor Gabriel Cooney

Ted Creedon

Brendan Dunford

Deirdre Ellis-King

Donal Enright

Dr. Carolynne Ferris

Rhonwen Hayes

Maurice Hurley

Mary Keenan

Noel Keyes

Martina Maloney

Nioclás Ó Conchubhair

Finola Reid

Virginia Teehan

Local Government Management Services Board

Peter Greene

Joe Allen

National Building Agency

Joe Behan

Private Residential Tenancies Board

Tom Dunne

Fintan McNamara

Sheila McMahon

Anne Colley

Marjorie Murphy

Mary Heaslip

Liam O’Donnell

Aideen Hayden

Patrick Riney

Dr. Bairbre Redmond

Conn Murray

Dr Eoin O’Sullivan

Dervla Quinn

James Bridgeman

Tony Taaffe

Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland

Dr. Francis J. Mulligan

Planning Issues.

Seán Ryan

Question:

251 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim has infilled part of Gulladoo Lake, County Leitrim built over what was part of the flood plain of the lake, erected walls and railings, erected private property-no trespassing signs thereby restricting entry for anglers, shooters and other recreational users right of access along the foreshore which was used by the public for generations; if the State own the lake and up to the high water mark; the action he proposes to take to ensure that the position is rectified and that access to the middle lake is restored to the public. [8790/06]

Gulladoo Lough is considered to be in the ownership of the State but has not been designated under wildlife legislation. I will have the matters raised in the question examined in my Department with a view to responding in more detail to the Deputy and determining on any action appropriate to my Department.

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