Vol. 620 No. 1
70 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the tax and VAT issues surrounding the new private sector venture for elderly people in their homes, known as comfort keepers, for the users and providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19275/06]
124 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Finance the tax and VAT issues surrounding the private sector venture for elderly people in their homes, known as comfort keepers, both for the users and providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15456/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 124 together.
The position is that homecare services provided directly by the Health Service Executive (HSE) do not generally come within the scope of VAT, as Public Bodies are not regarded as taxable persons. This means that they do not charge VAT on the services they provide and cannot recover VAT incurred on their input costs.
The package of services aimed at older people, announced by the Tánaiste in the 2006 Budget, is based on the pilot homecare packages in place and will deliver a wide range of services. The packages are delivered through the HSE, by a range of providers including the HSE itself, voluntary groups and the private sector. Homecare packages will consist of a mixture of grants, contracted care services, therapeutic input and equipment and other such community services as identified in the needs assessment as being necessary to facilitate the older person to remain living in their own home.
However, where homecare services are provided for by private companies for a consideration in the course or furtherance of business, the provider may be obliged to register and account for VAT at the appropriate rate depending on the type of service they provide. Homecare provided to individuals consists of a variety of services which may be liable to VAT at different rates. The current VAT treatment of such services is in accordance with EU Sixth VAT Directive with which Irish VAT law must comply.
However, my Department is examining in consultation with the Department of Health and Children the scope within the relevant EU Directives to exempt the provision of such services from VAT in the future.
71 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department’s attention has been drawn to the fact that some foreign executives are restructuring their remuneration using options or preference shares to bypass the ending of the remittance system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19277/06]
As the Deputy is probably aware, the aggregate value of remuneration packages of executives, be they Irish or foreign, may consist of a number of items other than cash including, for example, a company car, shares or medical benefits.
The structuring or restructuring of such remuneration packages is a matter for employees and their employers. Indeed, the restructuring of a remuneration package may occur for reasons totally unconnected with tax matters. For example, the restructuring of a remuneration package can arise where a company wishes to retain, over the long term, the services of a valued employee.
As regards the receipt by an employee from his/her employer of shares or options on shares in the employer's company, in common with all employees (including executives, whether foreign or Irish), the employee is obliged to account directly to Revenue for the Irish tax due rather than through the PAYE system.
The changes to the remittance basis of taxation came into effect from 1 January last so it is early days yet to assess whether there has been any significant tax-driven restructuring of remuneration packages.
72 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance his views on the widespread use of avoidance mechanisms in respect of development land and stamp duty; if his Department or the Revenue Commissioners have carried out an examination of the actual and potential loss of stamp duty revenue to the Government and the impact of stamp duty avoidance mechanisms on house purchasers and others acquiring property; the estimated cost of avoidance mechanisms; the number of deals in which avoidance mechanisms are involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19265/06]
107 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the implications from a tax avoidance point of view, particularly in regard to stamp duty, of the practice in the construction industry of the use of licences to build as opposed to the traditional transfer of development land; if he has an estimate of the amount of construction activity organised using this mechanism; if he has an estimate of tax losses as a consequence of this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19291/06]
137 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the issues which are being reviewed in assessing whether the exemption from stamp duty on site values should apply where developers build houses on the basis of a licence to build from the landowner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19403/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 107 and 137 together.
Stamp Duty is a charge on documents, which are mostly legal documents, used in the transfer of property. Where a property is purchased, stamp duty is charged on the conveyance or transfer effecting change of legal ownership of the property concerned.
If there is no conveyance, there is no stamp duty. A builder or developer can, therefore, obtain a licence from a vendor to build on land owned by the vendor without incurring a stamp duty charge at that stage of the venture. Once the buildings, whether commercial or residential, are completed, the conveyances or transfers of such properties (i.e. both land and buildings) to purchasers are chargeable to stamp duty in the normal manner, unless specific exemptions are available to the purchasers.
The number of cases involved is not available as there is no requirement on a builder or developer to submit any documents to Revenue for stamping in relation to a building licence arrangement.
Taking account of the proliferation of developments generally in recent times, and in the context of its targeted project in the construction sector in 2006, the Revenue Commissioners are reviewing the use of licensing and similar arrangements, as part of their audit and compliance programmes. The review, as with Revenue's overall approach to its business, will focus on risk.
I have asked Revenue to let me know the outcome of their review and I will decide what action, if any, is required bearing in mind the effect on the housing market and the cost to the Exchequer.
73 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied regarding the level of supervision exercised by the Revenue Commissioners at points of entry, especially in regard to continued concern in relation to the drugs problem and particularly the smuggling of cocaine; if his attention has been drawn to the number of flights that arrive at both Cork and Shannon Airports at times when there are no customs officers on duty; if he will ask the Revenue Commissioners to ensure cover at all times that flights arrive at these airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19293/06]
I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are satisfied with the levels of supervision exercised by customs officers at points of entry into the State. In relation to drugs smuggling through airports, in the five years to 2005 customs officers made 3,428 drugs seizures, with a street value of approximately €23 million, in Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. As regards cocaine, there has been a steady increase in the number and volume of cocaine seizures at airports — mainly at Dublin airport, but also, more recently, in 2005, at Cork airport.
On the 30th of March 2006, I responded in some detail to Parliamentary Question No. 41 asked by Deputy Higgins on flight arrivals into Cork and Shannon Airports at times when there are no customs officers on duty. As advised in my reply, the Revenue Commissioners ended 24 hour rostered coverage in Cork in 2002 and Shannon in 2005, in both cases the reason was the low number of night-time flights. Cork Airport is closed between 11.30 p.m. and 5.30 a.m. and Shannon Airport handles no flights between 1.30 a.m. and 5.30 a.m.
However, the Revenue Commissioners have advised me that they have a number of "on-call" non-rostered customs officers available to attend at both Cork and Shannon airports. These "on-call" officers provide flexibility of attendance and are available 24 hours, seven days per week. They can and do attend during hours when rostered officers are not in attendance, including on early morning flights from US airports when required, as dictated by risk profiling.
The Deputy might wish to note that Cork Airport has no non-EU flights outside of normal hours of attendance of customs officials. For EU flights, customs officers may only stop and question people where there are reasonable grounds for suspicion. Almost all night-time flights originating in non-EU countries were met and checked by Revenue's 24-hour specialist staff in 2005.
74 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he has examined the possibility of introducing measures to promote greater availability of long-term fixed interest mortgages which would reduce the vulnerability of the economy to short-term interest rate movements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19389/06]
There is a high degree of competition in the Irish mortgage credit market, providing a wide choice of competitively priced mortgage products including long-term fixed-rate mortgages. The choice of mortgage product ultimately rests with the consumer and the lending institution concerned. The preference of borrowers is influenced by factors such as their personal circumstances and their own assessment of the relative merits of fixed and variable rate mortgages. Consumers have the benefit of the information and advice supplied by the Financial Regulator.
It would not be appropriate for me in my role as Minister for Finance to seek to promote one type of mortgage product ahead of another. The information being made available by the Financial Regulator, together with the statutory information and warnings in the case of mortgages, serve as an adequate basis for consumers to make a decision about the type of mortgage which best suits them. The Financial Regulator's guide called "Mortgages made Easy" is available on its website or from its Consumer Information Office.
The Deputy may wish to note that while fixed interest rate mortgages may have a role in smoothing mortgage outgoings at individual household level, it would require a very high level of take-up of fixed-rate mortgages and a substantial shifting out of variable rate mortgages in order to have any significant impact on the Irish economy's response to changes in interest rates. In this regard, a key factor would appear to be consumers' individual decisions and preferences. Borrowers must, at any particular time, balance the premium payable as part of a fixed interest rate mortgage to ensure certainty in repayments, against the continuing, low levels of mortgage interest rates available to variable-rate borrowers.
75 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance the negotiations which have taken place regarding the placement of persons who do not opt to decentralise with their units or agencies; and the proposals which the Government have made to unions. [19392/06]
The primary mechanism for placing general service civil servants who are in posts which are due to decentralise but wish to remain in Dublin is by way of bilateral transfer. As staff who have applied to decentralise continue to be transferred into decentralising organisations, the posts they vacate become available to those wishing to remain in Dublin. It is expected that a significant number of staff will be placed through these bilateral arrangements as the programme is rolled out. To end April 2006 in excess of 1,500 staff have been assigned to decentralising posts, of which over 800 are Dublin based applicants.
In addition, officials of my Department have been in discussions with the civil service unions on further arrangements to facilitate the placement of Dublin based staff. Under these arrangements, which have been recently initiated for general service grades, details of staff who wish to remain in Dublin at each grade level are provided to the Public Appointments Service so that a proportion of vacancies arising in Dublin based posts may be filled by those staff. It is intended that these arrangements will continue over the full transition phase of the decentralisation programme.
Participation in these arrangements by Departments and Offices will be influenced by their timeframe for moving, their success in placing staff through the bilateral arrangements, whether they are relocating in full or in part and the extent to which their staff can be placed elsewhere within the organisation in Dublin.
This issue is the subject of ongoing discussions between my Department and the unions representing the professional and technical grades in the civil service.
76 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the exclusion of SSIAs from the terms of the DIRT refund scheme whereby pensioners or persons with a disability are entitled to a refund of tax on interest deducted at source. [19430/06]
The SSIAs were introduced in the 2001 Finance Act and give a credit to all SSIA investors of 25%. The aim of the SSIA scheme was to encourage savings. This aim has been successfully achieved with 1.1 million persons availing of the special scheme.
It is widely acknowledged that one of the reasons for the success of the SSIA scheme was its simplicity. It was clearly stated from the very outset that the SSIA investment returns would be subject to a 23% exit tax at maturity with no exemptions for anyone. The information leaflets that were published at that time reflected this position.
Although all SSIA accounts are subject to an exit tax, it should be noted that the SSIA scheme represented a very good deal for all of those taking it up, whether aged 65 and over or not. For example, a person who will have saved €254 per month over 5 years, into their SSIA account, will receive a credit of €3,800 from the Exchequer even before any interest is taken into account.
It should be noted that DIRT on deposit interest was introduced in 1986 and only two reliefs apply, i.e. for those aged 65 or over and for the physically or mentally incapacitated, where the DIRT is deducted by the financial institution on the deposit interest and is refunded if the person claiming the refund is not otherwise liable to income tax on their total income. Thus, it is not a total tax exemption for all those aged 65 or over, or for the incapacitated.
77 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Finance the terms on which funds in the National Pension Reserve Fund have been made available for public sector projects; and the reason they have not been taken up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19386/06]
The National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission is independent of Government in the exercise of its functions. It controls and manages the Fund with discretionary authority to determine and implement the Fund's investment strategy in accordance with the Fund investment policy set out in the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000. This investment policy is based on a commercial investment mandate with the objective of securing the optimal return over the long term subject to prudent risk management.
The independence of the Commission is a cornerstone of the legislation which ensures that the Commission will invest in a manner that maximises returns. Essentially, it is similar to the trustee arrangements that apply to private pension funds and places an obligation on the Commission to act commercially and in the best interests of the Fund.
With regard to commercial investment in public sector projects in this country, the Annual Report of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission for 2004 states that the Commission has made an initial allocation of €200 million for investment in public-private partnerships in Ireland and will increase this allocation should suitable opportunities arise. The Report also states that the Commission will make equity and/or debt finance available to the winning bidder in the tender process for public-private-partnership projects, provided it is satisfied with the prospective rate of return. I understand that, to date, no moneys have been invested by the Commission in any such projects.
The Commission was a member of a consortium — The Celtic Roads Group — which was a bidder in a competition for the contract to upgrade the M50 which was conducted by the National Roads Authority. The NRA abandoned the original competition some time ago and launched a new competition on different terms. The Celtic Roads Group consortium decided not to enter the new bidding competition and the Commission's involvement in that project as a member of a bidding consortium is accordingly now at an end.
I would also note that lack of capital is not an issue with Ireland's PPP programme and the success or otherwise of the programme is not in any way dependent on investment by the National Pensions Reserve Fund.
78 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the number of maturity SSIA four declarations that were not returned to financial institutions for the May 2006 deadline; the estimated tax bill to account holders as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19274/06]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that as the maturity date for SSIAs maturing in May 2006 is 31st May, it is not possible to provide an accurate number of maturity declarations (SSIA4s) outstanding at this stage. Neither is it possible at this point to estimate the tax accruing on accounts not fully matured.
I am also informed by the Revenue Commissioners that it is their understanding that the financial institutions are taking all reasonable steps to ensure that valid declarations are returned by the maturity date.
79 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the progress of the Revenue Commissioners Construction Industry Project and the National RCT Monitoring Group; the number of civil servants working for each of the above; the number of audits which have been carried out to date in 2006 on construction companies; the total yield from these audits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19272/06]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Revenue's Construction Industry Project commenced in December 2005 and is progressing satisfactorily.
A National Relevant Contract Tax (RCT) Monitoring Group has been established, comprising of one full-time officer in each of the four Revenue Regions and supported by the audit, compliance and customer service officers involved in construction in each Revenue District.
The number of officers engaged on operational audit and compliance duties for construction is currently 303. In addition to this there are significant numbers of other staff (estimated at over 100) engaged in routine duties relating to C2 applications, dealing with repayment claims, payment card applications and pursuit of non-filers etc.
As at 31 March 2006, 708 audits had been completed with a yield of €24.7m including interest and penalties. (There is no breakdown available for companies only). A further €2m was collected for arrears of tax in these cases.
80 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on progress to date in implementing a PEACE III programme for the Six Counties and the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19439/06]
As the Deputy is aware, the European Union agreed to provide €200m towards the PEACE III programme in order to build on the valuable work of its predecessors. The relevant EU regulations are being finalised at present by the European Council and European Parliament.
The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), one of the six North South Implementation Bodies set up under the Good Friday Agreement, is Managing Authority for the PEACE II programme. The SEUPB has been asked by the two Member States to begin preparatory work on the Operational Programme for PEACE III and the consultation process is under way.
A progress report was given to the PEACE II Monitoring Committee on 26 April. The Monitoring Committee membership and advisers comprise a wide range of representatives from both sides of the Border. These include nominees from political parties, regional interests, Government Departments, social partners, and regional/local government etc.
SEUPB are organising a series of public meetings in Northern Ireland and the six border counties in early June at which members of the public and key stakeholders will have the opportunity to express their views on the new programme. They may also make written or e-mail submissions on various aspects of the new programme.
I expect that the PEACE III Operational Programme will be agreed with the European Commission so that the new Programme can begin to accept new applications by mid-2007.
81 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the next National Development Plan should be funded within existing capital envelopes; and the flexibility which exists to relax the envelope. [19416/06]
114 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the consultative procedures planned in connection with the National Development Plan 2007-2013; the way in which it is planned to undertake the selection of projects; and if criteria and project ranking against these criteria will be published. [19088/06]
150 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the allocation of funding under the next National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19086/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 114 and 150 together.
The preparation of the next NDP (2007-2013) which is being coordinated by my Department is proceeding. The content and focus of the next NDP and the resultant allocations and prioritisation will be a matter for decision by Government. The new Plan will seek to address the investment now necessary to maintain national competitiveness within a sustainable economic and budgetary framework. It will also set out a coherent investment strategy at sectoral level with particular reference to the infrastructure investment necessary to meet economic and social challenges. In addition the Plan will address a number of horizontal themes including;
—The implementation of the National Spatial Strategy;
—The All-Island Dimension and the potential benefits of cross-border cooperation;
—The promotion of Social Inclusion; and
—Environmental Sustainability.
I envisage that the Plan will be a high level strategic document which will set out a clear framework for project selection over the period of the Plan. The capital investment element of the Plan will obviously reflect the Budget 2007 five year capital envelopes which will be rolled out to 2013 for the purposes of the Plan. Given that the Plan will cover a seven year horizon the seven year capital allocations reflecting Government priorities by programme will be indicative to some degree. This will allow sufficient flexibility to adapt as appropriate to changing circumstances over the period.
An extensive consultation process on the next National Development Plan is under way. Formal submissions have been sought from the Social Partners, the Regional Assemblies, Regional Authorities and a number of concerned interest groups such as the Heritage Council, Comhar, the Combat Poverty Agency and the Western Development Commission. A considerable number of submissions have already been received and my Department has also had meetings with some of the bodies concerned.
82 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance his views on the Information Commissioner’s annual report 2005 and in particular the disappointment expressed in the report that a number of public bodies of some considerable significance remain outside of the Freedom of Information Act’s scope. [19214/06]
I welcome the Information Commissioner's Annual Report for 2005. I particularly welcome her finding that the FOI Act continues to achieve positive and notable outcomes both for individual requesters and for society generally.
In the Report, the Information Commissioner sets out her thinking on a number of issues, including a need for amended FOI legislation concerning access to the personal records of deceased persons. The Information Commissioner's views on this matter are being considered by my Department at present.
The Report also draws attention to certain bodies that are not subject to FOI. Extension of the FOI Act to a number of the bodies identified by the Information Commissioner is being examined by my Department at present. FOI has been extended gradually as experience has been gained in its application. The Act applied to just 67 bodies when it was introduced in April 1998, mainly to Government Departments and Offices and closely related bodies. In October 1998, the Act was extended to the former health boards and to local authorities. One year later, a further large group of bodies, including voluntary hospitals and bodies dealing with people with an intellectual disability, were brought under its remit. Bodies in the broadcasting sector came within the scope of the Act in 2000.
In 2001 and 2002 the Act was further extended to a range of public and publicly funded bodies in the social services, health, regulatory, environment, cultural and enterprise areas and to universities, institutes of technology and colleges of education.
In October last year, I announced plans to extend the Act to a further 137 bodies which will bring to over 500 the number of bodies subject to Freedom of Information. The necessary regulations to give effect to this extension are currently before the Houses and will be made once the necessary approval has been obtained in each House.
83 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the role of his Department in regard to the setting of conditions for FÁS workers who are being asked to relocate to Birr; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19284/06]
In line with the recommendation of the Decentralisation Implementation Group, a more individualised approach is being adopted to the implementation of the programme in State Agencies such as FÁS. The practical management of the programme is the role of the management of each agency in the first instance. Progress on decentralisation is discussed regularly by agencies with their parent Departments and monitored at Departmental level.
Due to the heterogeneous nature of the State Agencies there will be various complexities which arise in specific organisations. These problems are addressed in conjunction with the agencies' parent Departments in the first instance. Individual problems, for which solutions cannot readily be identified or which have public sector wide implication, are discussed with my Department.
84 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied regarding the tax treatment of families with children to support. [19413/06]
This Government acknowledge the continuing cost pressures on parents, particularly those with young children.
The Government have substantially increased Child Benefit since coming into office in 1997. From last month Child Benefit payments have increased to €150 per month for the first and second children and €185 for the third and subsequent children. These Child Benefit payments, which are exempt from income tax, represent a 294% increase in the rate for first and second children over the rate prevailing in 1997 and a 274% increase in the rate for third and subsequent children. By comparison, during this period the increase in the consumer price index is estimated to be 34%. Overall expenditure on Child Benefit has increased by 279% from €506 million in 1997 to almost €2 billion in 2006.
In addition, in Budget 2006 I announced a new Early Childcare Supplement of €1,000 in a full year for each child up to his or her sixth birthday. This new payment, which is also exempt from income tax, along with increases in Child Benefit, brings the amount a family will receive, for each of the first two children under six years, to €2,800 per year, equivalent to over €50 per week in direct financial support. This will be even higher where a family has more than two children under six.
On the supply side, the provision of formal childcare places is being stimulated through a programme of investment under the new five year National Childcare Investment Programme which I announced in Budget 2006. This programme will support the creation of an additional 50,000 childcare places from 2006 to 2010, building on the success of the €500 million Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme which has already been provided under the National Development Plan 2000 to 2006. So far this funding has generated over 26,000 new places with a further 15,000 places due to come on stream before it ends in 2007. This means that between now and 2010 some 65,000 additional places will be funded.
In total, over €2.5 billion extra will be invested in the area of child support over the next five years.
Measures have also been taken by the Government to favour the supply of childcare by tax incentives to set up facilities and provide relief from benefit-in-kind taxation for free or subsidised childcare where this is provided by employers. Taken together, these represent substantial measures to assist with the cost of childcare.
In addition, the tax system treats parents with dependent children more favourably than persons with no dependent children, in recognition of the additional financial burden associated with parenthood. This is done mainly through the one parent family tax credit, the widowed parent tax credit, the incapacitated child tax credit and the home carer tax credit. Also, persons who qualify for the one parent family tax credit, including widowed parents, qualify for the associated standard rate band cut off point which is €36,000 in 2006. This is €4,000 greater than that which applies for a single person.
85 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the number of representations and from whom he received them in respect of postponing the proposal by the Revenue Commissioners to subject contracts for difference to stamp duty; the estimated tax to be raised by the Revenue Commissioner in respect of the taxation of this type of share transaction; the volume of stock exchange contracts conducted as contracts for difference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19292/06]
Following the announcement by Revenue clarifying the stamp duty treatment on purchases of shares underpinning the contracts for differences (CFD), my Department received strong representations that there would be severe consequences for the liquidity of the Irish Stock Market and, therefore, on the ability of Irish companies to raise capital here.
In particular, representations were made by the Irish Stock Exchange and by the London Investment Banking Association. The representations made by the London Association reflect the fact that the majority of the CFD business concerned originates with London-based firms. A survey of Irish Stock Exchange member firms conducted by the Exchange indicated that the aggregate value in 2005 of trades in Irish shares associated with CFD contracts represented 30% of the overall value of trades on the Irish Stock Exchange for that year.
I considered the representations made carefully as they seemed to have substance, taking account of the international nature of stock markets. In the circumstances, and having regard to the fact that the relevant stamp duty legislation predates the development of the CFD market, I decided to have the matter reviewed in advance of the next Budget and I issued a statement to that effect.
I was advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, in the light of the planned review, with a view to Budget 2007 announcements, and of the surrounding circumstances, they had decided to allow the existing practices of CFD issuers to continue pending the review. Although a significant percentage of trades in Irish shares was associated with CFD contracts, Irish share-based CFD business was a small fraction of the overall CFD business conducted by the London firms concerned. The Commissioners further advised that, in those circumstances and given the likelihood of that business transferring to non-Irish shares, it was unlikely that there would be any real loss of stamp duty arising from allowing the existing practices to continue pending the review.
86 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Finance if he has sought a review of the evaluation of tax relief for private hospital investment in view of the decision to permit these hospitals to use public lands adjoining public hospitals; and the way in which this alters the benefit to cost ratios of such projects. [19425/06]
249 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has sought a review of the evaluation of tax relief for private hospital investment in view of the decision to permit these hospitals to use public lands adjoining public hospitals; and the way in which this alters the benefit to cost ratios of such projects. [19700/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 249 together.
The plan for private hospitals in the grounds of public hospitals is designed to be a cost effective way of expanding the supply of beds for public patients. However, there have been no decisions yet in regard to approving any particular proposal. It will be a matter for the HSE to assess any proposals.
The scheme of capital allowances for the construction of private hospitals was reviewed by Indecon Economic Consultants as part of the overall review of property tax incentives in 2005. Indecon consulted widely in the course of their review, including consultations with the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive. Their report was published on 6 February 2006 and is available on the Department of Finance's website. The review recommended that this scheme should continue as there was a need for ongoing investment in private hospitals. The consultants observed that the construction of private hospitals could free beds in public hospitals used by private patients. It should also be noted that the consultants observed that the Government's plan for private hospitals in the grounds of public hospitals is designed to be a cost effective way of expanding supply and if properly managed will increase supply and competition.
The summary of the main findings from Indecon's analysis is as follows:
•There has been an overall increase in planning applications and approvals for private hospitals since 2000 but most have not proceeded to date.
•Most of the extra investment in the sector would either not have been undertaken, or would have taken longer to come on-line in the absence of the tax incentive scheme.
•While it is too early to provide detailed estimates of the impact of the scheme on the supply and on the costs of hospital beds, Indecon believes the scheme has the potential to address supply shortages in the sector and to reduce costs.
Private health care is a long established feature of the system of health care provision in Ireland and acts as a strong complement to the publicly funded system. Private health care provision spans from general practitioner services through private beds in public hospitals and private hospitals to private nursing homes. The Government is committed to exploring fully the scope for the private sector to provide additional capacity in the health system. The key objective is to provide the required extra capacity, whether this is in the public or private sector. A number of Government policies-initiatives support the co-existence of public and private health care such as: the designation of private and semi-private beds in public hospitals; income tax relief on private health insurance premiums; income tax relief on medical-dental expenses; the National Treatment Purchase Fund sources capacity in private hospitals for public patients; and the Tanaiste's policy direction to the Health Service Executive to build private hospitals on public sites thereby freeing up beds for public patients.
87 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Finance his views on recent trends in consumer prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19407/06]
Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 3.8% in April. A large proportion of the rise in the annual inflation rate is due to external factors such as higher oil prices and recent rises in interest rates by the ECB.
On Budget day, my Department forecast that CPI inflation will average 2.7% in 2006. This forecast was calculated using the usual technical assumption of unchanged interest rates. My Department will be publishing new forecasts in the autumn.
88 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance his views on the suggestion that the higher rate of tax should be reduced from 42% to 40%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19296/06]
A reduction in the higher rate of tax is one of a number of ways in which the level of personal taxation may be reduced. The question of such a reduction is a matter for consideration in the context of the annual Budget.
89 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Finance the progress of the State’s purchase of the Blasket Islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16635/06]
The Office of Public Works in conjunction with the Chief State Solicitor's Office is currently attending to the legal issues involved in the purchase. It is expected that letters of offer to the landowners will issue shortly.
90 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he envisages scope for changes in direct and indirect taxation in the course of the next five years; his preferred options in this regard with particular reference to the needs of the economy and delivery of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19311/06]
The Government's approach to taxation and to the delivery of public services is set out in its Agreed Programme for Government and recent Budgets, Finance Bills, Estimates for Public Services and Public Capital Programmes. Our taxation policy is designed to maintain and strengthen the competitive position of the economy , foster economic and social development, and equity, while maintaining a sound fiscal stance. Within these constraints we will continue to concentrate the resources available to us on improving the quality of public services and delivering further real improvements to pensioners and people on low incomes. Decisions on tax changes and levels of expenditure on public services are taken in the context of the Government budgetary processes and in accordance with the appropriate Oireachtas procedures. In accordance with long-standing practice it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any future possible budget changes.
91 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the review or surveillance which is taking place of persons who have declared themselves to be non-resident for tax purposes but who are continuously present here; the estimate of the number of such high net worth persons claiming non-residency for tax purposes; the estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of non-residency as a tax avoidance mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19266/06]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that inquiries relating to residence are a feature of the risk based programmes operated by Revenue. The procedures adopted in relation to validating a claim to non-residence status depend on the circumstances in each case. The administration of the validation procedures is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners and the methods used to verify claims to non-residence include a range of tests and an intelligence dimension which for obvious reasons they do not publicise.
However, in relation to the work carried out by the High Wealth Individuals Unit of Revenue as one dimension of its risk-based programme for 2005, the Commissioners have advised me that they have no reason to conclude that there is failure to comply with the statutory rules governing non-residence status. They will continue to include examination of a cross-section of cases where there is a claim to non-residence status in their risk-based programmes.
I am also informed by the Revenue Commissioners that it is not possible at present to identify the number of Irish domiciled persons claiming to be non-resident for tax purposes. Income tax returns for 2002 onwards request data from self-employed taxpayers in relation to their residence and domicile status. This is however not captured electronically which means it is not practicable to derive global statistics in relation to claims to non-residence status. The Revenue Commissioners are currently looking at means of capturing this data electronically in the future which will make it practicable to derive such statistics.
I would remind the Deputy that Irish citizens who are non-resident for tax purposes are obliged to file Irish tax returns only in respect of:
—income arising in Ireland e.g. income from directorships, rents etc. and
— gains from the disposals of land, buildings and certain other assets in the State.
There is no statutory obligation on them to return details of income or gains arising anywhere else in the world. Therefore it is not possible to establish the amount of these incomes or gains or of any associated tax.
92 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Finance his expectations for the capacity of the economy to sustain increases in public spending over the coming three years; and the way in which this should relate to the growth of income and the growth of tax revenue in those years. [19409/06]
The Government's budgetary strategy is based on the objective of continued budgetary sustainability both in the medium-term and the long-run, in line with the requirements of the Stability and Growth Pact.
This Government considers that prudent fiscal policies underpin competitiveness, support growth and create flexibility to respond effectively to economic shocks. Of particular importance is the need to ensure that public expenditure growth is sustainable and broadly in line with available resources and, within this, to increase the level of investment needed to tackle the economy's infrastructure deficit.
To maintain the broadly positive outlook for our economy, we will maintain the firm and disciplined approach to national budgetary policy that has been a keystone in our recent economic prosperity.
93 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Finance the action he intends to take to address the negative impact of the significant increase in the rate of inflation for the fourth month running; if it is not timely for more State intervention in view of the fact that increases have been driven largely by higher energy costs leading to price increases in sectors that are largely controlled by the State; and his views on whether inflation will average 2.7% in 2006. [19204/06]
Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 3.8 per cent in April. A large proportion of the rise in the annual inflation rate is due to external factors such as higher oil prices and recent rises in interest rates by the ECB.
Higher energy costs largely reflect the trend in international energy prices. The Government has no control over international energy price developments.
On Budget day, my Department forecast that CPI inflation will average 2.7 per cent in 2006. This forecast was calculated using the usual technical assumption of unchanged interest rates. The Department will be publishing new forecasts in the Autumn.
94 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Finance his assessment of the housing market; and the levels of personal debt and their capacity to destabilise economic progress. [19395/06]
Residential construction has grown rapidly in recent times. Supply of housing has increased in response to strong levels of demand, which, in turn, have arisen from a number of fundamental demographic and economic factors. Total completions in 2005 reached an historic high of about 81 thousand units. Construction employment growth was also particularly strong in 2005 and now accounts for one in eight jobs.
As acknowledged in the Stability Programme Update published with the 2006 Budget, the fact that construction presently accounts for an historically high proportion of economic output and employment implies that the economy is vulnerable to any shock affecting this sector.
A high proportion of household indebtedness in Ireland relates to borrowing for house-purchase which, in turn, involves the acquisition of an asset for the households. In the same way, borrowing by the business sector generally underpins investment, and the creation of business assets yielding future income. It therefore reflects the strong performance of the economy and confidence in Ireland's economic prospects.
While the pattern of mortgage growth and associated debt levels in the economy are supported by a range of fundamental factors such as growing employment, rising real incomes, favourable demographics and low inflation and interest rates, the Central Bank at the publication of their latest Quarterly Bulletin, highlighted the need for borrowers and lenders to take account of the current very low level of interest rates and the fact that this situation cannot continue indefinitely. I share the view that both borrowers and lenders need to factor into their financial decision-making the prospective impact of potential changes in the future economic environment.
Finally, as far as overall economic and financial stability is concerned, an overall measure of credit encompasses both public and private sector credit and debt levels. The Minister for Finance has a key role in this regard in ensuring prudent management of the budget and overall sustainability in the public finances. In this context, Ireland's fiscal performance is among the best in the developed world with Government indebtedness the second-lowest in the euro area. Responsible budgetary policy has made a significant contribution to economic performance overall and to the achievement of record employment levels.
95 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Finance his plans to ensure that financial institutions that offer a credit card service here provide a facility known as dynamic currency conversion, whereby credit cards used in a different currency area have the transaction calculated at the exact time of the transaction; his proposals to bring forward legislation to deal with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19433/06]
140 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the number of financial institutions that offer a credit card service here; the number of these which provide a facility know as dynamic currency conversion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19434/06]
267 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the way in which the exchange rate is calculated on a credit card transaction in an area of different currency, for example the United States; the stage at which it occurs; if it occurs at the point of the transaction during the same day or is it around the day of the transaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19444/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 140 and 267 together.
The range of services offered by credit card providers to subscribing retailers and cardholders is primarily a matter of private contract, and I have no legislative role in specifying the form of those services. Commercial considerations such as demand, cost and technical feasibility will influence the range of features offered by providers at any given time, and the take-up of these features by retailers and cardholders.
Currently seven regulated financial institutions provide credit cards in Ireland; some of these also provide services through other financial institutions. The service referred to by the Deputy is I understand a commercial option which may be offered to retailers but neither my Department nor the Financial Regulator has any statistics on the number of institutions that offer the service. However, the Financial Regulator has advised my Department that a small percentage of point of sale terminals offer cardholders the option of having their transaction converted into their home currency at the time the transaction is undertaken. In this instance the rate applied is the rate prevailing on the day of the transaction.
The rules governing currency conversion on credit cards are set by the international card payment schemes such as Visa and MasterCard. Credit card providers, such as financial institutions in Ireland, are required to comply with the rules of these schemes. I understand that the rate of exchange applied to credit card transactions undertaken outside of the euro area is set each morning under the rules of the international card payment schemes with reference to the prevailing international rate of exchange. As currency markets are volatile, these rates are likely to change daily. The amount of the transaction is converted into euro at the rate of exchange on the date that the transaction is debited to the customer's credit card account. The rules governing the conversion of foreign currency transactions should be itemised in the terms and conditions that accompany the credit card account.
96 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Finance his plans to set targets in respect of public service employment over the three years 2006-2008. [19397/06]
The policy on numbers employed in the public service has succeeded in cutting back on the rapid rise in public service employment in the period 1997 to 2002. This took place at a time of significant increases both in employment in the economy generally and in the population with the corresponding increased demand for public services.
Numbers employed in the Civil Service, Defence, Local Authority and non-commercial state-sponsored sectors have been reduced by 3,700 and the target for this group has been exceeded. However, original targets in the Health and Education sectors have not been met because the Government has been prepared to increase numbers to meet priority needs in frontline and essential services, for example, new health units and the disability area in the Health sector, Special Needs Teachers in the education system and to increase the number of Gardaí; this is in line with the approach stated when the policy was launched.
Going forward, the Government has decided to continue to control and regulate numbers in the public service within the following agreed ceilings.
|
Civil service [non-industrials and industrials] |
37,700 |
|
Non-commercial state-sponsored bodies |
9,600 |
|
Local authorities |
33,300 |
|
Defence Forces |
11,400 |
|
Garda Síochána |
14,000 |
Given the nature and demands of the health and education sectors further consultation is taking place between my Department and the relevant Departments before consideration is given to setting appropriate employment level ceilings in these sectors.
It is important that an appropriate balance is struck between the need, on the one hand, to provide resources to improve front-line services and the need, on the other to control and regulate overall numbers in the context of providing value for money for the public expenditure involved.
97 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the estimated number and percentage of income earners who are paying tax at the higher rate and the standard rate for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19278/06]
141 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance the expected distribution of income earners for income tax payments for 2005 broken down in number and percentage terms into the categories of exempt, marginal relief, standard rate and higher rate; the comparative figures for each year from 1998 to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19295/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 141 together.
The Deputies might wish to note that in the period in question, average tax rates have fallen for all categories of taxpayer and, for 2006, an unprecedented number of low paid income earners are projected to be outside the tax net altogether. In addition, the latest OECD data relating to the year 2005 indicate that for the single worker on average earnings, Ireland has the lowest tax wedge in the EU and one of the lowest in the OECD. For a married one earner couple with two children on average earnings, Ireland has the lowest tax wedge in the entire OECD.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the information requested by the Deputies is set out in the following table:
|
Tax Year |
Exempt |
Marginal Relief |
Standard Rate |
Higher rate |
All Cases |
||||
|
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
|
|
1998/1999 |
397,900 |
25.1 |
73,700 |
4.7 |
631,300 |
39.8 |
482,000 |
30.4 |
1,584,900 |
|
1999/2000 |
458,700 |
27.5 |
20,500 |
1.2 |
645,000 |
38.7 |
543,000 |
32.6 |
1,667,200 |
|
2000/2001 |
502,400 |
28.5 |
15,800 |
0.9 |
706,300 |
40.0 |
540,400 |
30.6 |
1,765,000 |
|
2001† |
528,000 |
29.5 |
7,500 |
0.4 |
719,500 |
40.2 |
535,000 |
29.9 |
1,790,000 |
|
2002 |
632,700 |
33.6 |
13,700 |
0.7 |
731,800 |
38.8 |
506,800 |
26.9 |
1,885,000 |
|
2003* |
659,400 |
34.2 |
19,500 |
1.0 |
688,400 |
35.7 |
559,500 |
29.0 |
1,926,900 |
|
2004* |
685,100 |
34.5 |
18,700 |
0.9 |
641,800 |
32.3 |
641,100 |
32.3 |
1,986,800 |
|
2005* |
721,400 |
35.6 |
17,100 |
0.8 |
624,000 |
30.8 |
666,400 |
32.9 |
2,028,900 |
|
2006* |
741,100 |
35.9 |
15,700 |
0.8 |
647,500 |
31.4 |
658,100 |
31.9 |
2,062,400 |
*Provisional and likely to be revised.
†Short tax "year" from 6 April 2001 to 31 December 2001.
The percentages in the table are expressed in terms of numbers of all income earners on the income tax record. The figures for numbers of income earners have been rounded to the nearest hundred and any apparent discrepancies are due to rounding of constituent figures. The figures for the years 1998/99 to 2002 inclusive are based on incomes data derived from income tax returns held on Revenue records and have been grossed up to an overall expected level to adjust for incompleteness in the numbers of returns on record at the time the data were extracted for analytical purposes.
For the years 2003 to 2006, the figures are estimates derived from the Revenue tax forecasting model using actual data for the year 2002 adjusted to reflect actual or estimated growth in employment and wages for the year in question.
From the 1999/2000 tax year onwards, the personal credits, formerly allowances, and employee credit, formerly PAYE allowance, are deducted after tax is calculated rather than before the tax calculation, as was previously the case. This should be taken into account in comparing numbers for 1999/2000 and later years with the 1998/99 tax year. A married couple which has elected or has been deemed to have elected for joint assessment is counted as one tax unit.
98 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent increase in inflation to a three year high of 3.8% in April 2006 and the warnings that it could hit 5% by the end of 2006; if his Department has done an assessment of the likely implications for the economy of the increase in inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19261/06]
Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 3.8% in April. A large proportion of the rise in the annual inflation rate is due to external factors such as higher oil prices and recent rises in interest rates by the ECB. On the assumption of unchanged interest rates, I expect inflation to moderate in the second half of the year.
Higher inflation would lead to a deterioration in our competitiveness. The Government is doing its bit to contain inflation by implementing responsible fiscal policies. In addition, we have not increased excise duties for the last two years, and we are promoting greater price competition by removing the Groceries Order. We are also looking for a reasonable wage deal in order to maintain and improve our international competitiveness. We are investing in public infrastructure which will enhance our ability to produce more goods and services and keep inflation down in the process.
99 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Finance his views on the statement by the Information Commissioner that use of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 has dropped to an all time low with only 1,000 FOI requests made in 2005 by journalists and her belief that this has been caused by the continued exclusion of a number of public bodies from the scope of the Act and by the introduction of fees in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19269/06]
Latest figures show that over 14,600 FOI requests were made in 2005 compared to about 12,600 in 2004. The number of FOI requests made by journalists has also increased. According to the Information Commissioner's recent Annual Report, 963 requests were made by journalists in 2005, compared with 870 in 2004.
The level of FOI requests being made by journalists is still down on that witnessed in 2003 and previous years. I would not attribute this reduction to the fact that certain bodies are not subject to FOI. It would appear that the introduction of an ‘up-front' fee of €15 in July 2003 has had an impact on the number of FOI requests being made by journalists. I have no proposals to review this fee, which I consider to be very modest when set against the cost of administering FOI requests. I certainly do not consider the fee to be a major deterrent to usage of the FOI Act by journalists.
100 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on his address of 29 April 2006 to the consultative general meeting of the Irish League of Credit Unions. [19289/06]
In my address to the Consultative General Meeting (CGM) of the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) on 29 April 2006, I acknowledged the success of the credit union movement in Ireland and the opportunities and challenges for the future. In that context, I noted the important role of the legislative and regulatory framework in influencing the future development of the credit union model.
I made clear in my address that I have no preconceptions regarding the shape of the model for the future development of credit unions and that all proposals for changes in the legislative framework will be assessed on their merits drawing on the advice of the Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC) the expert advisory body on credit union matters under the Credit Union Act — and key stakeholders such as the League.
In terms of the regulation of the credit unions, I emphasised that all stakeholders recognise that strong prudential standards are a prerequisite to the growth and development of credit unions and that strong dialogue is a prerequisite for regulatory policy that is evidence-based and effective, and for regulatory practice that conforms to the highest international standards.
I outlined to the CGM progress in implementing the Social Finance Initiative announced in Budget 2006, drawing attention to the long-established role of credit unions in combating financial exclusion in rural and disadvantaged areas and the innovative programmes of social investment undertaken by certain credit unions. I provided an update to the CGM on progress in relation to a number of current issues of concern to credit unions:
•the investment framework;
•regulatory and legislative changes; and
•limits on longer-term lending by credit unions.
In relation to the reform of the League's Savings Protection Scheme (SPS), I confirmed that from a public policy perspective, the overarching priority is to have legal certainty regarding the protection of savers in credit unions and indicated that the next step was to assess the League's current set of proposals against the objectives set for savings protection arrangements by CUAC's report on SPS and the Annual Reports of the Registrar.
In conclusion, as set out in my address to the CGM, it is essential to strike an appropriate balance between the need to facilitate credit unions in adapting effectively to the changes taking place in society and in the financial sector, while also maintaining appropriate standards of prudential supervision, with a view to supporting the long-term sustainability of the credit union movement in Ireland.
101 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the implications for the economy of the expected increase in interest rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19285/06]
Interest rates are currently very low in historical terms, and the recent increases would appear to have had a limited impact on the economy so far. Future impacts depend on future increases and on the state of the EU and world economy generally at the time.
102 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to address the concerns raised in the report Outsourcing Government Public Bodies and Accountability published by TASC, in particular the call for ensuring that accountability legislation is applied fully to all bodies responsible for public functions and that exceptions are in accordance with clear criteria agreed in an open, transparent and accountable manner. [19211/06]
I have always been willing to consider matters relevant to my Ministerial responsibilities which have been raised in this House or elsewhere and where appropriate to take steps to allay any concerns which prove to be soundly based. I understand that the report to which the Deputy refers was published only last week and is relatively wide-ranging. I will have it examined and its conclusions considered in so far as they concern matters for which I have responsibility. The question of what, if any, steps might be appropriate can then be addressed.
103 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether there should be regulation of home reversion products whereby older people sell part of the house to release equity. [19410/06]
Home reversion products primarily involve the sale of a part of the interest in a property. Unlike Equity Release Mortgages they do not constitute a financial service that would be subject to supervision by the Financial Regulator. However, I recognise that there are strong similarities in purpose and procedures between both types of transactions and that both products appear to compete for the same customers.
I am also aware that the question of regulating the providers of these products was discussed with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service by the then Chief Executive of the Financial Regulator.
In view of the above considerations, my Department together with the Financial Regulator and the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is undertaking a review to establish whether or not home reversion products and/or their providers should be regulated.
104 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons, companies and trusts being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the Clerical Medical Insurance, NIB inquiry at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of cases where settlements have been agreed; the amount paid to date; the number of cases outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19281/06]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that arising from the Clerical Medical Insurance/NIB inquiry, 465 cases have been targeted for investigation.
To date, 308 cases have been settled on payment of tax, interest and penalties amounting to a total of €53.82 m. A further 122 cases have been finalised with no additional liability arising. The remaining 35 cases are the subject of ongoing investigation, in respect of which €3.24 m has been paid on account.
In the course of 2003, three cases were prosecuted, with fines being imposed in two cases and a suspended sentence imposed in the other. The individuals concerned have also settled their tax affairs and paid the outstanding tax, together with interest and penalties. A further case is currently under investigation with a view to prosecution.
Aggregate results of the ongoing investigations have been published each year since 1998 in the annual reports of the Revenue Commissioners. Individual details of settlements have also been published where the provisions of Section 1086 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 applied.
105 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken to ensure that public service contracts are awarded only to those companies that meet minimum standards in terms of pay, working conditions and pension entitlements, in view of the disclosures of underpayments to foreign workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19294/06]
Public procurement guidelines issued by my Department require contracting authorities to ensure that tenderers have regard to minimum pay and other legally binding industrial or sectoral agreements when preparing tenders and that tender documents should have an appropriate reference to this.
Regulations to transpose recently revised EU Directives on public procurement, currently being finalised, will require contracting authorities to indicate to tenderers where information on obligations relating to employment protection and working conditions legally in force in Ireland may be obtained. Tenderers will then be requested to indicate that in drawing up their tenders they have taken these obligations into account. Contracting authorities will be required to disregard any tenderer that fails to indicate compliance with this requirement.
New draft forms for construction contracts, which are the subject of consultation with the construction industry, include provisions that require contractors to ensure that pay and conditions of employment comply with the law and are not less favourable than the terms of the Registered Employment Agreements for those employees to whom the agreements apply. The new draft contracts also include a provision which gives some support to strengthening enforcement arrangements in the construction sector.
106 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the amount of stamp duty raised on premiums made by motor insurance policyholders in 2005; the estimated revenue in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19276/06]
There is a 2% stamp duty that is charged on most non-life insurance premiums and is part of the normal stamp duty system. The exceptions are re-insurance, voluntary health insurance, marine, aviation and transit insurance and export credit insurance. It was introduced in 1982.
The yield over recent years has been as follows:
|
Year |
Yield (€m) |
|
2000 |
57.0 |
|
2001 |
69.1 |
|
2002 |
87.2 |
|
2003 |
99.7 |
|
2004 |
97.7 |
|
2005 |
90.8 |
The budgeted yield in 2006 is €90m.
It is not possible to distinguish between the different types of insurance business within the yield from the non-life levy. The purpose of the non-life levy is to broaden the stamp duty base while maintaining low direct tax rates.
108 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the work of IFSRA and in particular the measures being taken to ensure that SSIA customers are not subjected to pressure from banks and financial institutions through concentrated advertisements when sending out the SSIA four form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19290/06]
As part of its consumer protection role, the Financial Regulator reviewed a sample of SSIA documents sent by financial institutions to their customers to see that they are clear and transparent. Some financial institutions had, along with the SSIA4 form, sent other documents to their customers, including direct debit mandates and forms for other savings products. The Financial Regulator was concerned that this could result in some consumers signing and returning these documents, without realising they are committing to further saving or signing up for a new financial product. The Financial Regulator has received the co-operation of the financial institutions in amending the literature being sent to customers and it should be clear to customers that the only document that they are required to sign and return to the SSIA providers is the SSIA4 form.
In recent weeks the Financial Regulator issued a warning to savers to carefully read all letters and forms they receive from their account providers before signing anything.
Overall, the Financial Regulator monitors general media advertisements to ensure compliance with the Regulator's Advertising Guidelines, under which advertisements must be fair and not mislead the consumer. In addition, the Financial Regulator's strategy for 2006 includes a commitment to undertake an information initiative to coincide with the maturity of SSIAs. This initiative commenced earlier this year with the publication of the Consumer Information "Little Black Book on SSIAs", which provides guidance to consumers on the issues that may arise as their SSIAs mature.
109 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the findings of a report, The Distributional Impact of Ireland’s Indirect Tax System, published in May 2006 by the Combat Poverty Agency which showed that the indirect tax system is regressive, with households in the lower decile paying out 21% of their income in indirect taxes while households in the top decile pay out 9.6% of their income this way; the action he will take regarding the report’s recommendations to ensure progressivity elsewhere in the tax system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19267/06]
147 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to take steps to reform VAT or excise duty in view of the findings of the recent Combat Poverty Agency study which showed that those in the bottom tenth of income earners pay more than 20% of their gross income in indirect taxes while those in the top 10% pay less than half that amount. [19207/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 147 together.
I reject entirely the Deputies allegations about the role and equity of the indirect tax system. A simple look at the facts will show that the conclusions in the report referred to are misdirected.
Firstly, there is no VAT on the main low income items such as food, oral medicines, children's shoes and clothing. Secondly, most excise revenue (60%) comes from excises on petrol, diesel and cars. These are not items that low income groups spend most on. As far as the remaining 40% of excise revenue, this comes from duties on tobacco and alcohol where there are solid health grounds for using the tax system to discourage consumption.
Thirdly, there are special reliefs in the VAT and Excise system for medical and other equipment for the disabled. There is no VAT on public transport and diesel used in buses and trains is subject to reduced rates of excise. Most public services are not liable to VAT.
Furthermore the report referred to is simply wrong when it claims that we are relying more on indirect taxation now than in the past as the following table will show.
|
1964/5 |
1975 |
1985 |
1995 |
2005 |
|
|
Tax |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
VAT1 |
7 |
19 |
25 |
26 |
31 |
|
Customs and Excise |
53 |
36 |
25 |
21 |
14 |
|
Income Tax |
26 |
36 |
38 |
36 |
29 |
|
Corporation Tax |
5 |
3 |
4 |
10 |
14 |
|
Capital Taxes |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
13 |
|
Other2 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
1. Turnover Tax in 1965.
2. Includes Road tax (from 1964/5), Agricultural levies (from 1975), Income/Youth employment levy (1985), Employment and Training Levy (1995).
In fact, we are relying far less on indirect taxation than before, with the gap being made up by greater revenue yield from company tax and taxes on capital and property.
The Report, in my view misses many of the big issues in indirect taxation. In fact, every effort is made, as far as EU law will permit, to reduce the incidence of VAT and Excise on low incomes, but, by their nature, such taxes are not direct taxes on income (this is why they are called indirect taxes) and cannot be easily related to one's ability to pay, however good one's intent. If one wishes to off set any claimed distributional effects, the proper focus is more on the expenditure side of the Budget.
110 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has undertaken a study of the implications for house prices as SSIAs mature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19286/06]
My Department has been analysing the potential effects of the maturing of the SSIA scheme on the economy. The impact will crucially depend on how the savings and the monthly subscriptions are used. Unfortunately, projecting the likely spend-save ratio is a difficult task, not least because it is not possible to draw on previous domestic experience as a basis for anticipating the effect.
Nevertheless, the analysis of previous international experience, economic theory, as well as the findings of various surveys undertaken domestically would tend to suggest that, upon maturity, a large portion of existing savings will continue to be saved. In these circumstances, it is not expected that the maturing of the SSIAs will have a determining effect on house prices.
111 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Finance if arrangements will be made that the Information Commissioner is consulted in assessing the merits of extending the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to the Vocational Educational Committees, IFSRA, Adoption Board, the Garda Síochána and so on in order that the Ministers and Government have access to the full range of expertise available in making such decisions. [19400/06]
I have no proposals for the Information Commissioner to be consulted in relation to the merits of extending the FOI Act to the bodies mentioned by the Deputy.
112 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the status of the decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19087/06]
I would like to state the Government's full commitment to the decentralisation programme.
The Decentralisation Implementation Group chaired by Mr. Finbarr Flood was established to drive the process forward and to oversee its effective delivery. The Group, recognising that it would not be feasible for all organisations to move at the same time, proposed phasing arrangements and revised timeframes out to 2009 for civil service organisations. These arrangements were accepted by Government and announced in June of last year and I am satisfied that good progress continues to be made.
I understand that the Decentralisation Implementation Group has met with a number of Secretaries General and are satisfied with the level of planning in each of the Departments. The Group is currently meeting with the Chief Executives of a number of State Agencies to discuss the planning framework in place, to assess progress to date and to hear about the challenges arising and steps proposed to address them.
The figures confirm that this is a popular programme among staff. Over 10,600 civil and public servants have applied to the Central Applications Facility.
To date some 1,500 people have been assigned to posts destined for new locations and are currently being trained in their new role in readiness to move. So far, some 200 of these have actually relocated and it is expected that up to 1,000 will have moved by the end of the year.
Many staff have opted to move to locations outside of Dublin while others have indicated that they wish to be assigned to posts remaining in Dublin. The Government is committed to facilitating those who wish to remain with a public service post in Dublin.
There is an extensive range of preparations underway in relation to the acquisition of property by the OPW, as well as the detailed implementation planning within individual Departments, Offices and Agencies, and ongoing discussions with unions in relation to the various human resource aspects of the programme.
As always when dealing with a programme of this size there are challenges to overcome but I remain confident that these can be addressed with the active co-operation of all parties involved in the implementation effort.
113 Mr. McEntee asked the Minister for Finance his ambitions for the current round of social partnership talks. [19401/06]
As the Deputy is aware talks on a new national partnership agreement to follow Sustaining Progress are ongoing and it would be imprudent to make any detailed statement at this stage about these talks which cover a wide range of issues.
However, I might reiterate what I have said recently and that is that we can only pay ourselves what productivity allows if we are to maintain our competitiveness. We cannot pay ourselves wage increases based also on our inflation rate where this is out of line with our competitors.
Fundamentally, the cornerstone of a new agreement must be the protection of the long-term competitiveness of the country. If pay increases under the next agreement are not kept at a moderate level and do not take account of pay levels in competitor countries, we will see job losses in vulnerable parts of the private sector.
115 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date with regard to the plan announced in Budget 2006 for the establishment of a €100 million fund for social finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19287/06]
As I set out in my reply to Question No. 60 on 30 March 2006, the aim of the initiative is to give an impetus to the development of, and make a real contribution to expanding, Social Finance provision in Ireland. The Social Finance initiative will, therefore, complement the wide range of measures that are currently in place to promote and assist community infrastructure and local development, including the development of micro-enterprises.
A practical model for social finance funding is currently being developed. The intention is to keep the administrative structures as light as possible, consistent with meeting the objectives of the initiative, and ensuring that the funds are used effectively on a value-for-money basis. With a view to developing an effective model my Department has, to date, consulted with a number of public, private and voluntary bodies currently involved or with interests in this area, in addition to its discussions with the banking community.
A key priority is early implementation of the initiative. This will provide the opportunity to market test particular options, which can in turn inform the further development of the social finance initiative. To this end my Department, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, is developing proposals for Government on the appropriate legal framework which would clarify the objectives, roles and functions of the investment vehicle, establish the type of delivery structure judged most suitable to the requirements of social finance, and also deal with such matters as governance and accountability arrangements.
As far as the potential sources of funding for social finance provision are concerned, there has been a positive reaction from the banking community to my invitation to support the initiative. However, as I set out in reply to Question No. 53 on 28 February 2006, the sum of €100 million referred to by the Deputy is not accurate. The banks have committed to contribute seed capital funding of €25 million to the initiative.
116 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he has had discussions with the Department of Social and Family Affairs regarding the absence of a source of recourse for employees in the event of a dispute between an employer and an employee under an income continuance scheme leaving employees uncovered by a regulator or ombudsman. [19213/06]
My Department received correspondence on this issue yesterday from the Department of Social And Family Affairs and will be arranging discussions on the issues raised in relation to income continuance plans.
The Deputy may be interested to note that Insurance Undertakings providing income continuance policies are regulated by the Financial Regulator. As such the provisions of the proposed Consumer Protection Code will apply to the sale of such policies. The code will issue in July and will take effect shortly thereafter. At present the Interim Code of Practice for Insurance Undertakings and the Handbooks for Multi Agency Intermediaries and Authorised Advisors apply to the sale of all insurance products, including income continuance policies.
117 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the criteria to be fulfilled for a person to receive the one parent family credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19431/06]
126 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the number of people in receipt of the one parent family tax credit; the cost to the Exchequer of this tax credit for each year since the year 2003 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19432/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 126 together.
The one parent family tax credit is a credit that can be claimed by a single parent (whether widowed, single, deserted, separated or divorced) who has a dependent child resident with him/her for the whole or part of the relevant tax year.
A child includes a child of the claimant, a stepchild, a formally adopted child, an informally adopted child or any child (who is not a child of the claimant) of whom the claimant has custody and maintains at his or her own expense.
A child is regarded as a dependant to the claimant if he or she is:
•born during the tax year or is under 18 years at the beginning of the year.
•over 18 years and receiving full-time education or undergoing a full-time training course for a trade or profession for a minimum of two years; or
•permanently incapacitated either physically or mentally from maintaining himself or herself and become so before reaching 21 years of age (or had become permanently incapacitated after reaching the age of 21 years but while he or she had been receiving full-time education).
The one-parent family tax credit is not due in the case of an unmarried cohabiting couple or in the case of an individual who is entitled to the married person's tax credit.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the one parent family tax credit, and the associated numbers of income earners availing of it, are as set out in the following table:
|
Tax Year |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
Cost to Exchequer |
€145m |
€150m |
€160m |
|
Numbers availing |
104,700 |
107,900 |
110,200 |
* (Figures are rounded, provisional and subject to revision).
The numbers availing of the credit represent income earners who were in a position to absorb at least some of the one parent family tax credit and thereby give rise to an Exchequer cost. They do not include the numbers of potential claimants whose entitlements to other tax credits were sufficient to reduce their liability to tax to nil. A married couple who has elected or has been deemed to have elected for joint assessment is counted as one tax unit.
The figures shown in the table are estimates which are derived from the Revenue tax forecasting model using actual data for the year 2002 adjusted to reflect actual or estimated growth in employment and wages for the year in question.
118 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance his views on the Information Commissioners call for more openness in relation to records held by the public service. [19422/06]
The Government is firmly committed to ensuring openness and transparency in relation to information held by public bodies, consistent with the right to privacy and the public interest. These principles are enshrined in the Freedom of Information [FOI] Act and have been central to the modernisation programme of the last decade and more. Since April 1998, FOI has been extended from 67 bodies to approximately 380 today. The Act will shortly be extended to 137 more bodies. Public bodies are proactively releasing much more information either directly or indirectly as a result of the FOI Act and other changes introduced under the public service modernisation programme.
119 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Finance the VAT receipts to the end of April 2006; the comparative figures for each year from 1998 to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19298/06]
Exchequer receipts for VAT to end-April 2006 amounted to €4,409 million. This was 11.6 per cent ahead of the same period last year but 2 per cent below the target for end-April published by my Department on 1 February last.
Details of the Exchequer VAT receipts to end-April (to the nearest € million) for each of the other years specified by the Deputy are as follows:
|
Year |
€m |
|
1998 |
1,741 |
|
1999 |
1,960 |
|
2000 |
2,389 |
|
2001 |
2,659 |
|
2002 |
2,908 |
|
2003 |
3,267 |
|
2004 |
3,479 |
|
2005 |
3,952 |
120 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Finance if statutory bodies are encouraged to advertise the services of private-sector companies; if advertising by statutory bodies is regulated; if his attention has been drawn to whether any statutory bodies advertise goods or services provided by the private sector; the type of advertisement undertaken by statutory bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19209/06]
It may be appropriate for certain commercial State Bodies to advertise as mentioned, having regard to their commercial remit. The same reasons might not generally apply in relation to non-commercial State or Statutory Bodies. However, the activities of such Bodies are a matter for the relevant body itself, taking account of its statutory remit, its governance structure and the Code of Ethics for Public Bodies.
If the Deputy has a particular issue in mind, he might wish to bring it to the attention of the appropriate Minister responsible for the body.
121 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm reports that several Departments are under-spending on their capital allocations; the Departments that reported under-spends to April 2006; the size of the under-spend in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19270/06]
Exchequer returns showed that net capital spending by Departments and Offices at end April 2006 of €941m inclusive of €240m in capital carryover was €103 million or 10% behind profile. The Departments which mainly account for this underspend are: Health Service Executive — an underspend of €43m, Environment — an underspend of €34m, both due to timing factors; OPW — an underspend of €11m due to slower than anticipated spending on decentralization; Agriculture — an underspend of €11m due to lower than anticipated spend on the Afforestation Programme. At this stage Departments are reporting that they expect capital expenditure in 2006 to be generally in line with the Estimates provision.
122 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to commission research into the practices and extent of doorstep credit here in view of the dangers it presents for low income earners who do not have access to conventional banking services. [19212/06]
Under the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003 the Financial Regulator exercises important consumer protection powers under the Consumer Credit Act 1995, including the licensing of money lenders. The Act also provides for monitoring by the Regulator of the provision of credit to consumers.
The Financial Regulator is committed under its Strategic Plan 2006 to undertake a review of the moneylending industry including the moneylending licensing process. The target date for completion of this review is September 2006.
My Department has been informed by the Financial Regulator that the scope of this review will encompass the practices and extent of doorstep credit. It will therefore provide a basis for further examination by the Regulator of the issue raised by the Deputy. In the circumstances, there is no requirement at this time to commission further research on this issue.
123 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons, the locations and Departments involved under the decentralisation of civil servants and of State agencies which will be completed by the end of 2006; and if he has sought an assessment of the quality of the planning of this programme which is now so far off target. [19423/06]
The Decentralisation Implementation Group was established to drive the Decentralisation Programme forward and to oversee its effective delivery. In 2005 the Group, recognising that it would not be feasible for all organisations to move at the same time, proposed phasing arrangements and revised timeframes out to 2009 for civil service organisations. These arrangements were accepted by Government and announced in June of last year and I am satisfied that good progress continues to be made.
I understand that the Decentralisation Implementation Group has met with a number of Secretaries General to discuss their Implementation plans and are satisfied with the level of planning in each of the Departments. The Group is currently meeting with the Chief Executives of a number of State Agencies to discuss the planning framework in place, to assess progress to date and to hear about the challenges arising and steps proposed to address them.
To date, a small number of advance moves have already taken place to locations outside of Dublin as follows:
|
Location |
Organisation |
Number of staff |
|
Sligo |
Social and Family Affairs |
18 |
|
Portlaoise |
Agriculture and Food |
115 |
|
Thurles |
Garda HQ (part of) |
34 |
|
Tipperary Town |
Private Security Authority (Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform) |
12 |
|
Na Forbacha |
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs |
5 |
|
Clifden |
Pobal |
10 |
In addition to these moves a number of civil servants, who applied on the Central Applications Facility, have moved to locations where Departments had offices prior to the announcement of the current programme.
It is expected that up to 1,000 people will have decentralised under the current programme by end 2006 / early 2007. This figure includes some 65 posts in the Department of Agriculture which is going to Portlaoise, 130 posts in my own Department which is going to Tullamore, and 150 Revenue Commissioners posts which are going to the mid-west.
A number of organisations are being progressive in seeking advance or temporary accommodation to facilitate early moves. The following table shows details of the advance accommodation requests currently with the Office of Public Works. Depending on the availability of accommodation these moves are expected to take place by end 2006.
|
Location |
Organisation |
No. of Spaces |
|
Newcastle West |
Revenue |
50 |
|
Thurles |
Justice (Garda Fines Office) |
70 |
|
Knock |
Community, Rural & Gaeltacht |
70 |
|
Cavan |
Communications, Marine & NR |
44 |
|
Clonakilty |
Communications, Marine & NR |
90 |
|
Loughrea |
Transport (Road Safety Authority) |
50 |
|
Killarney |
Arts, Sports and Tourism |
60 |
|
Portarlington |
Justice (Data Protection Comm) |
22 |
|
Portarlington |
Education (NEWB) |
12 |
|
Roscommon |
Land Registry |
60 |
|
Carlow |
Enterprise, Trade & Employment |
80 |
|
Athy |
Revenue |
100 |
|
Claremorris |
OPW |
25 |
|
Dundalk |
SEI |
To be finalised |
125 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Finance the number of special savings investment scheme accounts opened at the latest date for which figures are available; the average amount of savings per investor per month; if, on the basis of such figures, his Department will provide a figure for the likely cost to the Exchequer of the special savings investment scheme, when the first payments will become due; the amount expected to be paid out by the Exchequer in each of the first 12 months after the SSIA matures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19282/06]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that based on preliminary declarations by all qualifying savings managers, the total number of active accounts at 31 December 2005 was 1,082,265 and the average monthly subscription was €196. This is the latest date for which figures are available. The Revenue Commissioners are currently processing SSIA details supplied by financial institutions in their 2005 annual returns. When this processing is complete the analysis of the returns will commence and it is expected to have the results available by the end of June 2006.
The net cost of the scheme in 2005 was €597.4m, with a cumulative cost of €2,181m for all years to end 2005. The cost of the scheme in the first four months of 2006 was €211.1m. As indicated in replies to previous questions, it is not possible to give a definitive answer as to the eventual cost of the scheme as it is subject to a number of variables over the remaining period of the scheme, including where participants voluntarily withdraw from the scheme or vary their monthly contributions over the remainder of the scheme.
The first SSIAs commenced in May 2001 and will mature at the end of May 2006. For the reasons stated above, it is not possible to state the cost to the Exchequer of the scheme in each of the 12 months after the SSIAs begin to mature.
127 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the estimated additional revenue likely to accrue to the Exchequer in terms of excise duties and VAT above the estimates of Budget 2006, arising from the increase in the price of petrol and other oil products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19297/06]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the additional revenue likely to accrue to the Exchequer arising from the increase in the price of petrol and other oil products relates to the VAT portion of the increased price since the start of the year. The revenue collected from mineral oil excises does not fluctuate with price changes. The estimated yield of additional VAT over and above the Budget estimate, assuming that the current prices are maintained for the remainder of the year, and assuming there is no reduction in consumption, is as set out below:
|
€m |
|
|
Petrol |
24.3 |
|
Auto Diesel |
1.6 |
|
Kerosene |
4.3 |
|
MGO |
3.2 |
|
LPG |
0.7 |
|
Total |
34.1 |
It should, however, be borne in mind that to the extent that spending in the economy is re-allocated to petrol and other oil products and away from other VAT liable spending and to the extent that the overall level of economic activity is reduced by higher oil prices, there may be little or no net gain to the Exchequer.
128 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Finance the position of the Government’s policy on decentralisation and relocation; and his views on the impact this policy is having on the morale of several agencies, in particular semi-State bodies. [19205/06]
Firstly I would like to state the Government's full commitment to the decentralisation programme.
There has been a substantial amount of media coverage in recent times in relation to the decentralisation programme. Much of that coverage has been speculative and most of it has been misinformed. This Government is working towards full implementation of the decentralisation programme and I am satisfied with progress to date on a number of fronts including CAF take-up, property acquisition, assignments of staff etc.
In relation to the State Agencies, the Decentralisation Implementation Group took the view that it would not seek to dictate every step in the process to the management of those organisations. Although the Group proposed a group of State Agencies for early mover status it did not include specific timeframes in recognition of this approach and also of the fact that it is the responsibility of the board and senior management of each agency to implement Government policy. The Group stated in its June 2005 report that each agency included in the programme should have a successful relocation as a high level strategic objective and should prepare the next and deeper iteration of its implementation plan. In the meantime, the OPW is continuing to seek property solutions in respect of any agency that requires it.
It is recognised that little progress has been made in advancing agreement between management and trade unions on allowing both public and civil service staff to transfer into State Agencies from the civil service and other State Agencies and vice versa. There has been little substantive engagement to deal with these and other human resource issues relating to the relocation of the organisations concerned. In many State Agencies the number of applicants is influenced at least in part by the overall position on Decentralisation adopted by unions representing staff in those organisations.
Resolution of the outstanding issues is central to the overall implementation process in the State Agencies. There is no question of this element of the Programme not proceeding. From the outset guarantees have been provided at Government level that all those employees not wishing to transfer out of Dublin will be facilitated with an alternative public service post in Dublin. It should prove possible to facilitate the transfers of those public and civil servants who wish, also on a voluntary basis, to relocate to provincial locations.
It is recognised that proposals for inter-organisational mobility go against traditional employment practices but it is precisely this type of ground-breaking initiative which is needed to give impetus to the implementation of the programme. While the Civil Service has had the opportunity to develop an understanding of the decentralisation process over the years, this has not perhaps happened to the same extent with State Agencies.
129 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the ECOFIN meeting of 5 May 2006. [19288/06]
139 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his participation in the meeting of EU Finance Ministers on 5 May 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19438/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 139 together.
I attended the Council of Economics and Finance Ministers of the EU, or Ecofin as it is popularly referred to, in Brussels on 5 May 2006. The meeting was attended by representatives of all 25 EU Member States and of Bulgaria and Romania.
The Council agreed its comments on the economic aspects of the EU's sustainable development strategy. These comments will form part of the input into the meeting of the European Council of Heads of State or Government on 15/16 June. The comments underline the need for proper impact assessments of new investments and the role of market-based instruments in promoting sustainable development.
The Commission presented its preliminary draft of the EU budget for 2007 to the meeting. This is the first annual budget within the new financial framework to guide the EU finances up to 2013, agreed at the December 2005 European Council. The next major step in the process for the 2007 budget will be the Ecofin (Budget) Council's conciliation meeting with a European Parliament delegation on 14 July, after which the Council will adopt its first reading. We will be ensuring that Irish interests are fully safeguarded in these budget negotiations that will be concluded towards the end of the year.
Commission Vice-President Kallas presented the Commission's Action Plan on an integrated internal control framework. This Plan sets out the actions that the Commission considers that the EU needs to take to ensure more effective and efficient control of EU funds. No decisions by Council were required at the meeting, as this was simply a formal presentation of the Plan.
The Austrian Presidency presented a package of measures on three dossiers dealing with VAT arrangements for business. The dossiers concerned were place of supply of services as concerns VAT payments, simplification of cross border VAT obligations and refund procedures, and the prolongation of an EU directive on VAT arrangements for e-commerce. Some Member States raised technical and policy issues which will be discussed further at the 7 June Ecofin.
With regard to financial services, the Council adopted conclusions on financial supervision, on Cross Border Consolidation and on the Commission's White Paper on Financial Services Policy for the 2005-2010 period.
Finally, Ministers participated in a special Ministerial Dialogue with their counterparts from the EU acceding countries, Bulgaria and Romania, and the candidate countries, Croatia and Turkey. Joint conclusions and opinions were issued by Ministers on the basis of the 2005 Pre-Accession Programmes of the countries concerned. Bulgaria and Romania are scheduled to join the EU on 1 January 2007, while accession negotiations with Croatia and Turkey commenced in October 2005 and are ongoing.
It will be evident from this list of items disposed of that the meeting was productive in terms of pushing forward with the business of the Council.
130 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he has succeeded in identifying the price increases not reflected in the consumer price index which are contributing to a lack of competitiveness in the economy with consequent job relocation and a potential threat to investment; if particular effort has been made or if he has in mind a particular plan to curtail the trend in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19312/06]
The Director General of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in restoring competitiveness. The Government is doing its bit to contain inflation by implementing responsible fiscal policies. In addition, we have not increased excise duties for the last two years, and we are promoting greater price competition by removing the Groceries Order. We are also looking for a reasonable wage deal in order to maintain and improve our international competitiveness. We are investing in public infrastructure which will enhance our ability to produce more goods and services and keep inflation down in the process.
131 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance if his Department’s overall plan for relocation of civil servants has been modified in view of recent developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19436/06]
The Government's policy on completion of the programme is unchanged. I have no plans to change the scale or scope of the Decentralisation programme.
Over 10,600 civil and public servants have applied to the Central Applications Facility. The figures confirm that this is a popular programme among staff.
To date some 1,500 people have been assigned to posts destined for new locations and are currently being trained in their new role in readiness to move. So far, some 200 of these have actually relocated and it is expected that up to 1,000 will have moved by end 2006/early 2007.
While many staff have opted to move to locations outside of Dublin, others have indicated that they wish to be assigned to posts remaining in Dublin. The Government is committed to facilitating those who wish to remain with a public service post in Dublin.
There is an extensive range of preparations ongoing in relation to the acquisition of property by the OPW, as well as the detailed implementation planning within individual Departments, Offices and Agencies, and ongoing discussions with unions in relation to the various human resource aspects of the programme.
As always when dealing with a programme of this size there are challenges to overcome but I remain confident that these can be addressed with the active co-operation of all parties involved in the implementation effort.
132 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the costs which have accrued to his Department in respect of the Battle of the Boyne site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16028/06]
The site was purchased in August 2000 for a total of £7.85m. The total expenditure incurred by the Commissioners of Public Works to date on works to Coddington (Oldbridge) House and grounds is €3,070,968 comprising mainly of a substantial maintenance programme, refurbishment works, ground works, site investigations, fees etc. Operating costs (staff, estate management, materials) are approximately €350,000 per annum.
133 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Finance if the timeframe outlined in his reply to a parliamentary question regarding the decentralisation of 50 Revenue staff to Listowel is on target; and if a property has now been acquired to facilitate the movement of these staff members. [19435/06]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that preparations for the movement of staff to Listowel are on target. Actual movement to Listowel, however, is dependent on the Office of Public Works (OPW) providing suitable accommodation.
The OPW are in negotiations with a developer for a suitable property at this time and it is envisaged that the indicative timescale set out in the Decentralisation Implementation Group's report will be met.
134 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to make projections of the impact of oil prices at various levels, done by or on behalf of his Department, publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19208/06]
I have outlined before the results of economic model simulations which suggest that each sustained $10 per barrel increase in the price of oil reduces growth by between ¼ and ½ percentage point in a full year in Ireland. However, it is important to bear in mind that these model results are based on historical averages and in common with all model results are subject to uncertainty.
135 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons, companies and trusts being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners arising from Ansbacher accounts to date; the number of cases where settlements have been agreed; the amount paid to date; the number of cases outstanding, if additional action has been taken by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the report of the Ansbacher inspectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19280/06]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their Ansbacher review team has been carrying out detailed investigations since October 1999. The investigation has essentially two elements, Ansbacher-type arrangements and other cases involving offshore funds and deposits.
Revenue has advised that the review team has inquired into 289 cases and to date the team have finalised 208 cases. The 289 cases, taking account of spouses and connected companies, consist of 300 names. The 289 cases are made up of 179 cases listed on the High Court Inspectors' Report and 110 similar cases discovered by Revenue or listed on the Authorised Officer's Report.
The investigation includes examining the tax position of disclosed entities and accumulating and assembling information on other connected entities. The number of connected entities in relation to cases under investigation is now nearly 700.
Revenue is making extensive use of its legislative powers to seek books, records, documents and information in the cases being investigated. Where appropriate, prosecutions will be considered but these will depend on the level of evidence available.
Revenue has made eleven successful applications to the High Court for the production by financial institutions and third parties of books, records and other documentation, relevant to liabilities of Ansbacher account holders. Some 220,000 documents have been received under the terms of the High Court Orders. Advanced investigative computer software is used in controlling and managing the documentation.
To date a total of €58.35 million has been received, consisting of settlements and payments on account, in respect of 108 cases. This is made up of:
|
Cases involving Ansbacher or Ansbacher type arrangements |
85 Cases |
€45.33 million |
|
Other cases involving offshore funds or deposits |
23 Cases |
€13.02 million |
|
Total |
108 Cases |
€58.35 million |
The 208 cases which have been finalised consist of 81 cases which were settled on payments of €49.13 m, included in the amount above, 66 non-resident cases which are covered by the provisions of Double Taxation Agreements, 43 cases where no additional liabilities arose and 18 which were covered by the 1993 Amnesty provisions.
Revenue made an application under section 11 of the Companies Act, 1990, for a copy of the High Court Inspectors' Report which was made available to Revenue on 6 July 2002. The information in this report has been carefully considered as regards the tax liabilities of the persons concerned. In addition, Revenue made a further application to the High Court for access to the supporting papers to the High Court Inspectors' Report. The High Court order in the matter was granted in June 2004 and perfected in January 2005 and allows for access to documents relating to clients of Ansbacher named in the High Court Inspectors' Report and those persons and companies, including members of the board, found by the High Court Inspectors to have failed to co-operate with their inquiry. The order also allows for Revenue to make application and grounding affidavit for the obtaining of information and documents relating to any other individual or company. Access to documents is subject to the direction of the High Court. Revenue has applied, on foot of the order, for access to documentation in respect of certain cases named in the High Court Inspectors' report. Some documentation has been supplied and further documentation is awaited.
Revenue has informed me that the investigations are time-consuming and complex and are likely to continue for some time to come.
136 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the number of childminders who have applied for the childminder’s tax exemption announced in budget 2006; the proportion of childminders he estimates are still to apply for the exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19271/06]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that statistics are not available at this time which would enable the information requested by the Deputy to be provided. Section 13 of the Finance Act 2006 introduced the childminding tax exemption. Where the gross annual income from the provision of childcare services does not exceed €10,000, the income is fully exempt from tax. To avail of this relief, the care provider must be self-employed (not an employee) and include the gross income in their annual return of income to the Revenue Commissioners. The claim for tax exemption is made in this return. The claim must be accompanied by evidence that the care provider has notified the person recognised for that purpose by the Health Service Executive. In practice, this will mean the officer appointed by the local City or County Childcare Committee.
An individual must ‘elect' to claim the exemption by notice in writing to the inspector on or before the specified return date for the chargeable period. The specified return date for 2006 is 31 October 2007. However, even with the information contained in these Returns, it will be some time after that before comprehensive statistics of claimants are available.
138 Mr. English asked the Minister for Finance if the issue of confining promotions to only persons willing to decentralise has been modified as a result of recent Labour Court hearings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19381/06]
In its recent recommendation in a dispute between SIPTU and FÁS concerning Decentralisation and FÁS contracts of employment, the Labour Court recommended that the matter be referred back to the appropriate central body, at which the issues should be teased out with a view to arriving at agreed long-term solutions, in consultation with all the parties involved. In addition, I understand that, subsequent to the Labour Court recommendation, the Labour Relations Commission has held three conciliation conferences on the matter and is in ongoing contact with the parties. I am confident that the use of the recognised industrial relations procedures will lead to a resolution of the issues in dispute. It is important to recognise, however, that the Labour Court recommendation related to a particular State Agency.
It would not be true to say that promotions are confined only to persons willing to decentralise. For example, agreement has already been reached on a number of human resource and industrial relations issues with the general service unions, including an agreement on promotions which provides opportunities for personnel willing to decentralise as well as those who wish to remain in Dublin.
The position in relation to the State Agencies is of course more complex and the current dispute at FÁS highlights some of those complexities. The Government has always said that this process is voluntary. Any staff member wishing to remain in Dublin will be accommodated with a public service job in Dublin. However, there is a need to balance the business needs of the organisation in furthering its relocation objective with the needs of staff remaining in Dublin. In these circumstances promotions policy must take account of the reality of Decentralisation. These issues can only be resolved through dialogue and negotiations.
The Decentralisation Implementation Group recognises that resolution of outstanding human resources issues is central to the overall implementation process in the State Agencies. It recognised, for example, that proposals for inter-organisational mobility go against traditional employment practices. Nevertheless, it considers that it should prove possible to facilitate the transfers of those public and civil servants who wish, also on a voluntary basis, to relocate to provincial locations. In its view, it is precisely this type of ground-breaking initiative which is needed to give impetus to the implementation of the programme.
142 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance his views on the impact of rising inflation, increasing interest rates and increasing fuel costs on the partnership talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19262/06]
Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 3.8% in April. A large part of the recent pick-up in the inflation rate is due to external factors such as higher oil prices and interest rate increases by the ECB.
On Budget day, my Department forecast that CPI inflation will average 2.7% in 2006. This forecast was calculated using the usual technical assumption of unchanged interest rates. My Department will publish new forecasts in the Autumn.
Talks on a new national partnership agreement to follow Sustaining Progress are ongoing and it would be imprudent to make any detailed statement at this stage about these talks. I will say that I am concerned about the decline in cost competitiveness in recent years which is having an impact on employment in the exposed sectors of the economy. We must maintain and improve the attractiveness of Ireland as a location for inward foreign direct investment.
Fundamentally, the cornerstone of a new agreement must be the protection of the long- term competitiveness of the country. If pay increases under the next agreement are not kept at a moderate level and do not take account of pay levels in competitor countries, we will see job losses in vulnerable parts of the private sector.
143 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the Exchequer returns for the first four months of 2006. [19283/06]
As the Deputy may be aware, the monthly Exchequer Returns are available on my Department's website, as are my Department's receipts, expenditure and debt service profiles for 2006.
The results for the first four months of 2006 confirm that the public finances remain sound. The Exchequer Returns to end-April showed a surplus of €497 million, compared with a deficit of €1,221 million for the same period last year and a Budget Day forecast of an Exchequer Deficit of €2,927 million for 2006 as a whole.
Tax receipts to end-April, at €12,802 million were up 16.2 per cent on the same period last year and were €418 million or 3.4 per cent ahead of profile. The main excesses over profile were on Capital Gains Tax (€173m), Corporation Tax (€145m) and Stamp Duty (€140m) while VAT and Income Tax were €96 million and €37 million below profile respectively.
Overall issues for net voted expenditure for April 2006 were up €628 million or 6.0 per cent as compared to April 2005. Net voted expenditure at end-April was €242 million or 2.1 per cent below the published profiles; capital, €87 million below and current, €155 million below.
144 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance the procedures which are in place for liaison between his Department and the Department of Health and Children regarding tax reliefs for developers of private hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19437/06]
Capital allowances for private hospitals were introduced in 2002. The scheme was one of the property based tax incentives schemes reviewed by independent consultants in 2005. The review of this scheme was undertaken in association with an inter-Departmental steering group on which there were representatives of both the Department of Finance and the Department of Health and Children. The consultants recommended that this particular tax relief should be continued and this recommendation was accepted.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the conditions for granting the relief are set out in the legislation and there are no ongoing liaison procedures in place between the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Health and Children. In the context of Self-Assessment, this is not necessary.
145 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the provision of a new Garda station at Castleisland, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15673/06]
A brief of requirements for the new Garda Station at Castleisland, Co. Kerry has been received from the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform. Arrangements are in hand for the appointment of a design team which requires advertisement in the E.U. Journal. This procedure will take about 3 months to complete.
A Sketch Scheme for the new Station will be ready by October this year for the approval of the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform and the Garda Authorities.
146 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the report Outsourcing Ireland, Public Bodies and Accountability published in May 2006 by TASC; the public bodies operating under the umbrella of his Department; the bodies which are not subject to FOI legislation; the annual budget of each of the above agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19260/06]
I am aware of the TASC report on Outsourcing Ireland, Public Bodies and Accountability. As regards the public bodies (other than civil service bodies) to which I appoint board members, the following is the position with regard to FOI and the annual budgets of the bodies, where these are provided from Exchequer funds.
|
Body Name |
Subject to FOI |
Annual Budget in € |
|
Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland |
No |
|
|
Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority |
No |
|
|
Financial Services Ombudsman Council |
No |
|
|
Credit Union Advisory Committee |
Yes |
30,000 |
|
Financial Services Consultative Consumer Panel |
No |
|
|
Financial Services Consultative Industry Panel |
No |
|
|
National Treasury Management Agency Advisory Committee (also includes the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission, the State Claims Agency and the National Development Finance Agency) |
No |
30m for 2006 to cover administrative costs |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Yes |
9.265m (Grant-in-Aid) |
|
An Post National Lottery Company |
No |
|
|
Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal |
No |
300,000 |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
No |
228,000 |
|
Sealúchais Árachais Teoranta |
No |
|
|
Review Body on Higher Remuneration |
No |
300,000 |
|
Public Service Benchmarking Body |
No |
1.9m |
|
Special EU Programmes Body |
No |
1.411m |
148 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Finance his views on Prime Minister Juncker’s informal proposal for a windfall tax on the profits of oil companies in Finance Ministers’ informal discussions on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19206/06]
I would regard our present corporation tax system as a balanced one and designed to meet the needs of the economy. There are no proposals being considered to change it on the lines suggested by the Deputy.
149 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Finance the latest information available from the central applications facility in respect of applications from civil servants and other public servants currently located in Dublin who wish to transfer to new locations outside of Dublin under the Government’s decentralisation programme; the way in which this compares with the Government target of 10,300; if agreement has been reached with all public service unions regarding promotional opportunities for those who chose to move and those who opted to remain where they are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19264/06]
The latest figures from the Central Applications Facility show there is substantial interest in the programme. To date there have been over 10,600 applications made to the Central Applications Facility. Over 9,000 of the applications are from civil servants and over 1,000 are from public servants. Over 50% of the applications are from Dublin based staff.
In the civil service, progress has been made in discussions with the general service unions on promotion arrangements. Discussions are ongoing with the unions representing the professional and technical grades in the civil service. I am hopeful this and other decentralisation issues arising in the state agency sector can be discussed with the relevant unions with a view to arriving at arrangements which support the decentralisation process while also meeting the concerns of staff. In the meantime, practices in decentralising organisations relating to recruitment, promotion, etc. must take account of the reality of decentralisation.
151 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to introduce a lower rate of VAT on district heating in view of the decision of the Council of Ministers to allow for a reduced VAT rate of as little as 5.5%, taking into consideration the environmental benefits that such projects can provide compared with conventional heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19210/06]
The Deputy is referring to the amendment to Article 12 of the Sixth VAT Directive, which allows Member States to apply the reduced VAT rate to supplies of natural gas, electricity and district heating provided that no risk of a distortion of competition exists. However, the position is that under Irish law the supplies of fuel used to create heat or light are already subject to the reduced rate of VAT of 13.5 per cent. Under Article 28 (2)(e) of the Sixth VAT Directive the supply of fuel is subject to the reduced VAT rate. This Article allows Member States, which at 1 January 1991 applied a reduced rate to supplies of goods and services other than those specified in Annex H of the Sixth VAT Directive, to apply a reduced rate provided for in Article 12(3) to such supplies. Under EU law Member States can continue to apply reduced rates in such cases provided the rate is not below 12%. Such a reduction in the reduced VAT rate, while having a significant Exchequer cost, would have little or no impact on the retail price of such products.
It should also be noted that the Council decision referred to by the Deputy would not have any impact on the rate of VAT applicable to alternative energy systems which are subject to the standard rate of VAT. In Ireland the standard rate of VAT is 21%.
152 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the work of the investigations and prosecutions division of the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19279/06]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the Investigations and Prosecutions Division was established in the course of the comprehensive restructuring of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, which took place during 2002 and 2003. The Division spearheads the Revenue drive to combat serious non-compliance in relation to tax and duties. It carries out the work in conjunction with the Revenue Regions and the Large Cases Division. It has a remit to co-ordinate all Revenue prosecution activity with the aim of increasing the number of criminal prosecutions for serious tax and duty offences and to co-ordinate the major Special Investigations Projects.
In the area of criminal investigation and prosecution, there were 24 convictions for serious tax and duty evasion in 2005, including two guilty pleas, for which sentencing was adjourned. Custodial sentences totalling 12 years (suspended in some cases) were imposed as well as fines totalling €237,052. There are currently 61 serious cases under investigation for potential prosecution, the Director of Public Prosecutions is considering a further 12 cases and has given directions to prosecute in another 8. There are in addition, 20 cases currently in the court process.
The Special Investigations Project, involving the Bogus Non-Resident accounts, Offshore Assets, Single Premium Insurance Policies, National Irish Bank/Clerical Medical Insurance, Ansbacher and cases emerging from the work of several Tribunals have resulted in recoveries, from 30,000 non-compliers, of around €2.2 billion in tax, penalties and interest for the Exchequer.
The Division, in addition, has responsibility for matters such as the co-ordination of the approach to cross-border VAT fraud, criminal cash seizures, serious cases of smuggling involving tobacco and other products, oil laundering and other fraudulent activity and deepening the formal and informal links with other agencies, both national and international, in the pursuit of these goals. In addition, it is responsible for co-ordinating the Revenue commitment to the supply side objectives of the National Drugs Strategy. During 2005 the Revenue Customs Service seized illegal drugs with a street value of €37 million.
The Investigations and Prosecutions Division's central role in the drive against serious tax and duty fraud needs to be viewed in the broader strategic context in which Revenue restructuring took place. There are now 16 Divisions in Revenue, each with its own particular responsibilities and they act in an integrated and interdependent manner tackling non-compliant taxpayers on a cross tax-head basis. This approach is underpinned by the use of technology-based risk assessment tools to focus on areas and individuals posing the greatest threat to the Exchequer. The latest figures indicate that this approach is bearing fruit.
153 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Finance if Ministers can now replace agencies earmarked for decentralisation with different agencies or departmental sections; the agencies or Departments previously earmarked for decentralisation that are expected to do so; the expected number of Departments or agencies to be affected by this new measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19263/06]
The Government's policy on completion of the programme is unchanged. I have no plans to change either its scale or its scope.
It has always been the case that the responsibility for the implementation of the programme in each Department rests with the Minister of the Department. The Decentralisation Programme as announced in December 2003 was a government decision. Any Minister who wishes to make changes to the programme will therefore have to seek the approval of the Government.
154 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Finance his views on forecasts for economic and population growth in the report 2020 Vision, Ireland’s Demographic Dividend published by NCB stockbrokers in April 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19268/06]
I take note of the projections referred to. My Department's projections of the impact of population ageing on the public finances were published in the Stability Programme Update of last December and presented to the Dáil on Budget Day. Other bodies such as the ESRI and the EU have carried out similar exercises. All of these contributions serve to highlight the importance of taking a long-term strategic perspective in policy making.
155 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the situation where a company (details supplied) collapsed owing money to the Revenue Commissioners; the steps which have been taken to have the outstanding debt recovered; his views on the fact that companies may reform to avoid tax liabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19273/06]
Tax debts due by any specific taxpayer are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that this information is confidential to the taxpayer concerned and accordingly they are not in a position to comment on the individual case covered by the Deputy's question.
On the broader issue referred to by the Deputy I am advised by Revenue that they have an active programme of monitoring new company registrations for tax purposes with a view to identifying new company formations designed mainly to avoid tax liabilities. Where they identify such cases, they will and do take robust collection and enforcement action to counteract such activity when non or late tax compliance occurs in the new company. Such action may include petitioning the court for the appointment of a liquidator and through that process and in conjunction with the Director of Corporate Enforcement, if appropriate, seeking to have the behaviour of the directors examined with a view to restriction or disqualification. Such action is in addition to action taken to recover debts due by the old company and to address the behaviour of the directors of the old company. The liquidation action and subsequent processes are undertaken in accordance with and subject to company law.
156 Ms Burton asked the Taoiseach the functions which have been delegated to each Minister of State at his Department; the date on which the relevant order was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19050/06]
My statutory functions, in so far as they relate to the Central Statistics Office, are currently delegated to Deputy Kitt, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach. The Statistics (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order, 2004 was made by Government on 19 October, 2004. No other statutory functions have been delegated to any of the Ministers of State in my Department.
157 Mr. Cuffe asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19361/06]
The Department of the Taoiseach does not maintain a wine cellar for functions. Wine is purchased as required from the caterer who is appointed to do the relevant function.
158 Mr. Morgan asked the Taoiseach the average annual working hours of workers here in 2005 and in each of the previous five years. [18896/06]
Statistics on the labour force are compiled from the Quarterly National Household Survey. The latest statistics available are for the period September to November 2005. Details of hours worked are shown in the following table.
|
Average annualised usual hours per week |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
q1 to q4 2000 |
q1 to q4 2001 |
q1 to q4 2002 |
q1 to q4 2003 |
q1 to q4 2004 |
q1 to q4 2005 |
|
|
Males |
42.2 |
42.1 |
41.9 |
41.4 |
41.3 |
41.1 |
|
Females |
32.9 |
32.6 |
32.4 |
32.2 |
32.0 |
31.8 |
|
Total |
38.1 |
38.0 |
37.7 |
37.3 |
37.1 |
37.0 |
Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.
Reference periods: q1=Dec-Feb, q2=Mar-May, q3=Jun-Aug and q4=Sep-Nov
159 Ms C. Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of children currently on the waiting list at a centre (details supplied) for assessment or therapy services; the way in which it is intended to reduce these waiting lists in view of the need for timely intervention for children with specific educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19692/06]
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.
160 Ms Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there is a policy decision to introduce newborn hearing screening; if so, a time frame for the introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20037/06]
161 Ms Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has funding for newborn hearing screening included in the budget for the Health Service Executive. [20038/06]
162 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a policy decision has been made to introduce newborn hearing screening. [20042/06]
163 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has included funding for newborn hearing screening in the budget for the Health Service Executive. [20043/06]
164 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has a policy for the introduction of newborn hearing screening here; if her Department has included funding for newborn hearing screening in the budget for the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20080/06]
195 Dr. Twomey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to introduce hearing screening for all newborn babies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19303/06]
215 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has made a policy decision to introduce newborn hearing screening. [19491/06]
216 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has included funding for newborn hearing screening in the budget for the Health Service Executive. [19492/06]
228 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 195 of 9 May 2006, if she will address the concerns of the National Association for Deaf People (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19526/06]
243 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a policy decision has been made to introduce hearing screening for newborn babies. [19753/06]
244 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has included funding for newborn hearing screening in the Health Service Executive’s budget. [19754/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 to 164, inclusive, 195, 215, 216, 228, 243 and 244 together.
My Department has recently received a copy of the Report of the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Working Group and is in discussion with the Health Services Executive in relation to its implementation.
165 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that the roll out of BreastCheck to the Kerry area will happen before the end of 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19073/06]
I have met with representatives of BreastCheck and they are fully aware of my wish to have the programme rolled out to the remaining regions in the country 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. Capital funding in the region of €21m has been made available to provide static screening units and five mobile units. My Department made additional revenue funding of €2.3m available to BreastCheck this year and approval has been given for an additional 69 posts to facilitate roll-out. BreastCheck is in the process of shortlisting applicants to construct the new clinical units at the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital, Cork and University College Hospital Galway. BreastCheck recently interviewed for Clinical Directors for both regions and has commenced the recruitment process for other essentialstaff.
The BreastCheck clinical unit in the Southern Area at the South Infirmary/Victoria Hospital will have three associated mobile units. The area of coverage is counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary S.R., 71,188 women are in the target population for invitation to screening, or 35,594 per annum. This is expected to result in the detection of in excess of 174 cancers per year in the first round and a minimum of 87 per year in subsequent rounds. BreastCheck is confident that the target date of next year for the commencement of roll out to Southern and Western regions will be met.
166 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a full-time consultant cardiologist will be appointed at Kerry General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19074/06]
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.
167 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a replacement consultant will be appointed at the accident and emergency department at Kerry General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19075/06]
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.
168 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she expects the new accident and emergency department at Kerry General Hospital to be built; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19076/06]
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.
169 Mr. Andrews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that a meeting scheduled for 11 May 2006 with a group (details supplied) will be re-arranged at the earliest convenience in order to resolve the implementation of an insurance scheme for persons who contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood products. [19077/06]
192 Mr. Carey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reasons for the delay in enacting an insurance scheme for persons infected with hepatitis C through contaminated blood and blood products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19300/06]
204 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to the nine year delay on implementation of an insurance scheme for persons infected with hepatitis C or HIV through provision of contaminated blood or blood products by the State; if same will be enacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19455/06]
210 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will seek the prompt enactment of legislation to implement an insurance scheme for persons infected with hepatitis C or HIV through provision of contaminated blood or blood products by the State. [19486/06]
219 Mr. Noonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in the context of her reply to Parliamentary Question Nos. 142, 152, 154 and 161 of 16 May 2006, discussions and negotiations will continue with the Irish Haemophilia Society and other analogous organisations until the draft of the proposed legislation is agreed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19495/06]
242 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals to introduce an appropriate insurance scheme for persons infected with hepatitis C or HIV through provision of contaminated blood or blood products by the State (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19671/06]
245 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when an insurance scheme for persons infected with HIV or hepatitis C through provision of contaminated blood or blood products by the State will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19767/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 169, 192, 204, 210, 219, 242 and 245 together.
I wish to assure the Deputies that I am committed to ensuring that an insurance scheme for persons infected with Hepatitis C and HIV through the administration of blood and blood products within the State is established on a statutory basis as soon as possible. The legislation is included as a priority in the Government's Legislative Programme for the current session and it is my firm intention that the enabling legislation will be enacted before the Summer recess.
The process of drafting the legislation, which is both complex and innovative, is almost complete. As soon as I receive the final agreed text from my legal advisors I will submit it to the Government for approval and will publish it as soon as Government approval is received.
In relation to the enquiries from the Deputies regarding further meetings, I will set a date to meet the representative groups as soon as I have the final text of the legislation.
170 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, where a patient with a medical card is found by their doctor to need chiropody services, these are available under the GMS scheme irrespective of age. [19078/06]
There is no statutory obligation on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide chiropody services to GMS patients; however in practice arrangements are made to provide these services. Before the establishment of the HSE the nature of the arrangements for chiropody and the level of service provided was a matter for individual health boards and so a degree of variation in practice developed over time. Priority is usually given to certain groups of people, including people who are medical card holders aged 65 years and over. In several regions the service is provided by private chiropodists by arrangement with the HSE.
I consider that it is inappropriate for private chiropodists who are providing services on behalf of the HSE to charge patients a top-up fee, and I have conveyed this view formally to the HSE. My Department requested the HSE to review the fee arrangements in place for the provision of chiropody services, with a view to ensuring that such additional fees will no longer be levied on persons in receipt of this service; and this process is under way.
171 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reasons the x-ray unit has not been put into operation at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Athy, County Kildare in view of the fact that all of the refurbishment has been completed and of the need for the facility in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19094/06]
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.
172 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be called for an appointment in Cappagh Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19095/06]
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.
173 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a place will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if she will expedite a response to their request. [19127/06]
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.
174 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will approve a medical card in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will expedite a response in view of the original date of the application. [19128/06]
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.
175 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will expedite a report from the medical officer relative to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has applied for works under the DPG scheme. [19129/06]
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.
176 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a schedule of works promised to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme in January 2006 will be carried out. [19139/06]
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 the 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.
177 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if assistance will be given to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 who is on a waiting list; and if she will make this a priority case. [19141/06]
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.
178 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if assistance will be given regarding a project (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if she will work with other Departments in providing funding support for this project. [19142/06]
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.
179 Ms Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if appropriate tax clearance procedures in relation to the recruitment of all external contract staff for the PPARS computer system were followed by management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19162/06]
I have been advised by the HSE that a number of external agencies placed technical (programming) resources with the PPARS project for configuration work related to the SAPHR software which the PPARS project utilised. These staff worked under the direction of the PPARS management team. PPARS was invoiced by the external agency for the services provided by the technical resources and the agency paid the individual contractors.
Department of Finance Circular 22/95 states that "In the case of all public sector contracts of a value of EUR 6,500 (inclusive of VAT) or more within a twelve month period the contractor ( and agent as appropriate) will be required to produce either a valid tax clearance or C2 certificate." The HSE Internal Audit report on the Procurement Process in respect of the Supply of Contract Personnel to the PPARS Project concluded that "appropriate tax clearance procedures were not followed in respect of payments to these companies."
The HSE has indicated to the C&AG and to the Internal Auditor that tax clearance procedures have been reviewed to ensure full compliance and stated that a designated manager must be formally appointed for each major contract. Tax Clearance status must be established prior to the award of a contract. The recommendation to award a contract must include a certification by the contract manager that all policies, procedures and other requirements (including tax clearance) have been complied with in the tender process. This procedure will be further strengthened when the composite Financial Regulations of the HSE are introduced later this year.
The recommendations of the Internal Auditor arising from his audit of this matter have been supported by the CEO of the HSE who has also stated that under the HSE's National Procurement Policy which came into effect on 1st January 2006 "there are now no acceptable excuses for non compliance". Professor Drumm has also indicated that he has asked the National Director of Finance, HSE, to ensure all necessary procurement and financial procedures are being followed by the PPARS project office.
180 Ms Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if official public procurement policies were followed by management involved in the PPARS computer system; and if not, the irregularities which occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19163/06]
The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the ‘Development of Human Resources management System for the Health Services (PPARS)' published in December last year stated in relation to procurement that: "A competition for the procurement of technical configuration and support contractors was held in November 2002, one year after the PPARS National Project Team has begin to engage personnel on an ad hoc basis through recruitment agencies. Notwithstanding the results of this competition, there does not appear to have been any change in the companies engaged in this work. Companies that had not been involved up to then, but ranked well on price, were not engaged. Even after this procurement round the actual rates paid to a number of the companies who submitted tenders were higher than their tendered rates. The HSE is currently reviewing the arrangements that were used to procure these services."
I have been advised further by the HSE as follows: The report of the HSE's Internal Audit unit on this matter found that: "The procurement process in respect of the recruitment of the companies to provide technical contractors for a number of the years examined (November 2001 to May 2003) was not carried out in accordance with the appropriate Financial Regulations and Procurement Policies and Procedures."
It is important to note that this Internal Audit Report has not attached any irregularities or impropriety to any staff member in relation to the selection of, the use of, or expenditure on technical contractors. Furthermore previous and subsequent PPARS procurement initiatives were carried out in accordance with the appropriate Financial Regulations and Procurement Policies and Procedures.
The breach of policy related to not advertising requesting companies to participate in a process to provide contract staff. Resources were sourced from companies who had offered staff and the remainder were sourced on the basis of recommendations from existing consultants. The fact that contract personnel engaged by the PPARS project were subsequently engaged by the PPARS Technical Implementation Partner endorses those contractors' experience and capability. Finally, subsequent PPARS procurement processes support the fact that rates charged by contractors represented good value.
181 Mr. Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if assistance will be given in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [19164/06]
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.
182 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the purpose to which a house (details supplied) in County Wicklow is or will be put to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19174/06]
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.
183 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if treatment for pain relief for a person (details supplied) in County Louth is available under the medical card scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19188/06]
Under the Health Acts, medical card holders are entitled to treatment in a public hospital free of charge, provided they are admitted as a public patient.
Decisions on the provision of hospital services to an individual in a public hospital are a matter for the hospital authorities and the Health Service Executive. My Department has arranged to have the case raised by the Deputy referred to the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE for investigation and direct reply.
184 Mr. Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be called for assessment for hip replacement surgery. [19195/06]
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.
185 Mr. Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be called for assessment for hip replacement surgery. [19196/06]
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.
186 Mr. P. Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a refund will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare in respect of nursing home charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19238/06]
As the Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the National Repayment Scheme, inquiries relating to the scheme are referred to the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive. My Department has asked the HSE to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
187 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the changes that have been introduced in the Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, as a result of the recommendations made by Judge Harding-Clarke; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19239/06]
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.
188 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the budget allocated to Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, and the Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda for each of the past three years; the expenditure to date in 2006 for each hospital; the projections for expenditure in each hospital; if overruns of expenditure are projected; if new accounting or expenditure restrictions are in place in either hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19240/06]
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.
189 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the arrangements being entered into between the Health Services Executive southern branch and those developing houses at Shanakiel, Cork, regarding access to that scheme from Shanakiel road through health services land and the access which will be made available to the houses when constructed through health services land leading from Shanakiel road westwards. [19241/06]
The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for the Health Service Executive, having regard to the provisions of the Health Act 2004. My Department has been informed by the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive that a reply is being issued to the Deputy in relation to the matter raised by him.
190 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress made in putting in place a contract for delivery of dialysis services from a clinic (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if she will expedite a decision in the process in view of the number of patients who have to travel long distances at present to avail of dialysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19250/06]
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.
191 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will request from the Health Service Executive the reasons for the lack of a chiropody service in the East Wall area of Dublin 3 where there is a large elderly population; the steps the HSE will take to provide this service in the East Wall area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19299/06]
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.
193 Mr. Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the cost of a trolley bed in each hospital throughout the country on a daily basis as compared to a hospital bed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19301/06]
The national average cost per attendance at A&E departments in Ireland in 2004 (the last year for which information is available) is €197. This is a full cost including pay, non pay costs, together with the cost of overheads and services used by A&E patients within the hospital. The figure does not include depreciation or capital costs.
The average cost relates to all patients in A&E irrespective of whether they are admitted or not. As the Deputy may be aware, the majority of patients attending at A&E are not admitted to hospital.
My Department cannot provide a figure for the cost of a patient occupying a trolley in A&E as it is not possible to distinguish between the costs associated with treatment on a trolley and the costs associated with other treatments provided in A&E.
The national average cost of an In-patient Bed day in 2004 was €651.
194 Mr. Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that arthritis patients in County Mayo have to wait four years to access a rheumatologist and to information provided at the Joint Committee on Health and Children on 11 May 2006 that the waiting times for such service is longest in the west and midlands; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that while there is one rheumatologist per 400,000 population here, the comparable figure in the UK and the rest of Europe is 14 rheumatologists to 400,000 population where the waiting list there is six to 12 weeks compared to four years here; if in view of the report referred to, she will provide the specialist unit for arthritis sufferers in Mayo with the required consultant and other staff to give a service and waiting time comparable with the rest of Europe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19302/06]
In September 2002, Comhairle na nOspidéal initiated a review of Rheumatology Services. Its report, which was published in December 2005, examines the provision of services and makes recommendations on the organisation and development of rheumatology services in the future.
Responsibility for the implementation of these recommendations rests with 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.
196 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of weight management clinics in receipt of Department and Health Service Executive funding each year since 2002; the amount of funding allocated to each; the number of patients each clinic has seen since 2002; the number of patients seen annually by the public weight management clinic in St. Colmcille’s Hospital; the number of patients awaiting treatment; if necessary funding will be allocated immediately to the clinic to tackle the waiting list there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19315/06]
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.
197 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the status of an application for motorist transport grant made by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary in December 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19316/06]
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.
198 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when an operation will be scheduled for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19317/06]
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 case investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
199 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when an appointment will be given to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19318/06]
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 case investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
200 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the report by Professor O’Neill into Leas Cross was given to the Health Service Executive; the reason for the delay in publishing same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19319/06]
The Deputy may wish to know that the Health Service Executive has informed my Department that Professor O'Neill recently submitted his final report to the Executive and this has been sent to the legal advisers of the HSE for advice.
The report prepared by Prof. O'Neill is one of a number of reports commissioned/prepared by the HSE into Leas Cross Nursing Home.
All of the reports are now being collated and it is expected that these will be submitted as a complete file on Leas Cross Nursing Home to the National Director of Primary, Community and Continuing Care Directorate in the near future.
201 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will publish in full the report of the formal investigation under the chairmanship of a person (details supplied) into complaints received by the Health Service Executive into the operation of a nursing home in the HSE southern area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19320/06]
In September 2004 following complaints received from the family of a nursing home resident the former Southern Health Board established an inquiry team with an independent chairman to investigate the complaints. The team were also to review existing standards, policies and procedures in the Nursing Home and make appropriate recommendations.
The patient's family, the Nursing Home staff and Health Board officials were interviewed by the team. The Report was given to the patient's family who were briefed by the HSE South on the outcome of the inquiry. An implementation Group was established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations and the home was inspected on three occasions following the investigation; all of the recommendations have been implemented.
In January 2006, following a request from Deputy O'Dowd, the HSE South provided information to him regarding the recommendations; the name of the Nursing Home, patients and staff were deleted to protect the privacy of the complainants. The Department of Health and Children were given the relevant documentation in the context of the Review of Nursing Home Standards.
The Health Service Executive Southern Area has informed my Department that the Deputy requested a copy of the investigation Reports under the Freedom of Information Act on 9th January 2006 and following consideration of the request the HSE South refused access to the Report under the Acts. It is understood that HSE South are in communication with the Deputy regarding an appeals process.
202 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a full listing of the contents of her Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if she will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19349/06]
My Department purchases quantities of wine as and when required for relevant events and hospitality purposes within the Department. The present stock (no vintage wines) amounts to: 103 bottles of Andes Peak, 5 bottles of Hoopenburg, 5 bottles of Villard and 4 bottles Delheim.
These wines were purchased from O'Briens Wine Off-Licence at a total cost of €938. The bulk of this stock was purchased over recent months.
203 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of subvention paid to patients in nursing homes in County Donegal; the number of contracted beds to the Health Service Executive in nursing homes in County Donegal; and the cost of same. [19377/06]
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.
205 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an application by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath for grant aid in relation to the provision of a crèche will be expedited; if she will take steps to have same addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19481/06]
As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010, which are being implemented by the newly established Office of the Minister for Children.
With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 referred to by the Deputy, I understand the person in question submitted an application for funding recently through Westmeath County Childcare Committee.
I understand from enquiries I have made that this application for funding has been received by Pobal, formerly known as Area Development Management Ltd., who administer the Programme. Each application undergoes a thorough assessment by Pobal to ensure that it meets the criteria of the Programme. All applications are processed as speedily as possible.
Following this assessment, the application will be considered by the Programme Appraisal Committee, before a decision is made regarding funding and the applicant in question will be informed of the outcome in due course.
206 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the financial assistance which will be offered to a person (details supplied); if contact will be made with their family to proactively assist them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19482/06]
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.
207 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the implications for the long-awaited Eligibility for Health and Personal Social Services Bill of the European Court of Justice decision in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19483/06]
The judgement to which the Deputy refers, known as the "Watts case", relates to the question of prior authorisation for hospital treatment abroad where a patient would otherwise be subject to undue delay in their country of residence.
My Department is studying the implications of the ruling both for the provision of hospital services generally, and for the proposed new legislation on eligibility in particular.
My main concern is to continue to ensure that patients who require hospital treatment can do so without delay and that there are effective procedures for reviewing their cases where they are awaiting treatment. The National Treatment Purchase Fund is already playing an important role in this regard.
208 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her Department’s preparations of the Eligibility for Health and Personal Social Services Bill; if the heads of this Bill have been agreed; when the Bill will be presented before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19484/06]
My Department is currently preparing the Heads of a Bill to clarify and update existing legislation on eligibility for health and personal social services. The Bill 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.
It is my intention to publish the Bill by the end of the year.
209 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the public and private hospitals or clinics she has visited since her appointment; the dates upon which these visits occurred; and the purpose of the visits. [19485/06]
The Deputy will wish to note that since my appointment as Minister for Health and Children, I have made approximately 100 visits to hospitals both public and private, hospices, step down facilities, community hospitals and nursing homes. I have set out the relevant details in the following table.
|
Date |
Location |
Purpose of visit |
|
22-10-2004 (Friday) |
Donnybrook Hospital |
Meet with Chief Executive and Director of Nursing |
|
8-11-2004 (Monday) |
Tallaght Hospital |
Visit |
|
Rotunda Hospital |
Art Exhibition Wishes and Choices |
|
|
12-11-2004 (Friday) |
Visit to Sloan Kettering Hospital |
|
|
3-12-2004 (Friday) |
Crumlin Hospital Open Irish Ronald McDonald House, Crumlin |
Meet with CEO and management team of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin |
|
9-12-2004 (Thursday) |
Mater Hospital, Dublin 7 |
Visit with An Taoiseach |
|
17-12-2004 (Friday) |
Adelaide and Meath Hospital |
Unveil a plaque for a Public Service Excellence Award being given to the Adelaide and Meath Hospital |
|
Peamount Hospital |
Visit facilities of hospital |
|
|
20-1-2005 (Thursday) |
Cork University Hospital |
Visit to Cork University Hospital — meet Management Team, Tour of facilities including new A&E Dept. |
|
Mahon, Cork |
Visit to St. Luke’s Home for Alzheimers Patients |
|
|
21-1-2005 (Friday) |
The Great Hall, Stewarts Hospital, Palmerstown, Dublin 20 |
Attend the Graduation Ceremony of the final six nurses from the Diploma in Nursing Programme |
|
25-1-2005 (Tuesday) |
Galway |
Visit UCHG |
|
Merlin Park Hospital |
Visit |
|
|
Loughrea |
Visit St. Brendan’s Nursing Home |
|
|
27-1-2005 (Thursday) |
Health Centre, Longford — on St. Joseph’s Hospital Campus |
Presentation to An Tánaiste on Digital Care Network |
|
Visit to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Longford |
||
|
St. Joseph’s Campus |
Visit to Longford Mental Health Centre |
|
|
Mullingar Midland Regional Hospital — |
Official Opening of Medical Assessment Unit |
|
|
Birr |
Visit to Birr Community Nursing Unit and Health Centre |
|
|
28-1-2005 (Friday) |
Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise |
Official Opening of Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit |
|
Portlaoise |
Visit “Cuisle Centre” — recently opened centre for treatment/services for cancer patients |
|
|
St. Vincent’s Hospital Mountmellick |
Unveiling of architectural drawing for Dementia Unit Hospice Room/Lay Foundation Stone Midland regional Hospital |
|
|
3-2-2005 (Thursday) |
St. John of God Hospital, Stillorgan |
Attend dinner following the annual meeting of Dublin Hospital Chaplains Association |
|
28-2-2005 (Monday) |
Beaumont Hospital/ St. Joseph’s Raheny |
Official open of St. Joseph’s Raheny as part of Beaumont Hospital |
|
26-4-2005 (Tuesday) |
Sligo |
Visit North West Hospice |
|
9-5-2005 (Monday) |
Cork University Hospital |
Open A&E unit & Meet with Chairman, Cardiac Services Division re: Cardiac renal development at the hospital |
|
Cork |
Visit to Mercy University Hospital |
|
|
Cork |
Visit to Bon Secours Hospital |
|
|
18-5-2005 (Wednesday) |
Oakland Lodge, St. Luke’s Hospital, Rathgar, Dublin 6 |
Officially open new facilities (19 patient rooms and day room) |
|
St. Luke’s Hospital, Rathgar, Dublin 6 |
Meet with representatives of the Board, Medical staff and Management of St. Luke’s |
|
|
19-5-2005 (Thursday) |
Meath Hospital site |
Visit the Liberties Primary Care Team |
|
23-5-2005 (Monday) |
Temple Street Hospital |
Visit to Temple Street Hospital and meet with Chairperson, CEO and Chairman of the Medical Board |
|
Temple Street Hospital |
Officially open new paediatric renal unit and tour of the ward followed by speeches in St. George’s Hall |
|
|
2-6-2005 (Thursday) |
UCHG |
Opening of Radiotherapy Unit |
|
10-6-2005 (Friday) |
Sligo General Hospital campus |
Officially open Orthodontic Unit |
|
Sligo General Hospital, Sligo |
Hospital visit |
|
|
Sligo |
Visit to Nazareth House Nursing Home |
|
|
11-6-2005 (Saturday) |
Carna |
Visit Carna Nursing Home |
|
Oughterard |
Visit Owenriff Nursing Home |
|
|
16-6-2005 (Thursday) |
Ballindine, Co. Mayo |
Visit to Marian House Respite Home |
|
Castlebar, Co. Mayo |
Tour of some wards at Mayo General Hospital including Adult Mental Health Unit |
|
|
23-6-2005 (Thursday) |
St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny |
Visit to St. Luke’s Hospital — tour of Hospital including A&E, MAU and Palliative Care followed by meeting |
|
24-6-2005 (Friday) |
Waterford Regional Hospital |
Visit hospital, view facilities, number of official openings and meetings |
|
Waterford |
Visit to St. Patrick’s Hospital |
|
|
Airport Road, Waterford |
Officially open Killure Bridge Nursing Home |
|
|
27-6-2005 (Monday) |
James’s Street, Dublin 8 |
Visit to St. James’s Hospital and the National Blood Centre |
|
1-7-2005 (Friday) |
38 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Mater |
Opening of renal day unit in the Mater |
|
65 Eccles Street |
Visit the ARC Cancer Support Centre |
|
|
4-7-2005 (Monday) |
Carlow District Hospital |
Visit facilities of hospital |
|
Kelvin Grove |
Visit |
|
|
Kelvin Grove |
Visit Greenbank Crisis Respite Home |
|
|
Sacred Heart Hospital |
Visit |
|
|
5-7-2005 (Tuesday) |
Leopardstown Road, Foxrock, Dublin 18 |
Visit The Children’s Sunshine Home |
|
12-7-2005 (Tuesday) |
Blackrock Clinic, Blackrock |
Unveil painting and visit PET scanner |
|
15-7-2005 (Friday) |
St. John of God’s Hospital, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin |
Open the conference to celebrate 50 years of Child Psychiatry |
|
19-7-2005 (Tuesday) |
Dundrum, Dublin 14 |
Visit Central Mental Hospital |
|
21-7-2005 (Thursday) |
Dublin 7 |
Visit St. Bricin’s |
|
3-8-2005 (Wednesday) |
Bantry General Hospital |
Visit Bantry Hospital and meet with local hospital groups |
|
6-9-2005 (Tuesday) |
Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin |
Officially open new Medical Tower |
|
15-9-2005 (Thursday) |
Adare, Co. Limerick |
Visit to Embury Close, Adare (housing complex for older people) |
|
HSE Catherine Street, Limerick |
Meet with Limerick Regional Hospital Manager, Hospital Network Manager and HSE officials and meeting re: ambulance services |
|
|
St. Ita’s Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick |
Visit and meet with Friends of St. Ita’s |
|
|
Dromcollogher, Co. Limerick |
Visit Dromcollogher Respite centre |
|
|
16-9-2005 (Friday) |
Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare |
Visit Stella Maris Community Health Facility, Lisdoonvarna |
|
Kilmaley, Co. Clare |
Kilmaley District Day Care Centre/Primary Care Unit/Sheltered Housing |
|
|
21-9-2005 (Wednesday) |
Rochestown Avenue |
Visit Cheshire Ireland apartment complex called “Eaglewood” |
|
Holles Street |
Visit the National Maternity Hospital |
|
|
22-9-2005 (Thursday) |
St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin 4 |
Visit to St. Vincent’s Hospital |
|
Clonskeagh |
Visit Clonskeagh Hospital |
|
|
30-9-2005 (Friday) |
St. Brigid’s Home, Brittas, Co. Dublin |
Officially launch the Hospital Watch Initiative |
|
Coast Road, Blainroe, Co. Wicklow |
Officially open Blainroe Lodge Nursing Home |
|
|
3-10-2005 (Monday) |
St. Loman’s Hospital, Palmerstown |
Visit St. Loman’s Mental Health facilities |
|
14-10-2005 (Friday) |
St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8 |
Speak at the Irish Society for Rheumatology Annual General Meeting |
|
St. Joseph’s Centre, Clonsilla |
Present certificates to graduates of the Health Care Assistants Course |
|
|
St. Mary’s Centre for the Visually Impaired, 185-203 Merrion Road, Dublin 4 |
Present FETAC graduates with their Records of Achievement |
|
|
25-10-2005 (Tuesday) |
Mater Hospital Launch Breast health Unit |
|
|
3-11-2005 (Thursday) |
St. James’s Hospital |
Officially launch the Cancer Audit Programme report for St. James’s Hospital |
|
5-11-2005 (Saturday) |
St. Patricks Hospital, D8 |
Formally open the conference celebrating the 20th anniversary of AWARE |
|
9-11-2005 (Wednesday) |
Carrick-on-Shannon |
St. Patrick’s Hospital, Carrick on Shannon — Meet with Consumer Panel; Launch new Community Hospital project for South Leitrim; Tour of Hospital — meet staff/patients and view innovation projects |
|
Roscommon County Hospital |
Meet staff/patients and view innovation projects |
|
|
Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon |
Meet staff/patients and view innovation projects |
|
|
10-11-2005 (Thursday) |
Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe Visit Portiuncula Hospital |
Officially open Stroke Unit; Tour of hospital, meet staff/patients and view innovation projects; View Exhibition PCCC/NHO Departments in Galway working together |
|
11-11-2005 (Friday) |
Whitehall, Dublin 9 |
Visit Highfield Alzheimers Hospital |
|
21-11-2005 (Monday) |
Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7 |
Launch the PET/CT Scanner Services at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital |
|
24-11-2005 (Thursday) |
Rockfield Complex, Balally Luas Station (opp. Dundrum Town Centre) |
Officially open VHI’s new Swift Care Clinic |
|
12-12-2005 (Monday) |
Nevinstown Lane, Swords, Co. Dublin |
Officially open the new extension at the Tara Winthrop Private Clinic |
|
16-12-2005 (Friday) |
St. James Hospital, D8 |
Launch the new Falls and Syncope Facility |
|
4-1-2006 (Wednesday) |
Rotunda Hospital |
Launch IHSAB Accreditation award in the Rotunda |
|
20-1-2006 (Friday) |
St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin 4 |
Visit the Merrion Unit of BreastCheck |
|
St. Patrick’s Hospital, James’s Street, Dublin 8 |
Visit and meet with the Governors and Senior Executive |
|
|
27-1-2006 (Friday) |
Dundalk |
Visit to Louth County Hospital |
|
6-2-2006 — 9-2-2006 |
Canada |
Visit oncology facilities — Cancer Care Ontario, Princess Margaret Hospital, British Columbia Cancer Agency |
|
10-2-2006 (Friday) |
Station Road, Raheny, Dublin 5 |
Visit to St. Francis Hospice |
|
Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown |
Photoshoot re: Launch of Lollypop day. Also, visit to Connolly Hospital |
|
|
20-2-2006 (Monday) |
Galway |
Visit to Galway Hospice Renmore Visit to Bons Secours Visit Galway Clinic |
|
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7 |
Unveil painting re: organ donation |
|
|
3-3-2006 (Friday) |
Cork University Hospital |
Officially open new Medical Records Department |
|
10-03-2006 (Thursday) |
South Africa |
Visit to leratong Hospice as part of St Patrick’s day travel |
|
3-4-2006 (Monday) |
Our Lady’s Hospice, Harolds Cross, Dublin 6W |
Officially open new 50 bed Extended Care Unit |
|
10-4-2006 (Monday) |
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 |
Visit the Alpha One Suite to see facilities and meet with staff nurse, scientists and patients |
|
08/05/2006 |
University of Pennsylvania |
View Oncology and A&E Services |
|
John Hopkins Centre |
View the oncology services |
|
|
09/05/2006 |
National Institute for Health |
National Cancer Institute |
|
10/05/2006 |
Washington Hospital |
View the Oncology and A&E Services |
211 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason recommendations made by occupational therapists that shower and toilet seats be provided for persons (details supplied) in County Wexford two years ago have not been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19487/06]
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.
212 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if positions of professionals on maternity leave will be replaced temporarily while the leave continues, that is occupational therapists in Wexford, taking into account the great need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19488/06]
The Deputy's question relates to human resource management issues within the Health Service Executive. As this is a matter for the Executive, under the Health Act 2004, 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.
213 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 was told they exceed the income threshold for the renewal of their medical card, in view of the fact that their only income is from invalidity pension and a €5,000 grant from the local authority for third level education; and if she will ensure that the persons medical card is renewed. [19489/06]
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.
214 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether people should not have to choose between their medical card and their education; her further views on whether counting a grant received for education as income for medical card purposes acts as a disincentive against obtaining that education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19490/06]
Under Section 45 of the Health Act 1970 medical cards are provided for persons who, in the opinion of the HSE, are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. Section 58 of the Health Act, 1970, as amended, provides for GP visit cards for adult persons with limited eligibility for whom, in the opinion of the HSE, and notwithstanding that they do not qualify for a medical card, it would be unduly burdensome to arrange GP medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants.
The assessment of eligibility to medical cards is statutorily a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and is determined following an examination of the means and medical need of the applicant and his/her dependants.
In assessing eligibility income guidelines are used by the HSE. These guidelines are not statutorily binding and medical cards may be granted by the HSE to persons in circumstances where the income guidelines may be exceeded but the particular circumstances of the case warrant such a decision. Decisions to refuse an application or renewal of a medical card may, of course, be appealed to the Executive for further consideration.
217 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive physiotherapy. [19493/06]
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.
218 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive approval for a new artificial limb. [19494/06]
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.
220 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if complaints made by patients regarding the conduct of a person (details supplied) were investigated by the old South Eastern Health Board; if the patients who made such complaints were interviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19496/06]
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.
221 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a home care package will be put in place in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19497/06]
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.
222 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the funding for 2005 and the estimate for 2006 in relation to mental health services and suicide prevention initiatives. [19498/06]
An additional €15 million revenue funding was made available for the further development of mental health services in 2005 and a further €25 million has been provided this year for the further enhancement of services in line with "A Vision for Change", the recently published report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy. This brings the estimated total revenue spend on mental health services in 2006 to over €800 million.
In addition to existing funding, a further €0.5 million was allocated in 2005 to commence the implementation of "Reach Out" — the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention and a further €1.2 million has been allocated to the HSE in 2006 specifically for suicide prevention initiatives. It is estimated that since the publication of the Report of the National Task Force on Suicide in 1998, a cumulative total of more than €20 million has been provided towards suicide prevention programmes and for research.
223 Mr. P. Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 119 of 30 March 2006, the status of an application under the housing aid for the elderly scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19499/06]
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.
I understand from the HSE that a reply issued to the Deputy on 3 April 2006 in relation to Question No. 119 of 30 March 2006. The HSE has confirmed that the position remains unchanged and the application process is ongoing as they are still awaiting quotations requested from the applicant.
224 Mr. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Health Service Executive has allowed the housing aid for the elderly scheme to be run down; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that there is over a two year delay in approvals being issued for grant aid; if it is Health Service Executive policy to disengage from this vital scheme for the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19500/06]
The Deputy will be aware that the Housing Aid Scheme is administered by the Health Service Executive, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Scheme has not been run down. The Deputy may wish to be aware that an initial allocation of €12 million for the scheme has been allocated in 2006 compared to an initial allocation of €11 million in 2005 and the Health Service Executive regions were notified of this in February 2006. A further allocation of funding will be provided later in the year.
With regard to the delay in approvals under the Scheme, the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which includes the approval process for the Housing Aid Scheme, are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Health Service Executive has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue. There is no intention to disengage from the Scheme.
225 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be called for their hip replacement operation as their condition has deteriorated. [19501/06]
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 case investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
226 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be called for their knee operation as their condition has deteriorated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19502/06]
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 case investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
227 Ms C. Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the results of a test for cystic fibrosis carried out on a person (details supplied) in County Kildare took four months; the average waiting time for such test results; the locations where the results are normally analysed; if it is planned to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19525/06]
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.
229 Mr. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the target guidelines for maximum waiting times of the National Health Strategy; and when she last received a report from the Health Service Executive on performance against these targets. [19527/06]
The Health Strategy set as a target that no public patient should wait longer than three months for in-patient treatment in hospital following referral from an out-patient department. Responsibility for the collection and reporting of data on waiting times now rests with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). It has developed the Patient Treatment Register (PTR), which provides, for the first time, verified information on actual patients on public in-patient and day-case waiting lists. The latest figures from the PTR show that for the 20 most common surgical procedures, 85% of patients are waiting less than 6 months for treatment.
Nineteen hospitals are currently included in the PTR. It is intended to complete the roll-out of the PTR to all acute hospitals by the end of this year. The NTPF advises anyone waiting more than three months for an operation to contact it as, in most instances, treatment can be arranged for them.
230 Mr. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she last received a report from the Health Service Executive on the waiting period from referral to a consultant appointment. [19528/06]
Information on the length of time that patients spend waiting for an appointment with a consultant following their referral by a General Practitioner is not collected on a national basis by the Health Service Executive and is not, therefore, available to my Department.
In 2005, I asked the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to examine the needs of patients waiting longest for hospital out-patient appointments. 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, were given out-patient appointments in private hospitals. An additional 3,100 patients were removed from out-patient waiting lists as part of a validation process. In 2006 the NTPF proposes to build on the progress made in 2005 by arranging out-patient appointments for a further 6,000 patients.
231 Mr. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the terms of the new out of hours general practitioner service for the northside which the Taoiseach has indicated will be in place for 1 September 2006, indicating the main hours of service which have been contracted in, the number of centres from which the service will be delivered and so on. [19529/06]
The Government's policy is to support the further development of GP co-ops so that, ultimately, such services will be available to all of the population. The putting in place of appropriate arrangements for large urban areas, including Dublin, is a particular priority in this regard. The Health Service Executive announced the following on 11 May: "Following a joint initiative by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Irish Medical Organisation, (IMO) negotiations have been ongoing for the past number of weeks with a view to establishing an out-of-hours GP based Co-operative to serve the population of North Dublin. These negotiations have made considerable progress to date and it is anticipated that a successful conclusion will be arrived at in the next few weeks. The agreement will provide for the establishment of an enhanced urgent out-of-hours GP Service commencing in September 2006. The co-operative model in this agreement is based on the model successfully in operation in other parts of the country. The HSE, the IMO and the General Practitioners in North Dublin are committed to enhancing the services available to the population of North Dublin."
232 Ms C. Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on charging families who block the discharge of patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19614/06]
I presume that the Deputy is referring to a suggestion made by a consultancy firm, Tribal Secta, which was commissioned by the Health Service Executive to carry out a mapping and efficiency exercise across ten acute hospitals. The consultants were asked to identify blockages, causes and potential solutions in the patient's journey from the decision to admit from the Emergency Department, to discharge.
The Report refers to a significant number of patients in the acute hospitals in question who had completed the acute phase of their care but could not be discharged to a more appropriate setting for a variety of reasons. One of the reasons identified was a shortage of appropriate care and convalescence facilities for older people. Another was that the families or carers of patients do not always accept the first placement that becomes available and sometimes refuse to allow patients to be discharged from hospital. The Report suggested that hospitals might consider imposing charges in such cases.
Providing more sub-acute care options is an important and integral part of the measures being taken to tackle problems in A & E departments. So far this year, 350 patients have been discharged from acute hospitals to intermediate care beds; additional home care packages have facilitated the discharge of a further 200 patients, and over 250 patients have been discharged under the private nursing homes initiative.
The inter-Departmental Working Group on long-term care for older people has submitted its report to Government, where it is under consideration. In relation to long-term care capacity, the HSE is preparing a report on such capacity for my Department and it is expected that this report will be available over the next few weeks. I have not received and am not considering any submission suggesting the charging measure in the Tribal Secta report.
233 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if it is proposed to increase inpatient beds in Cork University Hospital and it if is intended that accident and emergency services are to be expanded at the Mercy University Hospital Cork. [19615/06]
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.
234 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if it is proposed to close mental hospitals and if hospitals (details supplied) in County Cork are included in the programme. [19616/06]
The Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, "A Vision for Change", which was published on 24 January 2006, recommends that plans be drawn up for the closure of all mental hospitals. 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.
In "A Vision for Change", a four-stage process is recommended for the closure of the hospitals, as follows: Stage 1 — identify measures required to enable admission to cease and put these measures in place; Stage 2 — cease admission to the hospital and draw up plans for relocations of existing patients; Stage 3 — implement plans for the relocation of existing patients; and Stage 4 — the final closure of the hospital. The recommendations in the Report have been accepted by Government as the basis for the future development of our mental health services.
The Health Service Executive has stated that it anticipates the closure of mental hospitals and the reinvestment of the proceeds to take place on a phased basis. It has also emphasised that hospitals can only 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 together with a substantial increase in the number of well trained, fully staffed, community-based multidisciplinary Community Mental Health Teams as is recommended in "A Vision for Change".
As the Deputy may be aware, under the Health Act 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social service are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matters raised by the Deputy investigated and to have a reply issued directly to him.
235 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 92 of 11 May 2006, her views on whether it would not be in the interests of elderly and frail patients that they would have to relocate three times over the space of a year; her further views on whether this would be disorientating for patients with psychiatric problems; if her attention has been drawn to the strong opposition from families of patients to these proposals; and the steps she will take to ensure that patients can move directly from unit three to unit five in order to avoid excessive disruption. [19617/06]
As I informed the Deputy in my response of the 11th May 2006, it may be necessary to relocate some patients on an interim basis pending the re-development of facilities at Connolly Hospital. The hospital is currently engaged with the relevant stakeholders in developing a range of options taking into account the complex needs of the patients and the need for continuity of care. A process of consultation with the families of patients is also underway to ensure minimal disruption to patients during the re-development.
As 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, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matters raised by the Deputy investigated and to have a reply issued directly to her.
236 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of people who are working in the offices of the Minister with responsibility for Children; the number who are assigned to the Minister’s private office; the number to his constituency office; the numbers of advisers and political appointments to the Minister’s office; the salaries and fees paid to such employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19618/06]
The Office of the Minister for Children is an integral part of the Department of Health and Children and comprises the following:
•The Childcare Directorate (transferred from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform), which has responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme — EOCP and the new National Childcare Investment Programme. The Childcare Directorate has an agreed complement of 21.8 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) civil servants.
•The Child Welfare and Protection Policy Unit, which has responsibility for policy and legislative work on Child Welfare and Protection has an agreed complement of 17.1 WTE civil servants.
•The National Children's Strategy Unit, which has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the National Children's Strategy has an agreed complement of 16.8 WTE civil servants (which includes 3 staff on secondment from the Departments of Education and Science, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Social & Family Affairs), 2 staff on Contract and 1 on Secondment. Salary costs excluding employer's PRSI and pension contributions in respect of the three sections above amount to €2,922,724 per annum.
•The Minister's Private Office has 1 Private Secretary, 4 other civil servants, 1 Special Advisor and 2 Civilian Drivers who are attached to the Department of Health and Children. He also has 1 Private Secretary based in the Department of Education and Science. Salary costs excluding employer's PRSI and pension contributions amount to €408,038 per annum.
•The Minister's Constituency Office has an agreed complement of 2.8 civil servants, 1 Personal Assistant and 1 Personal Secretary. Salary costs excluding employer's PRSI and pension contributions amount to €194,652 per annum.
237 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 225 of 4 April 2006, if she has received the information requested from the Health Service Executive; if so, the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19641/06]
As the Deputy's Question no 225 dated 4th April 2006 related to the delivery of health and personal social services my Department, as indicated in my reply, asked the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to reply directly to the Deputy.
Where a Question relates to a service provided by the HSE on a national basis or requests statistical information in relation to a service covering a period of years, it may require the collation of information from a number of different sources. The collation of such information is coordinated and monitored by the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE to ensure that a complete and comprehensive reply is compiled and issued in response to these Questions.
My Department has been informed by the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE that it is completing the collation of the information requested by the Deputy with a view to furnishing a direct reply to him. My Department has asked the HSE that the reply be furnished as soon as possible.
238 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 224 of 4 April 2006 the updated figures for the number of inquiries that the city and county childcare committees have received with regard to voluntary notification for childminders; the number of notifications the childcare committees have received since the introduction of the tax exemption for childminders; the breakdown of same per childcare committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19642/06]
With reference to the information provided to the Deputy last month in regard to the number of enquiries received by City and County Childcare Committees from childminders in relation to voluntary notification since the introduction of the tax exemption in respect of income from childminding, I am advised that the information provided at that time and reproduced below has not yet been updated. I have asked officials in the Office of the Minister for Children to arrange for an early update of the information and for this to be forwarded to the Deputy at an early date.
Details of the number of enquiries to the City and County Childcare Committees regarding voluntary notification by childminders and the number of voluntary notifications received, since the introduction of the tax exemption up to the beginning of April 2006:
|
City/County Childcare Committee |
Enquiries |
Voluntary Notifications |
|
Carlow |
1 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
25 |
3 |
|
Clare |
2 |
5 |
|
Cork City |
Details awaited |
|
|
Cork County |
8 |
0 |
|
Dún Laoghaire/ Rathdown |
3 |
0 |
|
Donegal |
21 |
0 |
|
Dublin City |
30 |
0 |
|
Fingal |
15 |
30 |
|
Galway |
280 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
4 |
70 |
|
Kildare |
Details awaited |
|
|
Kilkenny |
4 |
0 |
|
Laois |
0 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
Details awaited |
|
|
Limerick City |
Details awaited |
|
|
Limerick County |
6 |
4 |
|
Longford |
5 |
0 |
|
Louth |
1 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
Details awaited |
|
|
Meath |
25 |
17 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
1 |
|
North Tipperary |
0 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
0 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
8 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
10 |
0 |
|
South Dublin |
50 |
5 |
|
South Tipperary |
6 |
0 |
|
Waterford City |
20 |
5 |
|
Waterford County |
8 |
7 |
|
Westmeath |
91 |
5 |
|
Wexford |
8 |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
57 |
21 |
|
Total |
553 |
160 |
239 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay of up to 15 months for a knee operation for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; if the operation will be expedited or dealt with under the national treatment purchase fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19653/06]
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 investigate the matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
240 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in approving an application under the housing aid for the elderly scheme in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will expedite a response. [19654/06]
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 the 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.
241 Mr. McGinley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason citizens of this State should pay private health insurance when her plans for a single tier health service provide no accommodation benefits to the privately insured who are effectively paying twice for their hospital bed and catering; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19670/06]
Under arrangements for public hospitals introduced in June 1991, on foot of the Health (Amendment) Act, 1991, everyone, regardless of income is entitled to public hospital and public consultant services subject only to modest statutory charges, from which medical card holders are exempt. Alternatively, one can opt to be the private patient of both the consultant and the hospital. Private patients are liable for both the appropriate accommodation charges and consultants' fees in addition to the statutory charges. The proportion of the population availing of private health insurance has continued to increase since this legislation was enacted.
Over 50% of the Irish population now avail of private health insurance in addition to their eligibility for public hospital services. A Market Review commissioned by the Health Insurance Authority, and published in September 2005, reaffirmed earlier research by the same organisation that people considered hospital treatment as the most important aspect of private health insurance (77% of all responses), while only 11% of individuals thought hospital accommodation the most important aspect of their cover. As stated in the Government's 2001 Health Strategy, "private health insurance will continue to play a vital part in the overall resourcing of health care in this country".
246 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the services which will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the reason her Department will only give an indicative date in 2007 for assessment; if the assessment obtained privately by her Department will be accepted; if the appropriate treatment will follow based on this assessment; if the delay is a system failure within her Department; if lack of staff and resources are the cause of this delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19771/06]
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.
247 Mr. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the numbers of new recruits in each of the past five years to the public service under the auspices of her Department; and age distribution of these new recruits. [20216/06]
The position in regard to the health service is that human resource management issues are matters for the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. My Department has therefore 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.
248 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Finance when the new Garda station will be built in Tralee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19059/06]
It has been decided that the Commissioners of Public Works will advertise in the press seeking a suitable site in Tralee for a new Garda station.
250 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Finance his plans to remove the embargo on the recruitment of public service jobs as many local authorities require additional staff but due to the embargo they cannot recruit; the plans the Government have to allow local authorities to recruit necessary staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19083/06]
There is no embargo on the recruitment of staff for local authorities or any other sector within the public service. The Government has, over the last number of years, followed a policy under which the growth in public service employment has slowed overall. The Government will continue to control and regulate numbers employed in the public service within agreed ceilings. Organisations can recruit staff within the overall ceiling which has been agreed for their sector. It is a matter for each individual Department and sector of the public service and relevant Minister to set priorities to give effect to this policy. The agreed ceiling for the local authority sector is 33,300.
251 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Revenue Commissioners decided to take a different approach when dealing with football clubs (details supplied); and if he will clarify the situation. [19084/06]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the information requested by the Deputy is confidential to the taxpayers concerned and accordingly they are not in a position to disclose it. Revenue have emphasised that their general approach to tax compliance by their customers is to support and ensure timely voluntary compliance to the greatest extent possible. Where voluntary compliance is not forthcoming, then the appropriate collection and enforcement measures are deployed to address non-compliance.
252 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the number and location of temporary clerical posts available through the competition being run by the Revenue Commissioners; the timetable for recruitment; the envisaged duration of the employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19113/06]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the table below is an estimate of the number of posts likely to arise to cover term time in the Revenue Commissioners in 2006. Contracts will be for between 8 and 13 weeks. These posts will be filled in the next 3/6 weeks and successful candidates will be advised in the coming days. In addition to the number of posts below Revenue will also require temporary clerical officers throughout the coming 12 months to cover maternity leave, parental leave etc. It is difficult to estimate the numbers or the locations in this regard.
|
Locations |
No. of Temporary Vacancies |
|
Athlone |
4 |
|
Castlebar |
4 |
|
Cork |
17 |
|
Dublin |
80 |
|
Dundalk |
7 |
|
Ennis |
8 |
|
Galway |
8 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
|
Letterkenny |
5 |
|
Limerick |
44 |
|
Nenagh |
13 |
|
Rosslare |
1 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
|
Thurles |
3 |
|
Tralee |
3 |
|
Waterford |
9 |
|
Wexford |
5 |
|
Total |
217 |
253 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance the measures which will be put in place to ensure that there is more effective allocation of resources by the Government, Ministers, Departments and agencies to result in better value for the taxpayer and greater accountability to the Houses of the Oireachtas and Irish people in regard to public expenditure. [19144/06]
The Government has taken a number of important initiatives in recent years to put a framework in place to achieve better value for money from public expenditure and to provide greater accountability to the Oireachtas and the taxpayer on what is being achieved for public expenditure. These include: the 5 year rolling multi-annual capital envelopes for public capital investment introduced in Budget 2004; new guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure in February 2005; proposed reforms to public procurement and the introduction of public private partnerships to procure suitable projects; value for money measures on procurement, ICT projects and consultancies in October 2005 which include provision for fixed priced contracts as the norm, full cost benefit analysis of capital projects over €30 million, audit of these major capital projects, the appointment of an individual as project manager for major capital and ICT projects and peer review of major ICT projects; and the Government's plans for reform of the Estimates and Budgetary process which I announced in Budget 2006. From 2007, Ministers will be submitting an annual output statement in tandem with their Estimates to facilitate Dáil consideration of the Estimates.
In addition to the above, I am planning improvements to the operation of the expenditure review initiative which will see a further element of the new robust framework for better public expenditure management and enhanced value for money put in place.
254 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Finance if consideration is being given to raising the stamp duty threshold for first-time buyers in view of spiralling housing prices in Dublin. [19146/06]
As the Deputy will be aware, the 2005 Budget introduced a stamp duty relieving measure for first-time house purchasers who are owner-occupiers of second-hand houses by increasing the stamp duty exemption threshold for such purchasers from €190,500 to €317,500 and by having reduced rates for house values up to €635,000. Any further changes to the stamp duty regime are a matter for the Budget.
255 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown under each operational programme and for each year, for both the Border midland western and south east regions, of funding allocated and expended as sourced from the EU, the Exchequer and private sources separately in relation to the National Development Plan. [19175/06]
The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded directly to her.
256 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of National Development Plan spending, on a yearly basis in each county within the Border midland western region. [19176/06]
My Department generally monitors spending on the National Development Plan (NDP) on a regional basis, that is, the Border, Midlands and Western and the Southern and Eastern regions, from data received by the Operational Programme Managing Authorities.
The project implementing bodies do attribute spending at county level, but the data currently available to my Department from the bodies does not attribute the whole of the totals for the regions. Data for the period January 2000 to December 2002 represents approximately 80% of spending and is set out in the following table. Information for subsequent years, while available, represents a lower percentage of spending.
|
County |
Year 2000 |
Year 2001 |
Year 2002 |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
Cavan |
55.703 |
73.877 |
73.493 |
|
Donegal |
166.613 |
210.157 |
228.618 |
|
Galway |
246.346 |
294.246 |
333.498 |
|
Laois |
112.685 |
51.365 |
77.915 |
|
Leitrim |
33.142 |
50.220 |
54.087 |
|
Longford |
33.706 |
50.403 |
55.173 |
|
Louth |
149.204 |
123.076 |
114.138 |
|
Mayo |
129.272 |
182.066 |
171.897 |
|
Monaghan |
52.605 |
67.550 |
94.838 |
|
Offaly |
44.099 |
42.380 |
78.724 |
|
Roscommon |
61.325 |
50.472 |
61.320 |
|
Sligo |
73.292 |
94.112 |
98.449 |
|
Westmeath |
84.278 |
91.367 |
121.658 |
|
BMW residual amount* |
54.811 |
59.056 |
35.800 |
|
Total |
1,297.081 |
1,440.347 |
1,599.608 |
* This represents projects that the implementing bodies cannot attribute to a particular county such as rail track projects and FÁS training
257 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Finance the plans which are in place to make good the shortfall in non co-financed expenditure in the Border Midland Western region which will remain unspent at the end of 2006. [19177/06]
The National Development Plan (NDP) provides an indicative expenditure profile for each of the seven Operational Programmes for the Border, Midland and Western (BMW) and Southern and Eastern (S&E) Regions for each year 2000 to 2006. These Operational Programmes are: Economic and Social Infrastructure, Employment and Human Resources Development, Productive Sector, Border, Midlands and Western, Southern and Eastern, Technical Assistance and the Peace Programme.
The profiles for spending under each Operational Programme were set in 2000 when the Programmes were being prepared and to ensure consistency of reporting, have remained at that level. The funding requirements in the NDP are subject to a number of factors which, over time have implications for the physical level of output and impact on the level of funding required during the term of the Plan. Factors include, for example, the level of demand for schemes and for grants from the private sector, re-specification of projects, delays in the planning process and the performance of particular sectors such as the weakened tourism and agriculture sector.
For non co-financed measures in the BMW region to the end of 2005, the indicative profiles for public expenditure, including exchequer financed expenditure, is €11.9 billion and for private expenditure it is €1.67 billion. Based on the most recent information reported to my Department, exchequer and other public expenditure on these measures, to the end of 2005, stands at €9.7 billion representing 81% of original profile. Private expenditure on these measures to the end of 2005 stands at €418 million to the end of 2005, representing 25% of original profile.
Progress on the implementation of the NDP is subject to ongoing monitoring through the individual Operational Programme Monitoring Committees and the overarching NDP/CSF Monitoring Committee chaired by my Department. This Committee which monitors overall progress on the Plan, is comprised of a wide partnership of interests, including implementing Departments, the social partners, sectoral interests, and members of local authorities representing the regional assemblies. It is scheduled to meet on 25th May 2006 at which stage it will have considered the progress reports of the individual Operational Programmes for the period January 2000 to end December 2005. Following this meeting, my Department will be communicating with Departments to ensure they continue to prioritise spending in the BMW region.
National development planning and investment is an ongoing process and investment to achieve more balanced regional development is a key government priority. This has been underscored by the publication of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS). The implementation of the NSS, which sets out the Government strategy for achieving balanced regional development, will be a central element of the next National Development Plan (2007-2013) whose preparation is now under way. The new National Development Plan will build on the achievements of the current NDP and continue progress towards ensuring a more balanced distribution of development in the country.
258 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the stamp duty rates for residential property applying to non first-time buyers immediately before 2 December 2004. [19192/06]
In the case of second-hand residential property, the rates of stamp duty for non first time buyers are:
|
% |
|
|
Up to €127,000 |
0 |
|
From €127,001 to €195,500 |
3 |
|
From €195,501 to €254,000 |
4 |
|
From €254,001 to €317,500 |
5 |
|
From €317,501 to €381,000 |
6 |
|
From €381,001 to €635,000 |
7.5 |
|
Over €635,000 |
9 |
All owner occupiers can purchase a new home between 38 sq. m and 125 sq. m, where a Floor Area Compliance Certificate has been obtained, without a liability to stamp duty. Where a new house is over 125 sq. m., stamp duty is charged on either the value of the site or 25% of the value of the property, whichever is the greater, using the rates listed above.
In the case of a non-owner occupier of a new home, stamp duty is charged at the rates applying to non-first time buyers of second-hand residential property, listed above.
259 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be furnished with a P21 for 2005. [19253/06]
I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a PAYE Balancing Statement (Form P21) for 2005 issued to the taxpayer on 16 May 2006.
260 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to consider reviewing the conditions attached to the vehicle registration tax rebate for disabled drivers; if he will ensure that persons wholly or almost wholly without the use of one arm are eligible for such a rebate; if the cost of such a change can be estimated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19323/06]
261 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to consider reviewing the conditions attached to the vehicle registration tax rebate for disabled drivers; to ensure that persons with severely mental or physical disability or their guardians are eligible for such a rebate; if the cost of such a change can be estimated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19324/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car up to a certain limit.
The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. A person must be severely and permanently disabled and satisfy one of the following conditions:
(a) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;
(b) be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;
(c) be without both hands or without both arms;
(d) be without one or both legs;
(e) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;
(f) have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.
The scheme has been in operation in some form since 1968. As regards changes to the medical/ disability criteria: only criterion (a) was in place up to 1989, when they were expanded by the addition of (b), (c), (d) and (f); and in 1994, the final criterion at (e) was added.
The Senior Medical Officer (SMO) for the relevant Health Service Executive area makes a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant satisfies the medical criteria. An unsuccessful applicant can appeal the decision of the SMO to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, which makes a new clinical determination in respect of the individual.
A special Interdepartmental Review Group reviewed the operation of the Disabled Drivers Scheme. The terms of reference of the Group were to examine the operation of the existing scheme, including the difficulties experienced by the various groups and individuals involved with it, and to consider the feasibility of alternative schemes, with a view to assisting the Minister for Finance in determining the future direction of the scheme.
The Group's Report, published on my Department's website in July 2004, sets out in detail the genesis and development of the scheme. It examines the current benefits, the qualifying medical criteria, the Exchequer costs, relationship with other schemes and similar schemes in other countries. The Report also makes a number of recommendations, both immediate and long-term, referring respectively to the operation of the appeals process and options for the future development of the scheme.
In respect of the long-term recommendations, which included the qualifying disability criteria, I should say that given the scale and scope of the scheme, further changes can only be made after very careful consideration. For this reason, the Government decided in June 2004 that the Minister for Finance would consider the recommendations contained in the Report of the Interdepartmental Review Group in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to the existing and prospective cost of the scheme.
The best way of addressing the transport needs of people with disabilities including the effectiveness, suitability or otherwise of the Disabled Drivers Scheme in that regard will be progressed in consultation with the other Departments who have responsibility in this area. In any event, a car tax concession scheme can obviously play only a partial role in dealing with the broader issue of transport needs or difficulties experienced by persons with various disabilities.
With regard to costing the addition to the scheme of either of the following cohorts — (i) persons wholly or almost wholly without the use of one arm, or (ii) persons with a severe mental or physical disability, the Deputy will appreciate that this is not feasible, as it is not possible to estimate the numbers that might satisfy either of the criteria, particularly the latter, nor the number of such persons who might have the use of a car and wish to avail of the scheme. However, the average total annualised value of the benefits of the scheme is estimated at around €5,500 per claimant.
262 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the numbers of new recruits in each of the past five years to the public service; and age distribution of these new recruits. [19344/06]
I attach a tabular statement which lists the data the Deputy seeks for the years 2000 to 2004 for the civil service. This is based on the most recent available data supplied by Departments/Offices to my Department (for technical reasons not all Offices are included). I understand that the question in respect of the wider public service has been referred to the respective responsible Ministers for direct reply.
|
Dec-00 |
Dec-01 |
Dec-02 |
|||
|
Age Band |
No. of People |
Age Band |
No. of People |
Age Band |
No. of People |
|
< 20 years |
506 |
< 20 years |
301 |
< 20 years |
204 |
|
20 — 24 years |
920 |
20 — 24 years |
816 |
20 — 24 years |
948 |
|
25 — 29 years |
493 |
25 — 29 years |
598 |
25 — 29 years |
519 |
|
30 — 34 years |
288 |
30 — 34 years |
360 |
30 — 34 years |
281 |
|
35 — 39 years |
219 |
35 — 39 years |
254 |
35 — 39 years |
209 |
|
40 — 44 years |
188 |
40 — 44 years |
224 |
40 — 44 years |
201 |
|
45 — 49 years |
247 |
45 — 49 years |
301 |
45 — 49 years |
213 |
|
50 — 54 years |
161 |
50 — 54 years |
214 |
50 — 54 years |
141 |
|
55 — 59 years |
96 |
55 — 59 years |
135 |
55 — 59 years |
99 |
|
60 — 64 years |
27 |
60 — 64 years |
53 |
60 — 64 years |
26 |
|
65 years and > |
2 |
||||
|
Total |
3,145 |
Total |
3,258 |
Total |
2,841 |
|
Dec-03 |
Dec-04 |
||
|
Age Band |
No. of People |
Age Band |
No. of People |
|
< 20 years |
37 |
< 20 years |
37 |
|
20 — 24 years |
314 |
20 — 24 years |
361 |
|
25 — 29 years |
264 |
25 — 29 years |
277 |
|
30 — 34 years |
159 |
30 — 34 years |
151 |
|
35 — 39 years |
82 |
35 — 39 years |
88 |
|
40 — 44 years |
95 |
40 — 44 years |
105 |
|
45 — 49 years |
121 |
45 — 49 years |
90 |
|
50 — 54 years |
110 |
50 — 54 years |
72 |
|
55 — 59 years |
68 |
55 — 59 years |
50 |
|
60 — 64 years |
27 |
60 — 64 years |
16 |
|
65 years and > |
3 |
65 years and > |
1 |
|
Total |
1,280 |
Total |
1,248 |
263 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 is entitled to a tax rebate in respect of medical expenses; if so, when same will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19345/06]
I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the person's claims for relief in respect of medical expenses for the years 2004 and 2005 have been dealt with. However, as neither the person nor his wife paid any tax for these years there is no refund due. There is no provision in the Income Tax Acts for any refund in respect of medical expenses to be made by Revenue where no income tax has been paid.
A PAYE balancing statement for the year 2004 issued on 15 April 2005 and a balancing statement for the year 2005 issued on 12 April 2006. Both these statements showed that the taxpayer was exempt from tax.
264 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Finance when a refund of stamp duty will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [19346/06]
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that in the case referred to by the Deputy, an application for refund of stamp duty has been received by them and is currently being processed. In order to finalise the refund the original deed, which is currently held in the Land Registry, is required. Arrangements have been put in place for its delivery. On receipt of this deed, the Revenue Commissioners will process the refund without delay.
265 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19356/06]
My Department does not have a wine cellar.
266 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Finance the number of mobile phone companies which utilise the mast at Coolock Garda station, Dublin 5; if there is a limit to the number of companies which can use this mast; if there is a limit to the number of antennae which can be added to it; the way in which non-ionising radiation is monitored at this location; if information in relation to non-ionising radiation from this mast is made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19365/06]
At present three mobile phone companies have been granted licences by the Commissioners of Public Works to install telecommunications equipment on the mast at Coolock Garda Station. The number of companies that can be located on any particular mast is limited by space restrictions. The Telecommunications equipment installed by the mobile phone companies on Coolock Garda Station's Mast was installed under the exempt development provisions contained in Clause 31 of the 2001 Planning and Development Regulations and the number of additional antennae that can be added is limited by the said Clause 31.
Under the terms of the licence agreement with the Commissioners, the mobile phone operators are obliged to install and operate equipment within current standards and E.U. regulations and adhere to the guidelines on exposure limits to emissions, issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, (ICNIRP).
In addition, the Commissioners' consultants monitor all such developments on behalf of the Commissioners to ensure compliance with the regulations is achieved from the outset. They will then measure the emissions on an annual basis to ensure this compliance is continuous. Information on emissions from the Coolock Garda Station mast will be made available to members of the public on request.
268 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the position in relation to the role of the Revenue Commissioners in ascertaining price fixing of fuel prices (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19452/06]
The Revenue Commissioners do not have a specific role in ascertaining price fixing of fuel prices, or in any other area for that matter. This issue falls under an agency under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Of course, my Department is always concerned with factors that influence consumer price developments, given the need to reduce inflation and restore our international competitiveness.
269 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance his views that the employee tax credit be incorporated into the personal tax credit system for all taxpayers in view of the response to Parliamentary Question No. 326 of 28 March 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19473/06]
It is assumed that what the Deputy means is that the employee (PAYE) tax credit would be abolished and the personal tax credit would be correspondingly increased by €1,490 for a single person and by €2,980 for a married couple.
The position is that the PAYE allowance, as it was then, was introduced in 1980 to improve the tax position of PAYE taxpayers and to take account of the fact that the self-employed generally then had the advantage of paying tax on a preceding year basis. The argument was also made at the time that the general scheme of allowances discriminated against employees and in favour of other taxpayers.
There have been changes since 1980; the self-employed now pay tax on a current year basis, for example. However, the PAYE allowance has become a tax credit. Moreover, given that there can be significant timing advantages in the payment of tax for the self-employed, the employee credit is still perceived as necessary to ensure a balance in the system.
I do not believe that the provisions of the European Convention on the Social Protection of Farmers, which was agreed in 1977 and has not been signed or ratified by any Irish Government, would have any implications for the employee tax credit.
270 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 16 May 2006, he will confirm if any Government Department, office or agency had a supervisory role in the construction of the Millennium Wing of the National Gallery of Ireland; if the building health and safety regulations apply to the main stairwell of the Millennium Wing and to stairwells in public buildings of this type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19474/06]
The contracting authority for the Millennium Wing project was the National Gallery of Ireland. At that time, the National Gallery of Ireland reported to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, who provided a large proportion of the funding.
The Commissioners of Public Works provided technical advice and on delegated authority from the National Gallery of Ireland also provided project management services, i.e. management of the procurement, programme control and cost control for the project.
Certification of compliance with the building regulations, as advised in my previous answer, was fulfilled by the Gallery's architects, Benson & Forsyth.
In the case of the main stairwell of the Millennium Wing, it is the opinion of the Gallery's architects that the building and health and safety regulations are applicable. Regarding the applicability of building and health and safety regulations to public buildings of this type, each case must be judged on its individual merits.
271 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown by percentage of sources of Government revenue in 2005 including customs levies, excise duties, capital gains tax, capital acquisitions tax, stamp duties, corporation tax, VAT, agricultural levies and non tax revenue. [19475/06]
Total current receipts, between tax and non tax revenue, paid into the Exchequer in the year ended 31 December 2005 amounted to €39,849 million. A breakdown of Exchequer receipts and expenditure for 2005 is included in the Exchequer Statement published by my Department on 4 January 2006 and available on my Department's website. The breakdown as requested by the Deputy is as follows:
|
Heading |
€m |
As % of total |
|
Customs |
227 |
0.6% |
|
Excise duties |
5,233 |
13.1 |
|
Capital Gains Tax |
1,960 |
4.9 |
|
Capital Acquisitions Tax |
249 |
0.6 |
|
Stamp duties |
2,725 |
6.8 |
|
Income tax |
11,266 |
28.3 |
|
Corporation tax |
5,492 |
13.8 |
|
Value Added Tax |
12,089 |
30.4 |
|
Agricultural levies |
8 |
— |
|
Training and Employment |
5 |
— |
|
Non-Tax Revenue |
595 |
1.5 |
|
Total |
39,849 |
100 |
272 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown by amount and percentage of the sources of non-tax Government revenue for 2005. [19476/06]
As shown in the end-2005 Exchequer Statement, published on my Department's website, the breakdown of the sources of non-tax Exchequer Revenue for 2005 is as follows:
|
€000 |
% of total NTR 2005 |
|
|
Central Bank — Surplus Income |
103,021 |
17.3 |
|
National Lottery Surplus |
210,500 |
35.4 |
|
Royalties from Marathon Petroleum |
5,080 |
0.9 |
|
Central Bank-Accrued public moneys from the issue of coin |
45,400 |
7.6% |
|
Interest on Loans |
||
|
Local Loans Fund |
3,210 |
0.5 |
|
Other Advances |
1,128 |
0.2 |
|
Dividends |
||
|
Bord Gáis Éireann |
10,093 |
1.7 |
|
ESB |
73,543 |
12.4 |
|
Other Dividends |
276 |
0.0 |
|
Other Receipts |
||
|
Other Receipts collected by Departments etc |
114,230 |
19.2 |
|
Miscellaneous |
28,684 |
4.8 |
|
Total |
595,165 |
100.0 |
273 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps to have a bridge put in place over a drain, which the Office of Public Works has recently sunk on lands belonging to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19477/06]
I am advised that the drain in question was widened and deepened as part of the Boyne catchment drainage scheme in 1976. It is maintained on an ongoing basis, most recently last year. The scheme design did not include construction of a bridge. There are no proposals to provide a bridge at this location. The Commissioners of Public Works would not object if the landowner wishes to construct a bridge, provided it is constructed in accordance with their approval as provided by the Arterial Drainage Act.
274 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 9 May 2006 and his reference to telecommunication equipment in the clock tower at Farmleigh, if this is a phone mast or its equivalent; if it serves mobile phone operators; the telecommunications companies which have access to this equipment; the fee they pay for its use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19478/06]
In order to provide mobile coverage for State events at Farmleigh, the Commissioners of Public Works granted permission for the installation of telecommunications equipment in the Clock Tower at Farmleigh.
The telecommunications equipment located in the Clock Tower at Farmleigh currently serves two mobile phone operators — Vodafone & O2.
The standard licence fee in this case is €13,500 per annum.
275 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if approval will be given by the Revenue Commissioners to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal who is disabled to change their car; if the changed circumstances of the person will be examined; if a response will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19479/06]
Relief from taxes for people with disabilities is governed by the Disabled Drivers and the Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, S.I No. 353 of 1994. Paragraph 15 refers to early disposal of vehicles relieved of taxes under the scheme.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners, that the earliest date of disposal of the person's current vehicle without a tax claw-back is 18 August 2006. If the person wishes to dispose of their vehicle prior to this date a portion of the taxes relieved on the vehicle must be repaid to the Revenue Commissioners. The amount of the repayment is calculated by reference to the current market value of the vehicle.
The current market value of the vehicle in question is €34,120, therefore the repayment due to the Revenue Commissioners is €8,188. If the person wishes to pursue this course of action, repayment of the said amount should be made to the Revenue Commissioners, Central Repayments Office, Monaghan. The vehicle may then be disposed of and an application for a new vehicle will be processed on receipt.
276 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Finance the proposals drawn up by the Office of Public Works for traffic management in the Phoenix Park; the discussions held with Dublin City Council; if he will meet representatives of associations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19610/06]
An independent traffic management study is currently being undertaken and there have been extensive consultations on the matter with Dublin City Council.
I have already met with deputations of local representatives on this issue and I am fully familiar with the concerns and reservations of a number of local residents.
277 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the position in relation to forestry investment by the National Treasury Management Agency; if such investments have been made; and the details thereof. [19611/06]
I presume the Deputy is referring to the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission, which is responsible for the investment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund. The Commission is independent of Government in the exercise of its functions. It controls and manages the Fund with discretionary authority to determine and implement the Fund's investment strategy in accordance with the Fund investment policy set out in the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000. This investment policy is based on a commercial investment mandate with the objective of securing the optimal return over the long term subject to prudent risk management. Under the legislation, the Commission is required to publish its Annual Report and Accounts within six months of the end of the financial year to which they relate. The Report is required to contain a detailed list of the Fund's assets at year-end. In its Annual Report for 2004 (the most recently published) the Commission announced that, in the context of broadening its asset allocation strategy to include new asset classes, it intends to invest in forestry.
278 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his views on waiving the bank card charges for pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19612/06]
Stamp duty exists on various financial cards in order to provide Exchequer revenue. The stamp duty on cheques, bills of exchange and promissory notes has existed for many years with no exemptions of the kind referred to by the deputy. When electronic means of money transfers were subsequently introduced, stamp duty was gradually extended to these products to ensure that the stamp duty from cheques etc. was not eroded. I do not believe that the current charges on bank cards are either excessive or act as a disincentive for pensioners using financial institutions and there are no plans to introduce exemptions to stamp duty for any category of individual.
279 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the situation between the Office of Public Works and Kildare County Council as it relates to flood relief work that has been identified as required in Leixlip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19613/06]
The Office of Public Works met with Kildare County Council on 31st March 2006 and agreed to undertake a Local Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study for the Rye River, encompassing the towns of Leixlip, Maynooth and Kilcock. This will ultimately form part of a Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study for the entire Liffey Catchment, which it is planned to undertake at a later stage. The Office of Public Works agreed to prioritise this section of the study at the request of Kildare County Council in light of the existing flood risk and development pressure in the area. Work will commence as soon as possible. Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Plans provide a strategic overview of a river catchment and a context within which decisions on the most appropriate measures to manage existing and potential flood risk. Subject to availability of funds, works recommended by the study which are economically and environmentally sustainable will be funded by the Office of Public Works within its overall Flood Management Policy. It is expected that it would take approximately 18 months to complete such a study of the Rye. Kildare County Council will continue with studies currently underway by ESBI in Leixlip and environs. In the context of this arrangement the OPW will be willing to consider with Kildare County Council whether elements of work recommended by the studies could be regarded with reasonable certainty as likely to be compatible with the recommendations of the Rye CFRAM study. OPW is willing to consider providing funding to KCC to carry out such works if they can be shown to be economically and environmentally sustainable.
280 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance further to decentralisation to Youghal, the properties, which have been identified as a suitable location for his decentralised Department; the number of people who have indicated their desire to decentralise to Youghal; when he expects the decentralisation process to the town to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19637/06]
I am advised by both the Public Appointments Service and the Valuation Office that the number of people who have indicated their desire to decentralise to Youghal with these offices is 105 and 23 respectively. In accordance with the indicative timescale set out in a report from the Decentralisation Implementation Group both Offices are working towards decentralising to Youghal in mid 2009. I am informed by the Office of Public Works that a suitable site for the decentralised offices in Youghal has been identified and negotiations are at an advanced stage.
281 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance if, with regard to the 3% employment quota of people with disabilities of the Disability Act 2005, he is satisfied that this quota is being fulfilled in all areas of the Civil Service; the measures in place to ensure same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19638/06]
As the Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the policy in relation to the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service. As part of a review of policy on the employment of people with a disability in the Civil Service, my Department commissioned independent research on the operation of the 3% employment target. A survey carried out as part of this research which was published as "Employment and Career Progression of people with a disability in the Irish Civil Service" (IPA 2002), shows that 7% of Civil Service staff have a disability. I can assure the Deputy that the Government gives a high priority to policy in this area. A number of significant initiatives have been taken recently.
The Department of Finance has recruited a Disability Advisory Officer to develop guidelines in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer for the monitoring, reporting and recording arrangements for staff with a disability in the Civil Service. My Department is working with the National Disability Authority to explore potential new approaches to supporting staff with disabilities, including the possible use of a survey based on voluntary self-disclosure, both for new staff on appointment and for existing staff. A Disability Liaison Officers network involving all Departments has also been set up to share information and advice.
It is also important that the Civil Service continues to offer employment opportunities to people with disabilities. In light of the research and the independent consultants' recommendations in relation to recruitment, discussions are taking place with the Public Appointments Service about putting in place a programme of targeted recruitment for the Civil Service. It is expected that the programme will begin in the autumn. In addition, I should also mention that, this summer, every Government Department and a number of Offices are supporting a project entitled WAM (Willing Able and Mentoring) whereby summer work experience placements will be offered to graduates with disabilities.
282 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance if all areas of the Civil service offer family friendly schemes to staff; the schemes available to civil servants; the success of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19639/06]
The Civil Service has had family friendly working arrangements available for nearly 20 years. The schemes are available in all areas of the Civil Service. The main schemes are worksharing, flexitime and term time. Worksharing allows staff to job share or to adopt a part-time attendance pattern, subject to the business requirements. Flexitime gives staff flexibility to vary their starting and finishing times. Term Time allows staff with children up to 18 years of age to take either 8, 10 or 13 weeks unpaid leave from June until the end of August to match their working arrangements to their children's summer holidays. In addition the Civil Service also allows staff to take up to two career breaks during their career. A career break is a period of unpaid leave from work of between six months and five years. The Civil Service also provides crèche facilities in a number of locations, including Mount Street and Marlborough Street in Dublin, Athlone, Ennis, Sligo and Backweston, Celbridge. Family friendly initiatives allow staff the flexibility they need to manage their family commitments while contributing fully in the workplace. Family friendly policies make a vital contribution to the recruitment and retention of staff. Requests for access to work life balance schemes are facilitated as far as possible, subject to business requirements. The Civil Service is acknowledged as offering the widest range of flexible and family friendly options and participation rates are much higher than in equivalent employment in the private sector.
283 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if plans for the work required at Lacken Weir, Kilkenny, will be put on public display; if the work will be undertaken in summer 2006; the timeframe for completion of the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19655/06]
The Lacken Weir Review Group is engaged in finding a permanent solution to the problem at Lacken Weir. When remedial works has been identified they will be put on public display and a public meeting will be held. A commitment was given that the Review Group would consult on this matter with local public representatives. I understand that when contacted by a member of the group at the commencement of the review the Deputy indicated that he wished to meet with members of the group to discuss the matter. The review is now at an advanced stage and officials from my office will be in touch with the Deputy over the next few days to arrange a meeting to discuss all aspect of the review and update him on progress.
284 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the cost to date of the River Nore flood relief scheme; if compensation has been paid to all who claimed; the amount of compensation for property damage paid to date; if repairs to the houses at John’s Quay, Kilkenny have been completed; if the snag list has been agreed with the local authority; if it is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19656/06]
Approximately €42.6 million has been spent on the River Nore (Kilkenny City) Drainage Scheme to date. Work on the Scheme was carried out by the Office of Public Works Work under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. These Acts also make provision for the assessment and payment of compensation in respect of works carried out under the scheme. Where it is felt that loss or damage has been suffered as a result of the works, it is open to the party concerned to submit a claim for compensation upon completion of the scheme. It should be noted that any benefit incurred to a property as a result of the scheme works is offset against any losses sustained. All compensation claims received have not yet been settled. Repairs to the houses at Johns Quays which were affected by the flood relief scheme are not yet complete. OPW has been in touch with the owners of the properties affected and matters are progressing. The bulk of items on the snag list are complete and there are ongoing communications between OPW and the Local Authority regarding outstanding items.
285 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance when the inter-departmental review group into the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme which reported in June 2004 will have its recommendations implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19666/06]
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car up to a certain limit. A special Interdepartmental Review Group reviewed the operation of the Disabled Drivers Scheme. The terms of reference of the Group were to examine the operation of the existing scheme, including the difficulties experienced by the various groups and individuals involved with it, and to consider the feasibility of alternative schemes, with a view to assisting the Minister for Finance in determining the future direction of the scheme. The Group's Report, published on my Department's website in July 2004, sets out in detail the genesis and development of the scheme. It examines the current benefits, the qualifying medical criteria, the Exchequer costs, relationship with other schemes and similar schemes in other countries. The Report also makes a number of recommendations, both immediate and long-term, referring respectively to the operation of the appeals process and options for the future development of the scheme. The recommendations in respect of the appeals process were implemented shortly after the Report's publication.
In respect of the long-term recommendations, which included the qualifying disability criteria, I should say that given the scale and scope of the scheme, further changes can only be made after very careful consideration. For this reason, the Government decided that the Minister for Finance would consider the recommendations contained in the Report of the Interdepartmental Review Group in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to the existing and prospective cost of the scheme. The best way of addressing the transport needs of people with disabilities including the effectiveness, suitability or otherwise of the Disabled Drivers Scheme in that regard will be progressed in consultation with the other Departments who have responsibility in this area. In any event, a car tax concession scheme can obviously play only a partial role in dealing with the broader issue of transport needs or difficulties experienced by persons with various disabilities.
286 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance when it is expected to publish the report of the inter-departmental group studying the disabled drivers disabled passengers tax concession 1994 regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19675/06]
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car up to a certain limit. A special Interdepartmental Review Group reviewed the operation of the Disabled Drivers Scheme. The terms of reference of the Group were to examine the operation of the existing scheme, including the difficulties experienced by the various groups and individuals involved with it, and to consider the feasibility of alternative schemes, with a view to assisting the Minister for Finance in determining the future direction of the scheme. The Group's Report, published on my Department's website in July 2004, sets out in detail the genesis and development of the scheme. It examines the current benefits, the qualifying medical criteria, the Exchequer costs, relationship with other schemes and similar schemes in other countries. The Report also makes a number of recommendations, both immediate and long-term, referring respectively to the operation of the appeals process and options for the future development of the scheme.
In respect of the long-term recommendations, which included the qualifying disability criteria, I should say that given the scale and scope of the scheme, further changes can only be made after very careful consideration. For this reason, the Government decided that the Minister for Finance would consider the recommendations contained in the Report of the Interdepartmental Review Group in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to the existing and prospective cost of the scheme. The best way of addressing the transport needs of people with disabilities including the effectiveness, suitability or otherwise of the Disabled Drivers Scheme in that regard will be progressed in consultation with the other Departments who have responsibility in this area. In any event, a car tax concession scheme can obviously play only a partial role in dealing with the broader issue of transport needs or difficulties experienced by persons with various disabilities.
287 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the cost of procurement of sites, buildings or facilities associated with the Government's decentralisation programme; the receipts accruing to the Exchequer from the disposal of buildings or facilities in the context of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19676/06]
To date property acquisitions relating to the Government's decentralisation programme have been completed or significantly advanced in 25 locations. The particular solutions in these locations include State owned sites, sites purchased from local authorities, private individuals and purchases and leases of existing buildings. The estimated total committed expenditure in these 25 locations is €42.7 million excluding VAT. Suitable solutions have been identified in another 14 locations and negotiations to acquire these are ongoing. The overall site acquisition cost of the entire decentralisation programme is expected to be in the region of €75 million to €100 million, excluding VAT. The prices paid to the date for sites are considered by the OPW to be in line with market prices.
It is estimated that approximately 210,00 sq. m of office space will be required to accommodate the total numbers included in the programme. OPW cost norms (April 2005) in respect of offices would indicate an average build-cost to fit-out standard, in the range of €1,800 to €2,200 per square metre for suburban / rural locations and €2,500 to €3,000 per square metre in city/town centre locations. Such figures exclude VAT, professional fees and inflation. In addition the cost of equipping the accommodation to standard office equipment levels could be estimated at approximately €4,000 per person. This would exclude the cost of Information and Communication Technology and specialised equipment requirements. Such general measurements of cost do not include specialised facility and equipment requirements and other variables which would arise from the spread of possible procurement methodologies. In addition general cost indicators of this type show a snapshot in time.
It is self-evident that a firmer scale of costs for the decentralisation programme will only emerge on foot of actual cost proposals being received from the market. It will be some months yet before sufficient data can be extracted from a suitable range of tender competitions to provide a basis on which more robust estimates of the overall cost of the programme can be made. Nevertheless, it can be estimated that, generally speaking, the cost of providing accommodation in provincial, compared to central Dublin locations should yield considerable cost savings to the State over time in terms of site costs, capital build costs and indeed maintenance costs. The receipts accruing to the Exchequer from the disposal of surplus buildings in Dublin in the context of the Government's Asset Transformation programme to date exceed €345 million.
288 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which it is intended to proceed with the Government’s decentralisation programme with particular reference to a comparison between what is now proposed and that originally announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19677/06]
I would like to state the Government's full commitment to the decentralisation programme. The Decentralisation Implementation Group, chaired by Mr. Finbarr Flood, was established to drive the process forward and to oversee its effective delivery. The Group, recognising that it would not be feasible for all organisations to move at the same time, proposed phasing arrangements and revised timeframes out to 2009 for civil service organisations. These arrangements were accepted by Government and announced in June of last year and I am satisfied that good progress continues to be made. I understand that the Decentralisation Implementation Group has met a number of Secretaries General and are satisfied with the level of planning in each of the Departments. The Group is meeting the Chief Executives of a number of State Agencies to discuss the planning framework in place, to assess progress to date and to hear about the challenges arising and steps proposed to address them. The figures confirm that this is a popular programme among staff. Over 10,600 civil and public servants have applied to the Central Applications Facility. To date some 1,500 people have been assigned to posts destined for new locations and are being trained in their new role in readiness to move. So far, some 200 of these have actually relocated and it is expected that up to 1,000 will have moved by the end of the year. There is an extensive range of preparations ongoing in relation to the acquisition of property by the OPW, as well as the detailed implementation planning within individual Departments, Offices and Agencies, and ongoing discussions with unions in relation to the various human resource aspects of the programme. As always when dealing with a programme of this size there are challenges to overcome but I am confident that these can be addressed with the active co-operation of all parties involved in the implementation effort.
289 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the lending institutions are not contributing to inflation in the housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19678/06]
House price inflation has been accelerating since September 2005. According to the ESRI Permanent TSB house price index, the year on year growth rate increased from 6.2% year on year to September to 12.1% year on year to March 2006. The Financial Regulator has already drawn attention to the need for lenders to act prudently in extending credit, especially for house purchase, and for borrowers to carefully consider their ability to service borrowings. The Regulator recently introduced a technical prudential measure requiring financial institutions to put more capital aside for higher "Loan to Value" loans. This measure reinforces the message consistently conveyed to lending institutions by the Financial Regulator that mortgage lending policies and practices should be prudent and responsible. The Financial Regulator's proposal is informed by trends and developments in the mortgage market, for example, the introduction and growth of 100% mortgages. The action is strictly of a precautionary prudential nature.
In the case of housing loans, mortgage providers are specifically obliged under the Consumer Credit Act 1995 to inform borrowers of the effect on the amount of their repayment instalments of a 1% increase in interest rates in the first year of their mortgages. A number of specific initiatives have been developed to help consumers make informed choices in terms of the financial products they choose, the amount of risk they take on and the cost of financial products. Mortgage lending practices are closely supervised by the Financial Regulator and the Central Bank who require lenders to conduct appropriate stress testing of borrowers' ability to meet their obligations, not just in the current economically favourable circumstances, but also in more challenging times.
290 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he envisages a reduction in taxation, direct or indirect throughout the next five years; if he expects the extent and quality of services to remain constant in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19679/06]
The Government's approach to taxation and to the delivery of public services is set out in An Agreed Programme for Government and recent Budgets, Finance Bills, Estimates for Public Services and Public Capital Programmes. Our taxation policy is designed to maintain and strengthen the competitive position of the economy, foster economic and social development, and equity, while maintaining a sound fiscal stance. Within these constraints we will continue to concentrate the resources available to us on improving the quality of public services and delivering further real improvements to pensioners and people on low incomes. Decisions on tax changes and levels of expenditure on public services are taken in the context of the Government budgetary processes and in accordance with the appropriate Oireachtas procedures. In accordance with long-standing practice it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any future possible budget changes.
291 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the steps he intends to take to combat inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/06]
Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 3.8 per cent in April. A large proportion of the rise in the annual inflation rate is due to external factors such as higher oil prices and recent rises in interest rates by the ECB. Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in restoring competitiveness. The Government is taking positive actions to contain inflation by implementing responsible fiscal policies. In addition, we have not increased excise duties for the last two years, and we are promoting greater price competition by removing the Groceries Order. We are also looking for a reasonable wage deal in order to maintain and improve our international competitiveness. We are also investing in public infrastructure which will enhance our ability to produce more goods and services and keep inflation down in the process.
292 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the way in which the inflation rate here compares with euro zone countries; his proposals to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19681/06]
Inflation, as measured by annual changes in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Price Index (HICP), in Ireland was 2.7% in April. The euro area average HICP in the same period was 2.4%. For most of the last two years, HICP inflation in Ireland has been broadly in line with the euro area average. Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in restoring competitiveness. The Government is doing its bit to contain inflation by implementing responsible fiscal policies. In addition, we have not increased excise duties for the last two years, and we are promoting greater price competition by removing the Groceries Order. We are also looking for a reasonable wage deal in order to maintain and improve our international competitiveness. We are investing in public infrastructure which will enhance our ability to produce more goods and services and keep inflation down in the process.
293 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which his Department monitors the causes of inflation, particularly that which does not show up in the consumer price index; the action taken arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19682/06]
My Department monitors the main economic variables which drive inflation such as oil prices, exchange rates, interest rates and the level of demand in the economy. The Director General of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in restoring competitiveness. The Government is doing its bit to contain inflation by implementing responsible fiscal policies. In addition, we have not increased excise duties for the last two years, and we are promoting greater price competition by removing the Groceries Order. We are also looking for a reasonable wage deal in order to maintain and improve our international competitiveness. We are also investing in public infrastructure which will enhance our ability to produce more goods and services and keep inflation down in the process.
294 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the action he has taken or proposes to take to combat hidden inflation that has not shown up in the consumer price index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19683/06]
The Director General of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in restoring competitiveness. The Government is doing its bit to contain inflation by implementing responsible fiscal policies. In addition, we have not increased excise duties for the last two years, and we are promoting greater price competition by removing the Groceries Order. We are also looking for a reasonable wage deal in order to maintain and improve our international competitiveness. We are also investing in public infrastructure which will enhance our ability to produce more goods and services and keep inflation down in the process.
295 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department sanctions all public contracts or procurements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19684/06]
296 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if the full regime of public procurement procedures are applied in respect of all State contracts or procurements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19685/06]
297 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that adequate provision exists to ensure value for money in respect of all State contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19686/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 to 297, inclusive, together.
Primary responsibility for the procurement of projects, goods and services rests with Departments and implementing agencies in accordance with national and EU procurement requirements within the context of the expenditure Estimates and related expenditure guidelines and requirements. Departments and agencies are required to procure projects, goods and services on a value for money basis. The value for money framework which applies to all public bodies includes:
•the 5 year rolling multi-annual capital envelopes for public capital investment introduced in Budget 2004;
•new guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure in February 2005;
•proposed reforms to public procurement;
•value for money measures announced in October 2005 in relation to procurement, ICT projects and consultancies which include provision for fixed priced construction contracts as the norm, full cost benefit analysis of capital projects over €30 million, audit of these major capital projects, the appointment of an individual as project manager for major capital and ICT projects and peer review of major ICT projects. These and related requirements are now codified in Department of Finance Circular Letter of 25 of January, 2006 to Departments.
Departments and implementing agencies are responsible for ensuring that the public procurement function is discharged honestly, fairly, and in a manner that secures best value for public money. The Management Committees of Departments and the Boards of public bodies must ensure that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and guidelines. Departments, in the main, approve contracts under delegated authority from my Department. I am satisfied that these initiatives and the greater focus on best practice that I expect from all within the public service will help deliver improved value for money for the taxpayer.
298 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to designate the function of issuing foreshore licences to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19049/06]
There are no proposals for the assignment of responsibility for issuing foreshore licences to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
299 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the expected timeframe for the availability of broadband in an area (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19081/06]
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 rollout 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 coordination and community driven initiatives.
The most recent call for proposals has now closed and I will be launching a further call shortly. My Department's website, www.broadband.gov.ie gives full details of broadband availability in all areas, including ADSL, cable, fibre, satellite and fixed wireless. The website also lists prices of the various service levels on offer and contact details for each service provider.
300 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the most recent level of carbon emissions generated by each of a number of power plants (details supplied); and the charges they were required to pay for these emissions. [19082/06]
In accordance with Section 14(2) of SI No. 437 of 2004, the European Communities (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading) Regulations, operators of installations of this kind are obliged to report their emissions on an annual basis to the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, the charges incurred by these installations are a commercial matter for the companies concerned. Accordingly, I have no function in the matters raised in this question.
301 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will meet with a deputation from the Dingle Harbour Commissioners to put a plan in place for the future of the harbour. [19234/06]
The Department has met with Dingle Harbour Commissioners on a number of occasions in the past to discuss issues relating to the harbour and would have no difficulty in meeting them in the future.
302 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he intends to designate Dingle Harbour as fishery harbour centre. [19235/06]
The Department is currently preparing to carry out due diligence in relation to Dingle Harbour with a view to finalising the decision on the designation of Dingle Harbour as a Fishery Harbour Centre.
303 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he intends to make funding available to deepen the channel in Dingle Harbour. [19236/06]
There has been ongoing work on Dingle Harbour over the years, including dredging. As a result, a substantial pier berthage now exists, allowing berthage of larger draft vessels.
The next phase involves the deepening of the approach channel, to facilitate access and egress to the facility. In October 2004, the Department awarded a contract for geotechnical site investigation works and this work was completed in 2005. Archaeological investigation of the dredge area has also been completed.
A number of further studies are outstanding. These include a hydrodynamic study to investigate potential impacts of the proposed dredging operations, a radiological analysis of the dredge materials, chemical analysis and benthic studies, and investigation of a possible dumping at sea site. These studies are required in order to identify disposal options for the dredge materials and to progress application for the necessary statutory permits required for the project.
The cost of the project will depend on the outcome of the above studies in conjunction with detailed examination of the site investigation results and design of the dredging works. Funding for the project will be addressed in the context of the amount of Exchequer funding available for fishery harbours and overall national priorities.
304 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19351/06]
My Department does not maintain a wine cellar.
305 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of fishermen who have currently been paid under the whitefish decommissioning scheme; the amount which has been paid out to date; the level of money which is left to be paid out; the number of people who are still owed payment; when said people can expect to receive their money; the way in which the money has been distributed by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19587/06]
As the Deputy is aware, the fishing vessel decommissioning scheme was launched on 5 October 2005 with a total budget of €45 million. The closing date for receipt of applications was 1 November 2005. Sixty-four applications were received on time by BIM, which is the implementing authority for the scheme. Letters of offer totalling €22,508,000 in grant aid issued to forty-four applicants under two rounds of approvals in November 2005 and February 2006. However, not all of the successful applicants have accepted the offer of grant aid.
To date, a total of €8,937,000 in grant aid has been paid in respect of twenty-four vessels. BIM advise me that funds are available to pay the balance of grant aid allocated to vessels, however, some applicants still have to provide the required documentation in respect of the offer of grant aid. In a small number of cases matters have arisen in relation to the information necessary to underpin the grant application. Discussions are ongoing with the owners concerned with a view to bringing matters to a conclusion as early as possible. A detailed breakdown of grant aid approved and paid to date by County, Owner and Vessel is provided below for the Deputy's information.
|
County |
Owner(s) |
Vessel |
Aid Approved in Principle |
Paid to date |
|
€ |
€ |
|||
|
Cork |
Diarmuid O’Donovan |
Solan |
665,665 |
665,665 |
|
Cork |
Timothy Harrington |
Resplendent |
612,832 |
612,832 |
|
Cork |
Richard Deasy |
Northern Dawn |
414,160 |
414,160 |
|
Cork |
Peter & Alan Carleton |
Kopanes |
746,868 |
373,434 |
|
Cork |
Paul Deasy |
Francis Marie |
300,358 |
300,358 |
|
Cork |
Brian & David Lowney |
Mistletoe |
288,145 |
288,145 |
|
Cork |
John Power |
Janette Ann |
265,360 |
265,360 |
|
Cork |
Eiranova Fisheries Ltd |
Dunboy |
942,245 |
0 |
|
Cork |
Eiranova Fisheries Ltd |
Dinish |
942,245 |
0 |
|
Cork |
Denis McKennedy |
Carnown Bay |
449,754 |
0 |
|
Cork |
Daniel Healy |
Marden |
473,368 |
0 |
|
Cork |
Martin & Mary Deasy |
Brian Eoin |
456,304 |
0 |
|
Cork |
Sheila Deasy |
Janireh |
349,990 |
0 |
|
Sub-total |
6,907,293 |
2,919,954 |
||
|
Donegal |
William Harrigan & Partners |
Sea Sparkle |
651,889 |
325,944 |
|
Donegal |
Alan Furlong |
Helga Irene |
359,755 |
179,878 |
|
Donegal |
P&L Fish Selling Co. Ltd |
Alpherax |
353,245 |
176,623 |
|
Donegal |
William Harrigan |
Carmara |
340,225 |
170,112 |
|
Donegal |
William Harrigan & Partners |
Sally G |
317,440 |
158,720 |
|
Donegal |
Hugh McDaid |
Summer Star |
268,615 |
134,307 |
|
Donegal |
Colum Browne |
Áine Íde |
504,628 |
0 |
|
Sub-total |
2,795,797 |
1,145,583 |
||
|
Dublin |
Brendan Rogers |
Alimar |
751,053 |
751,053 |
|
Dublin |
Alicia Fishing Company Ltd |
Alicia |
592,150 |
592,150 |
|
Dublin |
Michael & Angela Crossan |
Sea Queen |
654,201 |
327,100 |
|
Dublin |
William Price & Michael Chase |
Atlantic Star |
529,975 |
0 |
|
Dublin |
Nutlands Development |
Hilda Helena |
382,540 |
0 |
|
Dublin |
William & Patrick Price |
Derisa |
523,090 |
0 |
|
Dublin |
Philip & Marie O’Neill |
Shelmalier |
330,460 |
0 |
|
Dublin |
Thomas Caulfield |
Caledonia Rose |
268,615 |
0 |
|
Sub-total |
4,032,084 |
1,670,303 |
||
|
Galway |
Michael Faherty |
Star of Hope |
370,300 |
0 |
|
Galway |
Thomas Conneely |
Ocean Harvester |
424,623 |
0 |
|
Sub-total |
794,923 |
0 |
||
|
Kerry |
Lariva Ltd |
Gerlisa |
349,990 |
174,995 |
|
Kerry |
Skellig Fish Ltd |
Skellig Light |
761,515 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
John Graham |
Tannetje |
472,750 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
Patrick Browne |
Ocean Enterprise |
548,080 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
Thomas Kennedy |
Atlantic Fisher |
685,984 |
0 |
|
Sub-total |
2,818,319 |
174,995 |
||
|
Louth |
Gerald Sharkey |
Star of Nazareth |
536,860 |
536,860 |
|
Mayo |
Hugo Boyle |
Dé Linn |
493,255 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
Brendan Glody |
Arbutus |
268,615 |
268,615 |
|
Wexford |
William & Malcolm Whelan |
Lilly L |
544,128 |
544,128 |
|
Wexford |
James Bates |
Angela B |
529,248 |
529,248 |
|
Wexford |
John & Eugene Kehoe |
Kathleen K |
504,998 |
504,998 |
|
Wexford |
Sean Radford |
Karen Ann |
394,723 |
394,723 |
|
Wexford |
Thomas Power |
Prina Cornelia |
247,690 |
247,690 |
|
Wexford |
Eugene Bates & Brendan Moore |
William Joseph |
629,502 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
Simon McLoughlin |
Martina Eilis |
410,731 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
Dermot Roche |
Vrijheid |
208,956 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
Frank McGee |
Nicola Sharon |
389,050 |
0 |
|
Sub-total |
3,859,025 |
2,220,787 |
||
|
Total |
22,506,170 |
8,937,097 |
306 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will comply with the Geneva Convention obligations by respecting and ensuring respect for international law and preventing the Israeli military from landing here; and the reason two Israeli Air Force 707 aircraft carrying military personnel were allowed to land at Shannon on 5 May 2006. [19143/06]
I am satisfied that Ireland complies fully with its obligations under the Geneva Conventions.
Having considered the issues involved, and having — in accordance with standard practice- consulted with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Foreign Affairs acceded to Israel's request for permission for two Boeing 707 aircraft operated by the Israeli Air Force to land at Shannon Airport on 5 May. The practice of permitting landings by foreign military aircraft at Irish airports, subject to certain conditions, has been in place for more than fifty years.
Landing permission for the two aircraft in question was granted subject to the normal conditions that apply to landings at Irish airports by foreign military aircraft; namely that the aircraft would be unarmed, would carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, would not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question would not form any part of military exercises or operations.
307 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the oil field in Lanimor belongs to East Timor under international law; and if he will raise this matter with Mr. John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister and Mr Alexander Downer, the Australian Foreign Minster. [19071/06]
I understand that there has not been any adjudication under international law with regard to the Laminaria oil field referred to in the Deputy's question. Timor Leste, or East Timor as it was formerly known, and Australia make overlapping claims to parts of the continental shelf in the Timor Sea, an area understood to contain large reserves of oil and gas.
Under the terms of a bilateral Treaty on Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea, signed by the Foreign Ministers of Australia and Timor Leste in January of this year, the two sides agreed to set aside their maritime boundary negotiations for fifty years and to share the resources of what is referred to as the Greater Sunrise field (formerly known as the Sunrise and Troubadour fields which had also been previously claimed by both countries) on a 50:50 basis. The agreement, which has yet to be ratified by the Parliaments in both countries, would also allow Australia to continue to conduct activities in relation to petroleum or other resources of the seabed and subsoil in respect of Laminaria and other remaining contested oil fields.
Prior to this agreement, Australia and Timor Leste concluded the Timor Sea Treaty in May 2002, which accords to Timor Leste 90% of the revenue from a "joint development area" in the Timor Sea. I understand that the Laminaria field, together with the Buffalo and Corallina fields, lie to the west of the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA) as defined under the Timor Sea Treaty. This Treaty came into force on 2 April 2003.
It would not be appropriate for this issue to be raised with the Australian Prime Minister or Foreign Minister in the terms suggested by the question. However, Timor Leste was on the agenda for the official talks I held yesterday with Prime Minister Howard during his visit to Ireland. We had an exchange of views on the situation in Timor Leste during which I referred to Ireland's long-standing commitment to the country's political and socio-economic development.
308 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he will take regarding the suspension of aid to the Palestinian people as they are on the brink of collapse. [19072/06]
313 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views regarding the serious levels of poverty in the West Bank and particularly in the Gaza area; his further views on whether every effort must be made to ensure that no sanctions are taken against the elected Palestinian Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19772/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 313 together.
I refer the Deputies to my reply to Questions on this issue on 17 May 2006.
The Government has been consistently active in promoting a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli — Palestinian conflict, based on the negotiation of a mutually acceptable two-State solution.
I share the concerns which have been expressed about the increasingly difficult situation facing the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza. The EU has been the strongest supporter of the Palestinian people internationally. It is also the largest donor to Palestine, providing an average of €500 million annually in humanitarian assistance and in support of Palestinian institutions and civil society. Since the Palestinian elections in January, the EU and the international Quartet have made it clear that the new Hamas Government of the Palestinian Authority must commit to the peace process. It must renounce violence, recognise Israel's right to exist and adhere to agreements already negotiated by the Authority and the PLO.
In February, the Council approved the urgent disbursement by the Commission of €121 million in humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians. While, since early April, the Commission has temporarily suspended direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority, the EU is reviewing its assistance against the Government's commitment to the principles set out by the Council and the Quartet.
There is full agreement among the Member States that it would be unreasonable to expect the EU to continue its capacity-building support for the Hamas Government irrespective of its willingness to respect the basic rules of the peace process. The Government believes, however, that the Palestinian people should not have to face the prospect of a humanitarian crisis because of the reluctance of their Government to meet its responsibilities. The EU is committed to continuing necessary assistance to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian population, and Ireland has argued strongly for the widest possible definition of these basic needs.
On 15 May, following the Quartet meeting on 9 May, the Council undertook the urgent work of developing a temporary international mechanism to channel assistance directly to the Palestinian people. The Council stated that, as a matter of priority, the mechanism will aim to provide for basic needs, including health services. It will be essential that all international donors cooperate to ensure the effectiveness of the new temporary structures.
The EU has already called on the Israeli Government to resume the transfer of withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues, which are essential in averting a crisis in the Occupied Territories. I hope that a decision to resume the transfers can be taken without delay, if possible through the new international mechanism. Equally, it is important that both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority take concrete steps to implement their obligations under the Agreement on Movement and Access, which was signed on 15 November 2005 and which provides for the movement of people and goods between Gaza and the outside world.
I have given a commitment that the Government will maintain the level of Ireland's bilateral assistance to the Palestinians, which amounted to over €4 million in 2005. In February, following the Palestinian elections, the Government allocated €1.5 million in humanitarian assistance through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). I expect to make further allocations in the near future.
309 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the benefits to Ireland’s priority aid countries of entering into an economic partnership agreement which will expose their producers to competition from EU and non-least developed countries’ neighbours without gaining new markets for their products in view of the fact that as least developed countries they already qualify for duty free and quota free access to the EU under the everything but arms initiative; if it is not better development policy that these countries be exempted from offering market access to the EU under EPAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19480/06]
The Cotonou Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and the European Union (EU) provides for the negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the Parties. The EPAs are first and foremost instruments for development that are intended to foster the smooth and gradual integration of the ACP States into the world economy, thereby promoting sustainable development and contributing to poverty eradication.
The intention is that EPAs should create a positive environment for the private sector by enlarging ACP markets through regional integration, and by making regulatory frameworks in these countries more transparent. EPAs should therefore help develop the conditions for south-south trade, with all the benefits of new markets which this promises for the ACP countries.
For the purposes of EPA negotiations, the ACP states are organised into six regional groupings. EPAs are intended primarily to foster trade between, as well as within, these regional groupings. As stated above, the concept of regional integration is fundamental to the EPA process. On their own, the small segmented markets of the ACP countries are poorly positioned to take advantage of the global trading system. Stronger regional integration, which will facilitate an increase in production and competitiveness, is the critical first step toward greater participation in international trade.
On the other hand, the EU's Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative, while offering preferential access to EU markets for all LDC exports, except arms, does not advance the process of integration in the ACP regions. As regards EPAs and competition, it is not intended that EPAs will expose ACP economies to EU competition prematurely. In this regard, Article 37,7 of the Cotonou Agreement provides that the negotiations on the EPAs "shall take account of the level of development and the socio-economic impact of trade measures on ACP countries and their capacity to adapt and adjust their economies to the liberalisation process. Negotiations will therefore be as flexible as possible in establishing the duration of a sufficient transitional period, the final product coverage, taking into account sensitive sectors, and the degree of asymmetry in terms of timetable for tariff dismantlement, while remaining in conformity with WTO rules then prevailing".
Or as Commissioner Mandelson has put it, "the EU is not pursuing an equal bargain in relation to our EPA partners".
Ireland is continuing to follow the EPA negotiations closely. A review of the negotiations is scheduled for this year. At the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg in April, which I attended, the Council asked the Commission to ensure that the review is formal and comprehensive, particularly with a view to identifying any measures necessary to ensure the timely completion of the negotiations. On several occasions, I have raised partner country concerns about EPAs with both the European Commission and Development Minister colleagues.
The Cotonou Agreement envisages that EPAs will come into force in 2008. Until that time, it is open to any LDC as to whether they wish to enter an EPA or not. Should they decide not to, they will continue to benefit from preferences under EBA. Ultimately the matter of whether an ACP LDC chooses to enter into an EPA is a sovereign decision for each country.
310 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government has taken to address the concerns regarding escalating human rights abuses in Iran, including the execution of a PMOI political prisoner (details supplied) and the threat by the regime in Iran to execute more political prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19667/06]
The Government and its EU partners have growing concerns about the protection of human rights in Iran across a wide spectrum of issues, including use of the death penalty. There appears to be a significant increase in the use of the death penalty in Iran, including the case referred to by the Deputy. Our concerns also relate to the use of the death penalty in cases of under-age offenders, lack of due process and safeguards, and the manner in which executions are carried out.
The EU makes these concerns known in demarches to the Iranian authorities and in public statements, as well as through action in international organisations. Most recently, on 19 April 2006, the EU issued a public statement about executions in Iran.
To quote from that statement, "The Union expresses its serious concern about the general increase in executions in Iran. This trend is confirmed by the ten executions carried out recently in the prison of Evin. The EU reiterates that it is, as a matter of principle, opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances and calls for its universal abolition. Where the death penalty still exists, the EU calls on states to progressively restrict its use, and insists that capital punishment could be imposed only for the most serious crimes and according to minimum standards, and that the death penalty may not be imposed on certain categories of persons such as, for example, juvenile offenders."
The General Affairs and External Relations Council reiterated these concerns at its most recent meeting, in Brussels on 15 May.
I regret that the Iranian authorities have shown little interest in improving the protection of human rights in their country. The EU has also endeavoured to engage constructively to encourage improvements through a formal Human Rights Dialogue with Iran. The last session of this dialogue was held under the Irish EU Presidency in June 2004. Iran has for two years now failed to agree a date for the next round.
311 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts which have been made to meet with the political opposition to the clerical regime in Iran to discuss and explore the options for democratic change in Iran from inside in order to elect an inclusive and secular Government in that country in view of the condemnation of Iran by the United Nations for its gross violations of human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19668/06]
I have no plans to meet with the particular organisation referred to by the Deputy.
The Government, and our EU partners, remain very seriously concerned about a wide range of human rights issues in Iran. These concerns are raised regularly with the Iranian authorities and have been highlighted publicly. On 19 April 2006, the EU issued a public declaration concerning the human rights situation in Iran, and especially the use of the death penalty. Most recently, the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 15 May reiterated our concerns, including those on the unacceptable treatment of the Sufi and Baha'i minorities in Iran and the harassment of human rights defenders.
In common with our partners, we will continue to support peaceful reform within Iran. I look forward to the establishment of fully democratic institutions of Government in Iran, which fully reflect the human rights of its people.
312 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on marking the memory of a Norwegian politician and statesman (details supplied), in recognition of his support of Irish independence during his career and life; if he has received requests that such be provided at Muckross House in County Kerry, a location to which he was most attached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19750/06]
As the Deputy will be aware, C.J. Hambro was a distinguished Norwegian political leader in the earlier part of the last century. He was a strong supporter of Irish independence, and a particular admirer of Éamon de Valera. My Department is unaware of any approach to date to mark Mr Hambro's support for Irish independence, but I would of course be happy to consider any such request we receive.
314 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the level of funding provided by successive Governments since 1995 to initiate and develop the Ryder Cup project up to the event in September 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19170/06]
I am informed that since the Agreement with the PGA European Tour to stage the Ryder Cup in Ireland was signed in 1998, total expenditure by Fáilte Ireland in securing the event and exploiting its tourism promotional benefits, will amount to €15.7 million, of which €9.4 million (60%) is committed to 2006.
The total expenditure figure includes an amount of €4.9 million paid to the PGA European Tour under the terms of the Agreement. It also includes an additional €4.5 million allocated to Fáilte Ireland in the 2006 Revised Estimates in order to support an enhanced programme of marketing and promotional activities around the Ryder Cup, including a National Branding Programme and a number of golf marketing initiatives, and support for an appropriate complementary programme of Ryder Cup related events, including the official opening and closing ceremonies and other initiatives intended to raise the profile of the occasion within Ireland.
The benefits of the Ryder Cup, which will take place in the K Club, Co. Kildare, from 22-24 September, 2006, are enormous and include television coverage to over 550 million homes worldwide, with a potential audience of up to one billion viewers and the presence of over 2,000 international media personnel who will report from Ireland before and during the event.
It is unlikely that Ireland will ever again host a sporting event which attracts as much worldwide interest as the Ryder Cup and it is important that we continue to maximise the enormous potential that exists to capitalise on the event.
315 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when a decision will be made on projects to receive funding under the national lottery funded sports capital programme. [19193/06]
The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national levels.
Applications for funding under the 2006 programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on November 27th and 28th last. The closing date for receipt of applications was January 20th 2006. A total of 1,338 applications for projects costing €670 million and seeking funding of €312 million were received. All of these applications, ranging in project cost from €500 to €25 million are currently being evaluated against the programme's detailed assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.
316 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19350/06]
My Department does not have a wine cellar. Wine is purchased from time to time in the context of overall Departmental official entertainment.
317 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has received an application for funding from a club (details supplied) in County Mayo; if he has examined this application; if his attention has been drawn to the required finances being lodged for their application to be considered; when he expects to announce approval for these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19457/06]
The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national levels.
Applications for funding under the 2006 programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on November 27th and 28th last. The closing date for receipt of applications was January 20th 2006. A total of 1,338 applications for projects costing €670 million and seeking funding of €312 million were received. All of these applications, including one from the organisation in question, ranging in project cost from €500 to €25 million are currently being evaluated against the programme's detailed assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.
318 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will approve grant aid under the sports capital programme to a sports centre (details supplied) in County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the significance of this sports centre on the lives of hundreds of young and old people in the general area of Ballygar and Newbridge, County Galway; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the committee raised almost half a million euro as a local contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19458/06]
The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis.
Applications for funding under the 2006 programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on November 27th and 28th last. The closing date for receipt of applications was January 20th 2006. All applications received before the deadline, including one from the organisation in question, are currently being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.
319 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the allocation of funding under the sports capital programme to each county in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19689/06]
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following Table.
In relation to the 2006 sports capital programme, the closing date for receipt of applications was January 20th last. A total of 1,338 applications for projects costing €670 million and seeking funding of €312 million were received. All of these applications, ranging in project cost from €500 to €25 million are currently being evaluated against the programme's detailed assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.
|
County |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
County Total |
|
Carlow |
1,168,159 |
489,000 |
440,000 |
632,000 |
446,000 |
3,175,159 |
|
Cavan |
591,698 |
691,200 |
580,000 |
1,075,000 |
785,000 |
3,722,898 |
|
Clare |
898,975 |
1,123,000 |
1,125,000 |
1,727,000 |
1,356,000 |
6,229,975 |
|
Cork |
4,769,132 |
7,257,000 |
5,747,400 |
6,524,000 |
8,172,000 |
32,469,532 |
|
Donegal |
3,211,168 |
5,049,000 |
1,177,500 |
1,802,000 |
1,572,000 |
12,811,668 |
|
Dublin |
13,908,710 |
23,075,900 |
14,763,733 |
14,691,000 |
15,739,419 |
82,178,762 |
|
Galway |
3,192,122 |
3,058,000 |
3,058,000 |
3,435,014 |
5,760,000 |
18,503,136 |
|
Kerry |
2,119,193 |
3,335,200 |
3,748,000 |
4,476,000 |
3,603,000 |
17,281,393 |
|
Kildare |
3,853,655 |
4,870,000 |
3,366,000 |
3,357,000 |
1,550,000 |
16,996,655 |
|
Kilkenny |
763,747 |
1,116,500 |
1,042,500 |
850,000 |
1,284,000 |
5,056,747 |
|
Laois |
1,197,363 |
1,189,000 |
450,000 |
786,000 |
771,000 |
4,393,363 |
|
Leitrim |
439,964 |
821,600 |
454,800 |
479,000 |
660,000 |
2,855,364 |
|
Limerick |
2,705,812 |
2,776,000 |
2,785,500 |
1,925,000 |
3,092,000 |
13,284,312 |
|
Longford |
648,836 |
759,400 |
780,000 |
745,000 |
499,000 |
3,432,236 |
|
Louth |
1,339,574 |
2,545,000 |
1,372,100 |
1,644,000 |
1,347,000 |
8,247,674 |
|
Mayo |
1,625,265 |
2,284,000 |
1,574,600 |
1,594,000 |
1,422,000 |
8,499,865 |
|
Meath |
1,477,975 |
1,605,000 |
2,560,000 |
2,260,000 |
1,576,000 |
9,478,975 |
|
Monaghan |
615,823 |
1,233,000 |
685,000 |
996,000 |
744,000 |
4,273,823 |
|
Offaly |
618,997 |
405,000 |
1,004,000 |
1,157,000 |
1,260,000 |
4,444,997 |
|
Roscommon |
1,206,251 |
1,301,000 |
777,600 |
1,027,000 |
880,000 |
5,191,851 |
|
Sligo |
1,250,692 |
1,527,600 |
963,000 |
1,453,000 |
2,020,000 |
7,214,292 |
|
Tipperary |
1,802,393 |
2,478,000 |
1,657,000 |
2,398,000 |
2,177,000 |
10,512,393 |
|
Waterford |
3,133,714 |
3,253,000 |
2,710,000 |
2,080,000 |
1,425,000 |
12,601,714 |
|
Westmeath |
1,319,258 |
2,569,000 |
1,307,000 |
1,083,000 |
1,305,000 |
7,583,258 |
|
Wexford |
915,481 |
2,206,000 |
1,221,000 |
1,887,000 |
2,267,000 |
8,496,481 |
|
Wicklow |
1,405,600 |
1,813,000 |
1,003,000 |
1,700,000 |
1,527,000 |
7,448,600 |
|
Annual Total |
56,179,561 |
78,830,400 |
56,352,733 |
61,783,014 |
63,239,419 |
316,385,127 |
320 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies the IDA brought to North Kerry since January 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19051/06]
IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland. Under the Industrial Development Acts I am precluded from giving directives to the Agency regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.
I understand from IDA Ireland that since January 2005 the agency has brought five companies on site visits to North Kerry.
A central goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of balanced regional development in line with The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) 2002 — 2020. In Kerry, Tralee and Killarney are designated as a linked hub under the NSS. IDA Ireland assures me that it is actively promoting County Kerry and the advantages of locating in Kerry, which include a young skilled population, the presence of an institute of technology, and the availability of first class business parks and a regional airport to potential new investors and is also working closely with existing clients in Kerry to encourage them to expand their operations.
321 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the time it takes for a case to be heard by the Employment Appeals Tribunal; and the time it took in each of the past five years. [19054/06]
The Employment Appeals Tribunal is an independent body under the aegis of the Department. The average waiting period from the time a case is notified to the Tribunal until it is heard in each of the past five years is:
|
Year |
Waiting Period (weeks) |
|
2001 |
19 |
|
2002 |
19 |
|
2003 |
28 |
|
2004 |
39 |
|
2005 |
41 |
The average waiting period to date this year is 37 weeks.
322 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage of the workforce earning not more than the minimum wage entitlement at present and in each year since the introduction of the minimum wage. [19092/06]
The National Minimum Wage was introduced on 1 April 2000. The ESRI has undertaken minimum wage surveys on behalf of the Department on three occasions since then and its findings have been as follows.
|
2001 |
4.3% on minimum wage |
|
2002 |
4.5% on minimum wage |
|
2005/06 |
5.2% on minimum wage |
*This includes those on the experienced adult rate and those on the sub-minimum rates.
323 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the distress that has been caused to retired employees whose access to health insurance schemes has been denied following their retirement; his view on the statement of the Labour Court chairman on 8 November 2001 (details supplied); if he will confirm that he has received representations from a person; the action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19124/06]
In 2001 the Labour Court made a recommendation to the effect that a mechanism should be put in place to address situations of dispute between retired employees and their former employers. At that time the issue arose in the context of a dispute which related to a workers retirement pension. Subsequently, the 2002 Pensions Act provided for the appointment of the Pensions Ombudsman with the power to investigate complaints in relation to occupational pension schemes.
I am aware that other circumstances of dispute between a retired employee and their former employer can arise, as in the case referred to by the Deputy. I have received representations on allowing former employees access to the Industrial Relations bodies. Consideration is being given as to how this matter might be addressed including any legislative implications which may arise.
324 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has investigated the allegation made by the TEEU that a number of Serbian contract workers who were employed on the ESB’s network renewal programme were being exploited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19156/06]
325 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the employment contracts between Serbian workers and the ESB or firms to whom the ESB has subcontracted this work comply with the posting of workers directive. [19157/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 325 together.
The Labour Inspectorate carried out an inspection of records in regard to this issue. In relation to the category of workers concerned the material examined did not indicate that the rates of pay were not in conformity with the Statutory Minimum provided for in legislation.
Inspectors, with the assistance of an independent interpreter, interviewed several employees, none of whom expressed any dissatisfaction with their pay or conditions of employment. The Inspectors selected the employees who were interviewed.
The Inspectorate understands that a ‘Good-Will Bonus' payment has been offered to the employees. In light of the continuing allegations a further examination of records, together with another round of interviews will be shortly be undertaken by the Inspectorate. As in all matters concerning non-compliance with employment rights legislation, I would urge anyone with information that would assist, to provide such material to the Labour Inspectorate who has responsibility in this area.
Directive 96/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services defines a posted worker as "a worker who, for a limited period, carries out his work in the territory of a Member State other than the State in which he normally works". This Directive was transposed into Irish law by section 20 of the Protection of Employees (Part Time Work) Act 2001 which provides that all employee protection legislation on the statute book in the State applies to posted workers in the same way as it applies to Irish workers. Therefore, all Irish employee protection legislation applies to the Serbian workers referred to in the Question.
326 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19353/06]
My Department does not have a wine cellar.
A review carried out on foot of the Deputy's question identified only six bottles of wine. Four bottles are a 2002 Italian Cabernet Sauvignon. They were bought in Mitchell & Son's Wine Merchants in 2004 and the cost was 9.05 euro per bottle. In addition, there are two bottles of a 2003 Australian Shiraz. It is not clear where these were acquired. Wine may be purchased as needs arise.
327 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons made redundant during each year from 2002 to 2005 and to the end of April 2006 who did not qualify for statutory redundancy payments due to not having at least two years service in an employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19443/06]
There is no legal requirement under the Redundancy Payments Acts, 1967 to 2003 for employers to notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of redundancies where the employees have less than the minimum required service of two years for entitlement to a statutory redundancy lump sum payment. Consequently, there are no official figures for redundancies in this category of under two years' service.
328 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the average amount it costs to make a worker redundant here. [19469/06]
Statutory redundancy is based on two weeks pay per year of service plus one extra weeks pay, subject to a maximum gross wage of €600 per week.
In 2005 the total spend by employers in respect of redundancies was €229,983,333. Rebates of 60% amounting to €137,990,000 were paid from the Social Insurance Fund to employers by my Department, resulting in the total net cost to employers of €91,993,333.
In 2005, rebates were paid to employers in respect of c.20, 245 employees giving the average net cost to the employer of €4,544 per worker.
329 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the waiting times for hearings of the Employment Appeals Tribunal in each region; and his proposals to reduce same. [19596/06]
The Employment Appeals Tribunal is an independent body under the aegis of my Department. The average waiting period from the time a case is notified to the Tribunal until it is heard in each region is:
|
County |
Weeks |
County |
Weeks |
|
Cavan |
43 |
Longford |
41 |
|
Carlow |
32 |
Louth |
38 |
|
Clare |
40 |
Mayo |
40 |
|
Cork |
58 |
Meath |
38 |
|
Donegal |
34 |
Monaghan |
22 |
|
Dublin |
24 |
Offaly |
49 |
|
Galway |
43 |
Roscommon |
22 |
|
Kerry |
44 |
Sligo |
48 |
|
Kildare |
37 |
Tipperary |
51 |
|
Kilkenny |
40 |
Waterford |
55 |
|
Laois |
32 |
Westmeath |
39 |
|
Leitrim |
39 |
Wexford |
48 |
|
Limerick |
55 |
Wicklow |
38 |
I understand that the Tribunal is making every effort to reduce this waiting period, including undertaking a concerted programme of targeting areas where delays occur.
330 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action which is open to him in the event of a housing estate management company requiring house owners to subscribe to an insurance company nominated by the management company which excludes the possibility of shopping around; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19661/06]
The Competition Act 2002 prohibits anti-competitive arrangements between "undertakings" and the abuse of a dominant position by undertakings. From the information provided, it appears that this issue may relate to an alleged restriction on competition.
The Competition Authority is an independent statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition law in the State. Any evidence of an alleged breach of competition law should be referred to the Authority at Parnell House, 14 Parnell Square, Dublin 1. The Authority also accepts complaints by email at complaints@tca.ie. The Authority’s website — www.tca.ie — provides more information in this regard.
It is not clear, however, how a management company could prevent a householder from shopping around for insurance cover. While I am aware that such companies may seek quotations for insurance on behalf of their members, this is generally for the purpose of obtaining a more competitive quote for house owners, who would then be free to take out insurance with that insurance company, or any other from which they had separately obtained a quote.
331 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if assistance will be given to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 to extend their deadline and not to stop their rent allowance. [19140/06]
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 has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims.
Rent supplements are subject to maximum rent levels that an applicant for rent supplement may incur which are established by reference to market rents. The maximum amount payable can only be exceeded where exceptional circumstances exist.
The Health Service Executive has advised that, following a review of the rent supplement claim of the person concerned, it became aware that the rent payable was in excess of the prescribed limits for a person of her circumstances. It has further advised that, following appeal, rent supplement will continue to be paid to the person concerned until the end of May 2006 thus allowing time for her to find alternative accommodation with rent within the prescribed limits. The Executive has advised that it proposes to suspend the payment of rent supplement from the end of May 2006, unless the person concerned obtains accommodation with rent within the prescribed limits.
332 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of farmers who have availed of farm assist in County Leitrim in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004; and the average amounts paid in each of these years. [19153/06]
333 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of farmers who have availed of farm assist in County Sligo in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004; and the average amounts paid in each of these years. [19154/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together.
The details requested by the Deputy of the numbers availing of the Farm Assist Scheme have been compiled from data that is maintained on a Local Office catchment area basis and these figures do not correspond exactly with county boundaries. The figures are as follows:
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
|
|
Awarded claims |
238 |
247 |
250 |
260 |
221 |
|
Average Weekly Payment (€) |
100.91 |
110.37 |
128.50 |
137.76 |
151.11 |
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
|
|
Awarded Claims |
281 |
313 |
341 |
366 |
344 |
|
Average Weekly Payment (€) |
101.69 |
113.68 |
132.18 |
145.72 |
162.14 |
The amount paid to each farmer depends on a number of factors, for example, family size, whether the spouse/partner is working and any means assessed from all sources.
334 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on extending the time limit for continuation of payment of family income supplement in cases where people are in receipt of disability benefit as they are unable to work due to an accident and who were in receipt of the family income supplement at the time of the accident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19179/06]
Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an in-work income support, payable to low income families with children.
Currently family income supplement and disability benefit can be paid together for a period of six weeks, which is intended to cover cases of short-term illnesses or injury. This ensures that for the majority of short-term disability benefit claims, a person can receive disability benefit and subsequently return to work without having their FIS claim interrupted.
I am satisfied that the current rules allow for reasonable flexibility with regard to temporary periods of illness or injury. Any change in the present arrangements would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
335 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to ensure that a dependent spouse’s pension is raised to be brought in line with the non-contributory old age pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19184/06]
This Government is committed to introducing a personal entitlement for pensioner spouses, currently in receipt of the qualified adult increase, at the level of a full non-contributory pension.
The cost, based on current rates of payment, of bringing all of the relevant qualified adult rates up to the level of the non-contributory pension personal rate is €55 million in a full year. This commitment will be implemented as soon as possible, having regard to available resources and other budgetary commitments.
Since 2002, new pension claimants can opt to have the qualified adult increase paid directly to their spouse or partner. The administrative and legislative implications of enhancing these arrangements to make direct payments more widely available are under consideration.
336 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under the rules of portability of pensions, employers are only obliged to index entitlements in line with consumer prices up to a maximum of four percent; and his views on whether this should be reviewed now that inflation is about to push through that barrier. [19342/06]
Part III of the Pensions Act 1990 requires occupational pension schemes to provide preserved benefit, calculated in accordance with the normal scheme rules, for members who leave relevant employment after completing at least two years service in the pension scheme.
Part III also provides for the revaluation of such preserved defined benefits from the date of termination of employment to the date of normal retirement. The rate of revaluation, which is set out in regulations each year, is the percentage increase in the general level of consumer prices up to a maximum of 4%. The annual Consumer Price Index increase for the year 2005 was 2.5% and as such was the revaluation percentage for that year.
The current funding standard requirements under Part IV of the Pensions Act are designed to ensure that, if a defined benefit scheme winds up, there are sufficient assets to meet the liabilities of the scheme at that point in time. Any proposed increase in the maximum revaluation percentage from the current 4%, would therefore have to be examined in the context of the resulting increase in the funding requirements that would be placed on defined benefit pension schemes. However, current forecasts from the ESRI and from the Central Bank & Financial Services Authority of Ireland are for a CPI rate of around 3% or less in 2006 and 2007.
I am anxious to ensure that a reasonable balance is struck between the protection of the interests of all scheme members and the interests of employers who sponsor and contribute to schemes. I believe that the current provisions in relation to the revaluation of preserved benefits achieve that balance. However I will continue to keep this situation under review.
337 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19359/06]
My Department does not possess a wine cellar.
338 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans regarding the proposed introduction of a household waste collection voucher scheme for all who qualify for a fuel allowance payment, for all senior citizens on low incomes and all deserving cases on assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19514/06]
The setting of waste management charges and the introduction of waivers in respect of waste charges is, as stated by my colleague the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, a matter for each local authority.
The introduction of a national social welfare scheme to address the issue would be complex given the wide range of charging regimes and cost structures that exist in respect of waste management throughout the State. Any system put in place to assist people who rely on private domestic waste collection would have to be sensitive to the different local arrangements.
I have no plans at the present time to introduce a scheme to address this issue.
339 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on relaxing the qualification criteria surrounding the respite grant to allow those who are not providing care on the first Thursday in June 2006 but have provided full time care for a large part of the previous year to qualify for a reduced payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19640/06]
All carers who are in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit, prescribed relative allowance or constant attendance allowance on the first Thursday in June will automatically receive the respite care grant without having to apply for it. Similarly, carers who are in receipt of domiciliary care allowance from the Health Service Executive will automatically receive the respite care grant from the HSE.
The respite care grant was extended in 2005. Carers who do not qualify for the grant under one of the above schemes may now receive the grant if the following conditions are met: the carer must be providing full time care to a person who is in need of such care for at least 6 months. This period of care must include the first Thursday in June, and as is the case with recipients of carers allowance, a full time carer must not be engaged in employment for more than 10 hours per week (this will increase to 15 hours for the purposes of the 2006 grant).
Provision was made in Budget 2006 to increase the amount of the grant from €1,000 to €1,200 in respect of each care recipient and, as already mentioned, to increase the number of hours that a recipient of the grant may work from 10 to 15 hours per week.
Among the proposals in the "First Report on the Position of Full-Time Carers" produced by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs was that the condition that the period of care must include the first Thursday in June should be abolished. All support schemes for carers, including the respite care grant will be kept under review and further possible improvements will be considered in a budgetary context.
340 Mr. Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if the driver of a slow moving vehicle pulls onto the hard shoulder to allow the traffic that has built up behind his or her vehicle to pass freely for safety reasons is then liable to incur penalty points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19107/06]
Where a hard shoulder area is provided on a non-motorway road i.e. on a national primary or a national secondary road, on a regional road or on a local road, a driver is allowed to pull over onto the hard shoulder area to facilitate overtaking by faster moving vehicles in the circumstances referred to by the Deputy when it is safe to do so, and having regard to the presence of any pedestrians or cyclists etc. who are using the hard shoulder area. The situation is different in relation to hard shoulder areas on motorways. It is prohibited to drive on the hard shoulder area on a motorway or to stop or park there except if an emergency situation arises in relation to the vehicle being driven such as a mechanical defect or breakdown. The rules for traffic on motorways are set out in article 33 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 (SI No. 182 of 1997). An offence is committed if a vehicle is driven on a hard shoulder on a motorway and, on payment of a fixed charge of €80 within 28 days or that amount increased by 50% within the following 28 days, a person will have one penalty point endorsed on their driving licence record. If the person opts not to pay a fixed charge and is convicted of the offence in Court, he or she will receive three penalty points.
341 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Transport the amount expected to be raised by the proposed privatisation of Aer Lingus; and if this will meet the expected pension shortfall for Aer Lingus employees. [19145/06]
At this stage in the IPO process I am not in a position to comment on the proceeds that the Government or Aer Lingus may receive. We will not know this information until much nearer the end of the process when the number of shares to be sold and the price at which those shares will be sold will be agreed. In the context of the planned IPO, I have said that the Minister for Finance and I are open to considering the question of the company using part of the proceeds from issuing new shares to address the funding position in the company's pension scheme in the context of an overall solution involving increased employer and employee contributions going forward. I have mandated Aer Lingus management to engage with the trade unions to address the key concerns of staff in relation to a third party investment, including pensions and that process is cuurently underway.
342 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport when the last national Traffic Signs Manual was published; if he is satisfied that it continues to be relevant to driving conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19180/06]
The Traffic Signs Manual, first published in 1996, incorporates the design of all of the traffic signs that can be deployed on public roads and guidance and advice in relation to the use of such signs. The Manual constitutes a direction given by the Minister under section 95(16) of the 1961 Act in relation to the design and use of non-regulatory traffic signs generally. Additions have been made to the Manual in the interim period if new situations arose, such as, for example, the design of information directional signs that may be installed on orbital routes in urban areas. A comprehensive review of the provisions of the Manual was initiated in late 2004 and is on-going with a view to identifying any areas where amendment or updating would be appropriate. This review is being carried out by consultants in conjunction with a Steering Group comprising of representatives from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the National Roads Authority, the County and City Managers Association and my Department. For convenience, the present Manual also provides depictions of regulatory traffic signs. These signs are prescribed in statutory regulations and details of traffic sign regulations that have been made since 1996 will also be included in the revised Manual.
343 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Transport the number of local authorities that have implemented revised speed limits as outlined in recently passed legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19471/06]
Under section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, operative since 20 January 2005, the making of special speed limit bye-laws to apply a special speed limit in lieu of a default speed limit is a matter for each individual county council or city council. Local authorities had power since the passing of the Road Traffic Act 1994 to make special speed limit byelaws and Section 12 of the 2004 provided for the automatic conversion of the units of measurement from miles per hour to kilometres per hour in respect of any special speed limits that were applied under byelaws that were made prior to 20 January 2005. These bye-laws remain in force until such time as new bye-laws are made by the city or county councils under section 9 of the 2004 Act. From enquiries made I am informed that the special speed limit bye-laws that were in place prior to 20 January 2005 are still applicable across all 34 local authority areas and that 5 of the local authorities have adopted additional special speed limits. I understand that the majority of the councils either have a review of existing speed limits underway at present or are planning to do so later in 2006. A new policy element was introduced under section 10 of the 2004 Act to enable a county manager or a city manger to make a road works speed limit order to apply a road works speed limit for a limited period. This power has been and is being exercised in relation to road works locations in various areas.
344 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the vetting procedures in place to ensure suitability in terms of physical and mental health to obtain a licence for the transport of high capacity passenger vehicles; the criteria which are applied; his views on whether they are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19672/06]
The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 1999 to 2004, which incorporate EU based requirements, provide that applicants for a driving licence for buses must submit a medical report to the licensing authority in support of the application. The medical report must be in a scheduled form, must be signed by a registered medical practitioner and indicate that in the opinion of the registered medical practitioner the applicant meets the medical standards set out in the regulations.
345 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the number of driving testers that will be recruited by his Department; the number of these who will be recruited via the public competition; the qualification and knowledge which they must have of the rules of the road; the number of years that they must be driving to be eligible for appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19114/06]
As part of the response to deal with the waiting times for driving test additional staff have been made available to the driving test service. 7 staff have been redeployed from the Department of Agriculture and Food and have commenced testing following their period of training. A further 11 driver testers, recruited through the Public Appointment Service, are due to commence training before the end of this month. The qualifications required for the position of driver tester, as set out for the recent recruitment campaign, are as follows: have a good general education; have a satisfactory knowledge of the "Rules of the Road", road procedures and the law relating to road traffic insofar as it concerns the driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle; have had five years satisfactory driving experience within the seven years ending on 25 June 2005; possess excellent interpersonal skills-be able to communicate clearly orally and have the capacity to remain calm and courteous in dealing with driving test applicants; hold (if called for a driving test as part of the recruitment process), for five years, a clean full driving licence valid in the State on the day of the test; possess report writing skills with reference to clarity, accuracy and conciseness; and have experience in dealing with members of the public. Desirable for the job: have the confidence to take responsibility for achievement of objectives; have good organisation skills; and have the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
346 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to publish a revised Rules of the Road; when the last revision was published; if he will make the document available via the Internet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19115/06]
My Department is now completing its work on the revision of the Rules of the Road booklet. As it is several years since the Booklet was up-dated there has been a very considerable amount of work involved in that many significant changes in the overall area of road traffic law have to be reflected in the revised booklet. This work is now substantially complete and it is intended to place the revised draft Rules of the Road on the Department's website for consultation at the end of this month. A short opportunity for comments on the revised draft Rules of the Road from the public will then be provided and the new booklet will be finalised and published by the end of the Summer. It is intended that the booklet will be made available for sale. The new booklet will also be made available on-line and this will ensure that in future the booklet will provide up-to-date information on an ongoing basis.
347 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the reason there is a major delay from the MIBI regarding a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 and if he will work with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on this case. [19148/06]
My officials have again made enquiries in this case and I understand that investigations by both the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) and the Gardaí have reached such a stage that the MIBI will contact the victim shortly. I understand that the MIBI in this case had been advised that an Garda Síochána were pursuing enquiries regarding the identity of the driver which could result in a prosecution. In these circumstances, the production of the Garda Abstract was withheld whilst the Garda continued their investigations. This had an impact on the time taken to reach a final decision.
348 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Transport when the legislation will be set up for the Road Safety Authority; the date on which this legislation will be enacted; if all the functions of other State bodies being subsumed will be incorporated into the authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19149/06]
Committee, Report and Final Stages of the Road Safety Authority Bill 2004 are scheduled for Seanad Éireann this week. Following its passage in the Oireachtas it will be presented to the President for signature. The Bill provides for the transfer, to the Road Safety Authority, of the functions of the National Safety Council except those relating to fire safety which are being transferred to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Bill also provides for the transfer, to the Road Safety Authority, of functions relating to road safety research and accident statistics presently being undertaken by the National Roads Authority.
349 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if he will reconsider drawing up a full impact assessment outlining the economic impact of an open skies policy on the Shannon region and the west of Ireland, particularly in view of delays in agreeing such a policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19158/06]
350 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Transport the timetable for the conclusion of the open skies deal between the EU and the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19159/06]
351 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Transport the obstacles to concluding an open skies deal between the EU and the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19160/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 to 351, inclusive, together.
In November 2005 EU and US negotiators concluded work on the text of a first-phase EU-US Open Skies agreement. The text was unanimously endorsed at the December 2005 Transport Council subject to sufficient progress by the US side on opening up ownership and control of US airlines to EU investors. The formal US process of changing its ownership and control rules was expected to be concluded early in 2006 so that a final decision could be taken at the June Transport Council. However, due to difficulties on the US side the rule-making process has been extended but they are confident that the matter will be concluded in August in time for agreement at the October Transport Council.
As part of the EU-US deal I reached agreement with the US authorities last November in relation to a transitional arrangement for Shannon Airport to take effect from November 2006 and I remain confident that this timetable can be achieved. Also when I announced the transitional arrangements I indicated that I would prepare, in consultation with my colleagues, the Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, a tourism and economic development plan for Shannon and the West of Ireland and that work is progressing.
In response to a number of previous Questions I have indicated that I did not think that it is necessary to carry out an impact study in view of the findings of a number of recent reports (the Brattle Report for the European Commission, the Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group to the Minister of Arts, Sport and Tourism, and the Air Transport Users Council (ATUC) of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland Report into Open Skies) which all support moving to open skies with the US, and emphasise the significant benefits to Ireland when this happens.
352 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if there is a delay on the proposal to float Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19161/06]
On 4th April the Government noted the proposals brought by myself and the Minister for Finance for the implementation an investment transaction for Aer Lingus by means of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of shares in the company. Following consideration of the matter by Government I mandated our advisors to commence preparations immediately for the IPO. I also mandated the company to engage with the trade unions on the key issues raised by the trade unions. The preparatory work for the transaction is now well underway with a view to completion as soon as possible taking account of stock exchange rules and market conditions.
353 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of expenditure on national road projects for each year of the current national development plan for each separate county within the Border midland western region. [19178/06]
The information sought is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.
354 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the proposed sale of the Great Southern Hotel Group; if a valuation has been done on each hotel; if a reserve price will be placed on the hotels; the total revenue likely to be raised from the sale of the hotels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19321/06]
I have been informed by the Dublin Airport Authority that the hotels of the Great Southern Hotel (GSH) Group were advertised for sale by public tender on 17 May last and that the closing date for receipt of tenders is 23 June 2006. Professional advisors have been retained by the board of GSH to advise on the sale. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any of the commercial aspects of the proposed transaction at this time.
355 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce legislation or regulations to control vehicle modification and his views on whether such changes impact on the validity of an NCT certificate. [19322/06]
Essentially, the NCT is a check on a vehicle to determine whether it complies with vehicle in-service standards specified in the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 as amended. While the road traffic code does not contain a specific prohibition on the modification of vehicles, article 34 of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 requires that a vehicle, all of its parts and equipment, be maintained in good and efficient working order and to be so maintained that no danger is liable to be caused by it.
Regulating for the control of modifications to the glazing and exhaust systems of motor vehicles give rise to certain complex issues. Before considering legislative changes in relation to these matters, I would first wish to have them examined by the proposed Road Safety Authority on its establishment. In the meantime, one of the recommendations contained in the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on the mid-term review of the NCTS is the establishment of a Technical Standards Forum to consider and make recommendations in relation to vehicle technical matters associated with the NCT. It is my intention to implement that recommendation and, in that context, the matters of excessively "blacked-out" windows and modified exhausts would be referred to the Technical Standards Forum for consideration. The outcome of the work of the proposed Technical Standards Forum on these matters will assist the RSA in advising me in due course on future policy in relation to these matters.
356 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19360/06]
There are no stocks of wines held in my Department.
357 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the date on which he received the report on the Dublin Transport Authority; if legislation will be required to establish this authority; when such will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19518/06]
I received the report of the Dublin Transportation Authority Establishment Team on the 28th March 2006. A draft Memorandum for Government is currently the subject of consultations with other Ministers and will be submitted to Government in the near future. A General Scheme of a Bill has been prepared to provide for the establishment of the new transport authority in line with the recommendations of the Team. The General Scheme will be submitted to Government at the same time as the report of the Team. I will be seeking the approval of Government for the priority drafting of the legislation and expect the Bill to be published and enacted during 2006.
358 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if, in respect of Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 3 May 2006 and the unsatisfactory response of the British authorities to the safety of passengers in the two recent bomb hoax incidents, he has raised the issue of the need for an agreed common EU approach in line with accepted international best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19519/06]
The International Civil Aviation Organisation which is concerned with the safe and orderly development of worldwide civil aviation has already adopted standards and recommended practices for the handling of bomb threats to aircraft in flight. Emergency planning responses to particular threats to aircraft are matters for the relevant competent authorities of the State concerned where the incident takes place. I have, as indicated, in my reply to Parliamentary Question 88 of 3 May 2006 written to the UK Secretary of State for Transport about both incidents. I have been advised that the UK Authorities are reviewing the nature of the overall response to such incidents following the recent hoax bomb threats made against the two Irish aircraft which were diverted into Prestwick Airport. I have no plans to raise the question of the adoption of a common EU position for the handling of bomb hoax threats against aircraft with the European Commission.
359 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 17 May 2006, the maximum number of driver tests that can be processed through the system in one calendar year. [19624/06]
360 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 226 and 227 of 17 May 2006, the timetable for the proposed upgrade of the driving test application software with a breakdown for when the analysis of needs will take place; when the design of the system will take place; when the review of the design will take place; when the implementation of that design will take place; and when the roll-out to his Department will take place. [19625/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.
The maximum required annual test scheduling capacity for the current 115 whole time equivalent driver testers is approximately 200,000 car tests. As outlined in Parliamentary Question Nos. 226 and 227 of 17 May 2006 the driver testing IT system is capable of meeting the immediate requirements of the driving testing service. The Department has awarded a contract for and will shortly take delivery of an IT infrastructure to underpin the business needs of the Road Safety Authority, which will have responsibility for the driver testing service. Over the next 18 to 24 months, the driver testing IT system will be further developed to deliver additional efficiencies and enable direct public access.
361 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport when it is intended that routes in the Dublin Bus network will be put to out tender; and when this approach was first adopted as a target for Government policy. [19630/06]
The Programme for Government contains commitments to replace the Road Transport Act 1932 with modernised legislation to allow, inter alia, for new services in the bus market, and to introduce new services both to some new housing developments and to existing poorly served communities. In addition, I have given a public commitment to modernising the regulatory framework governing public transport, not just in Dublin, but nationally.
In particular, at the launch of Transport 21, I said that I was convinced that we need a new approach to transport in the Greater Dublin Area, delivered through a single authority with the power to ensure joined-up thinking and delivery across all transport modes. In advancing the regulatory agenda, discussions have taken place with the key stakeholders. These discussions form part of a process of engagement that will facilitate and inform the determination of the appropriate structure for the new framework and supporting legislation. This process is also being informed by the work of the team of experts which was appointed to finalise the remit, structures and human resource requirements of the proposed Dublin Transport Authority. I have now received the report of the team. A draft Memorandum for Government is currently the subject of consultations with other Minister's and will be submitted to Government in the near future. I will finalise my consideration of how best to proceed with public transport reform in the context of the institutional structures recommended by the team. I would hope to be in a position to publish legislation on the matter in the current year.
362 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the nature of the independent review of the maintenance and testing of the school bus fleet to be undertaken on behalf of Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19755/06]
An independent review is currently being carried out within Bus Éireann of the arrangements and systems in place for the management, operation and maintenance of the fleet, both owned and contracted by Bus Éireann, to ensure ongoing safety and roadworthiness. I have requested that the review be completed as soon as possible and that a copy of the report be forwarded to me as soon as it is available. Separately, I have requested the Chief Executive designate of the proposed Road Safety Authority to undertake a fundamental review of the arrangements for the compulsory periodic roadworthiness testing of goods vehicles and buses. As part of that review, the matter of Bus Éireann undertaking such roadworthiness tests on their own vehicles will be examined.
363 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if moneys are earmarked from the dormant accounts fund for projects for services dealing with violence within the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19068/06]
Following Government approval, I announced details on 4 January 2006 concerning the allocation of €24 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2006 for the purpose of supporting programmes and types of projects tackling economic and social disadvantage. Details of the funding measures announced are available on the website of my Department at www.pobail.ie. The roll-out of these measures has commenced and applications are being invited for the specific programmes on a phased basis as the operational arrangements are finalised. With regard to funding for services dealing with domestic violence, no specific measure for this purpose is included in the proposals approved by Government under the economic and social disadvantage category. I should point out, however, that approximately €415,000 was allocated under the initial round of funding administered by the former Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board for projects dealing with domestic violence. Details of these approved projects are attached at Appendix 1 for your information.
|
Name of Group |
Amount Awarded |
Description of Proposal |
|
€ |
||
|
Longford Women’s Link, Ardnacassa Avenue, Longford |
84,272.00 |
For the employment of a Domestic Violence Outreach Worker. |
|
The National Network of Women’s Refuges and Support Services, Athlone, County Westmeath |
45,000.00 |
Developing programmes of work in the area of women’s domestic violence support services in Ireland. |
|
ADAPT (Limerick), Limerick City |
285,000.00 |
Fitting out newly constructed apartments and outreach facilities to assist women who are homeless and/or disadvantaged due to domestic abuse. |
364 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals to provide an administrator for a project (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19121/06]
The position is that the Community Development Programme generally provides core funding to projects covering the cost of two full-time staff equivalents, which is the situation pertaining to the project in question. The project is aware that my Department is prepared to consider alternative staffing configurations providing the staffing maximum is not exceeded.
365 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a group (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be reconsidered for grant assistance under the one off voluntary and community grants scheme. [19122/06]
An application from the group in question was received by my Department under the 2005 Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations. The application was assessed and deemed ineligible, as the group is not a qualifying group as set out in the conditions of the scheme. A request for a review of this application was received by my Department in January last. Following a comprehensive review, involving a complete reassessment of the organisation's application, the original decision was upheld.
366 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make necessary funding of €190,000 available in respect of proposals to have an amalgamation of the Leader and partnership companies within County Mayo; if, in view of his request that there be two Leader and partnership companies in the County of Mayo, he has given consideration to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19171/06]
367 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will indicate the proposals in respect of the future responsibilities of Meitheal Maigh Eo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19172/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 367 together.
I refer the Deputy to earlier replies in relation to the cohesion process and in particular to my reply to Question Nos. 393, 398 and 399 of 7 March 2006 and my reply to Question 107 of 16 May 2006. Proposals agreed by local development agencies and approved by the Mayo County Development Board relating to the optimum structures for delivery of local, community and rural development programmes in Mayo were submitted to my Department at the end of April. These proposals are being examined by the Department. I will make a decision on the matter when the appraisal process has been completed.
368 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals in respect of the existing Gaeltacht boundaries in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19173/06]
The Deputy may be aware that an important linguistic study, which commenced in April 2004, is being conducted on behalf of my Department by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, University of Ireland, Galway, in conjunction with the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis, University of Ireland, Maynooth. The study is examining Irish language usage in the Gaeltacht as a basis for strengthening the linguistic development of the Gaeltacht as an Irish-speaking area;and for a review of the official Gaeltacht boundaries.
This examination is now nearing completion. All of the findings and proposals emerging from the study will receive careful and considered examination on its presentation to my Department. Any proposals which may emerge on foot of that examination, in particular regarding the redefinition of the Gaeltacht boundaries, will be put before Government in due course.
369 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19357/06]
My Department does not have a wine cellar.
370 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the failure to make a decision on the future of partnership companies in areas of particular disadvantage, as they are scheduled to come to an end on 31 December 2006, is causing problems in relation to future planning for the companies and for their work and for the retention of workers who see their jobs as being insecure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19588/06]
371 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is serious concern in partnerships (details supplied) regarding the failure to make a decision on the future of partnership companies which will cease on 31 December 2006. [19589/06]
372 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he will make a decision on the future of partnership companies in areas of particular disadvantage, as they will be coming to an end on 31 December 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19590/06]
I propose to take Question Nos. 370 to 372, inclusive, together.
I refer the Deputies to my replies to previous questions, in particular my response to Priority Question No. 65 taken on 16 May last, regarding the integration of Leader and Area Partnership Companies to provide local and community development programmes, including rural development on a countrywide basis. Partnership companies are well aware that I see a continuing and expanded role for the types of services that they are delivering beyond 2006. In relation to the 3 partnerships referred to by the Deputy, there have been fruitful discussions regarding the post 2006 situation. The Partnerships have been kept informed of developments. If the Partnerships have any particular concerns, they should contact my Department directly in relation to them.
373 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the single farm payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for 2005; and if she will expedite the matter. [19132/06]
The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category A which caters for farmers who inherited land or received land free of charge or for a nominal sum from a farmer who had retired or died by 16 May 2005 and who had leased out his/her holding to a third party during the reference period 2000-2002. A formal letter outlining my Department's decision in relation to the National Reserve issued to the person named who subsequently requested a review of this decision.
Following a full re-examination of the case, including additional documentary evidence, the case was deemed unsuccessful under Category A of the National Reserve as the land was not leased out to a third party during the reference years. A further letter setting out my Department's decision, has issued to the person named and if he is dissatisfied with this decision he now has the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Appeals Committee. An appeals application form is available from any of my Department's offices or on the Department website at www.agriculture .gov.ie. The person named successfully submitted an application in respect of the Inheritance measure of the Single Payment Scheme. As the person named has Special Condition entitlements for conversion and transfer, €750.23 will issue later this week, and the remaining €1,359.80 will issue shortly.
374 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the Government policy on the possible increase in compulsory modulation above 6% in 2007 and beyond; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19155/06]
The current annual rate of compulsory modulation is 4% and this will rise to 5% from 2007. These deductions from the direct farm payments will be used for rural development purposes and member states will take them into account in drawing up their 2007-2013 rural development programmes. At the European Council in December 2005, it was agreed that member states could, on a voluntary basis, increase the rate of modulation. The modalities are to be discussed at the Council of Agriculture Ministers, probably in June. There was no agreement to increase the compulsory rate of modulation. I would not favour any such proposal.
375 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if payment of the single payment under inheritance will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; when payment will be awarded; and the amount which will be awarded. [19251/06]
The person named submitted an application requesting consideration in respect of the Inheritance measure of the Single Payment Scheme. The applicant was notified on 27 May 2005 that his application was successful. The person named also submitted applications under the Private Contract Clause and Consolidation measures of the Single Payment Scheme. However, following processing, it is clear that his particular circumstances can be adequately addressed under the Inheritance measure, and arrangements are under way for payment to issue at the earliest possible date.
376 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if approval for the revised costings structure sought in the standard costs for the farm waste management and other related schemes has been received from the Department of Finance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19259/06]
The standard costings used to calculate grants payable under the Farm Waste Management Scheme are currently under review within my Department. Pending the outcome of that review, my Department's current Standard Costings are being used. The Department of Finance is participating in the review process. The revised Costings will be introduced as soon as possible.
377 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the consultation which took place regarding the agreement to grant a right of way to a company (details supplied) through Coillte woodlands at Ballythomas Hill, Gorey, County Wexford pending planning permission to extract stone from a quarry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19304/06]
378 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the person responsible for agreeing a right of way through Coillte Woodlands at Ballythomas Hill, Gorey, County Wexford to a private developer, to develop a 17.5 hectare stone quarry pending planning permission from Wexford County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19305/06]
379 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food in regard to the development at a Coillte woodland at Ballythomas Hill, Gorey, County Wexford the Minister responsible when this decision was made; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that under the Wexford Development Plan 2001 this site and its environs is a designated sensitive area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19306/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 to 379, inclusive, together.
Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and day to day operational matters are the responsibility of the company. The granting of a right of way is a matter of an operational nature for Coillte.
The question of whether or not the development of this quarry should proceed is a matter for the competent planning authorities who will doubtless take into account any relevant environmental considerations. From enquiries with Coillte, I have confirmed that the proposed quarry is not on lands owned by the company and that they have indicated that, if the development is approved, they will not refuse access to the site across the lands which they do own in the area. I understand that it was Coillte's District Manager who indicated, on behalf of the company, that it had no objection in principle to providing access. The question of granting a right of way, along with the associated public consultation, will only arise if the proposed development itself is approved by the planning authorities. The letter indicating that the Company had no objection in principle to a right of way over its lands was issued in December 2003.
380 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will provide a full listing of the contents of her Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if she will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19347/06]
My Department does not have a wine cellar nor does it stock wines.
381 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she intends to take to protect the beef sector and the consumer here following the confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Brazil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19456/06]
As a member of the EU and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ireland is in a position to avail of opportunities for trade that are essential for the development of our open economy. Membership of these organizations also brings reciprocal trade obligations. All such imports must come from third countries or areas of third countries that have been approved by the EU authorities for export to the EU. In the current WTO discussions in the Council, I have always pressed very strongly the non-trade aspect of market access, which I regard as a crucial element in the overall negotiations. I addressed this issue at yesterday's discussions on WTO at Agriculture Council to remind the Commission once again of the importance of equivalence in standards, particularly in relation to all exporting countries, including Brazil.
I fully support the policy that animal products imported into the EU from Third Countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, EU Member States. In this context I contacted the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr. Markos Kyprianou, concerning the sanitary rules applying to the import of livestock products, especially beef, into the European Union. I took the opportunity of once again raising my concerns in this regard with Commissioner Kyprianou in the margins of yesterdays Council meeting in Brussels. The Commissioner pointed out that, with respect to traceability and controls of residues of veterinary medicines, the purpose of EU legislation is not to impose on exporting third countries a system of guarantees that is equal to the EU system, but that the exporting country provides guarantees that are equivalent to the standards applied in the EU.
The Commissioner indicated his service is committed to protect the health of European Consumers and European Livestock. Adoption of safeguard measures in relation to imports, for example in the matter of dealing with the risk to the EU of the spread of high pathogenic avian influenza, in the finding of residues of unauthorised substances in poultry meat and in the quick and proportionate protective measures applied to imports of beef as a result of the recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) demonstrate the Commission's primary objective of maintaining the high sanitary status of the Community and respecting the EU's commitment under the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS agreement).
The Commissioner has assured me that the Commission will not hesitate to take the appropriate protection measures if a product, imported from a third country or produced in the domestic market represents a risk for the health of EC consumers, livestock or plants. An EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) inspection to evaluate animal health and public health control systems, traceability and certification procedures in place in Brazil was carried out in September of last year. The FVO recently published its findings following a period of consultation with the Brazilian competent authorities and the review of action plans that have been submitted by the Brazilian Authorities to the Commission. This report, as well as all previous FVO reports on inspection of third countries' controls for export, may be accessed from the EU Commission's website.
While the report comments on a general improvement in the structure, organisation and tasks of the Brazilian Competent Authorities it has listed a number of recommendations to the authorities to address deficiencies that were recorded in the course of its audit. The Brazilian Authorities have undertaken to submit an Action Plan in response to these recommendations and my Department will continue to monitor the position. My Department is seeking assurances from the Commission that the FVO will undertake further missions to Brazil to evaluate the implementation of its action plan. At a recent meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health where the matter was again raised by Ireland, the Commission indicated to Ireland that a FVO mission is being planned to take place some time before the end of the summer.
In the meantime additional health certification requirements have been introduced for imported beef from Brazil under Commission Decision 2006/259/EC requiring guarantees concerning animal contacts, vaccination programmes and surveillance. These certification provisions took effect from 31 March 2006 and are checked by EU approved Border Inspection Posts through which all third country imports must first be presented.
383 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will review the compensation offer made to hill sheep farmers in REPS in order to destock their flocks by a further40%; if they should not be treated in a similar manner to those outside the REPS scheme; the discussions her Department has had with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19687/06]
All hill sheep farmers in REPS are paid in accordance with their REPS contracts. The REP scheme Terms and Conditions provide that REPS farmers must comply fully with Commonage Framework Plan requirements and consequently no further REPS payments are due for destocking.
The question of additional benefits for actions over and above the requirements of the Commonage Framework Plans is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am aware that because of a European Court of Justice judgment, that Department is introducing additional management requirements in the Owenduff/Nephin Beg complex and that my officials have given advice on an appropriate level of payment to REPS farmers to compensate them for the actions now required of them that are not covered by the REPS payment.
384 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a decision will be made on the payment of the EU restructuring fund — sugar reform; the negotiations she intends to carry out prior to making a decision; the timescale involved; and if she will make a decision on the matter. [19690/06]
The restructuring aid is subject to the submission by the processor of a detailed restructuring plan for the industry, following consultations with the beet growers. The reform agreement provides that at least 10% of the restructuring aid shall be reserved for sugar beet growers and machinery contractors. That percentage may be increased by Member States after consultation of interested parties provided that an economically sound balance between the elements of the restructuring plan is ensured. In that context, my Department has recently issued an open call for submissions which will be subject to scrutiny by Indecon International Economic Consultants who have been appointed by the Government to provide me with independent expert advice on matters relating to the implementation of the restructuring fund. A final decision on the percentage will be made in due course having regard to this advice and following the adoption in the near future of the Commission Regulation laying down detailed rules for the implementation of the restructuring aid. It is my intention that the restructuring aid will be implemented in a fair and equitable manner and strictly in accordance with the relevant EU regulations.
The timescale for implementing the restructuring aid is very tight where restructuring takes place in the first year of the new regime especially having regard to the delay in finalisation of the Commission regulations. The Council Regulation requires that the application for restructuring aid must be made by 31 July 2006. A decision on the granting of the aid must then be made by the Member State at the latest by 30 September 2006. The Council Regulation also provides that where aid is awarded in respect of restructuring in the first year, payment will be made in two instalments, the first instalment of 40% in June 2007 and the second instalment of 60% in February 2008. Depending on the financial resources available the EU Commission may decide to split the second instalment into two payments.
385 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when an allocation under the national reserve will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [19763/06]
The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payments Scheme National Reserve under category C.
Category C caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, sold the milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 to 2002.
A formal letter setting out my Department's decision has issued to the person named and she has been notified that if she is dissatisfied with my Department's decision in relation to the National Reserve she now has the opportunity to appeal this decision to the Payment Appeals Committee. An appeals application form is available from any of my Department's offices or on the Department website at www.agriculture.gov.ie.
386 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding an application under the farm pollution grant scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this person has to comply with a deadline of September 2006 imposed on them by Cork County Council. [19764/06]
The application by the person concerned for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is currently being processed within my Department. A pre-approval visit was carried out by an officer of my Department on 17 May 2006 and written approval to proceed with the works should issue to the applicant shortly.
It is a fundamental requirement of the Scheme that aid will not be granted where work is commenced before written approval has been conveyed by the Department.
387 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in payment of the single farm payment for a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and when same will issue. [19766/06]
The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Categories B & D.
Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000-2002. Investments can include purchase or long-term lease of land, purchase of suckler and/or ewe quota or other investments.
Category D caters for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but who received no direct payments in respect of that scheme year.
The person named has been accepted under categories B1 and B2 and a payment will issue in the near future. Allocations under the National Reserve are being made on an ongoing basis as cases are cleared for payment.
388 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the court upheld the constitutionality of law permitting the purchase of ground rents from landlords; if the Ground Rents Bill will be restored to the programme; and when same will happen. [19595/06]
As regards any future measures regarding ground rents, the position is that a High Court challenge to the constitutionality of certain provisions of existing ground rents legislation was heard during 2005 and the Court's judgment was given earlier this year. I understand however that the period within which an appeal against that ruling can be taken has not expired and it would not be appropriate therefore to proceed with any proposals for legislative changes at this time.
389 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Garda stations that have been closed in County Donegal from 2000 to date in 2006 and the year each was closed; the Garda stations in County Donegal that are deemed part-time and the hours they are open; and the full-time Garda stations in County Donegal. [19056/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period.
I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that there were no Garda stations permanently closed in the Donegal Division from 2000 to date in 2006. Garda management states that in 2002, Carrick Garda Station was temporarily closed for refurbishment for a short period. In 2005, and early 2006, Glencolmcille Garda Station was temporarily closed for refurbishment and it is now open to the public again.
Garda management also informs me that the opening hours of each Garda Station in the Donegal Division are as set out in the following table.
|
District |
Station |
Times |
|
Letterkenny |
Letterkenny |
24hr |
|
Ballybofey |
24hr |
|
|
Brocagh |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Newtowncunningham |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Castlefin |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Convoy |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Raphoe |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Carrigans |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Lifford |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Ballyshannon |
Ballyshannon |
24hr |
|
Donegal Town |
24hr |
|
|
Pettigo |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Mountcharles |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Dunkineely |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Ballintra |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Killybegs |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Bundoran |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Milford |
Milford |
24hr |
|
Ramelton |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Rathmullan |
11am to 1pm |
|
|
Kerrykeel |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Carrigart |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Kilmacrennan |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Churchill |
11am to 1pm |
|
|
Dunfanaghy |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Creeslough |
11am to 1pm |
|
|
Falcarragh |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Glenties |
Glenties |
24hr |
|
Annagry |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Bunbeag |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Clogher |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Ardara |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Burtonport |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Carrick |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Glencolmcille |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Doochary |
12pm to 2pm |
|
|
Dungloe |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Buncrana |
Buncrana |
24hr |
|
Burnfoot |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Muff |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Clonmany |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Culdaff |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Moville |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Malin |
10am to 1pm |
|
|
Carndonagh |
10am to 1pm |
390 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in regard to the application by persons (details supplied) in County Wexford to remain here as the parents of an Irish born child, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that passports and certificates submitted with this application have not been returned; if he will ensure that these documents are returned to the applicants without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19057/06]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that all valid documentation relating to the couple concerned has been returned to them.
391 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in regard to the application by a person (details supplied) in Wexford to remain here as the parent of an Irish born child, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that two original birth certificates submitted to his Department with this application have not yet been returned to the applicant; if he will ensure that these documents are returned to the person concerned without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19058/06]
There is no evidence that original birth certificates in respect of the persons in question were submitted with the application for permission to remain made under the revised arrangements for non-national parents of Irish children born before 1 January 2005. Original birth certificates for her spouse and another child were submitted and it is recorded that these documents were returned on 16 August 2005.
392 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the evidence he has relied upon to reach the view that the majority of the State’s lesbian and gay community do not want marriage. [19060/06]
393 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that leaders within the State’s gay and lesbian community (details supplied) have contradicted his claim that their members do not want marriage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19061/06]
394 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the majority of the State’s lesbian and gay community believe that no member of their community should be able to avail of the right to marry; and if so, the evidence upon which he has reached this view. [19062/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 to 394, inclusive, together.
Married people owe each other many judicially enforceable duties such as a duty on maintenance, a special duty in respect of any home used by them and many other duties. Married status also involves other legal issues such as judicial competence over capital assets, divorce, competence as a witness, subjection to family law and other legal consequences. It is my view that many same sex couples, in common with many opposite sex couples, would not choose to commit to the array of rights and duties consequent on marriage if this option was available to them.
With a view to identifying the options available to the legislature in according legal recognition to same sex couples, and other forms of partnerships, I recently established a Working Group on Domestic Partnership. The Group is charged with preparing an Options Paper to be presented to me by 20 October 2006.
395 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that detection rates from crimes such as burglary are as low as 10% in Blanchardstown; if he will provide comparative statistics on detection rates for Dublin Garda stations; the number of crimes committed in the Dublin 15 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19063/06]
The figures for burglaries recorded and detected for each Garda Division for 2005 are available in the Garda Annual Report, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library.
I was pleased to note that the Garda annual report for 2005 shows that the total number of burglaries recorded in the Dublin Metropolitan Region has decreased from 10.3 per 1,000 of population in 2003 to 9.2 per 1,000 of population in 2005. The number of burglaries recorded in the Dublin Western Division, which includes the Blanchardstown District, fell by 27.3% — from 2,032 in 2003 to 1,477 in 2005.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that a number of initiatives have been put in place by local Garda management to combat certain categories of crime in the Dublin 15 area, including burglary. Crime trends are closely monitored by local Garda management and the deployment of uniform and detective patrols, supplemented by the District Drug Unit, the Garda Mountain Bike Unit, the Divisional Crime Task Force, the Divisional Public Order Units and Traffic Corps Units, are predicated by these trends.
396 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community gardaí based in Dublin 15; the number based in each station in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19064/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period.
The Dublin 15 area is served by Blanchardstown Garda Station, which is the Divisional Headquarters for the Dublin Metropolitan Region West Division. I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of Blanchardstown Garda Station as at 31 March, 2006 was 167 (all ranks). The number of Community Gardaí based in Blanchardstown Garda Station as at 31 March, 2006 was 17 (all ranks).
Garda personnel assignments throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.
I should also say that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the first group of newly attested Gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and a further 275 newly attested Gardaí will come on stream every 90 days from here on in.
The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Dublin 15 area will be given the fullest consideration.
397 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on a self-appointed group (details supplied); and if he will outline his relationship and that of the Garda Síochána with this group. [19085/06]
I regret that I cannot be of assistance to the Deputy in relation to this matter.
398 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current and capital costs associated with increasing the Garda staff complement from current numbers by 1,000 and for every 500 thereafter up to 15,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19091/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period.
I should add that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the first group of newly attested Gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and a further 275 newly attested Gardaí will do so every 90 days from here on in.
The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources.
In addition, the OPW has made a significant investment, in the order of €20m, in the Garda College in Templemore. The primary aim of this investment, coupled with the transfer of certain in-service training to Nenagh, is to provide the college with the capacity to cater for the additional recruits required to bring the Force up to 14,000. The resulting new facilities will serve the College long into the future and ensure that the Force has top class training facilities not just for the immediate future but for the coming years.
As regards costs for the Garda Vote, I am informed by the Garda authorities that allowing for the incremental expansion of the strength of the Force and the training requirements involved, the approximate Garda Vote current and capital costs of increasing the size of the force by 1,000 members are €110 million and €10 million, respectively. The equivalent current and capital costs to the Garda Vote of increasing the force for every 500 members thereafter would amount to approximately €55 million and €5 million, respectively.
Other capital costs that could arise from a future additional expansion in the strength of the Force to 15,500, such as the possible replacement or expansion of Garda Stations to accommodate the greater numbers, are not readily quantifiable at this time.
399 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath for permission to remain here on the basis of marriage to an Irish national will be processed, as all the necessary relevant supporting documentation has been submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19096/06]
The necessary supporting documentation has only recently been received by my Department from the person in question. The case is currently under consideration and it is expected that a decision on the application for residency based on marriage to an Irish national will issue shortly.
400 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will not deport the 33 Afghan men at St. Patrick’s Cathedral; and if he will ensure their personal safety. [19105/06]
I wish to state at the outset that none of the persons referred to by the Deputy are, or were, at any immediate risk of being deported. The reason for this is that the persons concerned have, in the main, failed one or both stages of the asylum determination process, which processes are in place for the purposes of determining, on a case by case basis, as to whether each person should or should not be deemed to come within the definition of ‘refugee' as set out in Section 2 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended). However, none of the persons concerned have had their cases finalised pursuant to the provisions of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended). Furthermore, I would advise the Deputy that one of the 41 hunger strikers entered the State in 2000 and was granted refugee status in Ireland.
As the Deputy may be aware, in the context of every individual failed asylum applicant, they are afforded three options vis a vis their position in the State, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 (4) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), and these options are (a) to leave the State voluntarily, (b) to consent to deportation or (c) to submit, within 15 working days, representations to the Minister, in writing, setting out the reasons why they should not be deported i.e. why they should be allowed to remain temporarily in the State. Where, as happens in the great majority of cases, an application to remain temporarily in the State is submitted, the case is examined under the eleven headings specified under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), including consideration of any representations submitted by, or on behalf of, the person concerned. Each individual case is also examined having regard to Section 5 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement.
The Deputy should be aware that the safety of returning a person, or refoulement as it is commonly referred to, is fully considered in every case when deciding whether or not to make a Deportation Order i.e. that a person shall not be expelled from the State or returned in any manner whatsoever to a State where, in my opinion, the life or freedom of that person would be threatened on account of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. My Department uses extensive country of origin information drawn from different independent sources, including the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, in evaluating the safety of making returns to third countries. It is only after these assessments have been carried out in each individual case can a decision be taken to issue a Deportation Order or instead to arrange for temporary leave to remain in the State to be granted.
Given that the persons concerned have not exhausted all statutory processes available to them, as provided for under the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) and the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), the actions taken by them to circumvent these processes were totally unacceptable.
Finally, I am very pleased that this situation was brought to a peaceful conclusion and for that I wish to record my appreciation to the members on An Garda Síochana and my own Department who worked tirelessly and skilfully to bring this matter to a peaceful resolution.
401 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is an applicant for citizenship and has permission to remain in the State until 23 August 2006, his attention has been drawn to the fact that the person has been in receipt of disability allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs for approximately five years; if in these circumstances the condition requiring that they take up gainful employment and should not be a burden on the State will be removed from their permission to remain here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19112/06]
The person in question arrived in the State on 13 November, 1996 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of her case by Asylum Division.
The person in question was granted temporary leave to remain in the State on 10 June, 2002, and this was renewed in 2004 and 2005. She currently has permission to remain in the State until 23 August, 2006. The conditions of her temporary permission to remain are that she remain in compliance with Irish law in every respect, that she take up gainful employment, and that she should not be a burden on the State.
If the person in question submits an application to have her permission to remain in the State renewed, her application will be considered on receipt of same.
402 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an area closed circuit television scheme will be provided in the Finglas area as part of the service to be delivered from the new Finglas Garda station, in view of the fact that approval for such a scheme was given several years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19116/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the new Garda Station planned for Finglas will provide monitoring facilities for the town centre CCTV system. Suitable accommodation has been included in the brief of requirements for the new station.
As the Deputy is aware, a key issue to be addressed in the installation of the Finglas Town Centre CCTV system is the provision of suitable accommodation to house the monitoring equipment. It was initially hoped that this could be accommodated in Finglas Garda station. However, this station is not of an acceptable standard and I have already stated that immediate priority is being given to providing a new Garda station there.
I am advised that the Office of Public Works are currently in negotiations with the owners of a premises with a view to leasing the necessary accommodation for the monitoring of the CCTV cameras in Finglas until such time as the proposed new Station is built.
403 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Garda will have a role in monitoring closed circuit television in the Ballymun area once the new station there is operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19117/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, that the present CCTV system, to which the Gardaí have access in the existing Ballymun Garda station, entails a monitoring facility of three cameras operated by Dublin City Council. It is expected that this facility will again be provided in the new station.
404 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the shortage of gardaí in Miltown Malbay, County Clare, he will allocate extra gardaí to the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19123/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of the Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period.
I am advised that the personnel strength of Miltown Malbay Garda Station as at 17 May, 2006 was 2 (all ranks). I am further advised that the permanent Garda service at Miltown Malbay Garda Station is augmented by Garda resources from within the Ennistymon District, and that during the summer months additional resources are temporarily transferred to Miltown Malbay Garda Station to assist the permanent force in policing annual festivals.
It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within Divisions on a priority basis in accordance with the requirements of different areas. These personnel allocations are determined by a number of factors including demographics, crime trends, administrative functions and other operational policing needs. Such allocations are continually monitored and reviewed along with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy. This ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible service is provided to the public.
I should add that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the first group of newly attested gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and a further 275 newly attested gardaí will do so every 90 days from here on in. The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of Miltown Malbay will be given the fullest consideration.
405 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will approve an application for family reunification for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will expedite the application. [19133/06]
The person in question made a family reunification application on behalf of his wife in March 2006. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Application Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. When this investigation is completed, the Commissioner will prepare and forward a report to my Department. The application will then be considered by my Department and a decision will issue in due course.
406 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of squad cars operating from Irishtown Garda Station; if he intends to increase the number of squad cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/06]
The information requested by the Deputy has been sought from the Garda authorities, and I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.
407 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the closed circuit television system for Clondalkin will be installed and become fully operational. [19198/06]
As the Deputy is aware Clondalkin is one of the 11 remaining locations nationwide which form part of the Garda CCTV programme. Following recommendations from the Garda authorities, I have approved the implementation of six new Garda CCTV systems. With the addition of these 6 new locations a total of 17 Garda Town Centre CCTV Systems, including Clondalkin, will be implemented in the following locations: Athlone, Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dungarvan, Ennis, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Sligo, Tallaght, Tullamore and Waterford.
As I have indicated previously I am anxious to accelerate the implementation of this CCTV programme and reduce as far as possible the workload of the Garda Síochána in this regard. I believe that the answer is to outsource the installation of Garda CCTV systems to the greatest extent possible, making use not only of the technical but also of the project management expertise in the private sector.
In recent months the Garda Síochána have conducted a thorough examination of all aspects of Garda involvement in CCTV Systems. Following this review, I have recently received a comprehensive and innovative proposal for the project management and the outsourced service provision of Garda CCTV systems, including Clondalkin, from the Garda Commissioner. The Garda authorities wish to commence the initial public procurement process and I am also anxious to proceed urgently with this comprehensive request for tender to source the best CCTV service possible for Clondalkin and the other 16 locations selected. This will happen in conjunction with Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, which provides a legislative basis for the operation of CCTV in public places.
My Department is currently in consultation with the Department of Finance with a view to proceeding as quickly as possible with the procurement process to contract the project managers and outsourced service providers for the development, installation and management of these CCTV systems. My ambition is to have a Garda CCTV system operating in Clondalkin and in the other locations, at the earliest opportunity, subject to compliance with relevant procurement legislation and procedures.
408 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the number of gardaí in each Garda division who are currently on sick leave; the number of Garda within each division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19226/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that there were 89 members of An Garda Síochána on long-term sick leave as at 18 May, 2006. Long-term sick leave applies to absence in excess of 183 days. As regards ordinary short-term sick-leave, I am advised that the information requested is not readily available and can only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources.
Garda management have also informed me that the personnel strength (all ranks) of each Garda Division throughout the country, as at 31 March, 2006, was as set out in the following table.
|
Division |
Strength |
|
DMR South Central |
711 |
|
DMR North Central |
648 |
|
DMR South |
566 |
|
DMR North |
611 |
|
DMR West |
679 |
|
DMR East |
563 |
|
Louth/Meath |
541 |
|
Carlow/ Kildare |
344 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
276 |
|
Longford/Westmeath |
259 |
|
Wicklow/ Wexford |
311 |
|
Waterford/Kilkenny |
357 |
|
Tipperary |
317 |
|
Cork City |
622 |
|
Cork North |
247 |
|
Cork West |
252 |
|
Kerry |
272 |
|
Limerick |
482 |
|
Clare |
275 |
|
Galway West |
373 |
|
Roscommon/Galway East |
250 |
|
Mayo |
257 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
279 |
|
Donegal |
433 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
384 |
I should also say that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the first group of newly attested Gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and a further 275 newly attested Gardaí will do so every 90 days from here on in. The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources.
409 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the number of man-days lost per year through sick leave within the Garda Síochána nationally; the amount of lost man-days lost through sick leave in 2005 with the Garda traffic corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19227/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the total number of tours lost in the Garda Síochána through sick leave in 2005 was 126,282. I have been further informed by Garda management that the specific information requested in relation to the sick leave within the Garda Traffic Corps is not readily available.
410 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of motorcyclists on provisional licences summoned and convicted for carrying pillion passengers in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19228/06]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the numbers of motorcyclists on provisional licences who have been summoned and convicted for carrying passengers in the past three years are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Charges/Summonses |
Convictions |
|
2005 |
54 |
9* |
|
2004 |
46 |
20 |
|
2003 |
46 |
20 |
*An increase in this figure is anticipated during 2006 as proceedings for these offences come before the Courts.
411 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of motorists summoned and convicted in 2003, 2004 and 2005 for failure to have a valid driving licence on their person when requested to produce their licence by members of the Garda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19229/06]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the numbers of prosecutions and convictions for not having a valid driving licence on their person when asked to produce it by a member of the Garda Síochána in 2003, 2004 and 2005 are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Charges/Summonses |
Convictions |
|
2005 |
6,985 |
588* |
|
2004 |
4,826 |
920 |
|
2003 |
1,870 |
397 |
*An increase in this figure is anticipated during 2006 as proceedings for these offences come before the Courts.
412 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of drivers summoned and convicted in each of the past three years for driving unaccompanied on any category of C or D licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19230/06]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics are not compiled in such a way as to distinguish between categories of licence holders that were summoned for driving unaccompanied. No distinction is made in law between the offence of driving unaccompanied and not having a driving licence. By driving unaccompanied in contravention of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 1999, the driver is in effect driving without a licence.
The following table sets out the number of prosecutions and convictions for no driving licence in the past three years:
|
Year |
Charges/Summonses |
Convictions** |
|
2005 |
26,073 |
3,474* |
|
2004 |
24,244 |
5,525 |
|
2003 |
26,066 |
6,808 |
*An increase in convictions for offences committed in 2005 is anticipated during 2006 as proceedings come before the courts.
**Many motorists fail to produce their driving licence within ten days in a Garda station nominated by them at the time they are stopped and as a result are subsequently prosecuted. On the date of the court case the driving licence is produced in the majority of cases and no conviction ensues.
413 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a non-national living here for over five years can apply for Irish citizenship; if such an application can be made by a person who was granted residency under the revised arrangements announced by him on 15 January 2005; the locations where application forms can be obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19233/06]
The Minister 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 national those conditions are that the applicant must be of full age; be of good character; be married to the Irish citizen for at least 3 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; have made, either 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.
In other cases the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain (more rigorous) statutory conditions are fulfilled. Those conditions are that the applicant must be of full age, or by way of exception, be a minor born in the State; be of good character; have had a period of one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of the application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the State amounting to four years; intend in good faith to continue to reside in the State after naturalisation; have made, either 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.
In the context of naturalisation certain periods of residence in the State are excluded. These include periods of residence in respect of which an applicant does not have permission to remain in the State; periods granted for the purposes of study; and, periods granted for the purposes of seeking recognition as a refugee within the meaning of the Refugee Act, 1996.
I assume the revised arrangements the Deputy is referring to is the scheme I put in place at the beginning of 2005 to deal with applications for permission to remain from non EU national parents of Irish children born in Ireland prior to 1 January 2005. Approximately 17,000 persons have been granted leave to remain under this scheme to date. It is open to such persons to apply for naturalisation at any time provided, of course, that at the time of their application, they comply with the statutory requirements as set out above.
Further information and the necessary application forms for naturalisation may be obtained from my Department's website (www.justice.ie) or by telephoning the Citizenship Section helpline on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 10:00am to 12:30pm at Lo-call 1890 551 500 or (01) 6167700.
414 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Land Registry Office will finalise the land transfer for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [19237/06]
I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question.
415 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an inquiry is contemplated into the death of a person (details supplied) while in Garda custody on 17 June 2003; if there is a Garda investigation under way into the circumstances surrounding the death; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19244/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that a senior Detective Superintendent, from an outside Division, was appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the person in question. I am assured that the Garda investigation carried out in this tragic situation was thorough. The matter is currently before the Coroner for South County Dublin who will hold an inquest into the death. I have no plans to take any further action at this time.
416 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of drugs seized in each year over the past seven years in the catchment area of Tallaght Garda Station; the weight, type and estimated street value of illegal drugs confiscated in each year by the Garda Síochána at this station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19245/06]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in touch with the Deputy in relation to this matter when it becomes available.
417 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the present arrangements referred to in his reply to Parliamentary Question 328 of 9 May 2006; and his views on altering those arrangements to facilitate a good working relationship between the Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [19308/06]
As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question 328 of 9 May 2006, current arrangements for the appointment by the PSNI of members of the Garda Síochána on secondment do not provide for the secondment of members at Garda rank. I have no plans to seek the alteration of these arrangements at this time. I will, however, give fullest consideration to any proposals that the Garda Commissioner may wish to put to me in the matter.
418 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made regarding an application by persons (details supplied) to remain here as they are the parents of an Irish born child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19309/06]
The persons in question applied for permission to remain in Ireland on the basis of being parents of an Irish child, born before 1 January 2005, in accordance with the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005. One of the requirements for permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements is that parents must be continuously resident in the State since the birth of their Irish born child. The child in question was born on 24 September 2004, but neither of the parents has submitted evidence of continuous residence in the State since that date. Accordingly their applications did not meet the requirements of the revised arrangements and were refused.
The immigration status of the first named person will be reviewed and she will then have an opportunity to make representations as to her continued presence in the State. The second named person has already been afforded an opportunity to make representations as to why he should remain in the State. When representations are received I will further consider his position in the State.
419 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the status of an application for naturalisation of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [19329/06]
Processing of the application of the person referred to by the Deputy has commenced recently. An initial examination of the application indicates that it is necessary to seek some additional documentation from the person concerned before further processing can take place. A letter in this regard will issue shortly to the person in question. I will advise the Deputy when the case has been finalised.
420 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to a committee in the Inishowen area of County Donegal called Public Against Road Carnage who are lobbying to make it compulsory for gardaí to breathalyse all drivers involved in road traffic accidents or to obtain a blood or urine sample for testing for alcohol levels; if he has looked at or intends to consider implementing their proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19330/06]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are not aware of the organisation referred to or any proposals from them. All members of the Garda Síochána are aware of the powers available to them under the Road Traffic Acts, whereby any driver who is or has been involved in a road traffic collision or who is committing or has committed an offence under the Road Traffic Acts may be required to provide a specimen of breath. Any proposals to amend road traffic legislation are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Transport. In response to the disturbing number of road fatalities in Buncrana District a Garda Traffic Corps Unit was established in the District on a pilot basis with effect from 20 October, 2005. The Unit was in addition to the Traffic Corps personnel already operating in the Donegal Division. An evaluation of this pilot has been concluded and it has been decided that a dedicated Traffic Corp Unit with increased personnel will be based in the Inishowen area. This Unit will comprise one Sergeant and eight Gardaí.
A number of other initiatives have also taken place in the Donegal Division. These include targeted coordinated patrolling of priority roads and junctions at prime times, high visibility checkpoints, which have resulted in a 25% increase in the detection of drivers under the influence of an intoxicant in 2006 to date, and reconstitution of the Donegal road safety working group comprising representatives of An Garda Síochána, Donegal County Council, the Health Service Executive and the National Roads Authority.
Targeted education is an integral part of road traffic policing and in this regard a number of initiatives have been undertaken, including a local media campaign on traffic safety issues, a road safety programme in all primary and secondary schools in the Inishowen area, a driver improvement course in conjunction with the courts and ongoing liaison with driving instructors and the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). The Garda Síochána are, in co-operation with Inishowen Rural Development Limited (IRDL), assessing the training needs of drivers in the area.
421 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim has been issued with a deportation order; if he will review this decision in view of the fact that they are married to an Irish national; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19331/06]
The person in question was granted permission to remain in the State based solely on marriage to an Irish national on 4 November 2002. Such residency is conditional on the non EU national residing in the same household in a family unit with the Irish national spouse. It has come to the attention of the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question is no longer residing with his Irish national spouse as part of a family unit. The person concerned was given an opportunity to make representations on the change in his circumstances and following a full consideration of all the facts of the case it was decided to revoke the permission granted solely on the basis of marriage to an Irish national.
As he has no other separate basis on which residency can be considered, a notification of proposal to deport from the State under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 issued on 9 May 2006. It is open to the person in question, within 15 working days of the date of that letter, to make representations as to why he should not be deported from the State. If, in the light of representations received and the range of factors set out in section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, the Minister decides not to make a deportation order, he will be given leave to remain on a humanitarian basis.
422 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the numbers of prisoners on temporary release at present and a comparison figure for 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19332/06]
Figures from 19 May 2006 indicate that there were 3,409 persons in the prison system, of whom 155 (4.5%) were on temporary release. This compares with a figure of 2,723 persons in the prison system on 20 May, 1996 of whom 536 (almost 20%) were on temporary release. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the reason for the significant fall in the percentage of prisoners on temporary release between 1996 and 2006 is because this Government has provided some 1,200 additional prison spaces since 1997. Having said that there will always be a small percentage of prisoners on temporary release at any given time.
Temporary release is an important vehicle for re-integrating an offender into the community in a planned way. While due regard must be had to any risk which a particular release might pose, the generally accepted view is that the risk to the community would be even greater if, in certain circumstances, attempts at planned reintegration were not made, since prisoners must return to the community in any event, on the expiry of their sentence
423 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there has been a noticeable increase in break-ins or robberies of pharmacies in the north Dublin area in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19333/06]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of robbery and burglary offences of chemist premises recorded to date in 2006 in the Northern Division of the Dublin Metropolitan Region is 7 and 4, respectively. Figures provided are provisional, operational and liable to change. I am pleased to see that the Garda Policing Plan 2006, under the heading "Policy Reviews 2006" includes a commitment to assessing causes of the rise in crimes of burglary in 2005. This work has commenced with a view to reversing the current upward trend and identifying strategies to target this significant issue. This includes mounting special operations in particular problem areas.
It should be borne in mind that any interpretation of the crime figures should factor in the increase in our population in the past ten years. In 1995, with a population of almost 3.6 million people, there were 29 crimes per 1,000 of the population. In 2005, with a population of over 4.1 million, there were 24.6 crimes per 1,000 of the population, a reduction of 4.4 crimes per 1,000 of the population.
424 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of drug seizures in recent months and a comparison figure for 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19334/06]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in touch with the Deputy in relation to this matter when it becomes available.
425 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the strength of the Garda Síochána; the number of civilians involved; and if he will provide a comparative figure for 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19335/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,818 (all ranks) as at 31 December 1996 and represents an increase of 1,621 (or 15%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. The number of civilians serving with An Garda Síochána as at 19 May 2006 was 1,924. The equivalent figure for 1996 is not readily available.
I should add that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the first group of newly attested Gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and a further 275 newly attested Gardaí will do so every 90 days from here on in.
The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources.
426 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of a visa application lodged by a person (details supplied) who is the foreign national spouse of an Irish citizen. [19336/06]
The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office on 4th May, 2006 and is currently awaiting examination by a visa officer. The application will be considered in the coming weeks.
427 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19358/06]
I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department does not have a wine cellar.
428 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will establish an independent inquiry in the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19366/06]
I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 04 May 2006. The position remains unchanged.
429 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will establish an independent inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19367/06]
I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 409 of 06 July 2004. The position remains unchanged.
430 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will meet the members of Clonmel Borough Council following the Borough Council’s request for a deputation to discuss Garda manning levels, crime and anti-social behaviour levels in the Clonmel area. [19368/06]
I regret that I am not in a position at present to meet the members of Clonmel Borough Council due to constraints on my schedule. However, I have instructed officials from my Department to make themselves available to meet the members of the Council to discuss their concerns and report to me. Officials from my Department will contact the Council directly with a view to arranging a meeting.
431 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí attached to Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary town, Cashel and Fethard Garda stations on 1 June 1997, 1 June 2002 and 1 May 2006; and the number of gardaí dedicated to drugs related activities in south Tipperary. [19369/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period.
I am advised that the personnel strength (all ranks) of Clonmel, Carrick On Suir, Tipperary Town, Cashel and Fethard Garda Stations as at 1st June, 1997, the 1st June 2002 and the 1st May 2006 was as set out hereunder:
|
Station |
01/06/97 |
01/06/02 |
01/05/06 |
|
Clonmel |
40 |
41 |
41 |
|
Carrick-On-Suir |
16 |
14 |
16 |
|
Tipperary |
27 |
30 |
29 |
|
Cashel |
12 |
14 |
14 |
|
Fethard |
3 |
3 |
2 |
I am further informed that the personnel strength of the Divisional Drugs Unit as at the 23rd of May 2006 was 9 (all ranks). All Gardaí have responsibility to deal with drugs related issues as they arise. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an additional 15 Gardaí are due to be allocated to Tipperary Division in conjunction with the next allocation of Probationer Gardaí on the 9th June 2006.
It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within Divisions on a priority basis in accordance with the requirements of different areas. These personnel allocations are determined by a number of factors including demographics, crime trends, administrative functions and other operational policing needs. Such allocations are continually monitored and reviewed along with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy. This ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible service is provided to the public.
I should add that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the first group of newly attested Gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and a further 275 newly attested Gardaí will do so every 90 days from here on in. The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Garda Stations mentioned will be given the fullest consideration.
432 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the ratio of sergeants to gardaí in Store Street Garda station, Dublin 1; and if this ratio meets the normal requirements. [19370/06]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period.
I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Gardaí and Sergeants attached to Store Street Garda Station and nationally as at 19 May 2006 was as set out in the table hereunder:
|
Store Street |
Total |
|
Sergeants |
36 |
|
Gardaí |
226 |
|
Ratio |
1:6.27 |
|
Nationally |
Total |
|
Sergeants |
1,995 |
|
Gardaí |
9,906 |
|
Ratio |
1:4.96 |
I recently received a submission from the Garda Commissioner regarding, inter alia, the appointment of a significant number of additional Sergeants. I intend to bring proposals to Government on this matter shortly.
Garda management advise that personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of Store Street Garda Station will be fully considered.
I should also say that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the first group of newly attested Gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and a further 275 newly attested Gardaí will do so every 90 days from here on in. The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources.
433 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details which are required for an application for a visa for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19371/06]
I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 620 of Tuesday, 21st March, 2006 (ref:10291/06) and the written reply to that Question.
An appeal was received in relation to this application on 22nd March, 2006 and the decision to refuse was upheld on 3rd April, 2006. The Visa Appeals Officer was unable to satisfactorily verify the appellant's employment details and consequently was not satisfied that the appellant was qualified for the position of employment as indicated on his work permit. As each application is entitled to one appeal only no further review in this matter can be facilitated; however it is open to the applicant to make a fresh application. Comprehensive information on making a visa application is available on my Department's website (www.justice.ie).
434 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide a list of the considerable number of countries in the EU that have drug offender registers, to which he referred in the 11 May 2006 session of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights. [19374/06]
I made the statement to which the Deputy refers in relation to the operation of the Sex Offenders Act 2001, Part 2 of which sets out notification requirements for persons convicted of certain offences. This discussion arose on 11 May 2006 in the context of the consideration by the Select Committee for Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights of my amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 aimed at introducing similar notification arrangements for persons convicted of certain drug trafficking offences.
I am aware that the United Kingdom provides in its laws for the courts to impose travel restriction orders on persons convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment for drug trafficking offences. Such orders begin with the offender's release from custody and continue for a period of at least two years. Rather than going down this route I have opted for an approach similar to that in the 2001 Act.
In relation to the situation in other EU Countries many of them have a different approach to Ireland in relation to dealing with drug offenders and other criminals. As the Deputy will be aware in many continental EU Member States it is obligatory to register one's residence with the State or the municipal authority and to carry an identity card on your person at all times. The system in Ireland is very different and our citizens are not obliged to carry an identity card or to inform any external body of their normal residence. It is therefore necessary, in my opinion, to introduce in Ireland a system of notification arrangements for persons convicted of certain drug trafficking offences.
My proposals place an obligation on a person who has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than one year for drug trafficking offences to notify his/her name(s) and current home address to the Garda Síochána within 7 days of the conviction for the offence concerned where the sentence of imprisonment is suspended or, where the offender is remanded in custody, from the date of full release from prison. Thereafter, the offender must notify the Gardaí of any change of name or address within 7 days of that change. Notification of any address where the offender spends either as much as 7 days or two or more periods amounting to 7 days in any 12 month period must also be given to the Gardaí. If the offender intends to leave the State for a period of 7 days or more he/she must inform the Gardaí of this fact and the address at which he/she intends to stay and also notify the Gardaí of his/her return. The notification periods run from one year to twelve years, depending on the length of sentence imposed. My proposals extend these obligations to any drug trafficking offenders entering this jurisdiction from abroad subject to certain conditions.
I believe this approach will be of value to An Garda Síochána in keeping track of such persons and thereby provide valuable assistance and intelligence in the fight against drug crime.
435 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will ensure that a Land Registry application is expedited for a person (details supplied). [19503/06]
I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason underlying the urgency.
436 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in relation to each fatal road death in 2003, 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006, the driver of the vehicles involved were on provisional or full driving licences; the breakdown of these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19504/06]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the statistics requested are not available at the Garda National Traffic Bureau. The National Roads Authority is tasked with the compilation of statistics relating to road collisions within the State.
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 Oireachtas Library and on the NRA website.
437 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the training which is undertaken by gardaí to allow them to investigate road crash scenes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19505/06]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that trainee Gardaí receive instruction on investigation of traffic collisions in two phases. In phase one instruction is provided by way of lectures on duties on occurrence of a collision, offences disclosed, demanding and exchanging appropriate information, categories of traffic collisions, dealing with injured persons and examination of the scene. On completion of examinations a two hour practical module is held for each class where a simulated traffic collision is created and students must role play as investigating members. A briefing before the exercise and critical analysis after the exercise take place.
In phase two, trainee Gardaí receive practical instruction from Divisional training staff on traffic collisions. A simulated traffic collision is created and student Gardaí must role play as investigating members. Trainee Gardaí during their phase two training also learn experientially the investigation of traffic collisions while on placement with operational units. I am also informed that continuous professional development is on-going in that an intensive specialist forensics collision investigation course for police personnel is completed by members selected for training as forensic collision investigators.
438 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to persons (details supplied) who have applied for Irish citizenship; if, in view of the fact that they lost nine months with their previous application, their new application will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19506/06]
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. One of these conditions is that the applicant has had a period of one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of the application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, has had a total residence in the State amounting to four years.
In the context of determining if an applicant meets the residence requirement for naturalisation, certain periods of residence in the State must be excluded. These include periods of residence in respect of which an applicant does not have permission to remain in the State; periods granted for the purposes of study and periods granted for the purposes of seeking recognition as a refugee within the meaning of the Refugee Act, 1996.
The persons referred to in the Deputy's Question arrived in the State in February 1999 and sought asylum. They subsequently withdrew their applications and sought permission to remain on foot of their parentage of a child born in Ireland in December 1999. Permission to remain in the State was granted to them on this basis in July 2000.
The couple applied for naturalisation in September 2005. The first element of the assessment process for such applications involves determining if the applicant meets the above mentioned statutory residency requirement. It was not possible to ascertain from the documentation submitted with the couple's applications and my official's internal enquiries that they had appropriate permission to reside in the State for the period August 2001 to May 2002. It was determined, therefore, that the couple did not meet the residency requirement at the time of their applications. They were informed of this decision in writing on 16 November 2005. It is important to note in this context that the issue is not whether the couple were actually resident in the State for a total of 5 years, but whether they had appropriate permission to reside here for that period. I understand that the couple now fulfil the residency criteria. If they submit fresh applications at this stage, it will be only necessary to assess those applications against the other statutory criteria for naturalisation.
Since the couple did not meet the statutory requirements for naturalisation when they applied in September 2005, those applications were invalid. I do not consider, therefore, that it would be appropriate to expedite new applications from the couple in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy.
439 Mr. Walsh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will expedite a visitor’s visa for a person (details supplied). [19507/06]
The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office on 9th May, 2006. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa application in question was approved on 18th May, 2006.
440 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the criteria on which voluntary organisations working in the disability sector who wish to apply for funding under the recent enhancing disability services project funding announcement will be evaluated. [19508/06]
The following criteria will be used to evaluate the project proposals submitted for funding under the Enhancing Disability Services Project Funding: — Quality of the proposal — Evidence of Need — Value for Money and Sustainability — Coordination, collaboration with other organisations/initiatives, and — Capacity of the applicant. Further information on these criteria is available in the Guidelines for applicants which are located on my Department's website at www.justice.ie.
441 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people convicted and arrested for committing a crime while out on bail in Cork city and county for the years 2004 and 2005; and the breakdown of the types of crime committed. [19509/06]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. It would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to identify the number of individuals who while on bail commit offences in the manner sought by the Deputy.
442 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Qualification Directive 2004/83/EC will be transposed into Irish Law; if the deadline for transposition of 10 October 2006 will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19510/06]
Ireland's immigration and refugee legislation and practices are in compliance generally with the substance of Council Directive 2004/83/EC.
Work is ongoing in my Department to put the necessary statutory and administrative provisions in place as required before 10 October 2006 to ensure formal compliance with the Directive.
443 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application in Land Registry Office for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19511/06]
I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question.
444 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who has an Irish born child and applied for permission to remain here under that category on 6 May 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19523/06]
The person in question made an application for permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005 for the processing of applications from the non-national parents of Irish born children born before 1 January 2005. As stated in my announcement, the closing date for the submission of applications for consideration under the revised arrangements was 31 March 2005. Mr. Nwanko's application was received on 06 May 2005 and therefore, too late for consideration. He was informed on 24 August 2005 that his application for leave to remain could not be considered under the revised arrangements. Judicial Review proceedings were instituted on 28 September 2005 and accordingly, as the matter is sub judice I do not propose to comment further on the matter.
445 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average number of gardaí involved in the investigation of each serious or fatal road accident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19524/06]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that collisions vary widely in nature and degree of seriousness and the number of personnel who attend and the action taken will vary accordingly.
The duties of Garda personnel at the scene of collisions include rendering assistance to injured persons, and, if necessary, to procure medical and spiritual aid and arrange for their removal to hospital. Duties also include preserving the scene, that is, preventing interference with vehicles, debris, tracks, marks, etc. until properly noted, reducing traffic obstruction as soon as possible, when necessary arranging for the temporary diversion of traffic and noting and collecting all available evidence at the scene.
I am also informed that the circumstances surrounding any loss of life as a result of a road traffic collision are thoroughly investigated by the Garda Síochána in accordance with the instructions set out in the Garda Code.
The District Officer (Superintendent) for the area where a fatal collision occurs is responsible for the investigation. He/she ensures sufficient and appropriate personnel are assigned to the investigation and that all aspects of the investigation are thoroughly carried out. All events preceding the collision, including the actions and activities of any driver, passenger or pedestrian, as appropriate are fully inquired into.
Where necessary, full use is made of local and national media for appeals for information from any person who may have witnessed the collision, or have information relevant to it. Where there is a surviving driver the District Officer will forward the completed investigation file to the Law Officers for direction.
446 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) has a right to appeal his decision either to the courts or a third party who could independently adjudicate on the case. [19620/06]
The member concerned was informed on 29 April, 2005 that my Department was proposing to recommend that his application be refused and he was also given an opportunity to forward further submissions and medical reports on his behalf. A reply was received from the member's legal representatives and his application was reviewed.
On 9 May 2006, the member was informed that his application had been refused. Under the provisions of Section 6(3) of the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 1941, a decision under the Act is final and conclusive.
447 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the implications of the proposed new Garda divisional headquarters in Ballymun for the existing divisional headquarters in Santry and the level of service which will be provided from the Santry Garda station once the new station in Ballymun is open. [19621/06]
I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the new Garda station at Ballymun, when complete, will become the relevant Divisional and District Headquarters. I am further advised that Santry Garda Station will remain in service as a city station and, under the direction of the Divisional and District Officers, will continue to provide a service commensurate with the policing needs of the area.
I should add that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the first group of newly attested gardaí under the accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and a further 275 newly attested gardaí will do so every 90 days from here on in.
The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources, and in this context the needs of the Santry area will be given the fullest consideration.
448 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the visa applications of the world-recognised Bosnian artists (details supplied) who were due to attend and exhibit at an art exhibition held by the Bosnian Community Development Project in Temple Bar in April 2006 were rejected, thus leading to the cancellation of the exhibition; if this was a violation of protocol, in view of the fact that this art exhibition was part of the 2006 annual funding given by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19669/06]
I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 713 of Tuesday, 25th April, 2006 (ref: 15084/06) and the written reply to that Question.
449 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that he is considering the option of deporting refused asylum seekers or any other person to a third country other than their country of origin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19758/06]
450 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances under which he will consider deporting a refused asylum-seeker or any other person to a third country other than their country of origin; the criteria which would be used in determining where the individual would be sent, including the suitability of the third country; and the process involved in making and carrying out that determination. [19759/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 449 and 450 together.
A Deportation Order issued under Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended) is an order to the person concerned to leave the State and remain out of it thereafter. It is not, however, an order directing the person concerned to go to any particular third country.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it would be most unusual for a person who is illegally resident in this State to be removed to a third country/State where he/she has had no past association or other connection. Before we can remove a person illegally in this State to another jurisdiction, the prior agreement of that other State's authorities is required.
The effecting of a Deportation Order is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau. In the event that a person has to be forced to comply with a Deportation Order, he/she is generally removed to his/her country of origin or to another country, at the election of the person concerned and where that other country is prepared to accept that person onto its territory. It is also possible to remove a person to a country other than the person's country of origin where the authorities of that other country will accept the person concerned on the basis of some past association or other connection, e.g. where his or her spouse resides.
It is, of course, also possible that a person being removed to his/her country of origin may have to transit through another State and, on such occasions, assistance may be provided by that State in the transit area of the airport or seaport. It is not the case that this other State in any way carries out the deportation on this State's behalf, particularly in the circumstances cited in the example given in the question.
The Deputy might also wish to note the existence of the Dublin II Regulations under which an asylum-seeker can be transferred to another EU Member State, to have the asylum claim processed in that other State, in circumstances where the person concerned first claimed asylum in that other State.
The Deputy might wish to note that before making a Deportation Order in any individual case, I must consider that case under all eleven factors specified in Section 3(6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), and also have regard for Section 5 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) on the Prohibition of Refoulement. This essentially means that the safety of returning a person to their country of origin, or refoulement as it is commonly referred to, is fully considered in every individual case. My Department uses extensive country of origin information drawn from different independent sources, including the UNHCR, in evaluating the safety of making returns to third countries.
The Deputy may be assured that where a Deportation Order is issued in any individual case, this can only happen following a comprehensive examination of all issues relevant to that case, including issues relating to the country of return/country of origin of the person concerned.
451 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to improve and develop the Bridewell Garda station in Cork city and his proposals regarding this. [19760/06]
I understand from the Office of Public Works that a contract for the refurbishment of the roof of this station was placed recently and the work is expected to be completed by the end of July.
There are also plans to carry out extensive internal works to the station and arrangements will be made soon with the Office of Public Works to prioritise this work. While it is not possible at this point in time to say when this project will commence, the Deputy can be assured that there will be no avoidable delay in addressing the accommodation requirements of the gardaí at the Bridewell Garda station in Cork.
452 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide the information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 10 May 2006 regarding the number of non-Irish, non-British European Union nationals in prison here for each of the years since 2000 to date in 2006; the number released in each of these years; the number considered for deportation under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999; and the number of those deported under that section. [19768/06]
As indicated in my recent reply to the Deputy, the information sought covers a number of sources. However, my Department is currently compiling the data which will then require collation and cross-referencing. Once this information is sourced, I will furnish the information to the Deputy as soon as possible.
453 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide the information requested in Parliamentary Question Nos. 84, 85 and 86 of 10 May 2006 regarding the numbers of non-Irish national prisoners released; the number considered for deportation; and the number deported under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 for each of the years since 2000 to date in 2006. [19769/06]
As indicated in my recent reply to the Deputy, the information sought covers a number of sources. However, my Department is currently compiling the data which will then require collation and cross-referencing. Once this information is sourced, I will furnish the information to the Deputy as soon as possible.
454 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the numbers of new recruits in each of the past five years to the public service under the auspices of his Department; and age distribution of these new recruits. [20217/06]
I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Finance, is answering in respect of the Civil Service. As the only public servants that are employed by my Department are the Garda Síochána, my reply refers to them only.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the number of Garda recruits in each year from 2000 to 2005 was as set out in the table hereunder:
|
Year |
Number |
|
2000 |
496 |
|
2001 |
497 |
|
2002 |
547 |
|
2003 |
687 |
|
2004 |
518 |
|
2005 |
1,125 |
Regulation 5 of the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 1988 (as amended) provides that, in order to qualify for admission as a trainee with the Garda Síochána, prospective applicants must, inter alia, be at least 18 years and under 35 years of age on the first day of the month in which the relevant competition was advertised. Prior to 2004 applicants had to be at least 18 years and under 26 years of age. A detailed breakdown of the age distribution of recruits over the period referred to by the Deputy is not readily available.
455 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science her Department’s policy on seatbelts for school buses; if seatbelts are required for the top floor of a double-decker school bus; and if so, if they are required to be retrofitted. [19147/06]
In July 2005, I announced the commencement of fitting of seat belts on the Bus Éireann school bus fleet and set a target date of December, 2006 for all private buses participating in the school transport scheme to be fitted with approved seat belts.
456 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if, regarding High Court proceedings being taken by a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, all documents within the control of her Department which are relevant to this person have been provided as requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19079/06]
Given that this matter is currently the subject of legal proceedings and is before the courts, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on this matter at this time.
457 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the provision of a new national school at Blennerville, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19080/06]
The need for a new school building on a new site for Blennerville National School is acknowledged by my Department. A suitable site has been identified and contracts for the acquisition of this site have been signed. In the interim, my Department has recently approved the provision of a prefabricated classroom to alleviate immediate accommodation difficulties.
Once the site acquisition is finalised, the building project required to deliver the new school will be progressed in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.
458 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of school completion programmes that are established under the social inclusion unit of her Department; the number of schools in each of these projects; the number of project workers allocated to each of these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19111/06]
There are currently 82 School Completion Programme (SCP) sites in 21 counties (108 post-primary schools and 302 primary schools) with 53 second level schools participating in the Stay in School Retention Strand (SSR) of the School Completion Programme in 17 counties, targeting approximately 23,000 young people at risk of early school leaving.
Each School Completion project employs a local Co-ordinator on a full-time basis to run the project at local level. Other personnel such as project workers, youth workers, family support workers, therapists and counsellors are employed at the discretion of each project based on the level of need of the target group.
Under the new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion, DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), additional supports are being targeted at children in the most disadvantaged schools to encourage them to stay in school. The key principle of early intervention to identify and help children at risk of early leaving school is a major component of the Plan.
As a result of the identification process, 840 schools, serving communities with the highest concentrations of disadvantage, have been invited to participate in the new School Support Programme. These comprise 640 primary schools (320 urban/town schools and 320 rural schools) and 200 second-level schools.
€24.7 million has been allocated to the School Completion Programme for 2006 and services will be extended to all 320 urban/town primary schools and 200 second level schools participating in the SSP not already benefiting from these services. Additional clusters will be created under the School Support Programme during the school year 2006/2007. My Department are now finalising arrangements regarding the clustering of new schools under the School Support Programme and schools will be notified shortly.
459 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of an application for a new gymnasium for a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if the application will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19130/06]
The School Planning Section of my Department is in receipt of an application for major capital works from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale projects and progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2006 onwards.
460 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if funding will be made available to a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; to repair a leak to the roof of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19131/06]
An application form for emergency works has been issued to the school in question. As soon as the completed form is returned to the Building Unit of my Department, the matter will be considered as a matter of urgency and the outcome will be notified to the school without delay.
461 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science the basis for her decision in respect of north Drogheda environs local area plan with regard to education provision and protection of lands required for same; her views on whether the provision of lands for education purposes should be provided within the plan area; and the reason children in this plan area will have to cross a busy dual carriageway to attend school, when land could be zoned within the plan area for education facilities. [19134/06]
When the draft North Drogheda Environs Local Area Plan was forwarded to my Department by Louth County Council for initial comment on the extent of educational provision required, my Department considered that it would be prudent to plan for 4 primary and 2 post-primary schools.
While only 3 primary school sites are reserved in the Plan itself, my Department is satisfied that further school provision can be made on the Green Belt area to the north of Local Area Plan as the need arises. My Department understands that this land can only be developed for amenity or educational purposes and, therefore, there is no danger that it will not be able to secure additional land for further educational purposes in the area in the future. This includes both primary and post-primary provision.
Regarding post-primary provision in particular, my Department is in agreement that provision, in the first instance, adjacent to proposed sporting facilities and the transport hub on the north eastern boundary, as envisaged by the local authority, is logical and desirable. This is in accord with the Department's policy regarding sharing community facilities. My Department accepts that it is not necessary to make post-primary site reservations within the plan given that lands adjacent thereto are available with the appropriate zonings. This applies equally to a site reservation for a fourth primary school.
In summary, my Department is satisfied following consultations with the local authority that there will be sufficient land available to it to develop the requisite number of primary and post-primary schools to meet the needs of the proposed new neighbourhood developments in Drogheda. My Department will be ensuring that access to any new schools in the Green Belt area will take account of all health and safety issues.
462 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) in County Kerry is provided with 800 hours for part-time teachers in drama, music therapy and appreciation, yoga and tai chi. [19150/06]
My Department allocates additional teaching hours to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) to support the delivery of education programmes in a range of facilities including special schools under the heading Co-Operation Hours with Other Institutions. These allocations are made in response to specific applications which are submitted by the relevant VEC in advance of the commencement of the school year to which they relate.
My Department has received an application from County Kerry VEC for additional teaching hours on behalf of the school referred to by the Deputy. This application is currently under consideration and a reply will issue in writing to the relevant VEC in due course.
463 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress which has been made regarding the planning application made by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal which has been waiting four years for essential accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19199/06]
An application for capital funding towards the provision of a general purpose room, staff room, multipurpose room and storage capacity has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects, which was revised following consultation with the Education Partners. The project is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.
464 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason she has failed to announce the official recognition of a school (details supplied) planned for Glanmire which is due to open in September 2006. [19224/06]
As the Deputy will be aware, I recently made an announcement giving recognition to six new Primary Schools with effect from September, 2006. As part of that announcement, I indicated that I had deferred a decision regarding three other schools including the one to which the Deputy refers.
My Department is in correspondence with the patron about a matter of concern raised by the New Schools Advisory Committee relating to the possible impact on enrolment in an existing school of similar type in the same general area as the proposed interim accommodation for the school referred to. As soon as these matters have been fully considered I will announce my decision on the application.
465 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if consideration will be given to an application under the school books grant scheme (detail supplied) which was submitted after the closing date. [19242/06]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, having regard to the circumstances, my Department has decided to approve payment of the appropriate grant in this case.
Arrangements are accordingly being made by my Department to have payment made to the school concerned.
466 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the locations of special dedicated classes for pupils with autism in mainstream post-primary schools; the number of children attending such classes; the pupil-teacher ratio in such units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19247/06]
My Department provides a range of supports to second level school management to enable schools to cater for pupils with special educational needs including the needs of pupils with autism. The supports in question include remedial and additional teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment.
As the Deputy is aware, there has been enormous progress made over the past number of years in relation to increasing the number of teachers in our schools who are specifically dedicated to providing education for children with special educational needs.
At second level, approximately 1,654 whole time equivalent additional teachers are in place to support pupils with special educational needs. This compares to the approximately 200 teachers that were in place in 1998 for such pupils. In addition, there are 532 whole time equivalent learning support teachers and approximately 1,102 whole time equivalent special needs assistants (SNAs) in our second level schools.
With effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has taken over key functions from my Department in relation to special educational provision. The NCSE was formally established as an independent statutory body on the 1st October 2005 under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2005. The Council acts under the broad policy direction of my Department but has the resources and the remit to play the leading role in the delivery of education services to children with disabilities/special needs.
The NCSE co-ordinates with the health services, schools and other relevant bodies regarding the provision of education and related support services to children with disabilities/special needs.
The responsibilities of the NCSE include the following:
—Deciding on applications for additional teaching support in respect of children with disabilities with special educational needs at second level;
—Deciding on applications for special needs assistant (SNA) hours;
—Processing applications for school placement in respect of children with disabilities with special education needs.
The Department supports the education of individual students with autism in various second level schools throughout the country. The precise model of provision made available at second level will depend on the assessed needs of the pupils involved. Some pupils are capable of attending ordinary classes on an integrated basis with additional teacher and/or special needs assistant support. In other cases, placement in special dedicated classes or units attached to the school may be the more appropriate response. Such special classes operate at significantly reduced pupil teacher ratios. In general where a special class for pupils with autism is established by my Department, such classes are staffed by one teacher and two special needs assistants and can cater for a maximum of six pupils though the number in attendance can vary as pupils attached to these special classes may be facilitated in attending ordinary subject classes on an integrated basis wherever possible.
In recent years, my Department has supported the establishment of a number of special classes for pupils with autism in mainstream post primary schools. The organisation of such provision is a significant task of the National Council for Special Education. Special classes are currently in operation in post primary schools in Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Fairview, Co. Dublin, Cashel, Co. Tipperary and Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow. Discussions are ongoing between the NCSE and a number of other post primary schools with a view to establishing further classes of this nature.
The NCSE, through the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) will process the relevant application for resources and inform the school of the outcome. It is important to note that in the case of decisions on additional teaching and SNA support, the SENO will outline the process to the school and parents, where appropriate, and will at the end of the process outline the basis on which the decision was made.
In addition, my Department's Teacher Education Section has developed a strategy designed to meet the continuing professional development needs of personnel working with children with special educational needs. This involves a major expansion of the range of post-graduate professional training programmes available to teachers in the special needs area and the ongoing development of the Special Education Support Service (SESS) to support schools staff locally.
My Department will continue to ensure that the necessary resources are made available for the education of children with special needs. I am confident that the advent of the NCSE will prove of major benefit in ensuring that all children with special educational needs receive the support they require, when and where they require it.
467 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the duties and responsibilities of the National Council for Special Education in advance of the full implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 and of the establishment of teams of qualified persons to carry out assessments of needs; the basis on which SENOs decide the needs of a child in the absence of such teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19248/06]
There are over 70 Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) employed by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) since September 2004, who have been deployed on a nationwide basis, with at least 1 SENO being deployed in each county. The SENO acts as a focal point of contact for parents and schools in relation to the education of children with special educational needs.
In advance of the full implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004 (EPSEN) the following functions are the responsibility of the NCSE with effect from 1 January 2005: a) processing applications for resource teacher support in respect of children with low incidence disabilities and deciding on the level of support appropriate to the school; b) processing applications for special needs assistant support for children with disabilities and deciding on the level of support appropriate to the school; c) examining applications for special equipment/assistive technology and making recommendations to the Department of Education & Science; d) examining applications for transport arrangements for children with disabilities and making recommendations to the Department of Education & Science; e) identifying appropriate educational settings for individual children with special educational needs.
While many sections of the Act have already commenced, the remaining sections relate mainly to the statutory assessment and education plan process for which the Act provides. These cannot come into effect without the NCSE having an opportunity to present an implementation report to my Department which it must do before 1 October 2006. The Council is currently engaged in a consultative process with a view to the submission of the implementation report.
468 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will address the serious difficulties encountered by second level students with special needs who have had a full-time special needs assistant at primary school and have to manage with greatly reduced assistance when they move to second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19249/06]
My Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable them cater for students with special educational needs transferring from primary level. The supports in question include remedial and resource teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment.
As the Deputy is aware there has been enormous progress made over the past number of years in relation to increasing the number of teachers in our schools who are specifically dedicated to providing education for children with special educational needs. At primary level there are now approximately 5,000 teachers working directly with children with special needs, including those requiring learning support. This compares to under 1,500 in 1998.
At second level, approximately 1,654 whole time equivalent additional teachers are in place to support pupils with special educational needs. This compares to the approximately 200 teachers that were in place in 1998 for such pupils. In addition, there are 532 whole time equivalent learning support teachers and approximately 1,102 whole time equivalent special needs assistants (SNAs) in our second level schools.
The general allocation model at primary level is based on the premise that all primary schools have children with learning support or high incidence special educational needs. Early intervention support at primary ensures that many children do not need additional support at second level.
The precise model of provision made available at second level will depend on the assessed needs of the pupils involved. Some students are capable of attending ordinary classes on an integrated basis with additional teacher and/or special needs assistant support. In other cases, placement in special dedicated classes or units attached to the school may be the more appropriate response. Such special classes operate at significantly reduced pupil teacher ratios. Students attached to these special classes may be facilitated in attending ordinary subject classes on an integrated basis wherever possible.
With effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has taken over key functions from my Department in relation to special educational provision. The NCSE was formally established as an independent statutory body on the 1st October, 2005 under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2005. The Council acts under the broad policy direction of my Department but has the resources and the remit to play the leading role in the delivery of education services to children with disabilities/special needs.
The NCSE co-ordinates with the health services, schools and other relevant bodies regarding the provision of education and related support services to children with disabilities/special needs.
The responsibilities of the NCSE include the following:
—Deciding on applications for additional teaching support in respect of children with disabilities with special educational needs at second level;
—Deciding on applications for special needs assistant hours;
—Processing applications for school placement in respect of children with disabilities with special educational needs.
Under the new arrangements, the Council, through the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) will process the relevant application for resources and inform the school of the outcome. It is important to note that in the case of decisions on additional teaching and SNA support, the SENO will outline the process to the school and parents, where appropriate, and will at the end of the process outline the basis on which the decision was made.
My Department will continue to ensure that the necessary resources are made available for the education of children with special needs. I am confident that the advent of the NCSE will prove of major benefit in ensuring that all children with special educational needs receive the support they require, when and where they require it.
469 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding which is available to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who has obtained a place in Budapest University to study veterinary medicine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19252/06]
Under the terms of my Department's Higher Education Grants Scheme and the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme, grant assistance is available to eligible students attending approved third level courses in approved institutions. An approved course for the purpose of the schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration and a full time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution.
Students from this State who are attending undergraduate courses in any EU Member State can apply for maintenance grants in respect of approved courses which are pursued in colleges approved for the purposes of the schemes.
My Department's Third Level Student Maintenance Grant Schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration (pursued in a university or a third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds) in other EU Member States with effect from the 1996/97 academic year.
470 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Education and Science the status regarding the embargo on non-sibling enrolments from schools (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19307/06]
The post primary school relevant to the Deputy's question is heavily oversubscribed as a result of a significant number of pupils enrolling from outside its catchment area. The cumulative effect of the development of this type of situation over a number of years can impact negatively on pupils from within the catchment area who are entitled, as of right, to a place in a particular school. It also invariably impacts negatively on the school or schools to which these pupils should rightly attend and in which considerable capital investment has been made for this purpose. It is a matter for all school authorities, in the context of their enrolment policies, to limit enrolment to within their catchment areas to ensure that such situations do not arise.
As a once off exceptional measure, my Department decided that a number of named pupils from outside the catchment area would be allowed to enrol in the post primary school in question for the 2005/2006 school year. This decision was taken because the pupils concerned had an expectation that they would be enrolling in the school and did not have sufficient notice to secure alternative placements. It was made clear to the school authority in July of last year that this arrangement would apply for the 2005/06 school year only. It was made equally clear that the arrangement did not create a precedent and that it would not be repeated in subsequent years.
I am also satisfied that adequate notice has been given to the particular post primary school concerned to ensure that it implements an appropriate enrolment policy for the 2006/07 school year in the best interests of its own pupils. Indeed, confirmation has been received from the school that it is effecting such an enrolment policy. In all of the circumstances, my Department's position in this matter remains unchanged.
471 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 252 of 30 March 2006 and in view of a recent meeting (details supplied) to ask her to make a comment on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19313/06]
The circumstances of the case raised by the Deputy, in the details provided, are being reviewed at present by my Department. Arrangements will be made to notify all relevant parties as soon as a decision has been made.
472 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will amend the mature candidate dependent on parents category under the higher education grants scheme to ensure that applicants being at home but with personal income, for example, single parents qualify for the grant under their own income and not that of their parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19314/06]
Under the terms of the Department's maintenance grants schemes, and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1992, a mature student is defined as a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on the 1st January of the year of entry or re-entry to an approved course.
Under the terms of my Department's 2005 Third Level Student Maintenance Grant Schemes the position is that, generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the prescribed conditions with regard to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. A mature student is defined for the purposes of the schemes as a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on the 1st January of the year of entry or re-entry to an approved course.
Mature students are categorised as either independent mature students or mature students dependent on parents or guardians. An independent mature student is defined as meaning a mature student who was not ordinarily resident at home with his/her parents or guardians from the October preceding their entry to an approved course. Independent mature students are assessed without reference to either their parents' or guardians' income or address.
When assessing the means of students other than independent mature students, the means test provision of the scheme specifies that the students' means and those of their parents or guardians must be below a prescribed limit. This provision requires that parental income be taken into account irrespective of the individual circumstances in any case where the student is not an independent mature student.
It is not proposed, at present, to change the current definition of mature students.
473 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will liaise with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to ensure that schools faced with waste water discharge licence levies will be exempted from this levy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19326/06]
Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of national schools. The capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years. Since 1997 the standard rate of capitation grant has been increased from €57.14 per pupil to €133.58 with effect from 1st January, 2005 and has been further increased by €12 per pupil with effect from 1st January, 2006 bringing the standard rate to €145.58. This represents an increase of almost 155% in the standard rate of capitation grant since 1997.
Local Authority service and other charges payable to the various Local Authorities do not come within the remit of my Department. It would be a matter for the Local Authorities to decide the way in which schools pay such charges. Where it is decided that schools are liable for such charges, the cost would form part of the normal running costs of schools and would fall to be met from the capitation funding which schools have received from my Department.
474 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of whole school evaluations undertaken in 2004, 2005 and prior to 6 February 2006; the number expected to be undertaken in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19327/06]
65 whole-school evaluations were undertaken in 2004, 53 in primary schools and 12 in post-primary schools. At primary level the Tuairisc Scoile model of school inspection was phased out during 2004 and 2005. There were 336 such inspections in 2004 and 90 in 2005. In 2005, 216 whole-school evaluations were undertaken, 163 at primary level and 53 at post-primary level.
A total of 273 whole-school evaluations have been planned for 2006, 216 in primary schools and 57 in post-primary schools. 48 of these evaluations commenced prior to 6 February 2006, 39 at primary level and 9 at post-primary level. The reports from these whole-school evaluations will be sent to the individual schools.
The reports on all other whole-school evaluations undertaken in 2006 will be issued to the schools concerned and will also be published on the Department's website.
475 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which teachers involved may not have followed the schools procedure for dealing with a complaint at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19337/06]
In April, 2003, following careful consideration of material that had been submitted concerning a complaint, my Department issued a letter to the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy.
Subsequently, teachers at the school wrote to my Department in relation to the content of this letter. My Department assured the teachers as recently as April, 2006 that the content of the correspondence referred to did not refer to individual teacher conduct, but rather to the general implementation of school procedures.
My Department's correspondence of April, 2003 was specifically directed to the Board of Management of the school as opposed to any individual or group of individuals within the school. It is my Department's intention to continue engaging directly with the Board of Management on this matter.
476 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide a full listing of the contents of her Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if she will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19352/06]
My Department does not maintain a stock of wine and has no plans in this regard.
477 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will meet a deputation (details supplied) from County Tipperary regarding the upgrading of the centre to full-time status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19362/06]
The part-time Education Centre covered by the Deputy's question is part of a network of twenty-one full-time and nine part-time Education Centres which are located throughout the Country. The defined role of these Education Centres is to provide professional development and support for teachers and the wider education community, through meeting locally researched and identified teacher and school community needs and also through involvement in national in-service programmes, involving either curricular reform or support on specific issues such as special needs.
A proposal seeking the upgrading of County Tipperary Education Centre from part-time to full-time status was received in my Department from that Centre late last year. This proposal, which will involve an expansion to the current network of the 21 full-time Education Centres, was considered in the context of existing services and with regard to the many competing demands for resources in the area of teacher education as well as the overall resources available to my Department.
Having considered the submission, I am satisfied that the existing Education Centre network, as it is currently constituted, is sufficient to meet the professional development needs of teachers. I will, however, continue to keep the position under review, particularly in light of emerging needs.
Finally, I have asked my officials in the Teacher Education Section of my Department, who are charged with the management and administration of all matters relating to the Education Centre Network, to contact management authorities at the Centre to arrange a meeting to discuss any outstanding matters of concern.
478 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Education and Science when she will confirm the availability of a three acre site for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19363/06]
The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to source a site for the school in question. A number of issues need to be clarified in relation to the site options being considered at present. As soon as these issues have been resolved the matter of the site acquisition can be progressed further.
479 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary in relation to an application for funding for additional facilities since her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 251 of 22 March 2006. [19375/06]
My Department still awaits a response from the School Authorities to the letter of the 15th February 2006 as outlined in the PQ response of Tuesday the 23rd May 2006 as follows.
The application for additional facilities referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning.
In October of 2005 my Department wrote to the School Authorities with issues that needed addressing on a stage 1 / 2 submission (outline sketch scheme with costings). The School's response was examined and discussed with them at a meeting with my Officials in January of this year. At that meeting the design considerations of the School in question, particularly in relation to the site, highlighted new concerns over the viability of further development regarding effluent discharge.
In February of this year my Department wrote to the School Authorities requesting them to carry out a site suitability test for the discharge of effluent to ground waters and when this is completed my Department will be in a position to further progress the proposed building project at the School.
480 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard to plans to construct a new community college at Croom, County Limerick. [19440/06]
A site is being acquired by the VEC and the building project to deliver the new school will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.
481 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school (details supplied) in County Mayo is excluded from the DEIS programme; if this decision will be reversed on the re-examination of the circumstances as outlined in the appeal lodged by the school authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19441/06]
DEIS is designed to ensure that schools serving the most disadvantaged communities benefit from the maximum level of support available. Over the years, no less than 8 separate schemes for disadvantaged primary schools have been put in place. Some schools were benefiting from just one or two of these and others were benefiting from more. The DEIS initiative is designed to ensure that the most disadvantaged schools benefit from a comprehensive package of supports.
While the whole rationale behind the new programme is to ensure that the most disadvantaged schools benefit from all of the available supports, schools that are benefiting from existing schemes will keep the extra resources — financial and human — that they are getting under these initiatives for the 2006/07 school year. After that they will continue to get support in line with the level of socio-economic disadvantage among their pupils.
A review process has been put in place for primary and second-level schools that did not qualify for participation in the new School Support Programme and that regard themselves as having a level of disadvantage which is of a scale sufficient to warrant their inclusion in the Programme. The review process will operate under the direction of an independent person, charged with ensuring that all relevant identification processes and procedures were properly followed in the case of schools applying for a review. The closing date for receipt of review applications was Friday 31st March, 2006. The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted a review application.
It is intended that the review process will be completed by the end of the current school year.
482 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress which has been made to date in relation to applications by a schools (details supplied) in County Dublin, for the provision of additional accommodation and the need for urgent refurbishment works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19442/06]
My Department is not in receipt of applications for large scale capital funding from the schools to which the Deputy refers. One of the schools, however, recently submitted an application for temporary accommodation. This is currently under consideration and a decision will issue directly to the school management authority as quickly as possible.
483 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances where, in the case of a junior national school and a senior national school on the same campus, it is possible for one school to be in the giving children an even break scheme and the other school not to be in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19459/06]
485 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school in DEIS band two may have much larger classes than another school in band two; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19461/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 485 together.
DEIS is designed to ensure that schools serving the most disadvantaged communities benefit from the maximum level of support available. Over the years, no less than 8 separate schemes for disadvantaged primary schools have been put in place including the Giving Children an Even Break Programme. Some schools were benefiting from just one or two of these and others were benefiting from more. The DEIS initiative is designed to ensure that the most disadvantaged schools benefit from a comprehensive package of supports.
While the whole rationale behind the new programme is to ensure that the most disadvantaged schools benefit from all of the available supports, schools that are benefiting from existing schemes will keep the extra resources — financial and human — that they are getting under these initiatives for the 2006/07 school year. After that they will continue to get support in line with the level of socio-economic disadvantage among their pupils. Existing schemes such as Giving Children an Even Break will be integrated into the School Support Programme on a phased basis over the next five years 2005/2006-2009/2010.
A review process has been put in place for primary and second-level schools that did not qualify for participation in the new SSP and that regard themselves as having a level of disadvantage which is of a scale sufficient to warrant their inclusion in the Programme. The review process will operate under the direction of an independent person, charged with ensuring that all relevant identification processes and procedures were properly followed in the case of schools applying for a review. The closing date for receipt of review applications was Friday 31st March, 2006.
It is intended that the review process will be completed by the end of the current school year.
484 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 was not included in the giving children an even break scheme at the same time when the junior school on the same campus and serving the same community was included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19460/06]
486 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will re-examine the situation of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; the steps she proposes to take to restore resources to this school which is in DEIS band two; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19462/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 486 together.
DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme (SSP). This standardised system replaces all of the existing arrangements for targeting schools for participation in initiatives to address disadvantage.
DEIS is designed to ensure that schools serving the most disadvantaged communities benefit from the maximum level of support available. Over the years, no less than 8 separate schemes for disadvantaged primary schools have been put in place. Some schools were benefiting from just one or two of these and others were benefiting from more. The DEIS initiative is designed to ensure that the most disadvantaged schools benefit from a comprehensive package of supports.
While the whole rationale behind the new programme is to ensure that the most disadvantaged schools benefit from all of the available supports, schools that are benefiting from existing schemes will keep the extra resources — financial and human — that they are getting under these initiatives for the 2006/07 school year. After that they will continue to get support in line with the level of socio-economic disadvantage among their pupils. Existing schemes such as Giving Children an Even Break will be integrated into the SSP on a phased basis over the next five years 2005/2006-2009/2010.
A review process has been put in place for primary and second-level schools that did not qualify for participation in the new School Support Programme and that regard themselves as having a level of disadvantage which is of a scale sufficient to warrant their inclusion in the Programme. The review process will operate under the direction of an independent person, charged with ensuring that all relevant identification processes and procedures were properly followed in the case of schools applying for a review. The closing date for receipt of review applications was Friday 31st March, 2006. The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted a review application.
It is intended that the review process will be completed by the end of the current school year.
The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30th September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year.
According to data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy, the enrolment in the school on 30th September 2005 was 140 pupils. In accordance with the staffing schedule (Circular 0023/2006), which has issued to all primary schools and is also available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, the mainstream staffing in the school for the 2006/07 school year will be a Principal and four mainstream class teachers.
It is open to the Board of Management to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeal Board which was established to adjudicate on appeals on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. Details of the criteria and application dates for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule circular.
The Appeal Board operates independently of my Department and its decision is final. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the operation of the independent Appeal Board.
The general allocation of learning-support/resource teachers (LS/RTs) caters for pupils with learning support and high-incidence special educational needs. The system was constructed so that LS/RT allocations would be based on pupil numbers, taking into account the differing needs of the most disadvantaged schools and the evidence that boys have greater difficulties than girls in this regard.
My Department recently issued a circular and application form to all schools regarding special educational needs (SEN) arrangements for the 2006/07 school year in relation to the general allocation and certain other matters. No proposal has been received from the school in question regarding the matter and it is open to the school authorities to submit a completed LS/RT 1 form which had been enclosed with the circular outlining their proposal for the retention of staff. Upon receipt of same my officials will be in a position to advise the school of their SEN teaching allocation for the 2006/07 school year.
487 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to a school (details supplied) in County Laois which is in danger of losing a fourth teacher due to a shortfall of one pupil; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that projected attendance for this school for the 2007 school year and beyond shows numbers to well exceed the quota; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that should this school return to being overcrowded many children will fall behind in basic skills due to lack of attention and motivation; if, in the interest of the pupils and teachers of this school, she will reconsider her decision to cut one teacher, for one critical year, based on such a minuscule shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19463/06]
The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30th September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year. The mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the 2006/2007 school year will consist of a Principal and two mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 80 pupils at 30th September 2005.
To ensure openness and transparency in the system an independent Appeal Board is now in place to decide on any appeals. The criteria under which an appeal can be made are set out in Department Primary Circular 0024/2006. The Board of Management of the school has submitted an appeal to the Staffing Appeal Board. The appeal will be considered by the Board at its meeting which is scheduled to take place on the 25th May 2006. The Board of Management will be notified of the outcome of the appeal as soon as possible thereafter. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Minister and my Department and its decision is final. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the operation of the independent Appeal Board.
488 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to provide extra funding for a school (details supplied) in County Carlow as they have 87 new children for September 2006 and already 57 applications for 2007/2008; if her attention has been drawn to the plans that are in place for large-scale housing developments in the area which will, in turn, dramatically increase pupil attendance at this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19464/06]
The School Planning Section of my Department is in receipt of an application for additional accommodation from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application is currently being assessed and a decision will issue to the school authority as soon as possible.
489 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 181 of 11 May 2006, the reason retention data on schools in a particular local area is not made available by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19465/06]
In my opinion it is desirable that parents and the public in general have information about schools that is meaningful, fair and fully rounded. Data on school retention in respect of individual schools or local areas are not provided by my Department as these could be used to create statistical comparisons that take account of only one dimension of school performance and outcomes and do not adjust for the varying social and educational background of students entering these schools as well as the range of learning outcomes not captured in measures of examination performance or school completion. In the absence of a broader range of outcomes such comparisons could therefore impact in a negative way for schools in disadvantaged areas.
It is my policy to facilitate the provision of the broadest and most meaningful information base on school performance through the progressive publication of school inspection reports at primary and post-primary level.
490 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 457 of 28 February 2006, if grant aid for major capital works at a school (details supplied) in County Clare will be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19466/06]
An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension was received in December 2005 from the school referred to by the Deputy. The application is being assessed to determine the long term accommodation needs of the school. A decision will then be taken on how best to provide for the school's long-term accommodation needs.
My Department is currently considering an application from the school for an additional teaching post for September 2006. The school authority has been advised that if an additional post is approved the need for temporary accommodation at the school will be reassessed in the light of this decision.
491 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the proposed closure of a pre-school facility (details supplied) in Dublin 12; if her attention has further been drawn to the effect this closure will have on parents and children who will lose places in the pre-school; if she will intervene to ensure that this facility is retained for the coming academic year to allow parents to make alternative arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19467/06]
My officials have been in contact with the school authorities concerned. The pre-school referred to by the Deputy appears to be a privately operated facility and the promoters of the pre-school are renting accommodation from the Board of Management of the school. My Department has no involvement in the operation of the pre-school and in the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to become involved.
492 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of students carried on the school bus service in September 2004, 2005 and 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19468/06]
The number of children availing of school transport services varies throughout the school year. Accordingly, the figures below are average numbers of pupils availing of the service in the years mentioned. Between eight and nine thousand children with special needs are currently availing of the transport service and these are included in the overall figures: 2004, 136,000; 2005, 135,500. The figures for school year 2006 are not yet available.
In addition to the above, Bus Éireann also issue over 9,000 tickets to school children for travel on public and privately licensed scheduled local and national bus and rail services.
493 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science if an application for refurbishment and extension has been received from a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the application was received; the stage it is at; and when it is likely that the project will be allowed to go to tender in order that work can commence on the said project. [19591/06]
An application for capital funding towards the provision of a general purpose room, staff room, multipurpose room and storage capacity has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects, which was revised following consultation with the Education Partners. The project is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.
494 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will arrange to have an appropriate education placement identified for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19592/06]
As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is now operational. A specific function of the NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is to identify appropriate educational placements for all children with special educational needs. The SENO is a focal point of contact for parents and schools.
My officials have liaised with the NCSE in relation to the child referred to by the Deputy. The NCSE has advised that they have not received any application for assistance with the application in question. It is open to the parent(s)/guardian to contact the relevant SENO who can assist in accessing an appropriate educational placement for the child. Contact details for the relevant SENO may be sourced from the NCSE at (046) 9486400. Alternatively, these details may be accessed on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
495 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide the information requested in parliamentary questions on 14 February 2006 and 5 April 2006, that is, the socio-economic background, supplied in tabular form of recipients of third level grants for the academic years 2002 to 2003, 2003 to 2004 and 2004 to 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19593/06]
Information provided to date to the Student Support Unit of my Department regarding the socio-economic background of third level grant recipients is being verified at present with the Awarding Authorities. I expect to be able to provide the information, in so far as it is available, to the Deputy in the near future.
496 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a sworn affidavit of addresses for a higher education grant for a person (details supplied) County Cork is not accepted by a local authority as proof of the person’s residence, in view of that authority having advised the person to arrange the aforementioned affidavit and having advised them on the way in which to word the document. [19594/06]
Under my Departments four maintenance grants Schemes, in order for a student to be assessed as an independent mature candidate, the candidate must provide the relevant Local Authority/VEC with adequate proof of independent residence from 1st October of the year preceding entry to an approved course.
Officials in my Department have been in contact with the assessing authority in this case, concerning the student referred to by the Deputy and have been advised that a "Statutory Declaration" was provided by the student stating the addresses at which the student resided in recent years. The declaration does not prove, to the satisfaction of the City Council, independent residence from the parents as both the student's address and that of the parents appear to be the same.
497 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in guaranteeing that every person who left school without completing the junior cycle will be offered a chance to undertake an education course. [19626/06]
This Government is strongly committed to improving participation and achievement at every level of education. We have put the resources and supports in place to ensure that there is a wide range of course options available in the Further Education sector for people who left school with less than upper secondary level education.
A range of second chance education programmes is available for young people and adults who have either left school early or who need further vocational training to enhance their employment prospects. These programmes are provided mainly by the Vocational Education Committees but also in schools and colleges and by community-based education groups. The programmes supported by the Department are complemented by a range of courses provided by FÁS and other education and training providers.
Within the framework of the priorities identified in the White Paper on Adult Education (2000), the principal objectives of the measures and programmes funded by the Department of Education and Science in the Further and Adult Education area are:
To meet the needs of young early school-leavers;
To provide vocational education and training opportunities for labour market entrants and re-entrants and alternative pathways to higher education; and,
To provide second chance education for adults.
These objectives are pursued through full-time programmes such as Youthreach, Senior Traveller Training Centres, and the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, and part-time programmes such as the Back to Education Initiative, Adult Literacy courses, and the Community Education Scheme. On completion of such programmes, a student may progress to Post-Leaving Certificate courses, or other provisions.
An Education Equality Initiative to address gaps in provision of learning and training for educationally disadvantaged people has been funded by the Department.
Additional support is provided for some categories of student through an Adult Guidance Initiative and childcare support.
498 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special scholarships for students from areas of significant disadvantage made available by her Department. [19627/06]
A number of access programmes are supported by my Department under special initiatives for disadvantaged second level schools. Financial support is provided for schools in a number of disadvantaged areas, including Ballymun, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Limerick, Blanchardstown and inner-city Dublin. Under these programmes, students can avail of a range of supports such as guidance, mentoring programmes, study skills, and tailored tuition. The programmes also develop strong links with third level institutions to encourage more students to complete senior cycle and progress to third level.
My Department does not fund special scholarships for students from areas of significant disadvantage to pursue third level education. My Department does, however, fund three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions and one grant scheme in respect of Post Leaving Certificate courses:
(a) The Higher Education Grants Scheme
(b) The Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme
(c) The Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees
(d) Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Courses.
The statutory framework for the Higher Education Grants Schemes is set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. It is the Local Authorities which, on behalf of my Department, administer this scheme. The Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Scheme for PLC students are administered, on behalf of my Department, by the Vocational Education Committees.
All four schemes have similar provisions which govern the award of a grant. The position is that, generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.
An application for a grant must be made to the relevant Local Authority or VEC. Decisions on applications are taken by these bodies based on the terms of the schemes which issue from my Department.
The National Development Plan 2000-2006, with assistance from the European Social Fund, provides for a Third Level Access Fund aimed at tackling under-representation by disadvantaged students in third-level education.
The Third Level Access Fund includes the following initiatives:—
—The Special Rates of Maintenance Grant
—The ESF aided Fund for Students with Disabilities
—The ESF aided Student Assistance Fund
—The ESF aided Millennium Partnership Fund.
Eligibility to the Special Rates of Maintenance Grant is determined by reference to an income threshold and receipt of an approved long-term social welfare payment. To be eligible, applicants must first qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant.
It is estimated that the numbers benefiting under this scheme is approximately 12,500.
The Fund for Students with Disabilities aims to assist students with disabilities in third-level institutions and PLC colleges to participate in further and higher education. The purpose of the Fund is to provide students with serious physical and/or sensory disabilities with grant assistance towards the cost of special equipment, special materials and technological aids, targeted transport services, personal assistants and sign language interpreters. The Fund operates on a discretionary basis. Applications for funding should be made by the Disability/Access Officer in the Institution, or by the Principal in a PLC college. Students should discuss their particular disability, and equipment or services required, with their Institution/PLC College.
In publicly funded third level institutions there is a Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The objective of the SAF is to assist students in a sensitive and compassionate manner who might otherwise, because of financial reasons, suffer severe hardship or be unable to continue their third level studies.
Applications for funding should be made by the individual student to the Access Officer in their institution. The SAF is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
Another initiative under the Third Level Access Fund is the Millennium Partnership Fund for Disadvantage. The objective of this Fund is to support students from disadvantaged areas with regard to retention and participation in further or higher education courses. Partnership Companies and Community Groups manage the fund locally. Pobal manages the fund for the Department of Education and Science. Under the fund, eligible actions may include the following but will be dependent on the individual Partnership or Community Group:
—Financial supports to meet student participation costs;
—Provision of information, e.g. guidance and mentoring;
—Study supports including tuition, study skills.
499 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science if an application has been received in her Department for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; the position regarding said extension; when is it likely that a decision will be made in order that work can proceed on the required extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19631/06]
An application for capital funding towards the provision of a Principal's office, Remedial/Resource Room and General Purpose Room was received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The proposed building project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. The project is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.
500 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of concessionary tickets which have been and will be withdrawn nationally as a result of the decision to allow one child per seat with seatbelts; the action she intends to take to provide alternative transport for these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19634/06]
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available.
I should point out that concessionary transport is not guaranteed. Pupils availing of transport on a concessionary basis may only do so if spare seats are available on school buses and this is determined on a term-to-term basis by reference to those who are fully eligible for transport under the terms of the school transport scheme.
The introduction of one-for-one seating arrangements on school transport services operated by Bus Éireann on my Department's behalf does not necessarily mean that concessionary transport will be discontinued. The availability of such transport depends on the number of spare seats available after all other eligible pupils have been accommodated.
Parents of pupils should check in advance of the school year to ascertain the position regarding the availability of concessionary transport on school buses.
Significant investment has been made by the Government to address capacity shortfalls arising from the phasing out of the three for two seating arrangement on school buses. A programme for Bus Éireann to acquire a number of new and modern second-hand buses is well advanced. In addition, Bus Éireann has hired-in over 220 additional vehicles from the private sector and the situation is being kept under review.
501 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 has been implemented in full; if not, the parts that remain to come into force; the timescale for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19635/06]
The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act was enacted in July 2004. On 14 July 2005 sections 1, 2, 14(1)(a), 14(1)(c), 14(2) to 14(4), 19 to 37, 40 to 44 and 50 to 53 of the Act were commenced. Separate establishment day orders were made in respect of the National Council for Special Education and the Special Education Appeals Board, setting their establishment dates as 1 October 2005 and 3 April 2006 respectively. A further commencement order was signed to commence sections 45 to 49 with effect from 1 October 2005, abolishing the Council established under section 54 of the Education Act 1998 and replacing it with the Council established under the 2004 Act. These sections could not come into effect prior to the establishment of the new Council under section 19 of the 2004 Act.
The remaining sections — 3 to 13, 14(1)(b), 14(1)(e), 14(1)(f), 15 to 18, 38 — relate mainly to the statutory assessment and education plan process for which the Act provides. These cannot come into effect without the Council having an opportunity to present an implementation report to the Minister which it must do before 1 October 2006. On 21 October 2005 the National Council for Special Education published a call for submissions in the national media on the implementation of the Act. The closing date for submissions was 13 January 2006. The Council is now in the process of drawing up its implementation report which it will submit to my Department by 1st October 2006. That report will provide a costed timetable for the implementation of the various provisions of the Act over a 5 year period.
502 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is a limit to the number of psychological assessments each school can carry out under the National Education Psychologist Service scheme; if so, the way in which this is determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19636/06]
All primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) that is administered by NEPS and full details of which are available on my Department's website.
NEPS encourages a staged assessment process, whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention, in consultation with their assigned NEPS psychologist. Only if there is a failure to make reasonable progress in spite of the school's best efforts, will a child be referred for individual psychological assessment. This system allows the psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually.
Children who manifest very special or urgent needs in school and who have not been previously assessed by a psychologist and are brought to the attention of a NEPS psychologist by the Principal teacher will usually be assessed by the psychologist within that school term. Normally, principals of schools prioritise those children in need of psychological assessment in consultation with the assigned psychologist.
In the case of schools that do not currently have dedicated NEPS psychologists assigned to them, as I already mentioned, such schools have access to educational psychological assessments through the SCPA. Under this Scheme, schools can commission assessments from a member of the panel of private practitioners approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the fees directly to the psychologist concerned.
503 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a waiver was not granted for spelling, grammar or punctuation for language subjects to enable a person (details supplied) in County Wexford to take their leaving certificate with confidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19659/06]
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted.
In view of this, I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
504 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will consider an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin ; and if she will make statement on whether this is sufficient. [19660/06]
Since the establishment of the Teaching Council on 28 March last, all teachers are required to register with that body. If the person to whom the Deputy refers wishes to become a recognised teacher she must, firstly, satisfy the Council that her qualifications meet the standards laid down for this purpose.
The qualification requirements for appointment to Complementary Therapy teaching posts are set out in my Department's Circular Letter PPT 04/04, which was issued to all Vocational Education Committees and has been published on my Department's website —www.education.ie. The terms of this circular are of general application to all proposed teaching appointments in the area of Complementary Therapy. It is a matter for individual VECs to be satisfied that any proposed appointee is appropriately qualified in accordance with the terms of this circular letter.
505 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science the average length of time to have an assessment carried out by National Education Psychological Service; the plans she has to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19691/06]
All primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) that is administered by NEPS and full details of which are available on my Department's website.
In addition, NEPS provides a service to every school in the event of a critical incident regardless of whether the school already has a dedicated service from a NEPS psychologist. Also in relation to all schools, NEPS processes applications for Reasonable Accommodations in Certificate Examinations and responds to queries and requests for assessments in relation to individual children from other sections of my Department and from the specialist agencies.
NEPS psychologists do not keep waiting lists of children requiring assessment in the sense of lists of names that are worked through in order. Each psychologist is responsible for a number of named schools, and visits each on a regular basis. The school authorities provide names of children who are giving cause for concern and discuss the relative urgency of each case during the psychologist's visits. This allows the psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and such children will be seen or referred on in a matter of weeks, if not days. Where cases are less urgent, the NEPS psychologist will, as a preliminary measure, act as a consultant to teachers and parents and offer advice about educational and behavioural plans and monitor progress.
Since the establishment of the NEPS in 1999, the number of NEPS psychologists has increased from 43 to 122 at present. The Public Appointments Service recently concluded a new recruitment competition for the appointment of Educational Psychologists to NEPS. Regional panels have been established to allow my Department give greater priority in filling vacancies to areas with the greatest need. My Department is currently in the process of recruiting a further 9 psychologists.
506 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason assistance is not being provided towards the cost of transport to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if she will consider approving assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19693/06]
If the parents/guardians of the person referred to by the Deputy consider that the person is eligible for transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme, then they should submit an application to my Department for consideration in the normal way.
507 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school place will be provided in September 2006 for a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19694/06]
As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is now operational. A specific function of the NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is to identify appropriate educational placements for all children with special educational needs. The SENO is a focal point of contact for parents and schools. My officials have liaised with the NCSE in the context of the child in question. The NCSE has advised that they have not received any application for assistance with the application in question. It is open to the parent/s to make contact with the relevant SENO who can assist in accessing an appropriate educational placement for the child. Contact with the relevant SENO can be made by contacting the NCSE at 046/9486400 or alternatively by accessing the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
508 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has conducted a survey to determine the adequacy of service provision to schools with classes for children with special education needs; if so, what were the results; if not, if it is intended to conduct such a survey; her views on the results of the survey conducted by school principals and forwarded to her late in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19695/06]
As the Deputy is aware, my Department's Inspectorate carries out whole-school evaluations which are a process of external evaluation of the work of a school.
The process is designed to monitor and assess the quality, economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the education system provided in the state by recognised schools, including those with classes for children with special educational needs, and centres for education.
I am aware of the survey conducted by school principals. My Department intends to undertake a review of all special schools and special classes attached to mainstream primary schools. The initial part of the review involves the gathering and collation of information and views in relation to special schools and classes and is being undertaken by St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra on behalf of the Department. One of the purposes of the review is to examine how we can optimise the role and potential of special schools. My Department is most anxious that the skills and expertise that these schools have accumulated in dealing with children with special educational needs is utilised to best advantage in providing for such children going forward. The second phase of the review will be managed by the National Council for Special Education and will involve wider consultation with the schools and other partners.
509 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide details of the student enrolment and teacher allocation in whole-time equivalents for the 2005-06 school year for the post-primary schools (details supplied) in respect of Traveller enrolment, non-national enrolment and special needs enrolment. [19696/06]
The data requested by the Deputy must be compiled from a number of files and other sources and would take an inordinate amount of time for my officials to put the information together.
510 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide details of the number of special needs assistants allocated to the post-primary schools (details supplied) for the 2005-06 school year. [19697/06]
The numbers of Special Need Assistants (SNAs) currently paid on my Department's payroll and employed in the schools referred to by the Deputy are as follows:
Marist College, Athlone, Co. Westmeath: 0
St. Joseph's College, Athlone, Co. Westmeath: 1 full-time post
St. Aloysius' College, Athlone, Co. Westmeath: 1 part-time post (21 hours per week)
Our Lady's Bower, Athlone, Co. Westmeath: 1 full-time post.
I understand that there are seven SNAs employed in Athlone Community College (6.17 full-time posts) who are paid by County Westmeath Vocational Education Committee.
511 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in acquiring a permanent site for a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19757/06]
The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works has been requested by my Department to source a site for the school in question.
While a suitable site has been identified, OPW are now in the process of clarifying issues relating to the site.
512 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the services which will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the reason her Department will only give an indicative date in 2007 for assessment; if the assessment obtained privately by her Department will be accepted; if the appropriate treatment will follow based on this assessment; if the delay is a system failure within her Department; if lack of staff and resources are the cause of this delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19770/06]
I understand from my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) that the needs of the pupil in question was discussed informally by the school with a NEPS psychologist with a view to the psychologist providing advice and support in the case. I understand that the pupil has not been prioritised by the school for assessment and that he is not attending school at present. Assessment was not an issue for the school. If the pupil returns to school and if he is prioritised for assessment by the school principal, I am advised that he would be seen by a NEPS psychologist early in the next school year.
My Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable schools to cater for pupils with special educational needs including the needs of pupils with autism. The supports in question include remedial and additional teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment.
With effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has taken over key functions from my Department in relation to special educational provision. The NCSE was formally established as an independent statutory body on the 1st October 2005 under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2005. The Council acts under the broad policy direction of my Department but has the resources and the remit to play the leading role in the delivery of education services to children with disabilities/special needs.
The NCSE co-ordinates with the health services, schools and other relevant bodies regarding the provision of education and related support services to children with disabilities/special needs.
The responsibilities of the NCSE include the following:
•Deciding on applications for additional teaching support in respect of children with disabilities with special educational needs at second level;
•Deciding on applications for special needs assistant (SNA) hours;
•Processing applications for school placement in respect of children with disabilities with special education needs.
The NCSE, through the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) will process the relevant application for resources and inform the school of the outcome. It is important to note that in the case of decisions on additional teaching and SNA support, the SENO will outline the process to the school and parents, where appropriate, and will at the end of the process outline the basis on which the decision was made.
The Department supports the education of individual students with autism in various second level schools throughout the country. The precise model of provision made available at second level will depend on the assessed needs of the pupils involved. Some pupils are capable of attending ordinary classes on an integrated basis with additional teacher and/or special needs assistant support. In other cases, placement in special dedicated classes or units attached to the school may be the more appropriate response. Such special classes operate at significantly reduced pupil teacher ratios. Students attached to these special classes may be facilitated in attending ordinary subject classes on an integrated basis wherever possible.
In addition, my Department's Teacher Education Section has developed a strategy designed to meet the continuing professional development needs of personnel working with children with special educational needs. This involves a major expansion of the range of postgraduate professional training programmes available to teachers in the special needs area and the ongoing development of the Special Education Support Service (SESS) to support schools staff locally.
My Department will continue to ensure that the necessary resources are made available for the education of children with special needs. I am confident that the advent of the NCSE will prove of major benefit in ensuring that all children with special educational needs receive the support they require, when and where they require it.
513 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the numbers of new recruits in each of the past five years to the public service under the auspices of her Department; and age distribution of these new recruits. [20218/06]
The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
514 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19355/06]
My Department does not have a wine cellar. There is a quantity of wine held in my Department for official entertainment purposes and the details are as follows:
|
Name |
Vintage |
Quantity of Bottles |
Date of Purchase |
Price per Bottle |
Supplier |
|
€ |
|||||
|
Casillero Del Diablo Chardonnay (Chile) |
2005 |
16 |
6 December 2005 |
9.90 |
O’Brien’s Wine Off-Licence |
|
Casillero Del Diablo Merlot (Chile) |
2004 |
6 |
6 December 2005 |
9.90 |
O’Brien’s Wine Off-Licence |
|
Morandé Merlot (Chile) |
2003 |
5 |
18 June 2004 |
7.00 |
O’Brien’s Wine Off-Licence |
515 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence the numbers of new recruits in each of the past five years to the public service under the auspices of his Department; and age distribution of these new recruits. [20219/06]
The numbers of civilian employees and Defence Forces' personnel recruited in the last five years are set out in the following tables.
|
Age distribution |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
16-19 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
20-29 |
2 |
5 |
20 |
5 |
13 |
|
30-39 |
4 |
10 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
40-49 |
7 |
12 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
|
50-59 |
5 |
10 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
60-65 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total for year |
25 |
40 |
37 |
7 |
18 |
|
Overall total |
127 |
|
Age distribution |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
17-20 |
714 |
403 |
366 |
440 |
304 |
|
21-25 |
221 |
219 |
174 |
201 |
167 |
|
26-30 |
13 |
15 |
11 |
16 |
7 |
|
31-35 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Total for year |
948 |
638 |
552 |
659 |
479 |
|
Overall total |
3,276 |
516 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the idea of enabling the European Food Safety Authority to consider the long-term health and environmental implications of the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment as part of every licensing application for GMOs; his further views on the fact that none of the GMOs currently approved for production in the EU have been positively approved by the EU Council of Ministers; the reason he does not support a moratorium on all future GM approvals in the EU pending the determination of possible scenarios that might arise from the perceived laxness in the GMO approval system; and his further views on proposals to amend the comotology procedure in order that such approvals in future will have to be made by the EU Council of Ministers. [18872/06]
I assume that the Question relates to the implementation of EU Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and the role of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in that process.
Under the Directive, the national competent authority to which the notification for placing on the market is submitted is charged with leading the examination of the environmental risk assessment; in this connection, the national authority must consult with the competent authorities of the other Member States. This process of examination is designed inter alia to address the possibility of risks in the longer term and provides an opportunity for all Member States to consider such issues.
Under Directive 2001/18/EC, EFSA's opinion is obtained by the European Commission on disagreements between the national competent authorities on any scientific matter relating to a notification. In as much as disagreements relate to long-term health and environmental implications, these would in turn fall to be considered by EFSA. The role of EFSA generally in the authorisation process has however been raised by some Member States and is being further examined by the Commission and Member States in prospect of the Environment Council in June 2006.
The current EU-wide authorisation procedures for GMOs are recognised as among the most stringent in the world and they have been subject to considerable development and refinement. In these circumstances, the case for a moratorium on future approvals is not evident.
Finally, the power of initiative in relation to bringing forward proposals to amend the comitology procedure rests with the European Commission. Should any such proposals be developed, they would be examined by the Irish Government on a cross-Departmental basis, bearing in mind the possible implications for issues beyond GMO decision-making also.
517 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to remove the embargo on the recruitment of public service jobs as many local authorities require additional staff but due to the embargo they cannot recruit; the plans the Government have to allow local authorities to recruit necessary staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19106/06]
Government policy on the control and regulation of numbers in the public sector, including local authorities, was announced in the Minister for Finance's Budget statement of 7 December 2005. Local authority staffing increased by over 25% in the period 1997 to 2003 and I am continuing to keep the overall employment position in the sector under regular review, having regard to the need to deliver quality front line services and achieve value for money within the parameter of Government policy on public service employment generally.
518 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount allocated by his Department to improving road signage in 2006; the moneys drawn down to date for this purpose; the routeways benefiting from such an allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19190/06]
519 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount which has been allocated and drawn down under the regional road signage programme each year from 2003 to date in 2006; the counties and road routes which have benefited as a result of this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19191/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 518 and 519 together.
Local authorities are responsible for the provision of road traffic signs on non-national roads. However, in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government to put in place a new 5 year plan to ensure that non-national roads are properly signposted, my Department introduced a new Regional Roads Signposting Programme for non-national roads in 2003. It is proposed that directional signs on all regional roads throughout the country will be upgraded under the programme. Progress under the scheme and the sequencing of such signposting is a matter for the relevant local authority.
In 2003, an initial allocation of €5.1 million was provided under the programme and a total sum of €798,378 was drawn down by Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Sligo and Wexford County Councils. In 2004, an initial allocation of €5 million was provided under the programme and a total sum of €1,391,754 was drawn down by Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Sligo, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow County Councils. In 2005, an initial allocation of €5 million was provided under the programme and a total sum of €577,668 was drawn down by Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow County Councils. Funding not drawn down under the programme was re-allocated to other non-national road projects in each of the years 2003 to 2005. In 2006, an initial allocation of €6.64 million has been provided under the programme to 27 county councils, of which a sum of €68,235 has been drawn down to date.
520 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the success of the pilot community wardens scheme, he will extend this scheme to other local authority areas. [19197/06]
As indicated in reply to Question No. 448 of 15 December 2005, the pilot community warden service has now been put on a permanent footing in the five local authorities concerned in line with arrangements agreed by my Department. Practical issues concerning the extension of the service to other local authorities are currently being examined.
521 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a company (details supplied) represented themselves lawfully under the Companies Acts on the date on which a tender was received by his Department for the provision of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19231/06]
Details of this company's status under the Companies Acts were not considered by my Department to be material to the assessment of tender proposals for the services being procured. In any case, the company was registered with effect from 11 December 2002, prior to the completion of tender assessments by my Department and to the finalisation of the formal contract on 26 February 2003.
Monitoring and enforcement of compliance with the Companies Acts are a matter for the Office of the Director of Corporate Law Enforcement.
522 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in the approval of a NABCO housing scheme at Loughlinstown, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19258/06]
My Department recently approved the invitation of tenders for this project, which will be carried out under the capital funding schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing projects. Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council, who are responsible for the detailed administration of the scheme in their area, have been notified accordingly.
523 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will instruct local authorities to waive the waste water discharge licence levies for primary and post primary schools who have had to acquire such a licence as part of a planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19325/06]
The licensing by local authorities of waste water discharges has been subject to a prescribed fee since 1992 and there are no proposals to amend this position.
524 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department’s wine cellar giving the vintages, quantity of bottles, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the Department’s policy in this regard. [19354/06]
My Department does not have a wine cellar. Wines are sourced from suppliers as required for the purpose of individual receptions or other events hosted in the Department.
525 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will exempt the post of tenant liaison officer at Carrick-on-Suir Town Council from the public service recruitment embargo and allow the appointment of such an officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19364/06]
Government policy on the control and regulation of numbers in the public sector, including local authorities, was announced in the Minister for Finance's Budget statement of 7 December 2005. I am keeping the overall position in the local government sector under regular review. As regards an individual post in a local authority, the County or City Manager is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.
526 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the allocation for 2005 to each local authority under the rural water programme; and the drawdown under each subheading by each local authority for 2005. [19376/06]
The information requested is set out in the following table:
|
Capital Allocations and Payments |
||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
County |
DBO Water Treatment |
Amount Drawn |
Connecting Schemes to Public Main |
Amount Drawn |
Takeover of Schemes by Local Authority |
Amount Drawn |
Upgrading of schemes and new schemes |
Amount Drawn |
Small Public Water and Sewerage Schemes |
Amount Drawn |
Total Allocated |
Total Drawn |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Carlow |
1,500,000 |
1,371,670.06 |
0 |
0 |
600,000 |
943,931.84 |
640,000 |
320,000 |
900,000 |
900,000 |
3,640,000 |
3,535,601.90 |
|
Cavan |
11,500,000 |
11,642,814.09 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1,500,000 |
5,488,987.18 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
13,650,000 |
17,781,801.27 |
|
Clare |
5,800,000 |
3,525,726.19 |
600,000 |
0 |
1,500,000 |
750,000 |
1,800,000 |
2,550,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
10,350,000 |
7,475,726.19 |
|
Cork (North) |
0 |
0.00 |
20,000 |
0 |
750,000 |
750,000 |
750,000 |
375,000 |
750,000 |
750,000 |
2,270,000 |
1,875,000.00 |
|
Cork (South) |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
532,000 |
266,000 |
1,250,000 |
1,250,000 |
900,000 |
1,054,491.15 |
2,682,000 |
2,570,491.15 |
|
Cork (West) |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
700,000 |
350,000 |
900,000 |
450,000 |
750,000 |
750,000 |
2,350,000 |
1,550,000.00 |
|
Donegal |
650,000 |
649,322.04 |
0 |
0 |
620,000 |
620,000 |
900,000 |
900,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
2,820,000 |
2,819,322.04 |
|
Dún Laoghaire / Rathdown |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Fingal |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Galway |
9,500,000 |
9,705,332.80 |
1,983,000 |
1,334,055.46 |
500,000 |
930,093 |
1,400,000 |
1,400,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
14,033,000 |
14,019,481.26 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
0.00 |
70,000 |
0 |
1,100,000 |
1,100,000 |
1,400,000 |
1,400,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
3,220,000 |
3,150,000.00 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
100,000 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
168,000 |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
1,918,000 |
1,650,000.00 |
|
Kilkenny |
270,000 |
40,244.70 |
0 |
0 |
370,000 |
370,000 |
700,000 |
350,000 |
660,000 |
660,000 |
2,000,000 |
1,420,244.70 |
|
Laois |
715,000 |
715,375.86 |
50,000.00 |
15,340.48 |
500,000.00 |
690,804.52 |
900,000 |
959,269 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
2,815,000 |
3,030,789.86 |
|
Leitrim |
750,000 |
129,230.00 |
1,870,000 |
1,464,101 |
200,000 |
200,000 |
700,000 |
350,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
4,170,000 |
2,793,331.00 |
|
Limerick |
4,250,000 |
972,917.05 |
400,000 |
0 |
1,000,000 |
1,113,485 |
1,200,000 |
1,200,000 |
650,000 |
1,068,443.45 |
7,500,000 |
4,354,845.76 |
|
Longford |
0 |
0.00 |
850,000 |
143,377.69 |
200,000 |
100,000 |
800,000 |
400,000 |
650,000 |
325,000 |
2,500,000 |
968,377.69 |
|
Louth |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
15,000 |
15,000 |
115,000 |
115,000 |
550,000 |
550,000 |
680,000 |
680,000.00 |
|
County |
DBO Water Treatment |
Amount Drawn |
Connecting Schemes to Public Main |
Amount Drawn |
Takeover of Schemes by Local Authority |
Amount Drawn |
Upgrading of schemes and new schemes |
Amount Drawn |
Small Public Water and Sewerage Schemes |
Amount Drawn |
Total Allocated |
Total Drawn |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Mayo |
10,100,000 |
10,940,569.98 |
4,000,000 |
3,553,720.21 |
750,000 |
750,000 |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
17,500,000 |
17,894,290.19 |
|
Meath |
200,000 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
125,000 |
0 |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
750,000 |
750,000 |
2,075,000 |
1,750,000.00 |
|
Monaghan |
3,020,000 |
1,244,151.17 |
0 |
0 |
500,000 |
500,000 |
1,100,000.00 |
1,270,365.05 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
5,270,000 |
3,664,516.22 |
|
North Tipperary |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
250,000 |
620,000 |
600,000 |
600,000 |
750,000 |
750,000.00 |
1,600,000 |
1,970,000.00 |
|
Offaly |
50,000 |
42,000.00 |
28,400 |
28,400 |
15,000 |
15,000 |
800,000 |
800,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
1,543,400 |
1,535,400.00 |
|
Roscommon |
2,120,000 |
1,265,827.88 |
80,000 |
0 |
100,000 |
180,000 |
250,000 |
250,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
3,200,000 |
2,345,827.88 |
|
Sligo |
5,500,000 |
6,680,327.92 |
0 |
0 |
500,000 |
500,000 |
400,000 |
400,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
7,050,000 |
8,230,327.92 |
|
South Dublin |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
South Tipperary |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
90,000 |
0 |
270,000 |
135,000 |
750,000 |
930,000 |
1,110,000 |
1,065,000.00 |
|
Waterford |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
100,000 |
0 |
100,000 |
0 |
750,000 |
375,000 |
950,000 |
375,000.00 |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
111,000 |
0 |
500,000 |
500,000 |
750,000 |
750,000 |
1,361,000 |
1,250,000.00 |
|
Wexford |
567,000 |
312,606.85 |
0 |
0 |
550,000 |
0 |
550,000 |
275,000 |
650,000 |
650,000 |
2,317,000 |
1,237,606.85 |
|
Wicklow |
1,800,000 |
1,448,900.68 |
1,041,000 |
212,298.05 |
120,000 |
120,000 |
430,000 |
0 |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
4,391,000 |
2,781,198.73 |
|
Total |
58,392,000 |
50,687,017.27 |
10,992,400 |
6,751,292.89 |
11,966,000 |
10,884,314.62 |
23,955,000 |
25,738,621.23 |
19,660,000 |
19,712,934.60 |
124,965,400 |
113,774,180.61 |
527 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will incorporate the Irish Wheelchair Association submission into part M of the building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19470/06]
546 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has studied the submission of the Irish Wheelchair Association regarding the review of part M building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19665/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 546 together.
Last December I published a Public Consultation Notice announcing a review of Part M of the Building Regulations (Access for People with Disabilities) and the related Technical Guidance Document (TGD) M and inviting specific proposals to amend the existing Part M regime.
Over 40 detailed submissions were made by individuals and organisations, including the Irish Wheelchair Association, by the closing date of 31 March 2006. All submissions are now being carefully examined in my Department and will be fully taken into account in framing proposals to amend Part M and TGD M.
My Department plans to place relevant draft amendment proposals before the Building Regulations Advisory Body (BRAB) in Autumn 2006 prior to the submission of the drafts for my approval, by end 2006. I propose to publish the draft Part M/TGD M proposals, for another round of public consultation, early in 2007.
528 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to his recent public comments, when inspectors may be appointed to carry out energy ratings on homes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19472/06]
I understand from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) that it is planned to start the training and certification of Building Energy Assessors in the second half of 2006.
529 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department’s plans to celebrate international biodiversity day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19597/06]
International Biodiversity Day, which was celebrated yesterday, 22 May is an annual event designated by the United Nations with the objective of promoting public awareness across the globe of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Ireland ratified this convention in 1996.
The world relies on biodiversity, which represents the variety of life on earth and is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, for many human needs including food, fuel, shelter, materials, medicines, soil fertility, crop pollination, soil stability, cleansing of waters and climate regulation. The current rate of loss of the world's biodiversity is therefore a matter of serious concern, and International Biodiversity Day provides an opportunity to re-emphasise our shared responsibility to safeguard this precious heritage for future generations.
In helping to mark International Biodiversity Day, my Department arranged a series of events and activities in our National Parks and Nature Reserves. These events included guided walks and tours, displays, self-guiding family Biodiversity Packs, and expert talks. While most of these events were focused on International Biodiversity Day itself, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve has arranged a series of nature walks and other events throughout the month of May on the specific theme of biodiversity, while Coole Park Nature Reserve, County Galway, is organising a Biodiversity Week commencing last Sunday, 21 May.
My Department also worked closely with the Heritage Council, which operates under my Department's aegis, on the production of a dedicated eight-page Biodiversity Supplement, which was published in one of the national dailies on Wednesday 17 May. The Supplement was specifically published to mark International Biodiversity Day, and emphasised the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of Ireland's rich biodiversity.
530 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a product which has a CE marking is in principle technically acceptable for social housing construction funded by his Department without an additional requirement of an agreement certificate. [19599/06]
CE marking provides, in principle, a right to place a product on the market. However, for use in particular building works, such as social housing, the technical information and certified values accompanying the CE marking must be assessed for compliance with requirements pertaining to those works. CE marking does not, of itself, confer any guarantee of acceptability of a product for a particular use.
In the case of products bearing CE marking, the need for Agreement certification of such a product should not generally arise. However, CE marking applies to products and not to building works or building systems. It may arise that a product bearing CE marking may be incorporated in building works or a building system that, itself, because of its novel or unconventional nature, may require Agreement certification, or equivalent.
531 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the proposed social housing design guidelines, which have been in preparation since 2004 in his Department, will be published for public consultation. [19600/06]
The revision of the current Social Housing Design Guidelines, which will update best practice in housing design reflecting changes in the Building Regulations and Planning Guidelines, is being finalised. I expect that the draft revised guidelines will be issued shortly for consultation with a view to publication by the end of 2006.
532 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the length of time on average it has taken for his Department to make a decision on social housing schemes submitted by housing associations for approval and funding under the capital assistance scheme in each of the past three years. [19601/06]
534 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the performance indicators his Department has for the length of time it takes to make a decision on social housing schemes submitted by housing associations for approval and funding under the capital assistance scheme, in view of the fact that local authorities are required to give their decision within eight weeks. [19603/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 534 together.
The time taken from the receipt of an application until approval of funding under voluntary housing schemes is influenced by a range of factors, and can vary appreciably. However, it is the policy of my Department to process fully documented proposals from local authorities for these schemes within an eight week period; in many instances decisions will be made in a shorter period. Due to the complexity and size of some schemes, these may take longer to consider as further consultations may be required with the local authority or the voluntary body concerned.
533 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the length of time on average it has taken for his Department to make a decision on social housing schemes submitted by local authorities for approval and funding in each of the past three years. [19602/06]
535 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the performance indicators his Department has for the length of time it takes to make a decision on social housing schemes submitted by local authorities for approval and funding. [19604/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 535 together.
It is the policy of my Department to consider fully documented proposals from local authorities for social housing schemes within a six week period. However, in many instances decisions are made on schemes in a shorter period. It is also the case that some schemes, due to their complexity and size, would take longer to consider as consultations may be required with the local authority concerned.
536 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has approved social housing schemes with electric heating in areas on the gas network; and if so, the housing schemes involved. [19605/06]
My Department's Social Housing Design Guidelines indicates that natural gas central heating is the preferred option in social housing schemes, where it is available. However, there are situations where electric heating has been provided in social housing schemes for the elderly for reasons of practical preference and convenience.
537 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has required a housing association to drop plans for gas-fired heating in social housing schemes in favour of electric heating; and if so, the schemes involved. [19606/06]
My Department's Social Housing Design Guidelines indicates that natural gas central heating is the preferred option in voluntary housing capital assistance schemes where it is available. However, there are situations were electric heating has been provided in voluntary housing schemes for the elderly for reasons of practical preference and convenience.
538 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will re-examine regulations that he issued to local authorities that prevents families (details supplied) from being considered for either voluntary or local authority housing. [19607/06]
In accordance with guidelines issued by my Department in 2003 two categories of non-EU nationals have a right to apply and be assessed for local authority housing: those who have been granted refugee status and those who have been granted leave to remain in the State.
Persons residing in Ireland on the basis of having a work permit are not entitled to apply for local authority housing. A work permit is issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to an employer, in respect of an employee, on a temporary basis and such holders at this stage do not have permanent rights to remain in the country or to be considered for social housing. There is no proposal at present to review these arrangements.
539 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if progress has been made, or if an agreement has been reached on Limerick City Council’s petition to extend the borough boundary, arising from his discussions with the Limerick city manager, the Limerick county manager and the Clare county manager; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19608/06]
I met with the Limerick City Manager, and the Limerick County and Clare County Managers on 16 May 2006 with a view to initiating consideration of the range of options open to the three Councils in the context of the application by Limerick City Council for an alteration of the boundary of the City of Limerick, and my response of 5 April 2006 to the Limerick City Manager. The Managers have agreed that a suitable exploratory process will be put in place, with the assistance of my officials.
540 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 551 of 16 May 2006 if grants are available at present to carry out environmental improvements, similar to those grants that applied where remedial works were carried out to the houses ten years ago. [19609/06]
Capital funding from my Department is made available for environmental improvements to local authority dwellings only in circumstances where more extensive works are being undertaken under the Remedial Works Scheme. In all other circumstances, responsibility for financing environmental works lies with the local authority; including in situations where environmental works are being carried out at a later stage to housing estates/complexes which have earlier benefited from the Remedial Works Scheme.
541 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number and site area of special development zone designations made by county in each of the past five years. [19628/06]
I assume that the Question refers to Strategic Development Zones (SDZs). To date, three SDZs have been designated by Government under Section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The Adamstown SDZ in South Dublin, with a site area of 210 hectares, was designated in 2001 and the Planning Scheme approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2003. The overall scheme involves a rolling ten-year programme to be completed by 2013. Phase 1 of the dwellings went on the market in February of this year.
The Clonmagedden SDZ in Meath, comprising a site area of 38 hectares, was designated in 2001 and the Planning Scheme was approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2004. Planning applications are expected shortly from the developers/landowners and the project is being overseen by a Steering Group within Meath County Council.
The Hansfield SDZ in Fingal, with a site area of 88 hectares, was designated in 2001 and the Planning Scheme was approved by An Bord Pleanála in January 2006. Further promotion of this scheme is now a matter for Fingal County Council and the landowners.
542 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when Directive 2003-4-EC will be signed and implemented by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19632/06]
I refer to the reply to Question No. 529 of 3 May 2006.
543 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount paid per county in motor tax through the on line payment system for 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19662/06]
The amount of motor tax collected for 2005 by each local authority through the online motor tax service operated by my Department, is set out in the following table.
|
Motor Taxation Office |
Online Receipts 2005 |
|
Carlow |
1,563,539 |
|
Cavan |
1,452,922 |
|
Clare |
3,405,631 |
|
Cork |
20,607,998 |
|
Donegal |
2,206,506 |
|
Galway |
7,937,097 |
|
Kerry |
4,253,484 |
|
Kildare |
9,419,424 |
|
Kilkenny |
2,773,447 |
|
Laois |
1,629,182 |
|
Leitrim |
630,581 |
|
Limerick County |
4,473,103 |
|
Longford |
577,216 |
|
Louth |
2,548,821 |
|
Mayo |
3,232,480 |
|
Meath |
6,564,928 |
|
Monaghan |
1,070,842 |
|
Offaly |
1,816,061 |
|
Roscommon |
1,349,409 |
|
Sligo |
1,517,978 |
|
N.Tipperary |
2,184,605 |
|
S.Tipperary |
2,018,596 |
|
Waterford County |
1,755,492 |
|
Westmeath |
2,325,367 |
|
Wexford |
4,342,895 |
|
Wicklow |
6,035,011 |
|
Dublin City |
67,180,079 |
|
Limerick City |
1,712,153 |
|
Waterford City |
1,483,183 |
|
Total |
168,068,030 |
544 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures the Government are taking to ensure that the booming market in holiday homes in areas like Inishowen does not distort the market to the extent that local people are forced to live and commute great distances between their homes and farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19663/06]
My Department has published guidelines for planning authorities on sustainable rural housing which encourage planning authorities to opt for a housing needs-based approach to assessment of rural housing proposals in areas where development pressure for new houses in rural areas is high. A housing needs-based planning policy approach should establish a positive presumption in favour of housing being proposed by established members of the rural community.
These guidelines also urge planning authorities to plan for holiday home developments in a positive and sustainable manner, to emphasise a preference towards clustering of holiday home developments in or adjoining small towns and villages and to adopt a plan-led approach in identifying potential and preferred locations for holiday home development in rural villages and areas.
545 Ms Enright asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a decision will be made on an application received from Offaly County Council (details supplied) for emergency long-term and transitional housing; if this application will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19664/06]
Certain clarifications were sought by my Department from Offaly County Council regarding the design of this project, which was submitted under the Capital Assistance Scheme. The documentation requested has now been received and the application is being further examined by my Department. The Council will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.
547 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1004 of 25 April 2006, the status of the application with his Department from Roscommon County Council to fund the construction of 16 sewerage schemes in the county; when these projects will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19688/06]
I expect that formal approval of the revised Preliminary Report will issue to Roscommon County Council within the coming weeks.
548 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if an application has been received for the provision of a new fire station at Bunbeg, Gweedore, County Donegal; when the application was received; the stage it is at; when will an allocation be made so that work can proceed on the new station. [19751/06]
549 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if Donegal County Council has sought approval to proceed to design stage for a new fire station at Bunbeg, Gweedore, County Donegal; when the application was received; when it is likely to be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19752/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 549 together.
An application from Donegal County Council for approval in principle for a new fire station at Gweedore was received in my Department on 15 February 2006 and is being considered in the context of the fire services capital programme, having regard to the overall availability of resources and priorities under the programme.
