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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Feb 2008

Vol. 646 No. 1

Written Answers.

The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised].
Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, answered orally.
Questions Nos. 12 to 103, inclusive, resubmitted.
Questions Nos. 104 to 111, inclusive, answered orally.

Light Rail Project.

Brian Hayes

Question:

112 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Transport the results of a feasibility study into a possible Rathfarnham LUAS line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3472/08]

The Railway Procurement Agency has made significant progress in examining the feasibility of a Luas Line serving Rathfarnham. It is examining the feasibility of a line in the corridor from Dundrum to the city centre via Harold's Cross, Rathfarnham and Terenure.

I understand that the Agency is currently reviewing its preliminary conclusions and following the completion of this process, it will be in a position in the near future to finalise its feasibility report.

Terence Flanagan

Question:

113 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to resolve outstanding issues between CIÉ and the Railway Procurement Agency in relation to land use for the proposed LUAS line D; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3470/08]

Transport 21 provides for a Luas line to run from St. Stephen's Green to Liffey Junction, with the project being delivered in two phases. The first phase, known as Luas Line Bx, runs from St. Stephen's Green to the City Centre and the second phase, known as Luas Line D, runs from the city centre to Liffey Junction. This is consistent with the long-term transportation strategy in the Dublin Transportation Initiative (1994) and in the Transportation Office's A Platform for Change (2001), both of which envisaged the old Broadstone alignment being used for Luas or Metro rather than suburban rail. The longer term strategy for light rail in Dublin envisages the extension of the line from Liffey Junction to West Finglas and possible onward extension to connect with Metro West.

Iarnród Éireann submitted a proposal in 2007 to my Department in relation to an alternative use of the Broadstone alignment for suburban rail services. Iarnród Éireann proposed using Broadstone to address capacity limitations for suburban services in city centre stations, notwithstanding proposals in Transport 21 for the Interconnector. In this context, my Department engaged transport consultants Booz, Allen and Hamilton to review the proposal from Iarnród Éireann.

As I have indicated on a number of occasions previously, I remain committed to the strategy set out in Transport 21 for the use of the old Broadstone alignment, unless the independent consultants confirm there are very strong strategic, transport and operational arguments, which require consideration of an alternative use.

I recently received the report of the independent consultants and am considering it at present.

Road Traffic Offences.

Jack Wall

Question:

114 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport if he will reform the penalty points system to address the issue of up to two thirds of drivers who accumulate twelve penalty points failing to voluntarily give up their driving licences as they are legally obliged to do; the consultation he has undertaken with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Courts Service to reform the present mechanism for the collection of fines for motoring offences and to permit gardaí to arrest disqualified drivers at road checks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3416/08]

The provision in the Road Traffic Acts in this context is not a voluntary one. Where a person has accumulated 12 penalty points and is to be disqualified for holding a licence for a period of 6 months, they are required to submit their driving licence to the issuing licensing authority within 14 days, and failure to comply is an offence.

The penalties on summary conviction for that offence are, in the case of a first offence a fine of up to €1,000 and in certain cases to a fine of up to €2,000, or imprisonment for up to three months, or both a fine and imprisonment.

Enforcement of this and other provisions of the Road Traffic Acts is a matter for An Garda Síochána and the realisation of fines is a matter for the Courts Service. Any reform of the fine collection system is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Courts Service.

Comprehensive reporting arrangements are in place under the present penalty points system to ensure that the Garda Síochána are notified of all drivers disqualified on the basis of having accumulated 12 penalty points. It is a matter for the Garda Síochána to follow up with the issue of summons to drivers who have failed to surrender their licence to a motor tax office within the statutory 14 day period.

A person who drives while disqualified from holding a licence commits the offence of driving without a licence. The Garda can prosecute the driver in respect of that offence in addition to prosecution of the separate offence of failing to surrender their licence where disqualified on the basis of having accumulated 12 penalty points.

As I indicated in my response to the priority question, my officials are eliciting proposals for possible inclusion in the forthcoming Road Traffic Bill. Any proposal to arrest disqualified drivers can be considered in that context.

Question No. 115 answered with Question No. 110.

Taxi Regulations.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

116 Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Transport his proposals to have 100% wheelchair accessible taxis in cities as promised in the Programme for Government in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3444/08]

The Commission for Taxi Regulation published new National Vehicle Standards — Requirements for Small Public Service Vehicles on 26 November 2007, which include new accessible vehicle standards for licensing as wheelchair accessible taxis and wheelchair accessible hackneys.

My Department is in discussion with the Commission for Taxi Regulation in relation to a proposed subsidy arrangement to assist taxi and hackney operators with the purchase of wheelchair accessible vehicles that will meet the new accessible vehicle specification developed by the Commission. This recognises the fact that by their very nature such accessible vehicles will cost more than standard saloon cars. The recent announcement of the new accessible vehicle standards by the Commission facilitates further detailed examination of the subsidy proposal, which continues to be the subject of discussion with the Commission. A final decision will be made on the proposal for a subsidy scheme as soon as possible having regard to the overall budgetary context.

The development of the new accessible vehicle standard by the Commission forms the basis for the further promotion of accessibility in taxi and hackney services, and will facilitate a first step in delivery on the Programme for Government commitment in relation to accessible taxi services.

Port Development.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

117 Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the conflict arising out of the use of private security personnel in Dublin Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3485/08]

This is an operational matter for Dublin Port Company. I have no function in regard to such industrial relations matters.

Regional Airports.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

118 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport his plans to fast track the independence of Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3477/08]

Phil Hogan

Question:

134 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to fast track the independence of Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3476/08]

Dan Neville

Question:

169 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Transport when it is expected that Cork and Shannon Airports will become independent of the Dublin Airport Authority in view of the fact that the State Airports Act 2004 was passed in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3491/08]

Pat Breen

Question:

174 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Transport if it is his intention to make Shannon Airport an independent privately owned airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3360/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 134, 169 and 174 together.

The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. Under the Act, both the Minister for Finance and I will have to be satisfied as to the state of operational and financial readiness of the three airports before any vesting of assets can take place.

I have no intention of privatising either airport.

The actual timing of airport restructuring will depend on the creation of the appropriate conditions that will ensure the financial sustainability of each of the three State Airports. The restructuring process will require coordinated strategies for the achievement of operational and financial readiness of each airport. In this regard, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has a key role to play in finalizing the financial framework and coordinating the individual business plans for the three airports that will enable airport separation to take place.

Both the Cork and Shannon Airport Authorities recently submitted their draft business plans to the DAA and I understand that discussions are underway between the parties on the content of the plans.

The airport authorities' plans and the DAA's views on them are currently being considered within my Department and I hope to be in a position to progress these matters in the near future.

Public Transport.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

119 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on the impact of the recently sanctioned price increases for Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann on developing the modal shift to public transport; if the level of subvention recently set for CIÉ had any impact on the fare increases that were sanctioned; if the new Dublin Transport Authority will have the power to set fares; if this will include setting LUAS fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3402/08]

My objective in relation to public transport fares is, taking account of underlying cost factors and inflation, to secure a good balance between anticipated revenues, cost control and compensation for loss making services by way of Exchequer subvention. This approach is intended to make public transport an attractive option for the travelling public and to ensure that the public transport companies continue to operate on a sound financial basis.

It is not anticipated that the recent increase of an average 5% in Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann fares will have any significant impact on a modal shift to public transport. Factors such as reliability, frequency and punctuality usually score highly in determining levels of demand for public transport and accordingly allow the companies the opportunity to grow market share by offering reliable and innovative public transport.

The regulation of public transport fares, routes and service levels in the Greater Dublin Area is set out in the Programme for Government as among the proposed functions of the Dublin Transport Authority.

Transport 21.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

120 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which the targets set in Transport 21 are expected to be met as predicted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3588/08]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

167 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a full report to Dáil Éireann on the final delivery date and budget for each of the Transport 21 projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3398/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 167 together.

At the launch of Transport 21, the Government identified the projects in the national roads, public transport and regional airports sectors that it wished to see prioritised for development in the ten-year period from 2006 to 2015 and provided indicative completion dates for the major projects contained.

Significant progress has been made on Transport 21 in its first two years and a number of projects have been completed, are under construction or are well advanced in planning terms.

Most national road projects are now being completed ahead of schedule and almost all of the projects opened in 2007 were on or ahead of time. These included the Newry-Dundalk motorway, which was three months ahead of schedule, the Tyrellstown to Kilbeggan project which was six months ahead of schedule and Phase 1 of the Arklow – Gorey Bypass which opened four months early. The five major inter-urban motorways are on schedule for completion by end 2010.

In public transport, the new Docklands station opened in March 2007, well ahead of its 2009 indicative target date, new rail carriages were introduced on the Dublin-Cork route facilitating the introduction of hourly services on the route, while the first of the 183 new Intercity railcars have been delivered on schedule and in accordance with the Transport 21 indicative timetable and have entered service on the Dublin-Sligo route.

While the majority of projects will be delivered ahead of or in accordance with the indicative timetable published at the launch of Transport 21, the huge scale of the programme is such that adjustments to the timescale for individual projects is inevitable. The value of the ten-year financial framework is that it gives us the flexibility to deal with this in an effective way.

The necessary revisions have arisen for a range of reasons including changes to the scope of projects arising from public consultation, planning issues, procurement issues and archaeological difficulties and are set out below for individual projects.

Portlaoise Train depot will be completed in the first half of this year, rather than end 2007; the short delay arose because the planning approval process took longer than anticipated.

Cork Commuter Rail Service to Midleton: The construction timetable is yet to be finalised with the contractors, but Iarnród Éireann is optimistic that passenger services will start in early 2009.

Linking of the existing Luas lines: Dublin City Council is in the process of completing traffic modelling work as part of its examination of revised traffic management arrangements in the city centre, which will be required for the delivery of the Luas city centre link (line BX) and the further extension to Liffey Junction (line D). Following completion of further detailed design work and subject to a satisfactory outcome to the city centre traffic management planning work, the RPA plans to submit a Railway Order application for Luas Line BX to An Bord Pleanála this year.

The Tallaght to Citywest Luas project involves a longer alignment than originally planned and the timescale for completion has, therefore, been revised to 2010.

The revised completion date for the Connolly to Docklands Luas is 2009, rather than late 2008 as originally scheduled mainly because the RPA devoted a substantial period to addressing and resolving the concerns of businesses in the IFSC about the impact of construction on their operations.

Metro West: The projected completion date for the entire project remains 2014. The project has been identified as a PPP and the RPA, when announcing the emerging preferred route alignment, indicated that the possibility of phasing implementation would be discussed with prospective PPP bidders.

There were delays in the start of the Limerick Southern Ring Road due to tendering issues, which meant that the contract award process did not progress as quickly as was originally hoped. Completion is now scheduled for 2010. Although Construction on both the M3 and the N25 Waterford City Bypass were delayed because of archaeological issues at Tara and Woodstown respectively, the completion date for both projects remains 2010.

Dublin City Centre rail resignalling project was expanded to include the Maynooth line, resulting in a longer construction period and a 2011 completion date.

Due to a slight delay in the submission of the Railway Order application, Phase 1 of the Navan Line will now be completed in 2010.

Metro North: The scheduled completion date is now 2013 to take account of scope changes made arising from public consultations.

The overall budget for Transport 21 is €34 billion and I am satisfied that the projects identified will be delivered within this budget. Both my predecessor and I have consistently taken the view that, in the interest of the taxpayer and in ensuring that Transport 21 is achieved within budget, the cost of individual projects should not be released until the public procurement processes have been completed. I propose to maintain that policy.

I have undertaken to provide relevant economic and financial information on projects at an appropriate time but without compromising the commercial sensitivity attaching to the projects.

Proposed Legislation.

Catherine Byrne

Question:

121 Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Transport his views on the calls from the Road Safety Authority to his Department to immediately introduce legislation to give powers to the gardaí to arrest disqualified drivers that the gardaí discover during checkpoints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3432/08]

Shane McEntee

Question:

122 Deputy Shane McEntee asked the Minister for Transport his views on the calls from the Road Safety Authority to his Department to immediately introduce legislation to give powers to make the possession of a fake driving licence an offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3483/08]

Shane McEntee

Question:

130 Deputy Shane McEntee asked the Minister for Transport when his attention was drawn to legal loopholes where gardaí can not arrest disqualified drivers and can not seize their licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3484/08]

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

141 Deputy Pádraic McCormack asked the Minister for Transport his views on the calls from the Road Safety Authority to his Department to immediately introduce legislation to give powers to the gardaí to seize disqualified drivers' licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3482/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos 121, 122, 130 and 141 together.

The Road Traffic Acts currently provide for the offence of driving while using a false driving licence. The offence comes under section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 and relates to driving without a licence.

Drivers detected by the gardaí in such circumstances can be summonsed to appear before the courts and on conviction face a fine not exceeding €1,000 for a first offence, rising to a fine not exceeding €2,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months in the case of a third or subsequent offence.

The issue of seizing driving licences, false or otherwise, has been brought to my attention by the Road Safety Authority, as has the issue of giving powers to the gardaí to arrest disqualified drivers who are found to be still driving. The issue has also been highlighted in the media in recent days.

These matters are currently being considered by my officials in the context of the preparation of a Road Traffic Bill, which I would hope to bring to Government later this year.

Light Rail Project.

Brian Hayes

Question:

123 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Transport if he is still of the opinion that a railway order will be made by 2009 for the proposed rail interconnector in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3471/08]

Sean Sherlock

Question:

139 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the reason he has abandoned proposals to fast track the development of the Dublin rail interconnector; if this decision was due to financial constraints or other planning considerations; the progress he expects to be made on the interconnector in 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3409/08]

Mary Upton

Question:

347 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport when he expects an announcement to be made on the proposed timeline of construction for the rail interconnector; the anticipated timeline for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3314/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 139 and 347 together.

Transport 21 provides for the construction of the Interconnector tunnel by 2015. The project is proceeding and the detailed planning and design of the project is being undertaken by Iarnród Éireann. The Company expects to submit an application for a Railway Order to An Bord Pleanála in early 2009. The acceleration of the project will be considered in this context.

Coast Guard Service.

Tom Sheahan

Question:

124 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the maritime radio rescue centre at Malin head. [3468/08]

It is my intention that the Irish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration will be strengthened on an ongoing basis over the coming years. My ambition is to put in place a service that will fully meet the needs of this country well in the 21st century. The recent decisions have been taken to reflect the future optimal configuration of co-ordination centres whilst ensuring that the detailed technical knowledge and experience of the Coast Guard Watch Officers is retained and fully utilised. I want to restate again that no Officer will be forced to move or lose their jobs. The transition arrangements for new centres, including the functions to continue at Malin (and Valentia), will be negotiated with staff to ensure there is no loss of expertise.

The Deloitte and Touche Irish Coast Guard Study was published in 2002. This report has provided a backdrop to ongoing improvements and developments in the Coast Guard over the last 6 years. I have arranged that both this document and the submission to me on which recent decisions were based be published on the Department's website www.transport.ie.

I purposely outlined a long-term scenario to provide structure to negotiations, which are now taking place, on how best to implement this particular step in the modernisation of the Irish Coast Guard. I have given direction to the tendering process, where a Request for Tender is now in preparation, and given enough notice to enable difficulties to be identified and resolved before equipment has to be installed. I have made it clear that these discussions, which are underway, must take account of the safety needs of local communities, and ongoing improvement of the service to the public, and the concerns of individual staff members. As I indicated previously the proposed restructuring was raised at the relevant committees on which the relevant organisations that have an interest in search and rescue are represented.

I also want to take this opportunity to make two general statements related to the issue. Firstly, I am concerned that there is confusion in the public mind between the work done in Co-Ordination centres and that undertaken by local volunteers. A significant element of ‘local knowledge' is from the local Coast Guard Coastal Units and lifeboat crews strategically positioned around our coast. Their local knowledge of tides, currents, bays and local historical incident locations is invaluable to the Watch Officers of the Coast Guard. I would like to put on record again my appreciation of their selfless voluntary efforts of the Coast Guard, RNLI Lifeboat and Community Rescue Boat crews in rescuing those in trouble on our coasts, cliffs and offshore islands.

Secondly, the Coast Guard restructuring that is being worked on is aimed at improving the efficiency of a key public service. The position in relation to Coast Guard services is being considered with the benefit of the many comments that I have received since the restructuring proposal was announced. I can assure the Deputy that all views expressed will be taken into account before a west coast location is determined.

Road Safety.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

125 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to reduce the legal blood alcohol level for drivers on a learner permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3489/08]

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

129 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport when he will introduce legislation to facilitate the graduated driver licence programme; the specific measures he will include in this system; if drivers holding this licence will be subject to a lower blood alcohol limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3390/08]

I propose to takes Questions Nos. 125 and 129 together.

This issue of a setting a specific blood alcohol level for learner drivers was one of a number of proposals made to me in February last year by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), in the context of the introduction of a Scheme of Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL).

I took the decision at the time that the best and most practical approach was to introduce such any such Scheme on a basis of a progressive roll-out of appropriate measures. Deputies will recall the introduction of the first phase of the Scheme in relation to learner driver permits in October last year.

The current review of the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level for drivers generally, which is being carried out by the Advisory Panel of the RSA, changes the context in any case for the RSA's earlier proposal relating to learner drivers specifically. Consideration of this matter in isolation would not now be a sensible approach.

I am awaiting the advice of the RSA on reducing the current BAC, as envisaged in the Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012. I will take this and other relevant matters into account in the roll-out of subsequent phases of the Graduated Driving Licence Scheme.

Light Rail Project.

Jack Wall

Question:

126 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport if preliminary work has begun on the proposals for light rail systems for Limerick and Cork; if so, the work that has been undertaken; when he expects draft proposals to be produced and placed on public display; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3407/08]

The Agreed Programme for Government foresees feasibility studies being completed within two years into LUAS-style light rail systems in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

My Department has agreed with the Limerick local authorities that the terms of reference for the proposed Limerick Planning, Land Use and Transportation Study will include an examination of the feasibility of introducing light rail transit and/or bus rapid transit. I understand that the Limerick local authorities hope to engage consultants by the end of April to work on this study.

The Cork local authorities have, in recent weeks, commissioned consultants to update the Cork Area Strategic Plan. At the request of my Department, the terms of reference for this update include a requirement that the review of the transportation strategies should include consideration of the feasibility of introducing light rail transit and/or bus rapid transit.

It is my expectation that both Cork and Limerick will have completed feasibility studies on light rail and bus rapid Transit by mid 2009. The publication and consultation on the feasibility studies will be a matter for the relevant local authorities.

Rural Transport Services.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

127 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding the Rural Transport Programme currently receives; the number of bus and other transport services the RTP supports; if he has plans to expand the scheme; if he will undertake a review of the transport needs of rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3411/08]

€9 million was provided by my Department for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) in 2007. Funding is also available to the RTP from the Department of Social and Family Affairs in respect of the Free Travel Scheme and from other sources that support the initiative.

Thirty-four community transport groups around the country are being funded under the programme and I understand from Pobal, which administers the Programme on behalf of my Department, that over 120,000 services were operated in 2007.

Pobal has commenced a process to extend the RTP on a phased basis with a goal of achieving nation-wide coverage in due course in line with Government policy following a review of the scheme in 2006.

The bottom-up approach developed during the pilot Rural Transport Initiative (2002-2006) demonstrated that local people know best what transport services they need. The RTP is building on that concept and the main drivers of community rural transport continue to be the local communities themselves.

Proposed Legislation.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

128 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Transport the progress in bringing forward legislation to introduce mandatory alcohol testing as was promised in a Dáil Éireann motion in October 2007 and to the PARC organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3435/08]

Following representations received from various bodies, including PARC, my Department has consulted the Office of the Attorney General as to how current legislation can be achieved to achieve compulsory roadside testing for intoxicants of drivers involved in serious collisions.

The current position is that a member of An Garda Síochána may require a driver involved in a collision to provide a preliminary breath specimen. This discretion is provided in acknowledgement of the fact that urgent medical attention for seriously injured victims must take precedence over breath testing.

The Attorney General has now advised on possible amendments to legislation, which continue to take overriding medical circumstances into account and my officials continue to engage, with that office on this matter. These will be considered in the context of a proposed new Road Traffic Bill which I hope to bring to Government later this year.

Question No. 129 answered with Question No. 125.
Question No. 130 answered with Question No. 121.

Light Rail Project.

Mary Upton

Question:

131 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport if plans to extend the green Luas line to Cherrywood are being reviewed to include provision for its eventual conversion to a Metro system; his views on recent criticisms of the Luas system’s capacity compared to Metro systems; if there are plans to provide a system of feeder buses for the red and green Luas lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3405/08]

The extension of the existing Luas Green Line from Sandyford southwards to Cherrywood will be designed to light rail standards but, as with the existing line, appropriate provision will be made for its subsequent upgrade to Metro when required. This is in line with long-standing Government policy.

The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) are currently carrying out initial preliminary planning for this upgrade, which will be considered for funding in the successor investment programme to Transport 21.

In the meantime, to provide additional capacity, I understand that the RPA has placed orders for 4 additional trams for the existing line and for 8 trams for the extension to Cherrywood. In addition, the Agency is examining options for a further expansion of capacity, such as extending tram length from 40 metres to 53 metres.

There are currently two private bus operators licensed in accordance with the Road Transport Act, 1932 to provide dedicated bus passenger services to the LUAS lines. One operator is authorised to operate services between Sandyford LUAS Line and Bray and the second operator provides services between Sandyford LUAS Line and Cherrywood and also services between the Tallaght LUAS Line and Citywest Business Park. Details of all current licences are available on the Department's website.

The Department has on hand a number of applications from private bus operators that are not dedicated feeder services but include stops at the LUAS lines. The Department has no outstanding proposals from Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann for dedicated feeder services to and from the LUAS lines.

Transport Policy.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

132 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Transport when he will publish the Sustainable Transport Plan; the agencies and stakeholders his Department consulted with in the preparation of the plan; if legislation will be necessary to fully implement the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3404/08]

Simon Coveney

Question:

357 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Transport when the Sustainable Transport Action Plan due to be published by the end of 2007 is scheduled for publication. [3714/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 357 together.

I am committed to full consultation with not only agencies and stakeholders but also the general public in the preparation of a Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan. In this respect I intend to publish an issues document and launch a consultation process this month.

It is intended that the Plan itself will be agreed by Government this year, having regard to the views from the consultation process. It is not possible at this stage to say whether legislative measures will be necessary to give effect to the Plan.

Proposed Legislation.

Enda Kenny

Question:

133 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the reason he revisited a draft Dublin Transport Authority Bill; the summary of the changes he ordered; when he expects to publish this Bill; when he expects to introduce it into Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3480/08]

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

135 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on legislation to establish the new Dublin Transport Authority; the geographical area the proposed DTA will have responsibility for; the functions it will have; if it will have network ownership, route licensing and price setting roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3401/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 135 together.

The Agreed Programme for Government includes a commitment to expediting the establishment of a statutory Dublin Transport Authority.

The principal functions of the proposed Authority are set out in the Programme for Government and will include:

strategic transport planning;

procurement of public transport infrastructure;

procurement of public transport services;

allocation of current and capital Exchequer funds for the provision of public transport infrastructure and services;

regulation of public transport fares, routes and service levels;

delivery of integrated ticketing, integrated passenger information and integrated fares;

better integration of transport and land use planning; and

ensuring effective traffic management.

This is in line with the recommendations made in the report of the Dublin Transport Authority Establishment Team.

I intend that the new Authority will have overall responsibility for surface transport in the Greater Dublin Area subject to direction by Government in respect of significant policy issues. The Greater Dublin Area comprises the city of Dublin and the administrative counties of South Dublin, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow.

I am currently completing a review of the existing legislative proposals looking particularly at:

strengthening the provisions of the Bill generally to ensure that the DTA is as effective as possible;

improving the arrangements for co-ordination of land use and transport; and

ensuring that the provisions governing the procurement of public transport services and public service obligations take full account of the recently agreed EU Public Service Obligation Regulation and EU law generally.

Preparation of the necessary legislation is in its final stages and concentrating on the above issues. I will bring a Memorandum to Government when this important work is completed. However, my overriding priority remains to establish a statutory Authority that will be effective.

Question No. 134 answered with Question No. 118.
Question No. 135 answered with Question No. 133.

Carbon Emissions.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

136 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport the number of cars in total and types of cars classified by level of CO2 emissions currently on Irish roads; the number and types of commercial vehicles classified by CO2 emissions and HGVs currently on Irish roads; the level of CO2 emissions that are produced by motor and commercial vehicles each year in Ireland since 2002; the average number of foreign registered vehicles on Irish roads on a daily and weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3413/08]

The tabular statement is compiled from non-authenticated CO2 emission data on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) for currently taxed private cars registered as new since May 2004 when collection of CO2 data for such vehicles commenced. A total of 1,882,901 private cars were currently taxed at 31 December, 2007 and this statement covers 525,273 (28%) of that total. The data has been divided into CO2 categories reflecting the proposals to apply for VRT and motor tax purposes for cars registered on or after 1 July next. The CO2 data available relates to vehicles designated as Category ‘A' within the meaning of section 130 of the Finance Act 1992 i.e. passenger car types. Equivalent data is not available for other categories including commercial vehicles which will not be affected by the proposed CO2 based VRT and motor tax charges.

Matters relating to the levels of CO2 emissions produced by motor vehicles are appropriate to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and agencies under his aegis.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that as a general rule, all vehicles imported permanently into the State must be registered for VRT purposes. However, section 135 of the Finance Act, 1992, and Regulations made thereunder, provide for a range of circumstances in which foreign-registered vehicles, brought temporarily into the State, are exempted from the registration requirement. Foreign residents working and studying here temporarily are permitted to use foreign-registered vehicles in the State, normally for a period not exceeding 12 months. The exemption also extends to include vehicles brought into the State by tourists or by other non-residents who are in the State on a casual basis e.g. UK and NI residents on business or shopping trips.

These provisions are required to be in conformity with Article 39 of the EU Treaty, which provides for the free movement of EU workers between member states, and a reciprocal arrangement also applies to Irish residents who bring their cars temporarily to other member states.

I am also advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no requirement for vehicles imported under the temporary exemption provisions to be presented to them to avail of the relief. Details of such vehicles are not captured or held in the registration system or passed to the NVDF and consequently data on the number of foreign registered vehicles in circulation is not available.

Private Cars currently taxed at 31st December 2007 by Fuel Type and CO2 Emissions Rating.

CO2 Category

A

B

C

D

E

F

Total

(gCO2/km)

not over 120

121 to 140

141 to 155

156 to 170

171 to 190

191 to 225

Fuel Type

Petrol

4,985

43,127

87,390

116,183

101,972

29,036

394,650

Diesel

2,432

26,552

38,090

12,698

15,731

18,331

127,778

Petrol/Electric

1,232

40

159

575

2,006

Ethanol/Petrol

3

1

241

217

197

836

Other Fuel Types

1

1

3

Total

8,650

69,682

125,481

129,162

118,079

48,140

525,273

Air Services.

Liz McManus

Question:

137 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the establishment of a public service obligation on the Shannon-Heathrow route; the contacts his Department has had with UK or EU officials in this regard; his views on the fact that no contact was made by any relevant stakeholder with British Airways about a BA Heathrow/Shannon link; the amount of the Economic and Tourism Plan for Shannon Airport catchment area funding that will be allocated for route support and to address the challenges of the Open Skies agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3394/08]

My Department had discussions recently with the EU Commission about air connectivity from the West of Ireland and in particular about the possible imposition of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) on the Shannon-Heathrow route.

The Commission's position, as clarified as a result of those discussions, is that the relevant Regulation is an exception to the general rule of free provision of air services and that any such exception should be considered as restrictively as possible and should only be applied as far as necessary. In order to be eligible for a PSO, a route must not only be vital for the economic development of the region concerned but the existing services must be inadequate. In assessing whether services are adequate, account has to be taken of all existing air transport services, direct and indirect.

In relation to Shannon to London, the Commission has noted that there are already regular direct air services by Ryanair between Shannon and London airports, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. Allowing for these connections, along with the Cityjet service to Paris, the Commission has indicated that it would be difficult to justify a PSO on the Shannon to London route. In any case, I recently raised the matter of a Shannon — London PSO link with Mr. Jim Fitzpatrick, M.P., UK Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Transport. In subsequent contact by my Department with the UK Department for Transport on the subject it was confirmed that the UK would not favour a PSO link to London from another member state.

I think it is important to now focus on the commercial services from Shannon and I do not propose to comment on approaches to particular airlines, which are the direct responsibility of the airport authority. Cityjet's decision to launch the new Shannon-Paris route is a very positive development in this regard. This new route and the other services from Shannon indicate that Shannon can attract a range of commercial air services to support the business and tourism sectors.

An important element of the Economic and Tourism Development for the Shannon Airport Catchment area is a new tourism-marketing initiative for the area. This initiative amounts to an anticipated €15 to €20 million over the next few years and will be implemented by Tourism Ireland in close consultation with key tourism industry interests in the area, Shannon Development and the Fáilte Ireland Regions.

Finally, the question of allocating public funding directly to airlines for route support is severely constrained by EU State Aid Rules and I have no proposals to develop such a scheme at present.

Public Transport.

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

138 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport if his Department instructed Dublin Bus to reduce the number of buses servicing the 25X route to Lucan on foot of a complaint by a private operator; the minimum acceptable service on a bus route that is required under current licensing rules; the number of bus licences that are individually held by private operators and Dublin Bus; the number of private operators holding licences for routes without a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3408/08]

It is not the case that my Department instructed Dublin Bus to reduce the number of buses servicing the Route 25X route to Lucan on foot of a complaint from a private bus operator. My Department has made no demand on Dublin Bus to cease any of its authorised services.

The initiation or alteration of a bus service by Dublin Bus is subject to compliance with the requirement of giving advance notice to my Department and to compliance with the provisions of Section 25 of the Transport Act 1958 concerning competition with licensed private operators.

My Department wrote to Dublin Bus on 4th October, 2007 indicating that three Route 25X departures which the Company was operating from the Newcastle Road Area, were not the subject of an authorisation by my Department and should, therefore, cease. The letter indicated that an application for the authorisation of those services should be made and would be considered. To date no such application has been received in my Department.

The Road Transport Act, 1932, as amended, provides the statutory basis for regulating the provision of public bus services by private bus operators. In accordance with that legislation, private bus operators apply to my Department for licences to operate scheduled bus passenger services within the State.

All licences issued have standard conditions associated with them and compliance with those conditions is the responsibility of the service operator in each instance. A condition of all licences includes the requirement whereby the service must be in operation in its entirety within 4 months from the date of issue of the licence. In exceptional cases the four month deadline may be extended subject to the prior written approval of my Department.

It is also a condition of all licences that the licensee adheres to the approved timetable as listed on the licence.

There are currently 611 valid passenger licences on issue to private bus operators and details of these licences are available on my Department's website. The introduction of all authorised services by Dublin Bus is an operational matter for the Company itself and all services in operation by Dublin Bus are published in the Company's timetable and are available on the Company's website.

My Department is not aware of any licences being held by private operators that are not being operated save in the limited number of cases where the period of introduction has not yet expired or where the operator has applied to my Department and has been granted an extension to that period in accordance with the provisions of the Road Transport Act 1932 as amended.

Question No. 139 answered with Question No. 123.

Rail Network.

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

140 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce a rail freight subsidy on a per tonne basis for materials that are transferred from existing road freight onto rail freight; if his Department has examined developing new rail lines to facilitate modern freight flows; if he will ensure that the Limerick to Foynes rail line will be urgently reconnected to the national network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3412/08]

There is substantial ongoing current and capital Exchequer funding in the development and operation of the railway network. Total Exchequer funding allocated to Iarnród Éireann for 2008 amounts to more than €720 million. While I have no proposals to introduce a rail freight subsidy on a per tonne basis for materials transferred from road freight to rail freight, the potential to expand rail freight will be considered as part of the consultation process I intend to launch shortly on the development of a Sustainable Transport Action Plan.

A number of new railway lines – the Western Rail Corridor, the Cork-Midleton rail link, the Navan rail link and the Interconnector – are currently being developed. These will enhance the overall capacity of the network for passenger and freight traffic.

The position regarding the Limerick to Foynes railway line is that no rail freight traffic has operated on the Foynes branch line since December 2000. Since that time, the line has been maintained on a care and maintenance basis. In the meantime, I understand that Iarnród Éireann has undertaken some track renewal and realignment works in the Limerick area. It is normal practice when such work is undertaken not to renew or replace sections of line not currently in use. I have also been informed by Iarnród Éireann that the connection to the Foynes line was life-expired and, as there is no current requirement for it, Iarnród Éireann concluded that it would be unnecessary to incur the cost of renewing it. Iarnród Éireann advises that there are potential hazards from having long-term unused sets of points on the network.

However, the company state that if a viable business case emerged which justified traffic on the line, the connection could be easily reinstated at little cost. No works have been done or will be done in the Limerick area which would prevent reinstatement in the future.

Question No. 141 answered with Question No. 121.

Carbon Emissions.

Michael Noonan

Question:

142 Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Minister for Transport his plans in relation to the reduction of carbon emissions from the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3492/08]

Joe Costello

Question:

175 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Transport the measures in the context of the new EU target for Ireland to reduce its greenhouse emissions by 20% by 2020, using 2005 as a base figure, his Department is planning to introduce to facilitate the reduction in emissions in the transport sector; the estimates his Department has made for the expected level of transport emissions in 2008, 2010, 2015 and 2020; the maximum level of transport emissions allowable within the context of the Kyoto Treaty and the Budget 2008 carbon budget; the estimated impact on transport carbon emissions of the introduction of vehicle registration tax changes in July 2008 and the car tax changes in Budget 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3386/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 175 together.

The growth in emissions from transport is an indication of the economic success and growth in population in Ireland. Ireland has a single target under the Kyoto Protocol and individual targets are not set for each sector. Nevertheless, the National Climate Change Strategy projects emissions from the transport sector to grow as per the following table:

2008-2012

2015

2020

Transport

13.992

15.12

16.48

Inventories and Projections (Mt CO2E) for Transport Sector.

A number of measures relating to transport are included in the National Climate Change Strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These include rebalancing of motor taxes, Mineral Oil Tax Relief for biofuels, modal shift through Transport 21 and the achievement of a 5.75% biofuels blend in fuels by 2010. In all, the transport sector will provide up to 13% in total national emissions savings under that Strategy. Further details of the Strategy are available on the website of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government: www.environ.ie.

The recent Government proposals in relation to rebalancing VRT and Motor Tax to reflect carbon dioxide emissions is in keeping with the National Climate Change Strategy. An updated analysis, to reflect the actual measures announced in the Budget, will be presented by my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in the annual report on the implementation of the Strategy. This annual report will also include updated projections of greenhouse gas emissions for all sectors.

In the meanwhile the Government is committed to delivering a Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan this year and I hope to initiate an intensive public consultation process on the issues in the near future. I would expect that the question of emission targets for transport will be explored in more detail during that process.

Public Transport.

James Bannon

Question:

143 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport the cost of all expenses associated with integrated ticketing since it was announced by Government in November 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3422/08]

In March 2002 the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) was given statutory responsibility for the delivery of an integrated ticketing scheme under S.I. No. 84 of 2002.

The total payments by the Exchequer on the integrated ticketing scheme since March 2002 is €12.5 million.

Driving Tests.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

144 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Transport his views on the latest information received by his Department from the Road Safety Authority indicating the number of people currently on the driver testing waiting list; if this is in line with his Department’s projections for 1 July 2008; the number of people who hold the new learner driver permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3383/08]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

181 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he is confident he will meet the June 2008 deadline to test all drivers and to reduce the waiting list for all drivers to 10 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3488/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 181 together.

Responsibility for driver testing and licensing was transferred to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006. The arrangements in relation to testing, numbers of candidates and licences are therefore a matter for the RSA.

Proposed Legislation.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

145 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Transport when he will amend the Harbours Act 1996 to facilitate the development of Bremore Port; if he will provide an update on proposals to relocate Dublin Port and on any property developments in the Dublin Port area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3415/08]

My Department has prepared the heads of a Harbours Bill to support further implementation of national ports policy and to update existing legislation, the main body of which dates from 1996. The Bill will, inter alia, facilitate development of a proposed new port facility at Bremore in Fingal County.

This week I have received Government approval for the drafting of the Bill, which will now be referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for that purpose. I intend to pursue enactment of the Bill at the earliest opportunity.

The National Development Plan provides for a comprehensive study of the role of Dublin Port, taking account of locational considerations, in the context of overall ports policy on the island of Ireland, wider transport policy, urban development policy, the National Spatial Strategy and national economic policy.

My Department is in the process of initiating this study and is liaising closely with Dublin City Council and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in this regard.

Road Traffic Offences.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

146 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the number of motorists tested and charged with driving under the influence of drugs in each year since 2002; the level of funding and resources he is recommending for the expansion of the drug testing programme of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety; the international experience in the area of drug testing he has or is currently reviewing; if he has plans to start a nationwide initiative to tackle driving under the influence of drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3384/08]

The number of specimens tested for the presence of a drug or drugs by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety for the years 2002 to 2006 is as follows:

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006 (Provisional)

388

416

569

747

1,000

Details in respect of 2007 are not available at this time. The number of motorists charged with driving under the influence of drugs in each year since 2002 is a matter for the Garda Síochána.

The funding and resources allocated by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) to its various programmes is a matter for the Bureau itself.

With regard to drug testing of drivers, the Road Traffic Acts already provide that a member of the Garda Síochána may where he or she is of the opinion that a person in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place is under the influence of a drug or drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of that vehicle require that person to go to a Garda station and further require that person to submit to a blood test or to provide a urine sample.

There is no feasible basis as yet in Ireland or in Europe for the introduction of a preliminary roadside test for drugs, as testing devices are still in the prototype stages. However, the MBRS is keeping abreast of developments in this area and is keeping me informed on the matter.

Motorway Service Areas.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

147 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport the number of applications for motorway service areas that have been submitted to his Department by the National Roads Authority; the number that have been approved to date by his Department; the reason there has been a delay in approving these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3396/08]

The National Roads Authority (NRA) are not required to submit applications to me or my Department in relation to motorway service areas.

My involvement in the provision of service areas on the national road network relates to ensuring that the necessary legislative framework is in place to facilitate this provision. This was achieved last year with the enactment of the Roads Act 2007.

However, a Statutory Instrument is required to give effect to the provisions of that Act, insofar as it relates to service areas.

Officials from my Department are working with both the Attorney General's Office and the National Roads Authority (NRA) to finalise the draft of the Statutory Instrument and I expect to sign this Instrument very shortly.

State Airports.

Liz McManus

Question:

148 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Transport the overall level of debt of Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports; the estimated level of debts for each of these airports for 2008, 2009 and 2010; when all three airports will become operationally and legally separate companies; if he has received the business plans for the three airports; if the Dublin Airport Authority made any changes or inputs to the Cork and Shannon plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3393/08]

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which owns Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports, has overall borrowings of just under €500 million as at the end of 2007. Just over €200 million of the DAA's borrowings relates to Cork airport, almost €70 million relates to Shannon airport and the remainder relates to Dublin airport.

Following recent disposals of Great Southern Hotels and the DAA's interests in Birmingham and Hamburg Airports, the DAA net debt levels have fallen sharply in the short term, resulting in a temporary net cash position at the end of 2007. They are likely to rise steadily again over the period referred to by the Deputy.

Precisely what the DAA's debt levels will be over this period will depend upon a number of factors. However, in the context of the DAA's Capital Investment programme over 10 years, the DAA's debt position will rise substantially, with net borrowings increasing to over €1 billion over the course of the next five years.

The future level of debt at Shannon and Cork will depend on a number of factors including, most significantly, the business plans for these airports which have recently been received and are currently being assessed by my Department.

Rail Network.

Dan Neville

Question:

149 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Transport the contact he or his senior staff here had with CIÉ in response to a CIÉ spokesperson claiming that the proposed Dublin-Navan rail line was economically unviable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3490/08]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

158 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide the required financing to ensure the completion of the Navan rail line; the latest cost benefit analysis information available to his Department on this critically needed facility; the deadline for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3397/08]

Joe McHugh

Question:

161 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport the criteria his Department used to determine the viability of the Navan-Dublin railway line; the cost of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3138/08]

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

163 Deputy Pádraic McCormack asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure the continued roll-out of the Navan line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3481/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 149, 158, 161 and 163 together.

Transport 21 provides for the construction of the Navan Rail Line in two phases: Phase 1: Clonsilla to Dunboyne by 2010, and Phase 2: Dunboyne to Navan by 2015, subject to studies.

The current position on Phase 1 is that Iarnród Éireann has applied to An Bord Pleanála for a Railway Order in respect of the Clonsilla-Dunboyne section. I understand that Iarnród Éireann are aiming to start work before the end of the year, subject to the decision of An Bord Pleanála and any issues arising.

The position regarding the Dunboyne-Navan section (Phase 2) is that Iarnród Éireann has completed a scoping study and is now proceeding with the preparation of a full preliminary design and business case. The more detailed design work now to be undertaken by Iarnród Éireann will provide a better basis for estimating the final cost of the project. The actual cost of the project will only be determined when tenders are approved by Iarnród Éireann.

Both phases of this project are subject to appraisal in accordance with the Department of Finance Guidelines for the Appraisal and Management of Capital Investment and the Department of Transport Common Appraisal Guidelines. These guidelines require a full Cost Benefit Analysis to be carried out for projects costing in excess of €30m before a final decision is made to proceed. The results of initial and high level cost benefit analyses carried out to date in respect of both phases indicate internal rates of return in excess of the Department of Finance threshold rate. Once An Bord Pleanála has decided on the Railway Order application for Phase 1, the Board of Iarnród Éireann will make a formal application to my Department to proceed with the project, with details of a full Cost Benefit Analysis and financing arrangements. A full cost benefit analysis will be prepared for Phase 2 as part of the further design work and business case development now being undertaken by Iarnród Éireann.

My Department and I sought and was given details of the presentation made to Meath County Council by Iarnród Éireann on 7th January in respect of phase 2 of the project. It should be noted that Iarnród Éireann has indicated that the scoping study shows a positive Net Present Value for the project and an Internal Rate of Return in excess of the in the Department of Finance guidelines threshold rate.

My Department has allocated €10m to Iarnród Éireann this year to advance work on the project and the projects are progressing in line with the target completion dates.

Health and Safety Regulations.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

150 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport his Departmental policy on the drug testing of transport workers; if there is a drug testing programme in place across all the public transport companies; if workers in privately operated companies are subject to the same level of drug testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3385/08]

Section 88 of the Railway Safety Act 2005 requires rail companies to draw up a code of conduct for safety critical workers in relation to intoxicants (i.e. drugs and alcohol) and including sampling procedures in that regard.

Veolia (as operator of the Luas) has a code of conduct in place and the Railway Safety Commission has accepted this as part of the approval of the Safety Case for Luas.

In relation to Iarnród Éireann, the Railway Safety Commission has asked the Company to implement its draft code of conduct pending clarification of some outstanding issues.

With regard to bus services, the position is that it is illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle. Section 49 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 prohibits the driving of a mechanically propelled vehicle by a person while under the influence of an intoxicant. Enforcement of the law on drug driving is a matter for An Garda Síochána. When a member of the Garda suspects that a driver of a vehicle is driving under the influence of any intoxicant, the garda may arrest the suspect under Section 49 of the Road Traffic Act 1961.

In addition to this, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are considering the introduction of drug testing as envisaged in Section 13(1) of the Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

Rail Safety.

Joan Burton

Question:

151 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport if he has contacted Irish Rail and other public transport agencies regarding the contingency plans that are in place in case of an accident or emergency; if his Department is conducting a review of these procedures in view of the recent derailment on the northern rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3400/08]

The procedures for dealing with railway incidents and accidents is a matter for the Railway Safety Commission as part of its role in approving railway operators' safety management systems.

However, for the purposes of reporting to the Office of Emergency Planning, my Department maintains an ongoing liaison with Iarnród Éireann and the other public transport agencies under my aegis in relation to their emergency response plans. Through these contacts, my Department is aware that Iarnród Éireann periodically reviews its emergency response handbook which sets out guidance procedures for its staff in the event of an accident or emergency. I am advised that each year the Company carries out test exercises in conjunction with the emergency services and my Department is made aware of all such exercises.

In relation to the recent derailment on the Northern rail line, I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that the procedures as set out in the Company's operational Rule Book and emergency response handbook were correctly applied throughout the management of the event.

State Airports.

Pat Breen

Question:

152 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to make funding available to develop cargo traffic through Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3361/08]

The Exchequer does not provide funding for any of the three State airports. Accordingly, the issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Shannon and Dublin Airport Authorities in which I have no statutory function.

Road Safety.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

153 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Transport if he will estimate the average vehicle speed on Irish roads; if he will estimate the average vehicle speed on a county basis; if he is planning initiatives to tackle the problem of speeding on Irish roads; if he has issued any directive or instruction to the Road Safety Authority regarding excessive and dangerous speeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3391/08]

The most recent published data on vehicle speeds on Irish roads is contained in the 2005 Survey of Free Speeds (Urban and Rural) published by the National Roads Authority. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is now responsible for the conduct of these surveys, since its establishment in September 2006, and I understand that it intends to publish the results of the 2006 survey shortly.

One of the actions in the Road Safety Strategy 2007 – 2012, which was launched in October last year, is for the RSA to review and expand the national speed survey on Irish roads and to publish the results annually on a national basis. Enforcement of speed limits is a matter for the Garda Síochána. The strategy also contains a range of actions designed to tackle excessive speeding.

I have not issued any directive or instruction to the RSA on the matter of excessive speeding.

Air Services.

Sean Sherlock

Question:

154 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he will initiate an investigation in conjunction with the National Consumer Agency, the Competition Authority and the Commission on Aviation Regulation in relation to a series of new extra charges on airline passengers; his views on legislation specifically to protect consumers of airline services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3410/08]

The market for air services in the Community was liberalized in the 1990s. The internal market has removed all commercial restrictions for airlines flying within the EU, such as restrictions on the routes, the number of flights or the setting of fares. Under the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2409/92 Community air carriers can freely set their air fares.

The broader issue of consumer protection legislation falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment.

Public Transport.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

155 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Transport the procedure necessary for Bus Éireann to establish a new route or change an existing one in its network; if Bus Éireann will be regulated by the new Dublin Transport Authority or institutions established by the promised Public Transport Regulation Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3403/08]

Since 10 January 2001, Bus Éireann is required by Ministerial direction to notify my Department of any proposed new services, or proposed changes to existing services, at least four weeks prior to their introduction.

Where there is no competition from services provided by a licensed private operator, Bus Éireann is advised that the Department has noted their proposed service change and the company is free to proceed.

Where my Department considers that a proposal has the potential to compete with a prior application from a private operator under the Road Transport Act, 1932, Bus Éireann is informed and the company is required to defer the proposed service until the prior application from the private operator concerned is decided upon.

When the prior application is finalised and a licence has issued my Department then reverts to consider Bus Éireann's proposals taking into consideration the newly licensed service.

Where the proposed new amended Bus Éireann service would compete with a licensed service, the company must obtain my consent under section 25 of the Transport Act 1958 before proceeding.

With regard to proposals for regulation of Bus Éireann, as stated in the Programme for Government, the Dublin Transport Authority will have overall responsibility for surface transport in the Greater Dublin Area. I am examining legislative proposals for the proposed DTA with the intention of bringing them to Cabinet for approval and to publish the DTA Bill in due course. While I do not wish to pre-empt the consideration of the provisions of the Bill by this House, given the geographical area for which it is envisaged the DTA will be responsible, the majority of the services provided by Bus Éireann, with some exceptions, will not be subject to regulation by the DTA.

The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to examine the need for a National Transport Regulator in the context of the proposed review of the economic regulatory environment and to reform bus licensing to facilitate the optimum provision of services by providing a level playing field for all market participants. Any new licensing regime will be designed in a manner consistent with the new EU Regulation on Public Service Obligations in the transport sector, which was adopted in 2007 and will come into force next year.

While it is not possible at this time to indicate a precise time as to when the legislative proposals on regulatory reform of the bus market will be published, applications for bus licences and notifications from bus operators will continue to be processed under the provisions of the Road Transport Act 1932, as amended, and the notification system with reference to the Transport Act 1958, as appropriate.

Proposed Legislation.

Kieran O'Donnell

Question:

156 Deputy Kieran O’Donnell asked the Minister for Transport the progress to date in his discussions regarding a bilateral agreement with the UK Government in having drivers banned in either jurisdiction, being banned in both jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3494/08]

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

160 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport when he will introduce legislation to ensure that all vehicles on Irish roads, both Irish and foreign registered, are subject to the same laws, regulations and penalties and that any fines or penalties accrued by a driver of a foreign registered vehicle are realised; if he will report on the proposed agreement with the UK Government on the mutual recognition of disqualified drivers; if there has been progress on the mutual recognition of penalty points between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3387/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 160 together.

All drivers are subject to road traffic law and enforcement is a matter for An Garda Síochána. The realisation of any fines or penalties imposed by the Courts is a matter for the Courts Service.

While foreign licence holders do not have an Irish driving licence record, a separate record of any penalty points incurred by them in this State is kept in the National Driver File.

The enforcement on foreign registered drivers of penalties for road traffic offences is a complex legal and administrative matter for many States, and my Department is pursuing this question at European, British/Irish and North/South levels.

We are working with the United Kingdom with the objective of having a bilateral agreement on mutual recognition of driving disqualifications in place later this year, under the framework of the relevant EU Convention.

The mutual recognition of penalty points is however a much more difficult matter which is not covered by the EU Convention. In particular it involves complex legal questions which have yet to be determined and which will require the passage of primary legislation both here and in the United Kingdom in due course. While both jurisdictions are working on this, it will be a number of years before a bilateral agreement can be put in place.

I met the U.K. Minister responsible for this area in London last week and discussed these issues with him. I intend to meet with him and the Northern Ireland Minister for road safety on a tripartite basis in the coming months to review progress.

Coast Guard Service.

Billy Timmins

Question:

157 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the maritime radio rescue centre at Valentia. [3469/08]

Joe McHugh

Question:

170 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport his exact plans for the Coast Guard station in Malin Head; the precise function and number of workers the centre will employ in the long term future; if he will assure employees at the centre that their jobs will remain in Malin Head in the long term future as stated in the Deloitte and Touche report (details supplied); when the recommendations of additional staff at the centre will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3137/08]

Joe McHugh

Question:

352 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport the report which recommended Drogheda and the west coast as the locations for Coast Guard centres; if this report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3618/08]

Joe McHugh

Question:

353 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport if the location for the new Coast Guard station on the west coast has been identified and costed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3619/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 170, 352 and 353 together.

It is my intention that the Irish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration will be strengthened on an ongoing basis over the coming years. My ambition is to put in place a service that will fully meet the needs of this country well in the 21st century. The recent decisions have been taken to reflect the future optimal configuration of co-ordination centres whilst ensuring that the detailed technical knowledge and experience of the Coast Guard Watch Officers is retained and fully utilised. I want to restate again that no Officer will be forced to move or lose their jobs. The transition arrangements for new centres, including the functions to continue at Malin and Valentia, will be negotiated with staff to ensure there is no loss of expertise.

The Deloitte and Touche Irish Coast Guard Study was published in 2002. This report has provided a backdrop to ongoing improvements and developments in the Coast Guard over the last 6 years. I have arranged that both this document and the submission to me on which recent decisions were based be published on the Department's website www.transport.ie.

I purposely outlined a long-term scenario to provide structure to negotiations, which are now taking place, on how best to implement this particular step in the modernisation of the Irish Coast Guard. I have given direction to the tendering process, where a Request for Tender is now in preparation, and given enough notice to enable difficulties to be identified and resolved before equipment has to be installed. I have made it clear that these discussions, which are underway, must take account of the safety needs of local communities, ongoing improvement of the service to the public and the concerns of individual staff members. As I indicated previously the proposed restructuring was raised at the relevant committees on which the relevant organisations that have an interest in search and rescue are represented.

I also want to take this opportunity to make two general statements related to the issue. Firstly, I am concerned that there is confusion in the public mind between the work done in Co-Ordination centres and that undertaken by local volunteers. A significant element of ‘local knowledge' is from the local Coast Guard Coastal Units and lifeboat crews strategically positioned around our coast. Their local knowledge of tides, currents, bays and local historical incident locations is invaluable to the Watch Officers of the Coast Guard. I would like to put on record again my appreciation of their selfless voluntary efforts of the Coast Guard, RNLI Lifeboat and Community Rescue Boat crews in rescuing those in trouble on our coasts, cliffs and offshore islands.

Secondly, the Coast Guard restructuring that is being worked on is aimed at improving the efficiency of a key public service. I can assure the Deputy that all views expressed will be taken into account before a west coast location is determined.

Question No. 158 answered with Question No. 149.

Departmental Bodies.

David Stanton

Question:

159 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the funding and budget made available to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board each year since its establishment; the number of staff employed by the board; the grades and qualifications of same; if the board has availed of outside expertise to carry out its investigations in the past; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3498/08]

David Stanton

Question:

164 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if the 2006 annual report of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board has been completed; if he has received same; if not, when he expects to receive it; when the 2006 annual report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3499/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 164 together.

The funding made available to the Board since it was established in 2002 is as follows:

Year

2002

123,000

2003

220,000

2004

290,000

2005

292,000

2006

300,000

2007

300,000

The figures are consistent with the Estimates for the specified years.

The Board has a staff of one Higher Executive Officer and one Clerical Officer on secondment from the Civil Service.

The Board has availed of the services of Marine Surveyors from the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport. Under Section 16(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000 the Marine Casualty Investigation Board is not charged for these services.

The annual report of the Board for 2006 was presented to Cabinet in December 2007 and is being laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It will be translated, printed and placed on the Marine Casualty Investigation Board website shortly.

Question No. 160 answered with Question No. 156.
Question No. 161 answered with Question No. 149.

Carbon Emissions.

Michael Noonan

Question:

162 Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Minister for Transport if he will encourage the reduction of carbon emissions in air transport by encouraging eco-friendly flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3493/08]

Emmet Stagg

Question:

180 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport the current level of CO2 emissions from the Irish aviation industry; his Department’s projections for the level of CO2 emissions for aviation in each year from 2008 to 2020; his views on initiatives to target a reduction in the level of CO2 emissions in the aviation industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3414/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 180 together.

Figures in respect of carbon emissions from aviation can be got from the following websites:The Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.ie Sustainable Energy Ireland: http://www.sei.ie

Sustainable Energy Ireland estimate that aviation in Ireland accounted for 2,953.4 kilotonnes CO2 or 18.3% of total transport emissions in 2006.

The National Climate Change Strategy proposes the introduction of a carbon offsetting scheme for all air travel on Government business, including flights by Ministers and by civil servants.

Practical arrangements will be put in place by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to enable each Department to compute annually the emissions associated with its air travel and to make a contribution to an appropriate fund to secure verified emission reductions of an equivalent amount.

On a broader level, given the international dimension to aviation, it is likely that emissions savings and environmental improvements will require inter-government agreement. Ireland is playing a positive role in the European Union's consideration of extending emissions trading to the aviation sector.

Question No. 163 answered with Question No. 149.
Question No. 164 answered with Question No. 159.

Departmental Expenditure.

Billy Timmins

Question:

165 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Transport the reason his Department do not make use of internet versions of the daily newspapers instead of the cost involved in buying hard copies everyday as detailed in Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 11 December 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3487/08]

Press cuttings that are relevant to the remit of the Department of Transport are posted on the Department's Intranet system and this is accessible electronically to all staff. While this system has considerable benefits, the availability of some hard copies of the national dailies to the Minister's Office and Senior Management provides additional flexibility and easier perusal of all current issues to those readers.

I am satisfied that the existing mix of hard and soft copy is the most appropriate to current needs. The situation will, however, be kept under periodic review.

Question No. 166 answered with Question No. 109.
Question No. 167 answered with Question No. 120.

Small Craft Register.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

168 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Transport if he will establish a register for certain small craft as proposed by his Department in 2005 and supported by the Revenue Commissioners in order that the tax due on imported pleasure craft, which is quite significant, is properly accounted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3453/08]

The Mercantile Marine Act 1955 sets out the requirements for registering vessels in Ireland. Irish owned vessels over 15 net tons are required to be registered under the Act. However, for vessels under 15 net tons, registration is voluntary and owners may register such a craft if they so wish. Small leisure craft would fall into this category. The 1955 Act and the system of registration in Ireland are under review in my Department. The comments received during an earlier consultation exercise are being taken into account in the deliberations on a proposed new regime. One of the issues being considered is how best to improve provision for the registration of leisure craft, including jet skis and other small craft.

The Revenue Commissioners have indicated their support for a revision of the current system of registration. Following completion of the current phase of the review, they will be consulted along with other relevant parties, on new outline proposals to replace the existing regime. It is intended that this consultation process will commence in March.

My officials will continue to develop more detailed proposals for the revision of the existing registration system, taking into account the outcome of the public consultation, with a view towards submitting proposals for new legislation to Government by the end of the year.

Question No. 169 answered with Question No. 118.
Question No. 170 answered with Question No. 157.

Port Development.

Phil Hogan

Question:

171 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Transport if there has been consultation between his Department and Dublin City Council over the council’s plans to transform the Dublin Port area into a multi-use development; his views on plans to move port capacity out of Dublin Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3475/08]

In October 2007 Dublin City Council published for public consultation a wide-ranging study of economic, amenity, recreational and environmental issues linked to Dublin Bay, including the port area. I understand that the outcome of the consultation will be reported back to the Council shortly.

As part of the preparation of the study my Department made a submission to the consultants carrying out the study. This pointed out that Dublin Port currently handles the vast majority of trade for the Greater Dublin Area and beyond and as such is of vital strategic importance to the economy. Some 79% of the State's RoRo trade and some 62% of the LoLo trade was handled at Dublin Port in 2006.

The National Spatial Strategy identifies strategic merit in relieving pressure on Dublin through targeted interventions in building up port capacity elsewhere. The National Development Plan proposes a comprehensive study of the role of Dublin Port, taking account of locational considerations, in the context of overall ports policy on the island of Ireland, wider transport policy, urban development policy, the National Spatial Strategy and national economic policy.

My Department is in the process of initiating this study and is liaising closing with Dublin City Council and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in this regard.

Air Services.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

172 Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Transport the basis for his Department including a statement (details supplied) in the third draft of the note for his attention that was included in the report into the reason he was not informed about the Aer Lingus Shannon pull out; the contact his Department made to come to this conclusion; the persons in his Department who were aware of this information at the time of drafting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3486/08]

The circumstances surrounding the Aer Lingus decision to withdraw the Shannon-Heathrow air service, and the circumstances and sequence of events which led to me not being informed before end July 2007 of that possibility, are set out in the Secretary-General's Report on the matter. That report and the inclusion of the material referred to by the Deputy in a draft note prepared in my Department has been examined in detail by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and officials in my Department gave a detailed explanation on this to the Committee at its meeting on 28 November 2007.

Small Craft Register.

John O'Mahony

Question:

173 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Transport if he will establish a register for certain small craft which would, as the Revenue Commissioners have suggested to his Department, be of considerable benefit to Revenue in controlling coastal smuggling, particularity drug smuggling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3497/08]

The Mercantile Marine Act 1955 sets out the requirements for registering vessels in Ireland. Irish owned vessels over 15 net tons are required to be registered under the Act. However, for vessels under 15 net tons, registration is voluntary and owners may register such a craft if they so wish. Small leisure craft would fall into this category. The 1955 Act and the system of registration in Ireland are under review in my Department. The comments received during an earlier consultation exercise are being taken into account in the deliberations on a proposed new regime. One of the issues being considered is how best to improve provision for the registration of leisure craft, including jet skis and other small craft.

The Revenue Commissioners have indicated their support for a revision of the current system of registration. Following completion of the current phase of the review, they will be consulted along with other relevant parties, on new outline proposals to replace the existing regime. It is intended that this consultation process will commence in March. My officials will continue to develop more detailed proposals for the revision of the existing registration system, taking into account the outcome of the public consultation, with a view towards submitting proposals for new legislation to Government by the end of the year.

Question No. 174 answered with Question No. 118.
Question No. 175 answered with Question No. 142.

Air Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

176 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he has monitored the use or availability of landing slots at Heathrow with particular reference to the retention of the necessary facilities to meet the requirements of all airports here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3587/08]

The allocation of slots at London Heathrow Airport is a matter for UK authorities acting in accordance with applicable EU rules relating to the allocation of slots. The applicable rules provide for slots to be assigned to airlines as distinct from airports. It is a matter for airlines to decide what services should be provided using such slots, except in the specific case where slots are assigned for the purpose of meeting a public service obligation.

Road Safety.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

177 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Transport when he will publish the Road Safety Authority’s recommendations to strengthen the HGV roadworthiness testing regime which he has accepted; when he will publish the requisite legislation to implement these regulations; the number of inspections that were carried out on HGVs in 2005, 2006 and 2007; the number of inspectors employed to monitor health and safety standards of HGVs; the number of vehicles found not to meet the required standards; if prosecutions ensued; if so, the number for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3392/08]

Responsibility for vehicle testing was transferred to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006. Information on testing activity is therefore a matter for the RSA. I recently accepted recommendations from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) on reforming the roadworthiness testing regime for commercial vehicles, for implementation as quickly as possible.

Before publication by the RSA of the details of the reform agenda it is important that the relevant stakeholders are apprised of the position. I understand that the RSA is in the process of doing this and publication can be expected in the near future. Requirements for legislative reform may arise from this process in due course. Any such proposals would be developed by RSA in the first instance and recommendations made to me in relation to new Regulations or primary legislation as the case may be. Enforcement of road traffic law is a matter for the Garda Síochána while the Health and Safety Authority is responsible for enforcement of health and safety regulations.

Railway Safety.

Kieran O'Donnell

Question:

178 Deputy Kieran O’Donnell asked the Minister for Transport when he will transpose into Irish law outstanding provisions of the Railway Safety Directive as requested by the Railway Safety Commission and the need for the effective closure of these loopholes as a priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3495/08]

The Railway Safety Act 2005 substantially transposed the principal provisions of the Railway Safety Directive 2004. Work to complete transposition of the remaining provisions is at an advanced stage in my Department. These provisions do not present any loopholes in the legislation as far as the regulation of railway safety is concerned, and I have not received any communication from the Railway Safety Commission to that effect.

Taxi Regulations.

John O'Mahony

Question:

179 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Transport if he will examine ways of improving access and affordability to small public service vehicles for people with disabilities as recommended to his Department by the Taxi Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3496/08]

The Commission for Taxi Regulation was established as an independent public body in September 2004 under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. The objectives of the Commission under the Act include the promotion of access to small public service vehicles by persons with disabilities. In this regard, it is understood that the Commission has been in communication with the Department of Social and Family Affairs regarding the possibility of an extension of the travel concessions available to passengers with disabilities on other forms of public transport being made available to passengers in taxis and hackneys. Consideration of such a proposal is primarily a matter for the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation has also published new National Vehicle Standards — Requirements for Small Public Service Vehicles on 26 November 2007, which include new accessible vehicle standards for licensing as wheelchair accessible taxis and wheelchair accessible hackneys.

My Department is in discussion with the Commission for Taxi Regulation in relation to a proposed subsidy arrangement to assist taxi and hackney operators with the purchase of wheelchair accessible vehicles that will meet the new accessible vehicle specification developed by the Commission. A final decision will be made on the subsidy scheme proposal as soon as possible having regard to the overall budgetary context.

Question No. 180 answered with Question No. 162.
Question No. 181 answered with Question No. 144.

End-of-Life Vehicles.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

182 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport when he will publish the report on the presence of both Irish and foreign registered car write-offs on Irish roads; the information the Revenue Commissioners have provided on the number of car write-offs back on Irish roads; if this information was passed to his; if he will reform the National Vehicle Driver File to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3382/08]

The examination of the alleged continued use of vehicles which are written off by insurers has been progressing on two fronts. The first relates to the establishment of a framework going forward so that there is an effective system in place which ensures that all write off instances are notified and properly recorded. My Department has been informed of the initial deliberations of an informal review group established to examine this issue chaired by the RSA and representative of the Revenue Commissioners, An Garda Síochána, and the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF). Further consultation with relevant stakeholders is required.

The second task relates to obtaining details of vehicles which have been written off in recent years for comparison against the NVDF to seek to determine the extent to which written off vehicles may still be in circulation. At a recent meeting with the Irish Insurance Federation I sought and was given a commitment that they will use their influence with individual insurers to have the necessary data made available voluntarily. The alleged importation of write offs from abroad is a matter in the first instance for the Revenue Commissioners who are responsible for the registration of vehicles.

Unemployment Levels.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

183 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Taoiseach the unemployment figures for Tallaght, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3079/08]

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. Statistics on employment and unemployment are measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey. The survey provides estimates for eight NUTS-3 level regions. The latest results are for the period June to August 2007 and showed an unemployment figure of 31,200 persons in the Dublin region.

The Live Register series gives a monthly breakdown of the number of people claiming Jobseekers Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance and other registrants as registered with the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Figures are published for each county and each Local Social Welfare Office. The most recent information is for January 2008. The Live Register figure for the Tallaght Local Office in Dublin in January 2008 was 4,123 persons.

It should be noted that the Live Register is not a definitive measure of unemployment as it includes part-time workers, seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseekers Benefit or Allowance. The exact area covered by each Local Office is not limited to the immediate locality, or county, of the particular office. For instance, in the Tallaght Local Office there may be registered, persons from the Blessington area.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

184 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3096/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

185 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3111/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together.

The statutory bodies for which I have had responsibility over the past five years are:

The Commission of Investigation (Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974);

The Law Reform Commission (1975);

The National Economic and Social Development Office (2007);

The National Statistics Board (1994); and

The Moriarty Tribunal (1997).

The Commission of Investigation (Dublin and Monaghan Bombings 1974) was established in May 2005 to examine specific matters relating to the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings of 1974, including aspects of the Garda investigation and missing documentation. The Commission completed its work and presented its Final Report to me in March 2007. Expenditure was as follows:

Year

Expenditure

2005

925,800

2006

1,300,000

2007

414,000

The Law Reform Commission was established on 20 October, 1975.

The operating costs (through a Vote in the Office of the Attorney General) over the past five years were:

Year

Expenditure

2003

1,577,000

2004

1,593,000

2005

1,900,000

2006

2,000,000

2007

4,910,000

The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), The National Economic and Social Council (NESC), The National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) and The National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP) became Statutory Bodies on 1 January, 2007, under the NESDO Act, 2006, and the Order signed by me setting 1 January, 2007, as Establishment Date for the purposes of the Act. They were non statutory bodies until the establishment date. Therefore, the figures refer to the NESDO since 1 January, 2007 when it became a Statutory Body. The pay figures do not include accruals for pensions.

Body

Cost in 2007

NESDO

1,939,000

NESC

931,000

NESF

885,000

NCPP

1,951,000

TOTAL

5,706,000

The National Statistics Board (NSB) was established on a statutory basis in November 1994. The costs incurred by the NSB mainly relate to the payment of stipend fees. The costs can vary significantly in years where membership of the Board has lapsed before a new Board has been appointed.

Year

Expenditure

2003

48,932

2004

21,257

2005

48,989

2006

38,797

2007

31,998

The Tribunal to Inquire into Payments to Politicians (Haughey and Lowry), also known as the Moriarty Tribunal, was established by the Houses of the Oireachtas in September 1997 and is expected to publish its final report shortly. The relevant costs are:

Year

Expenditure

2002

2,798,000

2003

3,441,000

2004

3,610,000

2005

3,437,000

2006

4,232,000

2007

4,155,000

Leo Varadkar

Question:

186 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3169/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

187 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3184/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

188 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3199/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 188, inclusive, together.Taskforce on Active Citizenship:The Taskforce on Active Citizenship was established in April 2006 and completed its work in March 2007 following a phase of public consultations on the extent to which citizens engage in the issues that affect them and their communities. This Government has committed, in principle, to implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Taskforce which are intended to promote a continued sense of community and greater civic participation by our citizens in every aspect of our national life and culture.

The recommendations focused on five key themes which reflect what emerged in the course of the national and regional consultations. These are:

(i) Participation in the Democratic Process;

(ii) The Public Service and Citizens;

(iii) Community Engagement and Promoting a Sense of Community;

(iv) Education for Citizenship; and

(v) Ethnic and Cultural Diversity and the Challenge of Engaging Newcomers.

The key recommendations include:

Participation in the Democratic Process:

Establishment of the independent Electoral Commission – to encourage everyone who is eligible to register and vote through organisation of voting, for example, the timing of voting, postal voting etc. Provision of appropriate publicity campaigns and explanatory material on registering to vote and the voting process itself.

The Taskforce has emphasised that the Commission's role should focus on promoting participation in elections and voter education.The Public Service and Citizens:

The ethos of the public service, based on the respect for the citizen, needs to be reinforced and strengthened and continue to be a core objective of public service reforms. This should include a renewed emphasis on effective consultation with associated training for public servants. This recommendation will build on current public service modernisation initiatives such as Quality Customer Service and the Guidelines on Consultation for Public Service Organisations. Introduction of a programme in the Public Service to promote community engagement and participation:

The programme could be run on the basis of recognising some time off for volunteering effort as was done by many employers for the Special Olympics. It could also include treating verifiable areas of community activity and volunteering as relevant items for inclusion and recognition in job applications and evaluation of performance.

Such an initiative could also extend through to retirement through pre-retirement courses offered in the public service.

The group insurance scheme open to members of Local Community and Voluntary Fora should be promoted widely amongst relevant organisations and groups. Insurance was one of the recurring barriers to Active Citizenship cited at the public consultation meetings. This scheme has assisted with insurance issues for community and voluntary groups in securing considerably cheaper premiums.

An initiative to help community and voluntary groups meet compliance costs (i) when providing programme funding and (ii) ensuring that compliance costs are proportionate and that administrative burdens on community and voluntary organisations are streamlined and standardised across the public service to the greatest extent possible.

Funding schemes be strengthened to support capacity development amongst community and voluntary organisations particularly in the area of training at both national and local level.

Community Engagement and Promoting a Sense of Community:

Introduction of a National Active Citizenship theme culminating in a National Active Citizenship Week – to stimulate local Active Citizenship activities and events, for example, ‘get to know your neighbour'. The themes will be selected to promote localcommunity involvement and would draw on existing community resources and initiatives. This initiative would culminate in an Active Citizenship Week and would be a focal point for local community engagement.

Introduction of National Presidential Citizen Awards — this award system would be introduced to recognise outstandingcontributions made by individuals to Irish society. They would be given to a limited number of people selected through an independent process based on nominations from members of the public. Presentation of the awards could tie in with the National

Active Citizen Week.

Development of a certificate/award which would be earned through completing at least three months volunteering or community involvement activity – this award would be earned by completing at least three months of voluntary activity either in Ireland or overseas. This could be done either during further education or in the early stages of working life.

Local Authorities should prioritise the provision of community and recreational facilities as part of Development Plans and subsequent planning decisions. An audit of the implementation of this approach should be undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government.

An audit should be undertaken by end 2008 by the Local Authorities through the County/City Development Boards of existing community facilities to identify (i) gaps in the provision of facilities and (ii) opportunities for improved use/sharing of existing facilities.

Better use be made of schools at evening and weekend time to act as community hubs. As a first step, a pilot project should be undertaken in a number of post primary schools in partnership with the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund.

Education for Citizenship:

Expansion of education for citizenship in the school system and in the youth and adult education sectors through (i) ensuring that every transition year student has the opportunity to take part in an active learning community-based project (ii) strengthen the status and role of the Civic, Social and Political Education programme in the junior cycle and introduce a citizenship programme as an exam subject at senior cycle and (iii) include workshops on Active Citizenship/Voter Education as a constituent element in Adult/Community Education Programmes.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) should lead an initiative to promote, support and link together citizenship initiatives across the Higher Education sector.

Ethnic and Cultural Diversity and the Challenge of Engaging Newcomers:

All forms of community and voluntary organisations should be encouraged to undertake proactive initiatives to reach out and engage with newcomers to Irish society.

Introduction of a formal Citizenship Ceremony and Development of material and short education courses on Irish Citizenship — formal ceremony be introduced to mark entry to Irish citizenship and allow new citizens to publicly demonstrate their commitment to Ireland. Information and short education courses should be developed on Irish citizenship to include Irish history, democratic institutions, culture, language etc.

Local Civic Participation:

the County/City Community and Voluntary Fora in each Local Authority be strengthened and renewed with additional support as required; in particular, they should be organised on the basis of local electoral areas (where this is not already the case) and these local area fora should be renamed the Civic Fora.

public agencies at local level should be required to consult the Civic Fora in relation to the development and implementation of their policies at local level.

all Local Authority Area Committees should, in line with guidelines issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, include representatives of the Civic Fora for the purpose of community development and also contributing to the work of the County/City Development Board. The Taskforce recommends that this requirement to engage with the Fora should be expanded to further issues.

As well as enhancing the Community and Voluntary Fora, there are also a range of community councils, residents' associations and similar local participative structures operating locally. The Taskforce recommended that:

Local Authorities be requested to provide recognition to these structures under the Local Government Act, 2001;

where there are identifiable gaps in local community structures, Local Authorities should support the establishment of local civic participation structures and, where appropriate, include seed funding;

challenge funding should be made available through County/City Development Boards to match locally raised funding for suitable projects; and

Local Authorities should experiment with other forms and modes of local democracy which facilitate community engagement.

The Taskforce also recommended the establishment of a National Observatory to act as a focal point for research and analysis on civic engagement in Ireland. This is intended to facilitate better monitoring of progress and trends, which will in turn allow policies to be developed and refined.

The cost to the Exchequer of the work undertaken by the Taskforce on Active Citizenship in 2006 was €275,000 and in 2007 was €108,000. This expenditure was met under Subhead S of my Department's Vote and is broken down as follows:

2006

2007

Travel & Subsistence

7,000

12,000

Official Entertainment

9,000

6,000

Temporary contract staff

9,000

0

Incidental expenses

4,000

2,000

Consultation Seminars/Conferences

70,000

1,000

Advertising/Publicity

57,000

2,000

Photography

2,000

1,000

Publication & Design

42,000

53,000

Stationery

4,000

3,000

Consultancy

67,000

6,000

Grant Payment (Research)

4,000

0

Research

0

22,000

TOTAL

275,000

108,000

The cost of support staff pay was met from the Administrative Budget of the Taoiseach's Department Vote (A1). The total pay related expenditure in 2006 was €124,000 and in 2007 was €49,000.

Primary responsibility for follow up to the report of the Taskforce rests with the Departments whose areas of responsibility are relevant. In addition, as recommended by the Taskforce, an Active Citizenship Office has been established under the aegis of my Department, with a secretariat comprising staff assigned from the Department. The Office is currently developing an implementation plan in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including Heads of Government Departments who have examined the implications of the task force's recommendations and identified how their existing strategies and programmes take account of the Taskforce recommendations. The implementation plan will also take account of related commitments in the Government's Agreed Programme for Government.

In addition, the work of the Active Citizenship Office will be to develop further initiatives to bring a European and North/South context to its work. There will also be a requirement to generate as much public support as possible from individuals, community groups and the corporate sector to provide maximum opportunity for all sectors of society to become involved in the important issue of active citizenship.

Task Force on Customer Service:

The Task Force on Customer Service was set up following a Government Decision of 25 July, 2007. The Government, "agreed to establish a Task Force on Customer Service to deepen Quality Customer Service and to advance relevant commitments in the Programme for Government, including those in the Health, Justice and Local Government sectors and to report back on progress through the Implementation Group of Secretaries General". The Task Force is not intended as a replacement for any existing groups or network but rather as a new initiative to coordinate activities and make recommendations for action to improve the customer experience across Public Service organisations.

The Task Force is chaired by Mr. Seán Aylward, Secretary General at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Membership of the Task Force comprises representatives from all Government Departments, key Government Offices and the Health, Justice and Local Government sectors. A full list of members can be seen in the table.

To date, the Task Force has met on 4 occasions — 5 September, 2007, 25 October, 2007, 4 December, 2007 and 15 January, 2008. Their next meeting is scheduled for 12 March, 2008.

The terms of reference for the Task Force are:

1:to consider and make recommendations for the implementation of the commitments to customer service set out in the 2007 Programme for Government, particularly in relation to customer charters and service levels;

2:to consider and make recommendations on deepening and widening Quality Customer Service including the extension of the QCS principles and approaches in a consistent manner across the wider Public Service (particularly in the Health, Justice and Local Government sectors); and

3:to report to the Implementation Group of Secretaries General on progress made and recommendations for further initiatives. The Task Force will submit 2 interim reports, in January and September 2008, and a final report in January 2009.

The First Interim Report has been drafted and will be finalised and submitted to the Implementation Group shortly.

The costs to date of the Taskforce amount to €3,462.78. The estimated cost for 2008 will be €10,000. The secretariat to the Task Force is supplied by the Public Service Modernisation Division of the Department of the Taoiseach. This work dovetails with the overall duties of the staff involved.

Task Force on Customer Services: Membership

Organisation

Member — Name

Alternate Member — Name

Dept. Agriculture & Food

Ray Williamson

Andy Irving

Dept. Arts, Sport & Tourism

Bernard O’Kelly

Sean Coleman

Dept. Communications, Energy & Natural Resources

Ann Monaghan

Jim Whelan

Dept. Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs

Siobhan Stack

John Kavanagh Mary Hurley

Dept. Defence

Jim Blighe

Eilis O’Connell

Dept. Education & Science

Deirdre McDonnell

Donal Landers

Dept. Enterprise, Trade & Employment

Gerry Donnelly

Jack Thompson Ellen MacCafferty

Dept. Environment, Heritage & Local Government

Evelyn O’Connor

Mary McKenna

Dept. Finance

Gearoid O’Keeffe

Dept. Foreign Affairs

Ray Bassett

John Boyd

Garda Síochána

Louis Harkin (Asst. Commissioner)

Dept. Health & Children

Frances Spillane

Barry Murphy

Health Service Executive

Mary Culliton

Dept. Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Sean Aylward (Chair)

Aisling Bermingham

Public Appointments Service

Martin Bourke

Revenue Commissioners

Norman Gillanders

Maura Conneely

Dept. Social & Family Affairs

Darragh O’Connor

Aidan O’Reilly

Dept. Taoiseach

Ray Henry

Nason Fallon

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

189 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3214/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

190 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3229/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. 32 staff currently serving in my Department have applied through the Central Applications Facility to relocate under the Decentralisation Programme. The breakdown by grade is:

Grade

No.

Principal Officer

1

Assistant Principal

5

Higher Executive Officer

3

Administrative Officer

7

Executive Officer

6

Staff Officer

1

Clerical Officer

9

16 former members of staff have already been assigned to decentralised posts. The Deputy will be aware that there are no proposals to decentralise my Department or any of the bodies under its aegis and accordingly the information sought regarding the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to my Department's quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group does not apply.

Security Industry.

Joan Burton

Question:

191 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he has statistics in respect of the number of people working in the private security industry; the number who are subcontractors; the number who are employees; if he has information regarding wage rates in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2858/08]

The most up-to-date information available, as requested by the deputy, is taken from the Census 2006 and is contained in the table. No details are available in respect of wages.

Total Number of persons at work in the Private Security industry.

Industry

Total at work

Employees

Self-employed, with paid employees

Self-employed without paid employees

Investigation and Security activities

10,223

9,560

424

239

Investigation and Security activities covers the following activities: Security, Bodyguards and Private Detectives.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

192 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Taoiseach the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3768/08]

My Department does not operate any programmes or schemes funded in full or in part by the European Union. For details of the Operational Programmes for which my Department has had direct responsibility in the past, I would refer the Deputy to the reply given on 25 March, 1997 (ref. 8046/97). Responsibility for these programmes rests currently with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Motor Taxation.

Michael Ring

Question:

193 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the way the new vehicle registration tax will work. [3046/08]

Under the revised VRT system, the VRT rate applicable to both new and used imported cars registered on or after 1 July 2008 will be determined by the CO2 emission rating of the car and will no longer be related to engine size. The VRT rate will continue to be applied to the Open Market Selling Price of the car. There will be seven CO2 emission bands with VRT rates ranging from 14% to 36%. The certificate of conformity will normally be used to determine the CO2 emissions of cars registered in the State.

In respect of pre-owned used cars imported after 1 July 2008, the CO2 emissions will have to be declared to the Revenue Commissioners on form VRT4 (declaration for registration of a used vehicle) by the person registering the vehicle. The declaration will be required to be supported by documentary evidence of the CO2 emissions. Acceptable documentary evidence (provided the CO2 emissions is shown) will include:a certificate of conformity for the particular model, (since 2001, EU law requires CO2 emission levels to be recited in this document), or a previous registration certificate, or a certificate from the manufacturer or distributor, or a certificate from an organisation approved by the Revenue Commissioners to provide such certificates.

Where a certificate or a measurement confirming CO2 levels for a vehicle is not available or does not satisfy the Revenue Commissioners, VRT will be charged on registration at the maximum rate allowable i.e. 36%. Such a VRT rating would be open to appeal through the VRT appeals system.

The legislative provision for the revised VRT system is included in the Finance Bill and further details regarding registration procedures and requirements will be set out in a Statutory Instrument.

Tax Code.

Finian McGrath

Question:

194 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if persons (details supplied) will be supported. [3294/08]

The stamp duty code does not contain any provisions that would allow for an exemption or reduced rates in the circumstances described.

I would point out, however, that all owner-occupying purchasers of new residential property are exempt from stamp duty where the property has a floor size of 125 square metres or less. Where the property is bigger than 125 square metres, stamp duty is only charged on the greater of the site value or 25% of the property value.

Furthermore, in the recent Budget, I announced a fundamental change to the stamp duty system for residential property which reduces the Stamp Duty burden for all purchasers of residential property.

Purchases of residences with a value of less than €1 million will be charged to stamp duty on the basis that no tax will be payable on the first €125,000 of the consideration and the balance will be charged at 7%. A rate of 9% on the portion of the price in excess of €1 million is charged.

Garda Stations.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

195 Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the position in relation to the long promised refurbishment of the Garda station in Dunmanway in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3301/08]

The first phase of works at Dunmanway Garda Station, Co. Cork was completed in November 2007.

A contract for the second phase consisting of part demolition and security works to the boundary wall was placed on 13th November 2007, with works commencing on site on 3rd December. These are scheduled for completion at the end of February subject to weather conditions.

Tender documents for phase three, being the major part of the refurbishment of the Station, are virtually complete. It is hoped to be in a position to invite tenders at the end of this month.

Customs Clearance Facilities.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

196 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if customs clearance facilities are available at all harbours, ports and airports that facilitate through traffic from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3886/08]

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is a permanent customs presence at all major ports and airports where goods are brought into the State. These staff are responsible primarily for operating all necessary controls and for dealing with any trade facilitation needs that arise. In the case of smaller ports/airports, where the type and volume of business conducted does not justify the deployment of a permanent customs presence, staff attend regularly as a check against the landing (or exportation) of prohibited goods, in particular, controlled drugs.

I am further advised that as a general rule, customs clearance for compliant businesses is an electronic transaction which takes place via Revenue's Automated Entry Processing (AEP) System. The AEP system was completely re-developed in 2007 and embraces modern technologies, allows traders direct access via the Revenue on Line Services (ROS) and permits greater scope for flexibility and trade facilitation. The principal objective is to permit legitimate trade to move goods with minimum interference from Revenue, subject to compliance with relevant EU and national rules. 98% of all customs declarations at import, and 99% of export declarations are made using the AEP system.

Flood Relief.

Dara Calleary

Question:

197 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the position regarding the request from Mayo County Council given in February 2007 for a flood relief scheme on a river (details supplied) in County Mayo. [3054/08]

The Commissioners of Public Works agreed to carry out a survey to identify options for reducing significantly flood risk on the River Deel at Crossmolina after Mayo County Council completed certain minor alleviation works. These works were completed recently and the Commissioners will undertake the survey once water levels in the channel are suitable.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

198 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3091/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

199 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3106/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.

Table A gives details of establishment dates and annual operating costs of the statutory bodies and agencies in receipt of exchequer funding, for which I have responsibility. Table B relates to statutory bodies and agencies for which I have responsibility and which are not in receipt of funding and as such operating costs are not included. As the Deputy is aware, there are a number of Government Offices for which I have responsibility, the accounts of which are published in the annual Appropriation Accounts. These offices are as follows:

Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Office of Public Works

Office of the Ombudsman

Office of the Information Commissioner

Standards in Public Office Commission

State Laboratory

Valuation Office

Public Appointments Service

Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments

Table A

Name of Body

Date Established

Operating costs

Credit Union Advisory Committee

Department of Finance took over responsibility for funding the Committee in 2004. (Previously under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.)

2005: €17,507* 2006: €26,063 2007: €37,621 * Includes payment for 2004 Meeting.

Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

2 December 1999

2003 : €2.660m 2004 : €2.800m 2005 : €2.979m 2006 : €2.813m 2007 : €2.908m The Department of Finance fund 50% of the SEUPB budget. The Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland fund the other 50%.

Valuation Tribunal

22 July 1998

2003 : €156,178 2004 : €220,000 2005 : €268,000 2006 : €231,000 2007 : €251,090

National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA)*

3 December 1990

2003: 14.9m 2004: 18.9m 2005: 22.0m 2006: 29.8m 2007: 32.5m**

National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission

2 April 2001

Included in figures for NTMA above, see footnotes

State Claims Agency

2 April 2001

Included in figures for NTMA above, see footnotes

National Development Finance Agency

1 January 2003

Included in figures for NTMA above, see footnotes

*The NTMA is also the State Claims Agency, the Manager of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and the body through which the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) performs its functions. Staff working in the areas of the State Claims Agency, National Pensions Reserve Fund and National Development Finance Agency are NTMA employees who are assigned to these business activities.

**Exchequer cost which includes staff costs of NTMA, including staff assigned to State Claims Agency, National Pensions Reserve Fund and National Development Finance Agency, and costs of NTMA Advisory Committee, National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission, State Claims Agency Policy Committee and Board of NDFA.

Table B

Name of Body

Date Established

Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland

1 May 2003

Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal

1 October 2004

Financial Services Ombudsman Council

1 August 2004

Disabled Drivers.

Dan Neville

Question:

200 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will ensure that an application for a primary medical certificate and the application for a disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions grant for a person (details supplied) in County Cork is re-opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3120/08]

The initial application for a Primary Medical Certificate under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, is made to the Senior Medical Officer of the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative area.

If the Primary Medical Certificate has been refused in this case, the named person may appeal the refusal to the Medical Board of Appeal, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Rochestown Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. I would point out that the Medical Board of Appeal is independent in the exercise of its functions.

Motor Taxation.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

201 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number and the type of hybrid electric vehicles purchased here in each year from 2002 to 2007; the vehicle registration tax reduction rate hybrid electric vehicles are currently eligible for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3149/08]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number and type of hybrid electric vehicles purchased here for the years 2002 to 2007 are set out in the table below.

Section 135C of the Finance Act 1992 (as amended) provides for the remission or repayment of 50% of the vehicle registration tax payable or paid on the registration of series production hybrid electric vehicles and series production flexible fuel vehicles. The scheme, which was due to expire on 31 December 2007, was extended from 1 January 2008 until 30 June 2008.

On the introduction of the revised VRT system to take greater account of CO2 emissions on 1 July 2008, the existing relief for series production hybrid electric and flexible fuel cars will be replaced with a VRT relief of up to €2,500 on the VRT payable. This relief will apply until 31 December 2010.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles 2002-2007

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Total

Lexus LS600H

28

28

Toyota Prius

9

9

246

280

326

497

1,367

Lexus RX400H

44

239

295

578

Honda Civic

17

156

173

Honda Insight

2

0

1

3

Lexus GS450H

61

121

182

Toyota Harrier

1

4

5

Toyota Estima

1

7

8

Total

11

9

246

324

645

1,109

2,344

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

202 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the percentage range of the open market selling price of a vehicle within which vehicle registration tax currently lies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3150/08]

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that vehicle registration tax (VRT) is charged on the open market selling price (OMSP) of a vehicle in the State.

OMSP is defined in Section 133 of the Finance Act 1992 and is the price, inclusive of all taxes and duties, which a vehicle may reasonably be expected to fetch on a first arm's length sale in the open market in the State by retail.

The OMSP of new vehicles in the State is declared to the Revenue Commissioners by a wholesale distributor, while the OMSP of imported second hand vehicles is determined by the Revenue Commissioners, based on factors such as age, mileage and vehicle condition.

With regard to the registration of both new and second hand vehicles, VRT is charged at the appropriate rate on 100% of the open market selling price.

Departmental Bodies.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

203 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the task force; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3164/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

204 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the task forces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each task force; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3179/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

205 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the task forces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these task forces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3194/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 to 205, inclusive, together.

There are no specific task forces currently operating in my Department or established in the past five years. As part of the Department's usual course of business, various working groups, consultative committees etc. are established. The membership of these groups are generally drawn from my own Department or other government Departments. If the Deputy has a specific query in relation to such groups and committees, I will have my officials provide the information requested.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

206 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3209/08]

Below are details reported to the Decentralisation Implementation Group in June 2007 relating to the non-property costs of decentralisation for my Department since 2004.

Year

Total Expenditure

2004

0

2005

117,669

2006

410,353

2007 (Qtr 1)

31,057

My Department is currently updating this information and expects to submit further details to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service in the coming weeks.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

207 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3224/08]

To date one hundred and twenty three (123) staff of my Department have decentralised to Tullamore and a further two (2) have accepted offers of decentralisation. It is envisaged that a further five (5) will have relocated to Tullamore by the end of 2008, bringing to one hundred and thirty (130) the overall number of posts which will have been decentralised to Tullamore. Approximately thirty (30) further posts in my Department are scheduled to decentralise to County Kildare during 2008.

Tax Code.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

208 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has estimated the cost to the Exchequer of extending the income tax and inheritance tax benefits of married couples to same-sex couples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3264/08]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, as same-sex couples are not separately identified in tax statistics, it is not possible to provide the precise information requested by the Deputy.

However, in the event that a formal registration scheme for same-sex couples were introduced, it is estimated that the cost of extending married treatment under the income tax code to such couples could be of the order of €3 million per annum for every 1,000 same-sex couples registered.

With regard to inheritance tax, inheritances from spouses are exempt from Capital Acquisitions Tax. In the case of same-sex couples, class 3 threshold applies which provides an exemption of €26,060 with the balance taxable at 20%. The cost of extending the benefits for married couples to same-sex couples is therefore €20,000 in respect of every €100,000 inheritance above the current threshold.

However, it must be borne in mind that there is an existing exemption in respect of a dwelling house which is transferred to an individual who has resided in the house for at least 3 years and continues to reside in it for the following 6 years. The value of this house is not taken into account for Capital Acquisitions Tax, nor is there a requirement for any relationship between the both parties.

State Property.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

209 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount that has been spent on refurbishing the gatekeeper’s house at Farmleigh, Dublin 15; the amount it costs to maintain it per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3265/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

210 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the position regarding the gatekeeper’s house at Farmleigh, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3266/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together.

The Steward's House at Farmleigh was recently refurbished to provide additional guest accommodation as part of the overall Farmleigh complex but separate from the main house.

The Steward's House is an integral part of the Farmleigh Estate and it was included as part of the purchase of Farmleigh by the State in 1999. Much of the renovation work was done by the building maintenance service of the Office of Public Works as part of its ongoing programme of works. External contracts directly associated with the renovation work amounted to €568,076 inclusive of VAT. In addition, direct landscaping contracts came to €30,748 inclusive of VAT.

Income Statistics.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

211 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the average wage for a PAYE person working full time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3267/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

212 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the average income for a full-time self-assessed taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3268/08]

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

I understand from the Revenue Commissioners that statistics maintained by them on the incomes of taxpayers do not distinguish between incomes derived from full-time employment and part-time working. It would not be possible to arrive at meaningful figures for average incomes without conducting a protracted re-development of the underlying computer system.

To the extent that official data on average earnings may be available, the Central Statistics Office produces statistics on earnings in the economy, including average earnings. My understanding is that such information is produced in accordance with the European Classification of Economic Activities (NACE) which is the European reference framework for the production and the dissemination of statistics related to economic activity.

Recreational Facilities.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

213 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when the playground at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3269/08]

The Playground at Ashtown in the Phoenix Park is substantially complete. It is currently undergoing final inspections and it is hoped to open the facility shortly.

Public Transport.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

214 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on proposals to open the Phoenix Park to public buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3271/08]

In line with the recommendation outlined in the Phoenix Park Transportation Study published in September 2006, OPW agreed to facilitate a limited public transport service through the Park and is at present in discussions with the relevant agencies in this regard.

Tax Code.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

215 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department in conjunction with the Revenue Commissioners have advised or will advise the embassies of foreign countries who have resident embassies here of their obligations under Irish law to treat Irish national domiciled here and employed by the embassy as PAYE workers and that access to PRSI and other entitlements commonly shared by Irish workers should apply to Irish nationals employed by foreign embassies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3349/08]

As the Deputy may be aware, informing Embassies located in the State on various matters is, generally, done by way of Note to the Heads of the Missions issued by the Protocol Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In this regard, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the Protocol Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, by way of Note dated 28th June 2005, encouraged all Heads of Resident Missions to operate the PAYE system on payments made to local staff.

I am further informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they will provide information and assistance to any Embassy wishing to register for, and operate, the PAYE system on payments to locally engaged staff. In addition, they will deal with any queries Embassy staff may have as regards PAYE matters.

As regards the PRSI system, this is a matter for the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Decentralisation Programme.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

216 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the status of plans to decentralise 200 Departmental jobs to Youghal. [3513/08]

Under the decentralisation programme both the Public Appointments Service and the Valuation Office will transfer 100 posts each to Youghal. The current status with both of these agencies is that arrangements for decentralisation are proceeding in accordance with their implementation plans which have been prepared and submitted by each of the agencies to the Decentralisation Implementation Group.

To date, no staff have been decentralised by the Public Appointments Service, or the Valuation Office. However ten (10) staff in the Public Appointment Service and eleven (11) staff in the Valuation Office are currently in posts in Dublin awaiting a transfer to Youghal. The Public Appointment Service and the Valuation Office are due to relocate to Youghal in 2009.

Social Partnership.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

217 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the steps that have been taken to achieve better value for money in public service delivery, proposed in Towards 2016 with a view to minimising the effect of the public service pay agreement on inflation. [3518/08]

The implementation of the modernisation agenda has been, and continues to be, driven by the various social partnership agreements across the public service. The current social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, builds on the progress made under previous agreements and ensures continued co-operation with change and modernisation initiatives as well as improvements in productivity right across the Public Service. It provides an important framework for meeting the economic and social challenges ahead and builds on previous achievements in areas such as quality customer services, better management of performance, better financial and human resource management, and greater flexibility and openness to change.

Critically, Towards 2016 sets out a mechanism for the verification of progress at sectorial, organisational and grade level in the Public Service through the establishment of a Performance Verification Group for each of the sectors — health, education and local authority sectors, and the Garda Síochána and Defence Forces. Under the terms of Towards 2016, payment of each of the public service pay increases is dependent on verification of satisfactory achievement in relation to co-operation with flexibility and ongoing change, including co-operation with satisfactory implementation of the agenda for modernisation set out in the Agreement, maintenance of stable industrial relations and the absence of industrial action in respect of any matters covered by the Agreement.

The requirement for staff at all levels in the public service to be multi-skilled and flexible is fundamental to the capacity of the civil and public service to deal with the challenging new issues and areas of work created by economic, societal and technological change. In particular, these skills are necessary prerequisites for delivering services in a joined up and integrated way. This means that the civil and public service must increase its focus on the nature and balance of skill mix required.

We have increased the focus on performance and accountability at organisational level and for managers at all levels across the civil service. At the level of the organization, there is now a requirement that annual output statements be submitted to the Oireachtas, along with the annual estimate. This is aimed at clearly linking resources with outputs and outcomes, and demands a rigorous approach to the management of all resources across the civil service.

We have good quality public services and many improvements have been made in recent years but the agenda for change, for enhancing the efficiency of public services and the quality of service to our citizens, is not a static one. It needs to be regularly reviewed and adapted as needs and demands change.

We are taking a range of initiatives in this regard: the efficiency reviews of public service organisations announced in the Budget, the study by the OECD to benchmark the public service in Ireland against other comparable countries and to make recommendations as to future directions for public service reform, and the programme of organisational reviews to examine the capability of individual Departments and Agencies to meet their current service delivery requirements and to deal effectively with future changes in direction and new challenges.

Pay settlements must reflect the economic fundamentals. With strong economic growth and productivity increasing strongly, as we experienced over the last decade, there was scope for greater flexibility in the level of pay increases. Pay developments in the period immediately ahead must reflect the more challenging economic and competitiveness scenario that we now face and be more directly linked to changes in productivity.

The current public service pay agreement under Towards 2016 expires in September 2008 and talks on a new agreement are due to commence soon. Public service pay levels can only increase at a rate that is consistent with budgetary discipline and national competitiveness. In addition the productivity and efficiency of the public service needs to be improved on an ongoing basis.

Flood Relief.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

218 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the remedial action he proposes to take regarding the severe flooding in the Ballycolgan/Skeaghbeg area of Headford, County Galway, the position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3584/08]

An ecological report commissioned by the Commissioners of Public Works is currently being completed. The Commissioners will then finalise their flood mitigation proposals taking account of this report and will consult with landowners and environmental stakeholders. If agreement is reached, it is envisaged that the works will commence during the Summer.

Fiscal Policy.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

219 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on carrying out research to examine the influence of fiscal policies on consumer purchasing and their impact on overweight and obesity, for example, risk benefit assessment of taxation that supports healthy eating and active living, subsidies for healthy food such as fruit and vegetables; if he will carry out such research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3629/08]

I presume the Deputy is referring to one of the 93 recommendations of the National Taskforce on Obesity report "Obesity: the Policy Challenges" published in 2005. Primary responsibility in relation to policy on health promotion including healthy eating, active living and obesity rests with the Minister for Health and Children and the HSE. I understand that the Department of Health and Children is currently finalising a National Nutrition policy which will provide strategic direction on nutrition for the next ten years. The policy will be published in the coming months.

As regards tax, I would be of the strong view that little value could be gleaned from such research since the tax system, through the VAT regime, already favourably differentiates between different food products. Ireland applies a zero VAT rate on the purchase of unprepared food products and to fresh fruit. A positive VAT rate is applied for example to biscuits, takeaway food, chocolate and soft drinks. In this context Irish VAT law must comply with EU VAT law. Ireland also uses price signals for e.g. cigarettes and alcohol through excises and VAT at 21%.

Energy Conservation.

Simon Coveney

Question:

220 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the Government required the exclusive purchase of CFL light bulbs for use in public bodies by the end of 2007, as announced in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007; and if not, the plans there are to introduce such a measure in the near future. [3713/08]

The National Climate Change Strategy required the public sector to use energy efficient lightening solely, in all public buildings. This was already very much in practice in buildings for which the OPW has responsibility, where fluorescent lighting has been the lighting of choice in almost all circumstances except in a very small number of instances for technical or aesthetic reasons.

Also the strategy proposed the exclusive purchase of compact fluorescent lighting in conjunction with a levy on incandescent lamps. The use of incandescent lighting is not practical in commercial or similar buildings because of the frequency of lamp replacement as well as for energy efficiency reasons and the Office of Public Works has ensured that such lighting has been used only in exceptional applications for many years now.

It is the policy of the Office of Public Works to use energy efficient lighting throughout its portfolio of buildings and every opportunity shall be used to improve efficiencies and reduce waste with the proper and economic use of technologies and heightening awareness.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

221 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3763/08]

My Department is responsible for, amongst other things, overall policy in relation to Ireland's EU Structural and Cohesion Funds. It also plays a central role in the development and monitoring of the programmes/projects through which the Funds are drawn down. Ireland has qualified for Structural Funds since we joined the EU in 1973 and for the Cohesion Fund from 1993 when it was established. However, due to the economic progress the country has made, Ireland no longer qualifies for Cohesion Funding since 2004.

Ireland has been allocated some €901m in EU Structural Funds over the period 2007-2013. The European Commission has approved Ireland's National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) which I launched last December. The NSRF sets out the strategic orientation of the funding for the period. The strategy will be implemented through three operational programmes, one national European Social Fund (ESF) programme and two regional European Regional Development Programme (ERDF) programmes as set out in table 1 below.

Table 1 — NSRF 2007-2013 Operational Programmes

NSRF 2007-2013

Operational Programme

Managing Authority

Human Capital Investment OP

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

S&E Regional OP

Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly

BMW Regional OP

Border, Midland & Western Regional Assembly

In the 2000-2006 round of Funding, the funds were implemented under the National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/CSF) 2000-2006 through seven operational programmes as set out in table 2 below.

Table 2 — NDP/CSF 2000-2006 Operational Programmes

NDP/CSF 2000-2006

Operational Programme

Managing Authority

Economic and Social Infrastructure OP

Department of Transport

Employment and HumanResources OP

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Productive Sector OP

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

S&E Regional OP

Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly

BMW Regional OP

Border, Midland & Western Regional Assembly

Peace OP

Special EU Programmes Body

Technical Assistance OP

Department of Finance

For the 1994-1999 round of funding, there were nine operational programmes and for the 1989-1993 round there were twelve operational programmes. Prior to 1989, funding was managed on a project basis with the relevant Government Department/Agency responsible for project implementation.

As can be seen in table 2 above, my Department is directly responsible for implementing the Technical Assistance Operational Programmes. Table 3 sets out details of receipts received.

Table 3 — Receipts under Technical Assistance Operational Programmes

Year

Technical Assistance OP 1994-1999

Technical Assistance OP 2000-2006

(€m)

(€m)

1996

2.8

1997

1998

1.9

1999

1.5

2000

2001

0.6

2002

2003

0.9

2004

0.4

1.9

2005

0.3

0.6

2006

0.2

Note: there were no receipts received prior to 1996 or in 2007.

Details of receipts Ireland has received from the EU Budget under the various funds, including the Structural and Cohesion Funds, since we joined the EU in 1973 can be obtained from the publication "Budgetary and Economic Statistics" published by my Department last year. Table 11 of this publication refers to the breakdown of receipts. The document can be obtained from the following website address: http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/other/ BES2007V2.pdf

Departmental Staff.

Denis Naughten

Question:

222 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the requirements to enable a person to be listed on the priority transfer list within the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3826/08]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, as in all other Departments and Offices, it is possible to be listed for a priority transfer at grades represented by Civil Public & Services Union, i.e. Clerical Officer and Staff Officer grades.

An Officer must be on the appropriate Central Transfer List for the Revenue location in question. Human Resources Division, Revenue, must receive formal written CPSU supported approval on behalf of the particular officer to be listed for priority transfer to that location.

Decentralisation Programme.

Denis Naughten

Question:

223 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the status of the decentralisation of his staff to Tullamore; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3831/08]

To date one hundred and twenty three (123) staff of my Department have decentralised to Tullamore and a further two (2) have accepted offers of decentralisation. It is envisaged that a further five (5) will have relocated to Tullamore by the end of 2008, bringing to one hundred and thirty (130) the overall number of posts which will have been decentralised to Tullamore.

My Department decentralised to Tullamore in July 2006 and I am advised by the Office of Public Works that the cost of purchasing and fitting out of the office in Tullamore was €10,034,000.

Denis Naughten

Question:

224 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the status of the decentralisation of the Office of Public Works to Claremorris ; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3832/08]

The Office of Public Works (OPW) commenced operations in the OPW advance office in Claremorris in September 2007. There are 29 staff currently in place out of the 142 posts to be transferred to this location. OPW has acquired the site for their permanent offices in Claremorris at a cost of €2.5m and it is expected that this building will be ready for occupation in 2009.

Disabled Drivers.

David Stanton

Question:

225 Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of people who received tax relief under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme in 2007; the number of people who are eligible to qualify for relief under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3851/08]

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax, VAT and excise duty on fuel (up to certain limits), and exemption from motor tax, on the purchase and use of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities.

Based on the most recent data available from the Revenue Commissioners it is estimated that the total number of people in/claimants under the scheme during 2007 was around 12,500, of whom some 5,900 people obtained VRT and VAT relief during 2007 on the purchase of a vehicle. It is estimated that the overall cost of the scheme in 2007 amounted to €74 million.

David Stanton

Question:

226 Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of people who appealed a decision to refuse them tax relief in 2007 under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme; the number who were successful in their appeal in 2007; the average waiting time for an appeal under this scheme to be heard by the Medical Board of Appeal; the location where appeals are heard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3852/08]

I understand from the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, that 420 appeals were received during 2007 by the Medical Board of Appeal against decisions by Senior Medical Officers of the Health Service Executive to refuse Primary Medical Certificates.

The Medical Board of Appeal contacted some 460 people regarding offers of appointments in 2007, of whom 313 were assessed by the Board, the remainder declined the appointment or did not turn up for the appointment. Fifty Seven of the people assessed by the Medical Board of Appeal were successful in their appeal. The average waiting time for appeals in 2007 was 6 months, however, the waiting time is being continually reduced.

Appeals are normally heard in the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Rochestown Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. The Board has in the past held regional sessions in Cork and Donegal when sufficient appellants were available from the regions.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

227 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3863/08]

Parliamentary Questions are dealt with, as the need arises, by the staff in the sections dealing with the particular issue(s) raised in individual Parliamentary Questions. The number and level of staff and time spent on an individual answer depends on the complexity and importance of the issue raised , the form in which the information exists in the Department, and the form of the proposed response, i.e. whether oral or written.

As the processing of individual Parliamentary Questions is undertaken as part of the normal day to day work of individual sections within the Department it is not possible to isolate the administrative costs of processing Parliamentary Questions from the overall administrative costs of the Department.

Mental Health Services.

Joan Burton

Question:

228 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is her intention to relocate the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum to the site of the proposed prison at Thornton Hall; if her attention has been drawn to the serious objections to this both from those interested in mental health services and local residents in the Thornton Hall area; the steps taken by her Department in relation to any such proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3375/08]

In May 2006, the Government formally approved the development of a new national forensic mental health facility at Thornton Hall, Co Dublin, adjacent to the new prison. The new hospital facility will provide a therapeutic, forensic psychiatric service to the highest international standards, in a state-of–the-art building. This decision was consistent with "A Vision for Change" — the report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, which recommended that the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) should be replaced or remodelled to allow it to provide care and treatment in a modern, up-to-date humane setting and that the capacity of the CMH should be maximised.

The redevelopment of the CMH will constitute a separate capital development project independent of the prison complex to replace Mountjoy Prison, and will be owned and managed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The new hospital will be built on its own campus and will retain its identity as a distinct therapeutic health facility with a separate entrance and address to the prison complex.

The development of the new CMH is the responsibility of the HSE and at present, a project team is progressing the development of the new hospital. It is understood that the land at Thornton Hall is currently zoned for agricultural use and that preliminary discussions have taken place between the HSE and Fingal County Council regarding the planning process for the project; I am advised that the project will require planning permission. The HSE will seek planning permission at the appropriate time and will engage in the normal process of public consultation in this regard.

Eating Disorders.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

229 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the implementation of a policy for the provision of an integrated inter-Departmental approach to addressing overweight and obesity; if she will implement same policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3500/08]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

230 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will implement an evaluation of the National Strategy on Obesity in conjunction with all Government Departments, relevant bodies and agencies, industry and consumer groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3501/08]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

231 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the development and implementation, as part of a health impact assessment, schemes and policies, including public procurement, that encourage healthy eating and active living, particularly those aimed at children and vulnerable groups in conjunction with all Government Departments; if she will implement same policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3502/08]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

233 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on seeking the views of children and young people and those members of the population who are, at present, overweight or obese as part of addressing overweight and obesity; if she will undertake research on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3578/08]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

234 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on using the health and immunisation programme in primary schools as an opportunity to work in partnership with parents and children in development life skills, which support healthy eating and active living, in detecting, by measurement, children who are at risk of overweight or underweight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3612/08]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

235 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on seeking the views of children and young people and those members of the population who are, at present, overweight or obese as part of addressing overweight and obesity; if she will undertake same research; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3627/08]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

281 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the developments and implementation as part of a health impact assessment, schemes and policies, including public procurement, that encourage healthy eating and active living, particularly those aimed at children and vulnerable groups; if she will develop and implement same policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3506/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 to 231, inclusive, 233 to 235, inclusive, and 281 together.

The National Taskforce on Obesity published its report in 2005. The Taskforce recommended a multi-sectoral approach involving State agencies, Government Departments and the private sectors.

The Taskforce saw the school as a key setting in tackling overweight and obesity in children and recommended that schools should be encouraged to develop consistent policies to promote healthy eating and active living. My Department has published "Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Preschools" and "Food and Nutrition guidelines for Primary Schools" and guidelines for post-primary schools are currently being finalised. These guidelines are designed to assist schools to develop a healthy eating policy and promote the concept of healthy eating through a supportive school community. The guidelines will be available as part of a training resource for teachers – trained jointly by Community Dietitians and SPHE Co-ordinators.

My Department is engaged with other Departments to ensure that the impact on health is considered in policy development and to ensure progress in implementation of those recommendations of the Taskforce which are outside the remit of my Department.

A key recommendation of the Taskforce was the development of a National Nutrition Policy. My Department is currently finalising this policy, which will provide strategic direction on nutrition for the next ten years. The target group is young people, 0-18 years, and the priority actions are intended to reduce obesity and food poverty. The policy will be published this spring.The HSE has established a Working Group to implement the health sector recommendations of the Taskforce on Obesity for which the HSE has the lead responsibility and for which €3 million has been allocated. Funding has been provided by the HSE to University College Dublin to record height and weight in children at school entry point as part of an EU initiative to counteract obesity. The development of a national database to monitor prevalence trends of growth, overweight and obesity was also funded. The HSE is working with the Irish Universities Nutritional Alliance to research food and nutrition in children. Funding has also been allocated to the Irish Heart Foundation to undertake a project on marketing of foods to children.

Health Service Allowances.

Enda Kenny

Question:

232 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the medical criteria that applies where domiciliary care allowance is awarded; and the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused this allowance. [3508/08]

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Eligible children from birth to the age of 16 who are living at home and who have a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention which is substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age may qualify for DCA. The condition must be likely to last for at least one year.

Eligibility is determined primarily by reference to the degree of additional care and attention required by the child rather than to the type of disability involved, subject to a means test. While no condition is debarred, conditions such as Asthma, Diabetes or Epilepsy are not normally considered unless there is a very high degree of additional care and attention required.

As the administration of the allowance is a matter for the Health Service Executive 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.

Questions Nos. 233 to 235, inclusive, answered with Question No. 229.

Child Care Services.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

236 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on ensuring that grant recipients under the equality opportunities childcare programme provide confirmation that they are in compliance with the statutory requirements in relation to healthy and active living; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3631/08]

The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 has now closed to applicants and is succeeded by the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP). Under both programmes all grant applications involve an assessment with reference to the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006. Regulations 5, 26 (1) and 28 (b) specifically address the issues of healthy eating and active living.

It is considered that the appraisal process of grant applications under the EOCP and NCIP provides an effective framework to ensure that services in receipt of funding comply with statutory requirements.

Health Services.

M. J. Nolan

Question:

237 Deputy M. J. Nolan asked the Minister for Health and Children when a physiotherapy service will be provided for a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3049/08]

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.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

238 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress she has made in introducing a national cervical screening programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3050/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

256 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that mortality rates for cervical cancer here are rising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3245/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 256 together.

The National Cancer Registry has advised my Department that the number of deaths from cervical cancer has been increasing on average by about 1% per year. However, when adjusted for population growth, there has been no overall increase, and when also adjusted for age there has been a 1% average decrease in mortality rates.

The roll-out of a national cervical screening programme is the most efficient population approach to preventing and controlling cervical cancer. The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) is planning to roll out such a programme on a national basis around the middle of this year. Women aged 25 to 44 years old will be screened every 3 years; women aged 45 to 60 will be screened every 5 years. The service will be available free of charge to eligible women everywhere in the country. Approximately 230,000 women will be screened annually, assuming an 80% take up by eligible women.

All elements of the programme, call/recall, smear taking, laboratories, colposcopy and treatment services will be quality assured, organised and managed to deliver a single integrated national service. The NCSS is in the process of procuring quality assured internationally accredited laboratory capacity. The laboratories will be required to meet turnaround times of ten working days. This process is due to be completed by end March. In terms of smeartaker capacity, the NCSS completed a stakeholder consultation process in November 2007 and published a draft smeartaker contract for consultation in the first week of January this year. This consultation process will end on 28 February next and the actual smeartaker contract will be published shortly thereafter. The programme will be based on a turnaround time of four weeks for smear testing. The NCSS is also carrying out a baseline quality audit of existing clinical colposcopy services in the State to establish their fitness for purpose in the context of a national cervical screening programme.

Additional revenue funding of €5.0m was allocated to the NCSS in 2007 for the roll-out of the programme and an additional €15.0m has been allocated in 2008. An additional 30 posts have been approved to facilitate integration and roll-out of the programme.

Health Services.

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

239 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will respond to correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3066/08]

Finian McGrath

Question:

301 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will investigate the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will respond to the issues raised. [3741/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 301 together.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. The Executive, therefore, is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputies. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputies.

Care of the Elderly.

Joe McHugh

Question:

240 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason there has been a lack of information regarding the nursing home support scheme, also known as fair deal, which, if implemented would bring about major changes in the care of the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3073/08]

Since the announcement of the Fair Deal in December 2006, information leaflets and frequently asked questions outlining the proposals of the scheme have been available on the Department's website. In addition, the Department has endeavoured to address all queries, concerns and representations from interest groups, public representatives and members of the public.

The Bill providing for the Fair Deal is at an advanced stage and being finalised by the Office of the Attorney General at present. The Minister proposes to publish the Bill as soon as possible following Government approval. Once the Bill has been published additional information will be made available.

Nursing Home Accommodation.

Joe McHugh

Question:

241 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to tackle the arbitrary nature of the allocation of beds for patients requiring long-term care; the way she plans to tackle the unfair system of admission to nursing homes, which previously exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3074/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Nursing Home Subventions.

Joe McHugh

Question:

242 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will explain the proposal that 80% of disposable income be charged to patients admitted to nursing homes; if it will be 80% of gross or net income; the way business people and the self-employed will be assessed; if the 80% will be the full contribution or if further financial help will be sought from the family; the way the charge on the estate of the deceased person will be estimated and collected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3075/08]

Under the Fair Deal, individuals who require long-term residential care will contribute a maximum of 80% of their net assessable income whether for public or private nursing home care. In calculating an individual's net assessable income, it is proposed that account can be taken of specified items of expenditure.

Depending on the amount of a person's assessable income, there may also be a contribution of up to 5% of a person's assets. The State will meet the balance of cost thereafter in public or private nursing homes and an individual's family and/or friends will not have to contribute towards the cost of their care. An individual can choose any nursing home subject to a) its ability to meet their care needs and b) availability.

The payment of the portion of the contribution relating to assets can be paid at the time when care is received, or may be deferred until the settlement of the individual's estate if they so wish. If an individual opts to defer this portion of the contribution, the Revenue Commissioners will collect it upon settlement of their estate.

Where the contribution is based on the principal private residence, it will be capped at a maximum of 15%, or 7.5% in the case of one spouse going long-term residential care while the other remains in the home. This means that after three years in care, an individual will not be liable for any further deferred contribution based on the principal residence.

Where a spouse or certain dependants are living in the principal residence, the contribution may be further deferred until after the death of that spouse or dependant, or until such time as a person previously qualifying as a dependant ceases to qualify as such.

Finally, individuals will be required to submit information on their income and assets in a manner and format specified by the HSE for the purposes of the financial assessment. This requirement will apply to all who wish to avail of the scheme including the self-employed.

Care of the Elderly.

Joe McHugh

Question:

243 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to address the inadequacies of residential services, both in nursing homes and in the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3076/08]

The development of Services for Older People is a priority for the Government. This is reflected in the funding committed to services for older people in Budgets 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2006, the Government a significant expansion of services for older people with a full year cost of €150m. In 2007 a full year package of €255m was allocated for services for older people. Budget 2008 provided an additional €135m bringing the total spend over the last three years to €540m.

Government policy in relation to older people is to support people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and, where this is not possible, to support access to quality long-term residential care. This policy approach is renewed and developed in the latest partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

During the period from 2005 to 2007 the Health Service Executive secured 1,995 private contract beds. A further 200 private contract beds will be made available in the early part of 2008. These 200 contract beds, together with 100 new public beds due to come on stream early this year in St. Marys in the Phoenix Park, will result in an additional 300 beds being made available in the near term. The public fast-track initiative provided for 860 new public beds by the end of 2008. This work commenced in 2007 and is continuing throughout 2008.

Home Care Packages are an additional support over and above existing mainstream community services and are used to maintain an older person at home via additional supports and therapy services. They are designed to be flexible and are particularly targeted at those at risk of admission to long-term care, inappropriate admission to acute hospital or requiring discharge home from acute hospital. The Packages are playing an increasing role in supporting people to remain in their own homes and communities. Over the years 2006 and 2007, additional funding of over €110m was made available to develop the Home Care Package initiative.

Budget 2008 provided an additional €22m revenue funding for a range of community based service initiatives including:

360 new Home Care Packages, benefiting and estimated 800 people

over 200,000 additional Home-Help Hours

Approx. 1,000 additional Day/Respite places

Enhanced supports at national level for voluntary groups working on delivering services in partnership with the HSE

Foster Care.

Michael Ring

Question:

244 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if there are plans for the future to have specialised facilities in place for children in foster care with special needs or difficulties. [3078/08]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and 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 the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

245 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health and Children the statutory bodies for which she has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3093/08]

The information requested by the Deputy is as set out in the following table.

Name of Statutory body

Establishment Date

An Bord Uchtála (the Adoption Board)

01/01/1953

An Board Altranais — The Nursing Board

Established 07/06/1952. Reconstituted under Section 6 of Nurses Act 1985 on 01/09/1986

Children Acts Advisory Board (formerly Special Residential Services Board)

23/07/2007 — CAAB 07/11/ 2003 — SRSB

Consultative Council on Hepatitis C

26/11/1996

Crisis Pregnancy Agency

02/10/2001

Dental Council

13/11/1985

Drug Treatment Centre Board

22/04/1988

Dublin Dental Hospital Board

17/07/1963

Food Safety Authority of Ireland

01/01/1999

Food Safety Promotion Board Operates as safe food

Established under the British Irish Agreement Act 1999-02/12/1999

Health Insurance Authority

01/02/2001

Health & Social Care Professionals Council

20/03/2007

Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office

04/12/2006

Health Research Board

14/08/1986

Health Service Executive

01/01/2005

HIQA

15/05/2007

Irish Blood Transfusion Service Board

15/04/1965

Irish Medicines Board

01/01/1996

Medical Council

Established under section 6 of Medical Practitioners Act 1978-commenced operation 01/04/1979

Mental Health Commission

01/04/2002

National Cancer Screening Services Board

01/01/2007

National Cancer Registry Board

04/02/1991

National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery

30/11/1999

National Council on Aging and Older People

19/03/1997

National Haemophilia Council

22/07/2004

National Paediatric Hospital Development Board

23/05/ 2007

National Social Work Qualifications Board

27/02/1997

National Treatment Purchase Fund

22/04/2004

Office for Tobacco Control

Set up on an administrative basis in late 2000 pending legislation and received statutory status in 01/05/2002, with the enactment of section 2 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act, 2002.

Opticians Board

14/11/1956

Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland

Established 1875 — Reconstituted 21/05/2007 under 2007 Act

Poisons Council

26/06/1961

Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board

Established under section 39 of Medical Practitioners Act 1978 with effect from 07/03/1980

Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council

10/04/2000

Women’s Health Council

25/06/1997

Beaumont Hospital Board

02/08/1977

St James’s Hospital Board

11/06/1971

Leopardstown Park Hospital Board

31/03/1979

St Luke’s Hospital Board

30/07/1999

AMINCH – Adelaide & Meath Hospital Dublin incorporating The National Children’s Hospital

31/07/1996

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

246 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health and Children the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which she has responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3108/08]

The figures requested are contained in the table below. In the period requested a number of bodies have ceased operations and a number of new bodies have been established. The Irish Health Services Accreditation Board has been integrated within the Health Information and Quality Authority. The former Special Residential Services Board is now known as the Children's Acts Advisory Board. The Economic and Social Research Institute and Comhairle na nOspidéal are now included within the Health Service Executive Vote 40.

Statutory Body

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

Total

National Council on Ageing

1,510,000

1,440,000

1,347,000

1,202,000

1,055,000

6,554,000

National Social Work Qualification

573,000

557,000

511,000

549,000

552,000

2,742,000

Irish Medicines Board

4,924,000

4,025,000

3,856,000

2,251,000

1,645,000

16,701,000

Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board

9,795,000

8,744,000

7,088,000

9,117,000

7,139,000

41,883,000

Board for the Employment of the Blind

4,717,000

1,100,000

696,000

0

0

6,513,000

Crisis Pregnancy Agency

8,574,000

8,140,000

7,399,000

7,306,000

5,199,000

36,618,000

Food Safety Authority Ireland

18,712,000

17,430,000

17,159,663

16,282,000

11,563,000

81,146,663

Institute of Public Health

1,562,000

1,505,000

1,468,500

978,000

860,439

6,373,939

Health Information & Quality Authority

6,389,000

1,386,000

361,112

0

0

8,136,112

Irish Health Safety Accreditation Board.

843,000

2,464,000

2,342,000

0

0

5,649,000

Mental Health Commission

17,380,000

6,250,000

5,980,000

3,705,000

2,000,000

35,315,000

National Cancer Screening Service

30,419,000

13,693,000

10,606,000

0

0

54,718,000

National Council Professional Development of Nursing & Midwifery

4,200,000

4,350,000

4,220,000

4,092,000

3,939,000

20,801,000

Office of Tobacco Control

2,495,554

2,315,000

1,838,000

0

0

6,648,554

Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council

3,414,850

2,812,000

2,236,000

2,000,000

1,491,000

11,953,850

Children Acts Advisory Board *

2,232,000

1,715,000

2,101,000

1,191,207

0

7,239,207

Women’s Health Council

654,000

631,000

609,000

589,000

505,000

2,988,000

ESRI

0

3,000,000

2,761,000

0

0

5,761,000

Comhairle na nOspidéal

0

0

0

894,000

1,265,000

2,159,000

National Treatment Purchase Fund

91,744,000

78,644,000

64,000,000

9,657,000

0

244,045,000

Food Safety Promotion Board

6,475,000

6,580,000

6,370,000

6,167,000

6,086,000

31,678,000

Health Research Board

36,085,000

30,353,000

27,147,000

20,982,000

2,027,800

116,594,800

Ombudsman for Children

2,080,992

1,266,268

1,018,997

276,082

0

4,642,339

National Cancer Research Board

2,165,000

1,720,000

1,870,000

1,789,000

1,988,000

9,532,000

Interim Health Services Executive

0

0

0

950,710

0

950,710

Health Services.

Liz McManus

Question:

247 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the pay scheme for chiropodists providing a service to GMS card holders has not been reviewed since 1978; and the further reason at a series of independently mediated meetings held between 2003 and 2006 to look at the fee structure at which chiropody representatives with IMPACT made their case, agreement was reached at these meetings, and fifteen months later nothing has been implemented. [3121/08]

Denis Naughten

Question:

311 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting time for approval for an appointment for chiropody in County Roscommon; the steps she is taking to address this backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3811/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 311 together.

There is no statutory obligation on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide chiropody services to GMS patients; however, in practice, arrangements have been made in several regions to provide these services. Before the establishment of the HSE the nature of any arrangements for community chiropody services and the level of service provided were a matter for individual health boards and so a degree of variation in practice developed over time. I understand that 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.

My Department is currently preparing legislation 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.

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. While considerable work has taken place to develop arrangements which would ensure that no top-up charges are applied, it is necessary to ensure that any such arrangements and the process by which they are arrived at comply with the terms of the Competition Act 2002.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, it is the appropriate body to consider the specific matters raised by the Deputies. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have these matters investigated and to have replies issued directly to the Deputies.

Child Care Services.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

248 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when her office will request an application for capital grant funding under the National Child Care Investment Programme 2006 to 2010 by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16 and send it to Pobal for examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3122/08]

As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 — 2010 (NCIP), which will invest €575 million over five years, with €358 million of this in capital grant aid for childcare services.

Initially when seeking capital funding under the NCIP applicants approach the City/County Childcare Committees who assist in the development of applications and assess the local need for the project. When developed, the CCCs forward the application in a portfolio to Pobal, which is engaged to administer the grants, for their examination and assessment. Following Pobal's assessment of the application, it is forwarded to the Childcare Directorate of my Office for final consideration and recommendation to the Secretary General of the Department of Health and Children.

As the Deputy will be aware, the NCIP came into effect from 1 January 2006, with an allocation of €358 million for capital projects during the 5 year period of 2006 — 2010. This funding is allocated for each year subject to the rules governing capital expenditure and the multi-annual investment framework, which are conditions of the sanction given by the Department of Finance each year for capital expenditure, including expenditure under the NCIP. Due to the success of the programme to date, the approved ceiling in 2007 for capital commitments was reached in June. While capital projects continued to be processed during 2007, it was not possible to approve further capital project before January 2008. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the projects processed in 2007 were considered by the Secretary General in January 2008 and additional capital funding amounting to €39 million was approved.

With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the NCIP referred to by the Deputy, I understand this is currently with the South Dublin County Childcare Committee and is expected to be submitted to Pobal as part of their June 2008 portfolio of capital projects. It is anticipated that a further €120 million in NCIP capital grants will be processed during 2008.

Hospital Accommodation.

Joe Costello

Question:

249 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children the additional bed capacity being planned for in the new Mater adult hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3143/08]

Joe Costello

Question:

282 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children the additional bed capacity being planned for in the new Mater adult hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3520/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 282 together.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Services.

Denis Naughten

Question:

250 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the position at Sligo General Hospital with regard to the provision of cancer services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3151/08]

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has designated University College Hospital Galway and Limerick Regional Hospital as the two cancer centres in the Managed Cancer Control Network for the HSE Western Region, which includes Sligo. The designation of cancer centres aims to ensure that patients receive the highest quality care while at the same time allowing local access to services, where appropriate. Where diagnosis and treatment planning is directed and managed by multi-disciplinary teams based at the cancer centres, then much of the treatment (other than surgery) can be delivered in local hospitals, such as Sligo General Hospital. The decisions of the HSE in relation to four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on a managed and phased basis. Prof. Keane is currently engaging in detailed planning to facilitate the orderly phased transfer of services between locations.

Departmental Bodies.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

251 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of task forces currently operating in her Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if she will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3166/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

252 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the task forces established under the auspices of her Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each task force; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3181/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

253 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the task forces established under the auspices of her Department in the past five years; the cost of these task forces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3196/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 to 253, inclusive, together.

Two taskforces have been established by my Department since 2003: the Obesity Taskforce (cost €42,000) and the Taskforce on Sudden Cardiac Death (cost €23,899). The reports of these taskforces, which are published on the Department's website (www.dohc.ie), contain the information in relation to their respective membership, terms of reference, and recommendations. Work is proceeding in relation to the recommendations, which have informed the development of my Department's policy in respect of the areas concerned.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

254 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to her Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3211/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

255 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of civil and public servants in her Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3226/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is not one of the Departments scheduled for decentralisation under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. To date fifty-one civil servants have transferred to decentralising Departments from my Department. Further details in respect of the transfer of these officers is available from the decentralising Departments and I understand that the Deputy has also tabled questions to the relevant Ministers.

Question No. 256 answered with Question No. 238.

Medicinal Products.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

257 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will make a drug (details supplied) available on the GMS in order that general practitioners may give it to high-risk patients pending a decision on a national vaccine programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3246/08]

The HSE maintains a common list of reimbursable medicines for the General Medical Services and Drug Payment schemes. This list is reviewed and amended monthly, as new products become available and deletions are notified. For an item to be reimbursed, it must comply with published criteria, including authorisation status as appropriate, price and, in certain cases, the intended use of the product. In addition, the product must ordinarily be supplied to the public only by medical prescription and should not be advertised or promoted to the public. Products are considered for reimbursement on application to the HSE by a supplier.

Only drugs and medicines which are licensed for dispensing in a community pharmacy, on foot of a doctor's prescription, qualify for reimbursement under the schemes. As the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for screening for cervical cancer vaccine would require a clinical administration, it would not meet the criteria for reimbursement.

As is being done in other jurisdictions, Ireland is now considering the potential role of HPV vaccination in addressing cervical cancer prevention. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has undertaken a scientific assessment of the public health value of HPV following a request from my Department. NIAC and the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) agreed that this work needed to be complemented by a study of the cost effectiveness of the vaccine in the current Irish context. Accordingly, both organisations requested that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) undertake this study. When I have received the results of this work I will then be in a position to take the necessary policy decisions based on the best available national and international evidence. In the meantime, the NCSS is planning to roll-out the National Cervical Screening Programme on a national basis around the middle of this year.

Departmental Bodies.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

258 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the role the Health Information and Quality Authority has in advising on the cost effectiveness of pharmaceutical and other therapies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3254/08]

The functions of the Health Information and Quality Authority, which are set down in Section 8 of the Health Act 2007, include the evaluation of the clinical and cost effectiveness of health technologies including drugs and the provision of advice on these matters to the Minister and to the Health Service Executive. This function will reside within the Health Technology Assessment area of the Authority's structure which is currently being developed.

The details of how these functions will be carried out will be determined in the context the Authority's Corporate Plan, which is currently being finalised, and annual Business Plan which will follow shortly. It is anticipated that some of work in this area will be outsourced and that, where appropriate, the work will draw on international experience.

Health Services.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

259 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if the recommendations of the Pollock Report have been implemented, in particular the number of isolation rooms available to cystic fibrosis sufferers; her plans to make more rooms available; the number of dedicated nurses the Health Service Executive has employed; her plans to provide specialised home care staff for cystic fibrosis patients; the action that will be taken to improve cystic fibrosis care in the next six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3255/08]

Mary Upton

Question:

268 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the average mortality rate for cystic fibrosis patients here; the way this rate compares with other EU countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3319/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 268 together.

Following publication of the Pollock Report in 2005, the Health Service Executive established a Working Group to undertake a detailed review of cystic fibrosis services. The Group, which was multi-disciplinary in its composition and included representation from my Department, was asked to review the current configuration and delivery of services to persons with cystic fibrosis in Ireland. The Group identified a range of service improvements required for persons with Cystic Fibrosis, including the need to increase the level of clinical, nursing and allied health professional staffing in Cystic Fibrosis units around the country.

Arising from the Pollock Report and the emerging recommendations of the Working Group, I identified the development of cystic fibrosis services as a policy priority in the Estimates process. In 2006 and 2007, additional revenue funding of €6.78 million was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to develop services.

44 additional staff dealing with cystic fibrosis have been appointed to date across a number of hospitals, including St Vincent's, Beaumont, Temple Street, Crumlin, Tallaght, Cork University Hospital, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. The necessary funding is available to facilitate the recruitment of a further 37 staff nationally.

The HSE was asked to place a particular focus on the development of services at the National Adult Tertiary Referral Centre at St. Vincent's Hospital. A number of capital projects have recently been completed at the hospital and have helped to improve facilities. These include a new ambulatory care centre, the refurbishment of St. Camillus Ward, and a new Accident and Emergency Department which includes single room accommodation.

However, it is accepted that these developments do not fully address the immediate needs of patients. The HSE has been working intensively with the Hospital and with representatives of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland to progress options for further interim improvements. My Department is advised that the option of developing a modular unit is being examined in this context and the position will be clarified shortly.

The HSE advises that it is fast-tracking the redevelopment of a ward which is adjacent to the main cystic fibrosis treatment area. The project is to commence within the next few weeks and will provide six single rooms. On completion, additional work will begin to provide a further eight single rooms. The HSE advises that this will result in a total of fourteen single rooms for cystic fibrosis patients by the end of the summer.

In the longer term, a new ward block is to be built and will include 120 replacement beds in single en-suite accommodation. The new facility will accommodate cystic fibrosis patients and will include appropriate isolation facilities. Planning permission has been obtained and financial provision has been included in the HSE Capital Plan. The HSE advises that contract notices will be published by the end of February 2008 and the contract is to be awarded in 2008. It will be a condition of the contract that the design build period be not more than 24 months from the date of contract award.

The hospital has also introduced a Home Treatment programme for cystic fibrosis patients which has enabled up to 60% of patients receive certain aspects of their treatment at home.

Beaumont Hospital operates as a regional centre in providing services to adults with cystic fibrosis. In the 2008 Budget, a special allocation of €2.5m capital funding was provided to enable Beaumont hospital to provide out patient facilities for cystic fibrosis patients.

An independent registry for cystic fibrosis has been established. As yet, the data is not available to fully inform analysis relating to median survival in this country. When it is available, the data from the Registry will allow for benchmarking against comparable countries around the world to measure the performance of our health care system.

My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to Deputies on the additional issues raised.

Health Service Funding.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

260 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason Budget 2008 continues to fund the Health Service Executive based on the old health board regional divisions rather than the four new HSE regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3272/08]

Since the establishment of the Health Service Executive (HSE), it has been my intention to present the new Vote 40 in the most transparent and informative format. While this continues to be my objective, the existing accounting process within the HSE does not support this optimal format. The HSE has been working on the design of a unified accounting system and proposals in this regard will be submitted to my Department and the Department of Finance shortly. The current format of Vote 40 will remain until the new unified system (Vote accounting and Accrual accounting) is installed.

Childhood Study.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

261 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the basis for the Government’s decision to include DNA sampling in the scientific longitudinal childhood study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3273/08]

The aim of the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland (NLSCI) is "to study the factors, which contribute to or undermine the well-being of children in contemporary Irish families, and, through this, contribute to the setting of effective and responsive policies relating to children and to the design of services for children and their families". This Study will monitor the development of 18,000 children, an infant cohort of 10,000 and a nine-year-old cohort of 8,000 children, yielding important information about each significant transition throughout their young lives.

In April 2006, the contract to undertake this Study was awarded to a research consortium led by the Economic and Social Research Institute and Trinity College Dublin.

Currently, the contract for the NLSCI does not provide for the collection of DNA material.

Health Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

262 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be offered treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3276/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Services.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

263 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children when it is expected that all facilities from the old Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly will be fully transferred to the new facility on the same site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3277/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

264 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has received a progress report from the Health Service Executive in relation to when it is expected that the new Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly will be opened; the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3278/08]

My Department is informed by the Health Service Executive that a number of Departments transferred to the new Midlands Regional Hospital during 2007 are operational and that discussions are ongoing in relation to the transfer of the remaining existing services.

Health Services.

Michael McGrath

Question:

265 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children when intervention services will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [3281/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. The Executive, therefore, is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Phil Hogan

Question:

266 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children when the senior physiotherapist service will be reinstated at a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3300/08]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal 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.

Mary Upton

Question:

267 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients currently recorded as receiving treatment for cystic fibrosis here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3318/08]

Mary Upton

Question:

269 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of dedicated cystic fibrosis beds that exist in the public health system here: if she has satisfied herself that there are sufficient beds to meet the needs of patients with cystic fibrosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3320/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 269 together.

There are approximately 1,100 people with cystic fibrosis living in the Republic of Ireland. Approximately 45% are adults and 55% are children. The Minister identified the enhancement of services to persons with cystic fibrosis as a key priority. Development funding of €4.78m was provided in 2006 and a further €2m was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to facilitate the recruitment of additional medical, nursing and allied health professional staff to improve services. According to the most recent report from the HSE 44 additional staff have been appointed and funding is available to facilitate the recruitment of 37 additional staff across a range of disciplines. Provision has been included in the HSE Capital Plan 2008- 2013 for a new ward block to provide 120 replacement beds in single en-suite accommodation in St Vincent's University Hospital.

It is intended that the proposed 120 bed development will include dedicated facilities for patients with cystic fibrosis. These facilities will include single room accommodation with en-suite bathrooms, together with appropriate isolation facilities. In addition, the Project Team, which is overseeing the scheme, is giving consideration to the need for separate access routes to the unit.

The HSE advises that contract notices for Design Build Contractors and for Project Managers are to be published by the end of February 2008. The design brief is to be completed by the end of March 2008. The Design Build contract for the project is to be awarded by the end of 2008. The design build period is to be not more than 24 months from the date of contract award — this will be a condition of the contract.

In order to alleviate the more immediate service difficulties for cystic fibrosis patients, the HSE is working intensively with the hospital with a view to identifying and progressing additional improvements. The St. Mark's ward project is an interim solution and will provide additional capacity pending the completion of the 120-bed extension. This area is adjacent to the existing main treatment area for cystic fibrosis patients (St. Paul's Ward). The project is to commence within the next few weeks and will provide six single rooms. On completion, additional work will begin to provide a further eight single rooms. This will result in a total of fourteen single rooms for cystic fibrosis patients by the end of the summer.

My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly on any additional operational issues raised in the Deputy's questions.

Question No. 268 answered with Question No. 259.
Question No. 269 answered with Question No. 267.

Hospital Services.

Mary Upton

Question:

270 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements in place between the Mater Hospital and Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, for lung transplants for cystic fibrosis patients; the number of cystic fibrosis patients who have received transplants in the Mater to date; the number of transplants carried out on Irish cystic fibrosis patients in Newcastle in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3321/08]

An agreement is in place with the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, to undertake lung transplants on Irish patients. The agreement was put in place in 1999 and my Department is advised by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that the arrangement will continue in 2008 and until such time as the Irish system is fully self-sufficient. The arrangement supplements the National Lung Transplant Programme at the Mater Hospital. The programme delivers services to patients with a variety of conditions including Cystic Fibrosis.

As operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the HSE my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on the additional issues raised.

Pharmacy Regulations.

Mary Upton

Question:

271 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of the ongoing negotiations between the Health Service Executive and the Irish Pharmaceutical Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3322/08]

James Reilly

Question:

308 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of her statements (details supplied) she will make a statement on the unilateral action taken by the Health Service Executive issuing a new contract without recourse to an arbitrator, as agreed before Christmas 2007 and with a January 2008 deadline for signing of same contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3776/08]

Denis Naughten

Question:

313 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of discussions between the Health Service Executive and pharmacists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3814/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 271, 308 and 313 together.

At a meeting between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) under Mr. Bill Shipsey SC on 5 December 2007, a process was proposed to the IPU to (i) address their immediate concerns regarding the alleged impact of the proposed revised wholesaler arrangements on GMS-dependent pharmacies and (ii) to provide a basis upon which discussions on a new substantive contract could commence. The IPU was not prepared to accept this proposal from the HSE and, accordingly, no further discussions have taken place under Mr. Shipsey's auspices since then. Notwithstanding the failure to reach agreement, the HSE has offered a draft interim contract to pharmacists to address their main concerns regarding the alleged impact of the proposed revised wholesaler arrangements on GMS-dependent pharmacies. I am informed that the HSE intends to implement the deferred revised wholesaler arrangements from 1st March 2008. The Executive also recently commenced discussions with the IPU and other parties on the development of a new substantive pharmacy contract. The details of the draft interim contract, and the HSE's other intentions in this regard, were set out in a letter to individual community pharmacists on 2nd January 2008.

In the light of the legal position previously outlined in the House, and after further consultation with the Attorney General, the other relevant Departments and the HSE on the best way of progressing the development of a new contract with pharmacists in compliance with competition law, my Department is working to develop appropriate arrangements for the development of contracts and for the setting of the fees payable in respect of contracts with private sector undertakings for the provision of health services on behalf of the HSE. These arrangements may include the establishment of an independent body which would consider the nature of the service to be provided and all other relevant factors in each case and make recommendations to the Government in relation to the fees it considers appropriate. The composition of such a body, its terms of reference and the timescale for its work are amongst the matters to be considered in this regard. In line with the legal advice received, the HSE may enter into discussions with community pharmacists on the non-fee aspects of their contract, with a view to developing a new substantive pharmacy contract.

Hospital Staff.

Sean Sherlock

Question:

272 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children when the two orthodontic surgeons who left St. Finbarr’s Hospital in Cork, serving north and south Lee, west Cork and Kerry, in October 2006 will be replaced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3327/08]

The Deputy's question relates to the funding, 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.

Sean Sherlock

Question:

273 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount paid to private orthodontists in 2006 and 2007 to treat patients referred from St. Finbarr’s Hospital in Cork as a result of the departure of two surgeons from St. Finbarr’s who left 1,000 patients still under treatment and who to date have not been replaced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3328/08]

The Deputy's question relates to the funding, 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.

Sean Sherlock

Question:

274 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps being taken to address the structural and equipment deficiencies at St. Finbarr’s Hospital in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3329/08]

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

Health Services.

Jack Wall

Question:

275 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive occupational therapy in order to meet the needs of their illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3330/08]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal 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.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

276 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children when a replacement school dentist will be put in place for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal which has been without one since October 2006. [3339/08]

The Deputy's question relates to the funding, 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.

Michael Ring

Question:

277 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the support being provided or promised to a service (details supplied) in the south-east region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3345/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Service Staff.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

278 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people in the Health Service Executive who are on the assistant national director pay scale; the title and job specification in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3350/08]

Over 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the number of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the health care needs of the population into the future.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of the Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

279 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if and when speech and language therapy will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3351/08]

As part of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme 2006-2009 under the Disability Strategy, the Government provided the Health Service Executive with an additional €75 million in both 2006 and 2007. This funding included monies to provide new and enhanced services for people with disabilities, to implement Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which came into effect on June 1st 2007 for the under 5's and also for the continuation of the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements.

The Government is also honouring its promise in relation to the Multi-Annual Investment Programme for people with disabilities, with a further €50 million investment which was announced in the 2008 Budget. 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 these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Michael McGrath

Question:

280 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children when a child (details supplied) in County Cork will be given an assessment for speech and language therapy. [3363/08]

As part of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme 2006-2009 under the Disability Strategy, the Government provided the Health Service Executive with an additional €75 million in both 2006 and 2007. This funding included monies to provide new and enhanced services for people with disabilities, to implement Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which came into effect on June 1st 2007 for the under 5's and also for the continuation of the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements.

The Government is also honouring its promise in relation to the Multi-Annual Investment Programme for people with disabilities, with a further €50 million investment which was announced in the 2008 Budget.

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 these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 281 answered with Question No. 229.
Question No. 282 answered with Question No. 249.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

283 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children if the home care package programme for the elderly has been terminated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3573/08]

I am happy to say that the Home Care Package programme has not been terminated and has, in fact, been expanded this year.

Home Care Packages are an additional support over and above existing mainstream community services and are used to maintain an older person at home via additional supports and therapy services. They are designed to be flexible and are particularly targeted at those at risk of admission to long-term care, inappropriate admission to acute hospital or requiring discharge home from acute hospital. The initiative formally commenced in 2006, following a pilot programme in 2005.

Very significant funding of €110 million was provided over the years 2006 and 2007 to develop Home Care Packages. In 2007, the Health Service Executive had put in place 4,350 packages, which benefitted in excess of 10,500 clients.

In Budget 2008, an additional €10 million was allocated to provide 360 extra packages this year, which should benefit in the region of 800 additional people. The Government specifically highlighted community based services for older people, and the expansion of Home Care Packages in particular, as a priority for development funding in the Budget. The the total projected provision by the HSE is over 4,700 packages for this year, benefiting approximately 11,000 people.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

284 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of home care packages that were allocated per county in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3574/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Mental Health Services.

Joe McHugh

Question:

285 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on re-evaluating present policy on asset stripping of mental health property to be re-distributed locally and targeted for specific mental health purposes; the policy in relation to asset stripping of land, bank and property belonging to the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3614/08]

A Vision for Change, the report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, which was launched in January 2006, has been accepted by Government as the basis for the future development of our mental health services. The Report recommends inter alia that a plan to bring about the closure of all mental hospitals should be drawn up and implemented, and that the resources released by these closures should be protected for reinvestment in the mental health service. The Health Services Executive (HSE) has primary responsibility for implementing the recommendations of A Vision for Change.

The HSE has confirmed that progress is continuing on the closure of hospitals in accordance with the recommendations in A Vision for Change. A comprehensive programme for the valuation and sale of mental health facilities is being developed, with a view to selling a number of properties in the next two years. All revenue raised from these sales will be directed towards improving mental health services.

The Irish Psychiatric Association launched a report recently which claims that the proceeds of the sale of assets has been lost to psychiatric services over a 20-25 year period. A small number of assets which have disposed of in the last two years are identified. A Vision for Change is very clear on this issue and recommends that resources, both capital and revenue, should be retained in the mental health service, with the reconfigured mental health services having priority in their disposal. It also recommends that the full economic value of psychiatric hospital buildings and lands should be professionally assessed towards identifying appropriate future use and maximum value and benefit. The value of these assets significantly counterbalances the capital cost of the new mental health services infrastructure requirement. I have asked the HSE to provide me with a report on "The Lie of the Land" Report particularly insofar as it relates to the disposal of assets in the past two years.

The Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, has also made it clear to the HSE, in the context of their Service Plan for 2008, that there can be no question of diverting capital or development funds to meet expenditure pressures arising in relation to core services.

Health Service Funding.

Joe McHugh

Question:

286 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children the services, in view of a cap on over-run of budget spend in 2008, which will be adversely affected, in view of the fact that there is less money in 2008 than 2007; the services which will be subject to cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3615/08]

The Post Budget gross provision ( both current and capital expenditure) for the Health Services Executive for 2008 is €14,931 million. When the provision for the Health (Repayments Scheme) Act is excluded the increase in 2008 is over €1.1 billion or almost 9%. The HSE has received very substantial additional resources from the Exchequer in the three years since its establishment. The revenue funding for the health services in 2004 was €9.8 billion. The revenue (non-capital) funding provided to the HSE for service delivery in 2007 was €13 billion — an increase of €3.2 billion in three years or 10% a year.

It is not the case that funds are issued to the health services by Government in the full knowledge that they were not sufficient to meet the cost of planned services. Each year, the Government decides what level of funding should be made available to the HSE following consideration by the Minister for Finance of the expenditure proposals submitted by all Ministers across the full range of expenditure areas. In the case of health, information and views provided by the HSE are taken into account, as well as my own priorities as the Minister for Health and Children in relation to service developments.

Once the Vote has been determined, it is a matter for the HSE to develop a national service plan within this budget which reflects these priorities. It has to plan and arrange, as necessary, its service/activity levels to meet the obligation on it to provide the most effective services possible within approved resources.

As the Deputy will be aware, revised and improved service planning and expenditure management arrangements are being put in place this year by the HSE.

Hospital Services.

Joe McHugh

Question:

287 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress on the advancement of a radiotherapy centre of excellence for the northwest; the negotiations that have taken place between Letterkenny and Altnagelvin in relation to furthering the plan for the said centre of excellence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3616/08]

Joe McHugh

Question:

289 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Government is providing funding for radiation services in Altnagelvin Hospital; if so, the amount that has been given to this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3620/08]

Joe McHugh

Question:

290 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount the Government paid towards Belfast Hospital, and the way the money was used; the details of the service agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3621/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 287, 289 and 290 together.

The Government decided in July 2005 that the best option for improving geographic access for patients in the North West to radiation oncology services is to (i) facilitate access to Belfast City Hospital (BCH) and (ii) progress consideration of a joint venture for the provision of oncology services in the medium term to patients in the North West from a satellite centre in the North West linked to BCH.

The Minister met with Minister Michael McGimpsey of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland on 28 November last. The potential for further cross border co-operation and collaboration in relation to cancer care, and specifically, provision of a satellite centre for radiation oncology in the North West, linked to BCH was discussed. It was agreed that both Departments would progress this issue through the Joint North/South Feasibility Study on the potential for future co-operation.

Cancer patients in the North West requiring radiation oncology treatment are referred to either St. Luke's Hospital Dublin or to University College Hospital Galway. A Service Level Agreement, between the Health Service Executive (HSE), Belfast City Hospital Trust and Altnagelvin Area Hospital is also in place for the referral of radiation oncology patients from Donegal to BCH.

The specific question raised by the Deputy in relation to this Service Level Agreement relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the HSE under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.

National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Joe McHugh

Question:

288 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children when legislation will be enacted in relation to the fair deal scheme; the role of the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3617/08]

The Bill providing for the Fair Deal scheme is at a very advanced stage and is being finalised by the Office of the Attorney General at present. It is intended to publish the Bill as soon as possible following Government approval.

Under the new nursing home support scheme, A Fair Deal, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) will negotiate prices for long-term care with private nursing home owners on behalf of the State. Where nursing homes agree prices for the purposes of the scheme with the NTPF, the NTPF will recommend the homes to the Health Service Executive for inclusion on the list of nursing homes ‘approved' for the scheme.

While not a matter for the NTPF, private nursing homes will also have to be registered in order to be ‘approved' for the scheme.

Questions Nos. 289 and 290 answered with Question No. 287.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Joe McHugh

Question:

291 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children when Donegal will have BreastCheck; the regularity with which this service will be available; if the service will be on a permanent basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3622/08]

John O'Mahony

Question:

304 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children when BreastCheck will be officially opened at Mayo General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3752/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 304 together.

BreastCheck commenced the screening process in the Western Region last May, with the provision of a mobile unit on the grounds of Roscommon County Hospital. I officially opened the BreastCheck static unit for the Western Region at University College Hospital Galway last December. The expansion of the BreastCheck programme to the West covers counties Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Tipperary North Riding.

An additional €26.7 million capital funding was provided for the construction of two new static units, eight additional mobile units and the provision of state of the art digital equipment. A total of €15 million additional revenue funding has been allocated to cater for national roll-out of the programme. The full complement of 111 staff for roll-out has been approved and recruitment is underway. Staffing already appointed include Clinical Directors, Consultant Radiologists, Consultant Surgeons, Consultant Histopathologists, Consultant Anaesthetists, Medical Scientists, Breast Care Nurses and Radiographers. The screening sequence for roll out to individual counties will be dictated by BreastCheck's operational considerations such as maximising uptake, most efficient use of mobile and static units and radiographic personnel. The Programme is designed to offer repeat screening within an interval of 21-27 months.

The Deputy's specific questions in relation to timeframes for roll-out of the Programme to Donegal and Mayo are the responsibility of the National Cancer Screening Service. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Chief Executive Officer of the Service to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matters raised.

Child Care Services.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

292 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children her views regarding the implementation of the Child Care (Pre School Services) Regulations 1996 and Child Care (Pre School) Services (Amendment) Regulations 1997 ensuring that pre schools services support healthy eating and active living; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3630/08]

The 1996 and 1997 Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations referred to by the Deputy, were replaced, with effect from 3rd September 2007, by the new and revised Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006.

Under the new Regulations and associated explanatory guide, measures to support healthy eating and active living are provided for. Regulation 5 states that ‘A person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure that each child's learning, development and well-being is facilitated within the daily life of the service through the provision of the appropriate opportunities, experiences, activities, interaction, materials and equipment, having regard to the age and stage of development of the child and the child's cultural context.'

The issue of ‘healthy eating' is specifically addressed in Regulation 26 (1) which states that ‘A person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure that suitable, sufficient, nutritious and varied food is available for a pre-school child attending the service.'. Moreover, the explanatory guide refers that providers take account of the ‘Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Pre-School Services' published by the Department of Health and Children in 2004 when providing nutritious food and drink.

‘Active living' is also expressly addressed in the Regulations; Regulation 28 (b) provides that the pre-school service should have ‘adequate and suitable facilities for a pre-school child to play indoors and outdoors during the day.'. The accompanying explanatory guide also provides guidance on outdoor play and states that "Children in part-time or full-day care services should have access to the outdoors on a daily basis, weather permitting.".

It is considered that the new Regulations provide an effective framework for the continued development and advancement of healthy eating and active living in pre-school services.

Medical Cards.

Finian McGrath

Question:

293 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 will be assisted. [3639/08]

Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In 2005 the GP visit card was introduced as a graduated benefit so that people on moderate and lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card would not be deterred on cost grounds from visiting their GP.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for these benefits, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has therefore requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Finian McGrath

Question:

294 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will assist in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [3641/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

295 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive to Parliamentary Question No. 82 of 21 November 2007. [3646/08]

My Department has made inquiries with the Health Service Executive in relation to this matter and is informed that a reply has issued to the Deputy.

Proposed Legislation.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

296 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the continuing delay in bringing forward legislation to prohibit the use of sunbeds by persons under 16 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3647/08]

Work on a Public Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which will include a prohibition on the under-age use of sunbeds, is proceeding and it is expected that proposals will be submitted for Government decision shortly.

Infectious Diseases.

Richard Bruton

Question:

297 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the incidences of hospital infections of different kinds in the major Dublin hospitals; if she will provide an indication of the trend in these infection incidences since reporting began; and the extent to which she is satisfied with the progress to date in meeting the targets for containing this problem. [3656/08]

I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling all Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs), including MRSA and C Difficile, continues to be a priority for the government and for the Health Service Executive (HSE).

MRSA is not a notifiable disease. However, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre of the HSE collects data on MRSA. In 2007, 43 Irish laboratories serving 64 acute hospitals (public and private) participated in their data collection system representing an estimated 98% coverage of the Irish population. At present we do not have the relevant statistics for each individual hospital. However the total number of MRSA cases recorded over the last five years was 445 cases in 2002, 480 cases in 2003, 553 cases in 2004, 592 cases in 2005, 588 cases in 2006 and 432 cases by the end of the 3rd Quarter in 2007.

Clostridium difficile, which is another significant HCAI, is not a notifiable disease and, as a result, it is difficult to quantify the extent of infection in the health care system. However, Clostridium difficile infection was examined in the Third Prevalence Survey of Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs) in acute hospitals in 2006. The survey found that thirty-six patients had Clostridium difficile representing 0.5% of patients studied.

The extent to which hospitals are affected by HCAIs such as MRSA varies with the type of hospital. In the 2006 prevalence survey of healthcare associated infections, the prevalence of MRSA was 0.5% in tertiary/regional and general hospitals, and was zero in specialist hospitals.

A National Surveillance System has recently been established by the HSE to collect data and provide information on a quarterly basis on four key areas, to monitor HCAIs in our healthcare system:

1. Staphylococcus bacteraemia;

2. Antibiotic consumption;

3. Alcohol gel use;

4. MRSA surveillance in Intensive Care Units.

The data for 2006 is currently being finalised and a report will be released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in the near future. This report will include rates of MRSA bloodstream infection, listed by individual hospital. Data for 2007 will be available in early 2008 and MRSA bloodstream infection rates for all publicly funded hospitals will be published quarterly thereafter. All of this will greatly assist in the monitoring of improvements in infection control.

The HSE launched a National Infection Control Action Plan in March 2007. An Infection Control Steering Group, chaired by Dr. Pat Doorley, National Director (Population Health) is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the plan. Over the next three to five years, the HSE aims to reduce HCAIs by 20%, MRSA infections by 30% and antibiotic consumption by 20%. Achievement of these targets will benefit all patients who are at risk. These targets will be achieved through the development of national and local level action plans to reduce the potential for spread of infections between persons in healthcare settings, and, in addition, will focus on reducing antibiotic use in Ireland. The Steering Group is supported by eight Local Implementation Teams which will ensure that all local facilities are focused on achieving the national targets.

Improvements on hygiene are critical to effective infection control. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) undertook a comprehensive review of hygiene in our hospitals in 2007 against hygiene standards developed by the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board. HIQA published its report, the National Hygiene Services Quality Review, on 13th November, 2007. The report represents a thorough assessment of how hygiene services are provided and managed in 51 HSE-funded acute care hospitals. Hospitals generally performed well on hygiene in the service delivery area. Most hospitals achieved either extensive or exceptional compliance with the standard in the service delivery section of the report. However, the results were poor on governance. While the good hygiene practice of front line staff highlighted in the report is vital, real improvement in this whole area also depends heavily on good leadership and a system of governance. HIQA is currently working with managers and clinicians to develop national standards for Infection Prevention and Control. When completed these, along with the national hygiene standards, will provide a comprehensive framework to help reduce the spread of infection and improve the quality of our health care.

The availability of isolation facilities is an important factor in the overall solution to the issue of reducing incidence of infection. I have instructed the HSE that designated private beds should be used where isolation facilities are required for patients who contract MRSA and this policy has been adopted by the HSE. New environmental building guidelines are being prepared by the HSE to inform infection control policy in all new builds and refurbishments and the HSE is committed to ensuring that such facilities are in line with international best practice including the provision of adequate numbers of single units.

While accepting that not all HCAIs are preventable, I am satisfied that significant steps are being taken to reduce the rates of infections and to treat them promptly when they occur.

Health Service Staff.

John Cregan

Question:

298 Deputy John Cregan asked the Minister for Health and Children when the Health Service Executive will be in a position to recruit home helps in the mid-west region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3657/08]

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

299 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the extreme circumstances surrounding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16, she will intervene immediately to secure them a safe nursing home bed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3661/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Service Staff.

Joe Costello

Question:

300 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will respond to the concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3665/08]

Over 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the number of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of the Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.

Question No. 301 answered with Question No. 239.

Health Services.

Finian McGrath

Question:

302 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will assist persons (details supplied); and if she will respond to the issues raised. [3742/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Housing Aid for the Elderly.

Michael McGrath

Question:

303 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme. [3744/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. The HSE's responsibility includes the operation of the Housing Aid Scheme for the Elderly, on behalf of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. The Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 304 answered with Question No. 291.

Hospital Accommodation.

John O'Mahony

Question:

305 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children her proposals for funding 14 palliative care beds adjacent to Mayo General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3753/08]

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

John O'Mahony

Question:

306 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children the services available to cystic fibrosis patients in Mayo; the locations where treatment can be received; the number of staff employed in CF services and their grades; the situation regarding the building of a CF isolation unit at Mayo General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3754/08]

There are approximately 1,100 people with cystic fibrosis living in the Republic of Ireland. Approximately 45% are adults and 55% are children. I have identified the enhancement of services to persons with cystic fibrosis as a key priority. Development funding of €4.78m was provided in 2006 and a further €2m was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to facilitate the recruitment of additional medical, nursing and allied health professional staff to improve services.

In regard to information relating to County Mayo specifically, as this is a detailed operational matter my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the position investigated and to have a detailed reply issued directly to the Deputy.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

307 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children the names of the programmes and schemes operated by her Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3765/08]

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available within my Department in the format requested.

In relation to EU funding which may have been received by the HSE or the former health boards over the period in question, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 308 answered with Question No. 271.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Michael Ring

Question:

309 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for occupational therapy for their fine motor skills development. [3777/08]

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.

National Lottery Funding.

Alan Shatter

Question:

310 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that she has received a grant application from an association (details supplied); if she will grant the request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3778/08]

I can confirm that the Department received an application for a grant from the Health and Children allocation of National Lottery funds, in respect of the organisation referred to. There is a protocol in the Department of Health and Children for processing applications for National Lottery grants. Following assessment, evaluation and recommendation applications are considered in the context of the overall level of funds available. This application is one of many under consideration for a grant from the Department of Health and Children and the organisation in question will be informed as soon as a decision has been made.

Question No. 311 answered with Question No. 247.

Departmental Strategies.

Denis Naughten

Question:

312 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken to implement the National Diabetes Strategy; when the report of the Expert Advisory Group on Diabetes will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3812/08]

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. As the Expert Advisory Group on Diabetes is under the auspices of the Health Service Executive, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 313 answered with Question No. 271.

Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme.

Denis Naughten

Question:

314 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that offers made to elderly persons or their representatives under the nursing home repayment scheme fall short of their payments to the institutions in question; if provision in statute has been made for such underpayments; the steps she is taking to ensure that the full entitlement is offered to elderly persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3815/08]

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for administering the health repayment scheme in conjunction with the appointed scheme administrator KPMG/McCann Fitzgerald. The Scheme provides a mechanism to repay recoverable health charges for publicly funded long stay residential care. Repayments include both the actual charge paid and an amount to take account of inflation (using the Consumer Price Index) since the time the person involved was charged.

The scheme also provides for an independent appeals process to allow applicants to appeal the decision of the scheme administrator.

Denis Naughten

Question:

315 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applications received under the nursing home repayment scheme; the number of applicants issued offers to date; the number which have reviewed the offer made by the scheme; the number of reviews decided; the number of which reviews have received an increased offer; the number of payments made to date; the number of applications to be decided upon; the average waiting time to process an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3816/08]

Over 36,000 applications for living and deceased patients have been received under the Health Repayment Scheme. Over 16,500 of the claims received by the Scheme Administrator have been concluded, which includes over 9,650 offers of repayment totalling more than €182 million. Further offers continue to be issued every week. Of the 9,650 offers made, almost 7,200 payments in the sum of €142m have been made to date.

The Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office is an independent office established to provide an appeals service to those who wish to appeal the decision of the Scheme Administrator under the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006.

Up to 1 February 2008 the Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office had received 1,756 completed appeal forms. Decisions have issued in 546 cases and 98 of these decisions will result in an increased offer to the claimant.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has indicated that the Scheme is progressing as speedily as possible and every effort is being made to settle claims as quickly as possible. A very high number of deficiencies have appeared on claim forms which must each be rectified before they can be processed. It is estimated that approximately two thirds of all claim forms were submitted without some critical piece of information which meant that the claim could not be processed until the Scheme Administrator had written to the potential claimant and received the information required.

The Scheme Administrator has given assurances to the HSE that the vast majority of claims submitted by the public will be dealt with within the 2 year time frame allotted for the scheme which is due to end in June 2008. If there are any outstanding claims at the end of June 2008, such claims will be kept to an absolute minimum and will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists.

Denis Naughten

Question:

316 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting time for approval of an ophthalmology appointment in County Roscommon; the steps she is taking to address the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3817/08]

The management of out-patient waiting lists is a matter for the Health Service Executive and the individual hospitals concerned. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Jack Wall

Question:

317 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who was allocated an MRI scan in October 2007 for a date on 23 March 2009 can have a reassessment of the date or an earlier appointment should one become available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3823/08]

The management of out-patient waiting lists is a matter for the Health Service Executive and the individual hospitals concerned. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Service Expenditure.

Damien English

Question:

318 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health and Children the in-house cleaning costs and contract cleaning service costs for each hospital in the State for the years 2005 and 2007; and if she will provide the information in tabular readable form. [3840/08]

Damien English

Question:

319 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health and Children the projected and budgeted cleaning costs and contract cleaning service costs for each hospital in the State for 2008; and if she will provide the information in tabular readable form. [3841/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 319 together.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the HSE under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services, including cleaning costs, has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Damien English

Question:

320 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health and Children the provisions that have been made to help children with dyslexia in County Meath for 2008; the supports her Department offers on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3847/08]

As part of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme 2006-2009 under the Disability Strategy, the Government provided the Health Service Executive with an additional €75m in both 2006 and 2007. This funding included monies to provide new and enhanced services for people with disabilities, to implement Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which came into effect on June 1st 2007 for the under 5s and also for the continuation of the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements.

The Government is also honouring its promise in relation to the Multi-Annual Investment Programme for people with disabilities, with a further €50m investment which was announced in the 2008 Budget.

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 these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

David Stanton

Question:

321 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to provide a dedicated stroke and rehabilitation unit in the Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3850/08]

The Deputy should be aware that Cardiovascular Health Policy Group, chaired by Professor Hannah McGee of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, is due to complete its work by May 2008. It will set out broad policy guidelines for development of policy on cardiovascular health, including stroke.

My Department and the Health Service Executive are aware of the need to review the potential benefits of a regional network of rehabilitation facilities and services. The development of such a network should be considered in the context of a national strategy for rehabilitation services and the Department is currently considering this issue.

The Deputy's question in relation to the provision of stroke and rehabilitation services in Cork is 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.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

322 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Health and Children the average cost to her Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3865/08]

As the processing of Parliamentary Questions is undertaken as part of the normal day to day work of individual sections within the Department, it is not possible to isolate the administration costs of processing Parliamentary Questions from the overall administrative costs of the Department. For the Deputy's information, in 2007 the Ministers of State and I answered a total of 4,849 Parliamentary Questions with the corresponding number in 2006 being 5,991.

Health Service Allowances.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

323 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children when domiciliary care allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3878/08]

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

Health Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

324 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if and when a primary medical certificate will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3879/08]

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.

Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

325 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applications received to date under the health repayment scheme; the number and amount paid; the number still outstanding and expected to be paid; if the level of repayments to date is in accordance with original calculations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3880/08]

The Health Repayment Scheme commenced in August 2006 with a national public information campaign designed to raise awareness about the Scheme and how potential applicants should go about applying for repayment. At the time of the launch, based on records held by the HSE, it was estimated that potentially around 70,000 people may be eligible to submit an application.

Over 36,000 applications for living and deceased patients have been received by the Health Repayment Scheme. Over 16,500 of the claims received by the Scheme Administrator have been concluded, which includes over 9,650 offers of repayment totalling more than €182 million. Further offers continue to be issued every week. Almost 7,200 payments have been made totalling in excess of €142 million.

Around 19,500 applications remain to be concluded. The Scheme Administrator has given assurances to the HSE that the vast majority of claims submitted by the public will be dealt with within the 2 year time frame allotted for the scheme which is due to end in June 2008. The HSE has indicated that if there are any outstanding claims as at the end of June 2008, such claims will be kept to an absolute minimum and will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

326 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the long drawn out process associated with the health repayment scheme; when she expects such payments to be concluded; the costs associated with the refunds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3881/08]

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for administering the health repayment scheme in conjunction with the appointed scheme administrator KPMG/McCann Fitzgerald. Over 36,000 applications for living and deceased patients have been received by the Health Repayment Scheme. Over 16,500 of the claims received by the Scheme Administrator have been concluded, which includes over 9,650 offers of repayment totalling more than €182million. Further offers continue to be issued every week.

The Scheme Administrator has given assurances to the HSE that the vast majority of claims submitted by the public will be dealt with within the 2 year time frame allotted for the scheme which is due to end in June 2008. The HSE has indicated that if there are any outstanding claims as at the end of June 2008, such claims will be kept to an absolute minimum and will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

The HSE has advised that the fees for the administration services required under the contract entered into in July 2006 were capped at €15 million exclusive of VAT.

Hospital Staff.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

327 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of posts, surgical, medical, nursing or otherwise remaining to be filled at Naas General Hospital, Naas, County Kildare; if she has immediate plans to fill these posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3882/08]

Over 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the number of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of the Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

328 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3097/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

329 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3112/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 329 together.

The information requested by the Deputy in contained in the table below.

Statutory Body

Date of Establishment

Year

Operating Cost

Irish Aviation Authority

1st January 1994

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

€103,190,000 €108,193,000 €108,422,000 €117,013,000 not available

Commission for Aviation Regulation

Established in 2001

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

CAR is a self financing body and annual accounts detailing costs are published by the body each year

Dublin Transportation Office (DTO)

7 November 1995

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

€0.948m €1.006m €1.046m €1.082m €1.108m

Railway Procurement Agency (RPA)

28th December 2001

Data is provided in the Agency’s published Annual Reports

Commission for Taxi Regulation

1 September 2004

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

— 160,112 1,651,610 5,689,198 7,800,000 (Estimate)

Advisory Council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation

4 November 2003

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

874 15,553 16,916 13,009 5,500 (Estimate)

National Roads Authority

1st January 1994

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

€7,589,000 €8,452,000 €8,688,000 €13,080,000 €15,071,000

Marine Casualty Investigation Board

5/6/2002

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

€208,209 €212,891 €161,748 €205,816 €258,825

Córas Iompair Éireann

01/01/1945

The CIÉ Group Annual Reports and Financial Statements, which are published annually, provide details of Revenue and Expenditure for CIÉ, Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann.

Bus Éireann

11/12/1986

See Above

Bus Átha Cliath

11/12/1986

See Above

Iarnród Éireann

11/12/1986

See Above

Railway Safety Commission

01/01/2006

2007

€2.09m

2006

€1.574m

Railway Safety Advisory Council

11/05/2007

2007

Budget comes out of RSC Budget

10 State owned Port companies Dublin Cork Waterford Dun Laoghaire New Ross Shannon/Foynes Dundalk Drogheda Galway Wicklow

Established pursuant to the provisions of the Harbour Acts 1996 and 2000

Budgets of the harbour authorities are operational matters for the authorities themselves.

Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS)

27 November 1968

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

€2,067m €2,337m €3,283m €9,408m €6,478m

Road Safety Authority (RSA)

1 September 2006

2007

€29,617m

Railway Stations.

Joe Costello

Question:

330 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Transport the proposals for the Metro stop and station at the Mater Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3144/08]

Joe Costello

Question:

350 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Transport the proposals for the Metro stop and station at the Mater Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3522/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 350 together.

The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) is responsible for delivery of Metro North and for discussion on the location, detailed planning and design of individual stations such as that at Mater Hospital. In October 2006, the RPA announced the preferred alignment for Metro North, which included an underground station at the Mater Hospital. Since then the RPA has undertaken significant detailed design work and engaged extensively with local communities, businesses and the Mater Hospital authorities in the case of the station referred to by the Deputy. This consultation is ongoing with the Hospital.

The Agency hopes to be in a position to lodge an application for a railway order to An Bord Pleanála in the coming months. The railway order, where granted by An Bord Pleanála, will determine the final alignment for Metro North.

Planning Issues.

Michael Ring

Question:

331 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport the action being taken in relation to a right of way (details supplied) in County Mayo that has been blocked off, in view of the fact that this matter has been referred to the State Solicitor. [3145/08]

I understand that statutory responsibility for the creation and protection of rights of ways is vested in local authorities under planning legislation. My Department has no function in the matter.

Departmental Bodies.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

332 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the task force; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3170/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

333 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport the task forces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each task force; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3185/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

334 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport the task forces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these task forces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3200/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 334, inclusive, together.

The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table below.

Name of Taskforce

Year of Establishment

Membership of taskforce

Terms of Reference

Cost of Taskforce

Recommendations accepted or rejected

Is task force still in operation

Dublin Transport Authority Establishment Team

November 2005

Professor Margaret O’Mahony, Chairperson (TCD), John Lumsden, Pat Mangan, (Dept of Transport), Colin Hunt (Adviser to Minister Martin Cullen)

To make recommendations on the establishment of a transport authority for the Greater Dublin Area; to advise on the legislation required; to make recommendations on interim arrangements.

€39,715 Maev Nic Lochlainn acted as secretary to the Team for the duration of its work

The team recommended a range of roles and objectives for a DTA, the enactment of the necessary legislation to give statutory effect to that, and the appointment of an interim chairperson and board pending passage of the legislation.The recommendations were generally accepted and are being implemented.

No; Report of the Team published in March 2006

High- Level Task Force on Railway Safety

2003

Representatives from CIE/Iarnród Éireann, Department of Transport, Chief Railway Inspecting Officer, Department of Finance, Technical Advisor.

To make recommendations regarding a prioritised railway safety programme, covering investment and safety management measures, for the five year period 2004-2008, as part of a prioritised railway investment programme.

€29,303.55

Yes

No

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

335 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the decentralisation implementation group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3215/08]

Quarterly figures are not available for the non-property cost of decentralisation. The total non-capital expenditure by my Department to date is €31,343 for travel and subsistence costs in respect of the move to Loughrea.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

336 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3230/08]

44 civil servants from my Department have transferred to posts which were due to move out of Dublin under the Government's decentralisation programme. Of these 44 staff, 6 have relocated to their decentralised location in Loughrea as either Department of Transport or Road Safety Authority staff. Of the 6 staff who transferred to Loughrea, 4 went as Road Safety Authority staff, thus becoming public servants. The transfer of the remaining 38 staff to their decentralised location is a matter for the new parent Departments. 410 public service posts are required to decentralise in respect of the following four agencies under the auspices of my Department -National Roads Authority (90), and Railway Safety Commission (20) to Ballinasloe, Irish Aviation Authority (100) to Shannon, and Bus Eireann (200) to Mitchelstown. My recent decision to move the Maritime Safety Directorate and the Irish Coast Guard to Drogheda is likely to lead to an increase in the number of posts to be transferred over and above the original 37.

Road Traffic Offences.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

337 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport if it is proposed to introduce penalty points for parking offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3237/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

338 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport if traffic wardens are under the control of the gardaí or local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3238/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

339 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport if there are restrictions on the number of traffic wardens that may be employed by a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3239/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

340 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to outsourcing the functions of a traffic warden; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3241/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 to 340, inclusive, together.

The road traffic offences that are scheduled as penalty point offences focus on driving behaviour that adversely impacts on road safety. The only parking offence that is scheduled as a penalty point offence is the offence of parking a vehicle in a dangerous position and this serious offence incurs 5 penalty points on conviction in court. It is not proposed at present to extend the penalty point system to offences that involve the illegal parking of vehicles.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has power under section 103 (19) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 as amended by the Road Traffic Act 2002 to authorise persons to perform the functions of traffic wardens. Persons authorised under section 103 are under the control of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and operate out of Garda stations.

Local authorities have power to employ traffic wardens under the Local Authorities (Traffic Wardens) Act 1975. Persons engaged under that Act operate under the control of the relevant local authority.

The 1975 Act does not impose any limit on the number of traffic wardens that may be employed by a local authority. The post of traffic warden is, as is the case with any other local authority post, subject at any given time to the prevailing policy as regards overall staffing numbers and recruitment in the local authority public sector.

Some local authorities avail of the present enabling powers that are in place, since 1987, under section 101B of the 1961 Act to engage authorised persons to enforce parking law on public roads in their area through the clamping of illegally parked vehicles.

Local authorities have not made any request to my Department to be enabled to outsource traffic warden functions so there is no indication that there is any demand for a revision of the law in that direction.

Railway Stations.

Mary Upton

Question:

341 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport when he expects the new Park West station on the Kildare commuter line to open; the cost to the taxpayer of this station; the number of parking spaces to be provided on site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3308/08]

Mary Upton

Question:

342 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport the future plans for the Cherry Orchard station on the Kildare commuter line; the progress on the proposed relocation of this station; the expected new site for this station; the potential cost to the Exchequer of such a relocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3309/08]

Mary Upton

Question:

343 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport when he expects the completion of the upgrade of the Kildare commuter line to be completed and fully operational; the cost of this project to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3310/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 to 343, inclusive, together.

The construction of the Kildare Rail Project, including the provision of car parking, is a matter for Iarnrod Eireann. I understand from the company that work is underway on all main contracts and that the project is on target for completion in 2010. I understand also that the estimated cost of the project is almost €360m.

I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that the Park West Station will open in autumn of this year and that the cost of the station is being funded in full by the developers of ParkWest. Accordingly there is no cost to the Exchequer. I understand from Iarnrod Eireann that as ParkWest will be at the heart of a high density development, there is no requirement for car parking at the station, as users will largely be within walking distance of the station, with cycle facilities and interchange with other public transport also provided. In accordance with the Railway Order for the Kildare Rail Project, ParkWest Station will replace Cherry Orchard Station and is approximately 900 metres west of the current Cherry Orchard Station.

Public Transport.

Mary Upton

Question:

344 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport when he expects integrated ticketing to be fully operational in Dublin; the cost of the integrated ticketing project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3311/08]

The proposed integrated ticketing system will be launched initially within the Greater Dublin Area on the scheduled services of Dublin Bus, LUAS and Morton's in September 2009. Dublin Bus will launch its interim smartcard scheme in summer 2008 and Irish Rail will follow suit with its own interim scheme in 2009. It will be extended to Irish Rail DART and commuter rail services within a further 12 months, and Bus Éireann will implement a pilot scheme on a number of its commuter routes. It is also envisaged that other private bus operators will join the scheme over this timeframe. In the meantime, the award the contract to build the Back Office of the system is expected to be awarded by end March 2008 and the procurement process for a contractor to operate the system will then commence. €12.5 million has been paid out by the Exchequer on integrated ticketing since the inception of the project in March 2002.

Light Rail Project.

Mary Upton

Question:

345 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport when he expects construction on the LUAS line F to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3312/08]

Transport 21 provides for the completion of Luas Line F, the Luas line from Lucan to the city centre, in 2013. Last September, on behalf of RPA I launched the public consultation process on the two route options for the new Luas Line from Lucan to the city centre. The RPA asked the public and all interested stakeholders to submit their views to the RPA by 31st January. It is expected that a preferred alignment will be identified this year, taking account of the results of this stage of public consultation.

Following completion of the route selection and design work, the RPA will submit a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála. The construction timescale will be dependent on the outcome of the above processes.

Public Transport.

Mary Upton

Question:

346 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport when he expects to introduce the legislation necessary to establish the Dublin Transportation Authority; the proposed responsibilities of the Dublin Transportation Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3313/08]

As I stated, in my reply to PQ3401/08 and PQ3480/08, the Agreed Programme for Government includes a commitment to expediting the establishment of a statutory Dublin Transport Authority. The principal functions of the proposed Authority are set out in the Programme for Government and will include strategic transport planning; procurement of public transport infrastructure; procurement of public transport services; allocation of current and capital Exchequer funds for the provision of public transport infrastructure and services; regulation of public transport fares, routes, and service levels; delivery of integrated ticketing, integrated passenger information and integrated fares; better integration of transport and land use planning; ensuring effective traffic management. This is in line with the recommendations made in the report of the Dublin Transport Authority Establishment Team.

I intend that the new Authority will have overall responsibility for surface transport in the Greater Dublin Area subject to direction by Government in respect of significant policy issues. The Greater Dublin Area comprises the city of Dublin and the administrative counties of South Dublin, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. Preparation of the necessary legislation is in its final stages. I will bring a Memorandum to Government when this important work is completed. However my overriding priority remains to establish a statutory Authority that will be effective.

Question No. 347 answered with Question No. 123.

Mary Upton

Question:

348 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport when real time information will be available at bus stops in Dublin; if his Department has granted an application for funding for this project from Dublin Bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3315/08]

Dublin Bus is proceeding with the introduction of automatic vehicle location system on board buses. This technology will provide the platform for the deployment of real time passenger information. A Dublin Bus application for funding towards the cost of procuring a real time passenger information system is being considered by my Department.

Rail Network.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

349 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to re-open the railway line to Youghal; and if he will make a statement on plans for the rail network across east Cork as a whole. [3510/08]

Transport does not provide for the re-opening of the rail line between Midleton and Youghal. I understand from Iarnrod Eireann that the Midleton to Youghal alignment will be preserved and its future development will be assessed on foot of the experience of the re-opening of the Glounthaune to Midleton line.

Enabling works have already commenced on the Glounthaune to Midleton line. I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that the main construction contract has been awarded and that the main works will commence next month. Iarnród Éireann have advised that construction works are expected to be completed, and services underway by mid 2009.

Question No. 350 answered with Question No. 330.

Regional Airports.

Joe McHugh

Question:

351 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport the amount that has been invested in the City of Derry Airport, by the Irish Government, for each year from 2000 to 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3613/08]

There have been no funds invested by my Department in City of Derry Airport in the period 2000 to 2007.

On 22 March 2005, the Government approved a decision in principle to assist a runway safety project at the airport on a 50/50 joint-funding basis with the British Government. The total contribution from the Irish Exchequer was to be €7.55 million (37.5% of total project cost). Payment of grants was to be subject to certain conditions, chiefly EU state aid clearance and the formulation by Derry City Council of acceptable proposals for revised governance arrangements for the airport.

In January 2007, the Government agreed as a final offer to increase the upper limit to €10.87 million to cover increased property and other costs. It is hoped to commence payments in 2008 now that necessary preconditions have been met.

Question Nos. 352 and 353 answered with Question No. 157.

Rail Services.

Joe McHugh

Question:

354 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 1 November 2007, when his Department will supply the information sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3623/08]

I understand that the information sought by the Deputy has now been provided to him.

Road Traffic Accidents.

Martin Ferris

Question:

355 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport the person who is responsible for the initial investigation into road traffic accidents involving one vehicle. [3659/08]

The primary immediate investigative role in relation to road collisions is vested in the Garda Síochána. Priority in such an investigation must be given to the determination of the causes of road collisions and, if appropriate, whether a breach of the Road Traffic laws contributed to the occurrence.

Road Network.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

356 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if in view of the close out grant of €5 million to Dublin City Council to pay for the Port Tunnel, he is in a position to indicate the total cost of the provision of the Port Tunnel to include all direct and associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3662/08]

Overall responsibility for the planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port Tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the local authorities concerned, in this case, Dublin City Council. In particular, the allocation of funding in relation to the construction or maintenance of national roads is a matter for the NRA under section 19 of the Roads Act, 1993. I understand from the NRA that the estimated cost of the Tunnel remains at €751 million.

Question No. 357 answered with Question No. 132.

Ferry Services.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

358 Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport his views on the re-establishment of the Cork Swansea ferry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3747/08]

The Cork Swansea Ferries Company suspended its service in 2007. I can appreciate the concerns that have been expressed in the region in response to this development. I understand that a number of interested parties and stakeholders have been in discussions with the Port of Cork Company about the possibility of commencing a new passenger and freight service out of the port.

I am informed that a commercial examination of the route has been carried out. This indicates that, subject to procuring a suitable vessel, the service could be feasible on a year round basis. The Port of Cork Company will certainly do what it can to facilitate the resumption of the service.

As Minister for Transport, I feel it is important that the market offers a diverse range of maritime links in and out of the State. This is vital to facilitate trade and tourism. I certainly hope that the current efforts show that the service is commercially viable and that it can be resumed as soon as possible.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

359 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Transport the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3769/08]

Following the re-allocation of Ministerial functions in 2002, my Department assumed responsibility for the overall management of the Transport Operational Programme (OPTRANS) 1994-1999 and the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme (ESIOP) 2000-2006.

My Department also took possession of papers relating to two earlier programmes, i.e. the Operational Programme on Peripherality (OPP) 1989-1993 and the National Programme of Community Interest (NPCI) 1986-1989. The source of all of the EU assistance involved for the four Programmes is the European Regional Development Fund.

With the exception of the ESIOP, all of these Programmes have been completed and the drawdown of the associated EU assistance has also been completed. The amount of EU aid received in Ireland in respect of the three completed Programmes mentioned above is as follows:

Programme

€million*

NPCI (1986-1989):

158*

OPP (1989-1993):

713

OPTRANS (1994-1999):

973

Total:

1,844

*Based on data available

In the case of the ESIOP, the total EU aid provision is €1,040 million. Expenditure under the Programme continues to be eligible for EU aid up to the end of 2008. The total sum of EU aid receipts for the Programme up to 31st December, 2007 was €976 million.

As regards information on individual schemes or projects, I have arranged for my Department to provide you with material showing the amount of EU assisted expenditure in the case of each project under the OPTRANS and the ESIOP. Comprehensive information at project level under the two earlier Programmes (the NPCI and the OPP) is no longer readily available.

EU funding for transport projects was also received under various other Programmes including a number of Interreg Programmes and the Peace Programme. EU funding for local and regional roads has also been received under the Regional Operational Programmes for the Border, Midlands and Western Region (BMW) and the Southern and Eastern Region (S&E). My Department does not have lead responsibility for any of these Programmes.

Decentralisation Programme.

Denis Naughten

Question:

360 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the status of the decentralisation of the road haulage section to Loughrea; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3836/08]

I am pleased to state that the Road Transport Operator Licensing Section of my Department, involving a total of 10 staff, decentralised to Loughrea in July 2007.

The status and costs of property are matters for the Office of Public Works. The property was occupied on schedule in July, 2007.

Denis Naughten

Question:

361 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the status of the decentralisation of the National Roads Authority to Ballinasloe; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3837/08]

The National Roads Authority was not identified by the Decentralisation Implementation Group as an early mover. The NRA has reported that very few staff have expressed an interest in moving to the decentralised location. 90 posts are required to decentralise to Ballinasloe with the NRA.

Denis Naughten

Question:

362 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the status of the decentralisation of the National Safety Council to Loughrea; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3838/08]

The functions of the National Safety Council were transferred to the Road Safety Authority on 1 September, 2006. 40 posts of the Road Safety Authority were decentralised to Loughrea in July 2007. The status and costs of property are matters for the Office of Public Works. The property was occupied on schedule in July, 2007.

Denis Naughten

Question:

363 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the status of the decentralisation of the Railway Safety Commission to Ballinasloe; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; and the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3839/08]

The Railway Safety Commission was not identified by the Decentralisation Implementation Group as an early mover. The RSC has reported that very few staff have expressed an interest in moving to the decentralised location. Some 20 posts are required to decentralise to Ballinasloe with the RSC.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

364 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Transport the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3868/08]

Replies to Parliamentary Questions are drafted by the staff in the line divisions dealing with the particular issues raised. The number of staff and the time spent on an individual answer depends on the complexity of the issues raised, the level of supporting detail to be retrieved and collated and the form of the proposed response, i.e. whether oral or written.

In addition, for this Department there is the added complexity that much of the information sought has to be obtained from outside agencies and we would not be privy to their costs — thus I regret it would not be possible to give the Deputy an accurate assessment of the costs involved.

Air Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

365 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if the requisite slots required for the continuation or enhancement of scheduled air flights from the various airports throughout the country to Heathrow or other locations are expected to be safeguarded in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3885/08]

The allocation of slots at London Heathrow Airport is a matter for the UK authorities acting in accordance with applicable EU rules relating to the allocation of slots.

The applicable rules provide for slots to be assigned to airlines as distinct from airports. It is a matter for airlines to decide what services should be provided using such slots, except in the specific case where slots are assigned for the purpose of meeting a public service obligation.

Public Transport.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

366 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which progress on Transport 21 is progressing in accordance with projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3887/08]

I refer the Deputy to my reply to similar Questions of today's date.

Railway Stations.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

367 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the full extent of extra car parking spaces expected to be provided at Kilcock, Maynooth, Leixlip, Confey, Hazelhatch and Sallins rail stations in County Kildare with the objective of making rail travel more readily available to commuters; when he expects the extra spaces to be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3890/08]

Iarnród Éireann has been asked to compile and forward the information sought directly to the Deputy.

Rail Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

368 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which it is intended to improve or increase the number of scheduled commuter rail services from Sallins, Hazelhatch, Confey, Leixlip, Maynooth and Kilcock, County Kildare morning and evening, with a view to providing greater and accessible choice for commuters with the objective of alleviating road traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3892/08]

The position in regard to the improvement of railway services on the Maynooth line is that capacity has been trebled in the last five years. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that it is currently reviewing its plans for resignalling in the city centre area as part of its broader plans for the upgrade of railway infrastructure in the Dublin area and that in this context is considering the removal of level crossings and resignalling of the Maynooth line as a means of substantially increasing capacity on the line.

With regard to the Kildare line capacity has increased by 160% on this line in recent years, along with platform extensions allowing for longer trains, introduction of Sunday services and the turnback facility at Newbridge that provides for Newbridge specific trains to operate. Furthermore, the Kildare Route project will see four-tracking between Cherry Orchard and Hazelhatch that will allow intercity trains to bypass the commuter services serving the outer Dublin area leading to more efficient use of the rail network. The Interconnector and the associated electrification project will also provide a significant increase in capacity and service on both the Kildare and Maynooth lines.

Congestion Charges.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

369 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport his views on the imposition of congestion charges on motorists who already pay more than €5 billion annually to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3893/08]

At present tolls are the only charges, of the type referred to by the Deputy, made on motorists.

The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads is vested in the National Roads Authority under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000).

There are currently no proposals to introduce any other charges of the type referred to by the Deputy.

Light Rail Project.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

370 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport when it is expected that the DART service will be extended to Maynooth and the various other rail stations throughout County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3895/08]

Transport 21 provides for the construction of the Interconnector Tunnel and the electrification of the Dublin suburban rail network which will provide a DART-type service between Maynooth and Bray and Hazlehatch and Balbriggan subject to final decisions on the extent of the electrification.

The projected completion date is under Transport 21 2015.

Heavy Goods Vehicles.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

371 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if super-trucks are banned from this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3896/08]

I take it that the Deputy is referring to the issue of a maximum vehicle height.

While at present the maximum height of goods vehicles is not regulated, my predecessor announced in January last year his intention to introduce a national maximum vehicle height of 4.65 metres. Draft Regulations to give effect to this decision have been received from the Road Safety Authority and are currently under consideration.

Road Network.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

372 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if extra funding will be awarded to Kildare County Council to carry out urgently required repairs to the network of minor roads throughout the county which have suffered serious damage over the winter months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3899/08]

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in their areas is a matter for local authorities to be funded from their own resources supplemented by State Grants. The initial selection of projects or works to be funded under the various grant categories is also a matter for local authorities.

In 2007, grants totalling €23.531 million were allocated to Kildare County Council for works on regional and local roads. This included a Discretionary Maintenance grant of €694,000 and a Discretionary Improvement grant of €587,000.

The funds available to local authorities for improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads are intended to cover contingencies arising from severe weather conditions. The "Memorandum on Grants for Non-National Roads" provides that the cost of remedial works necessitated by such conditions must be met from these resources and that local authorities should set aside contingency sums to finance these works.

My Department is also prepared to consider sympathetically any request from local authorities to adjust their multi-annual Restoration Programmes in order to prioritise work necessitated by severe weather conditions. In 2007, Kildare County Council was allocated a Restoration Improvement grant of €6.487 million and a Restoration Maintenance grant of €1.902 million.

I will announce the 2008 Regional and Local Road Grant Allocations shortly.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

373 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if, in the context of the upgrading of the Johnstownbridge-Edenderry route, it is intended to meet the concerns of the residents of Carbury who are concerned at the proposal to create a situation whereby access to the road will not be by way of proposed roundabout, having particular regard to previous commitments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3900/08]

The upgrade of the Edenderry to Enfield road is being undertaken by Kildare County Council with grant assistance provided by my Department. The design of the route is a matter for the local authority.

Before works of this nature may proceed, the local authority is obliged to comply with requirements of planning legislation. I understand that those requirements, which include extensive public consultation, were complied with in respect of this project and that the works were approved by the elected members of Kildare County Council in December 2006. My Department has no function in that process.

Regional Development.

Kieran O'Donnell

Question:

374 Deputy Kieran O’Donnell asked the Minister for Transport the reason the €53 million Mid-West Tourism and Economic Development Plan to address the impact of open skies on Shannon Airport and the mid-west region was not funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3905/08]

On 24 January 2008, I jointly announced with the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, that the Government has approved an Economic and Tourism Development Plan for Shannon Airport and its wider catchment area. The Report is available on the websites of both departments.

The Economic and Tourism Development Plan will facilitate the completion of a package of measures leading to improved road and rail access for the Shannon region and the continued rollout of broadband infrastructure throughout the region. There is very significant investment planned for the region under the NDP and Transport 21. In transport infrastructure alone €2 billion has been committed by Government to road projects in the region while approval for the development of the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor from Ennis to Athenry has also been given.

An important element of the Action Plan is a new tourism-marketing initiative for the area. This initiative amounts to an anticipated €15 million to €20 million over the next few years and will be implemented by Tourism Ireland in close consultation with key tourism industry interests in the area, Shannon Development and the Fáilte Ireland Regions. The continuing commitment to funding beyond 2008 will, as is the case with all tourism marketing plans, be finalised in the roll out of this new initiative each year. The primary objective of the initiative will be to promote the wider catchment area of Shannon Airport by highlighting the attractions of the region through additional publicity and promotional activity.

Under the 2008 Estimates of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism an extra €5 million has been invested in the Tourism Marketing Fund, bringing it to €50 million. This includes incremental funding of €3 million to specifically address the challenges of Open Skies in 2008. When combined with the renewal of the Super regions and Air Access marketing initiatives, the result will be €5 million for the Shannon Catchment Area in Tourism Ireland's 2008 overseas marketing programme. The new tourism marketing programme will concentrate on highlighting the attractions of the Western regions, additional targeted publicity and promotional activity, developing markets around new gateways, including the Shannon-Paris CDG route, and striving to maintain good flows of business through existing routes.

In drawing up this Plan, I consulted with colleagues Ministers for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Enterprise Trade and Employment, Finance, and Communications Energy and Natural Resources. I also had regard to the report entitled "Mid-West Tourism and Economic Development Plan" submitted in 2006 to my Department by a group under the aegis of the Mid-West Regional Authority and comprising Clare County Council, Shannon Development, Shannon Airport Authority, SIGNAL and IBEC.

Ministerial Appointments.

Kieran O'Donnell

Question:

375 Deputy Kieran O’Donnell asked the Minister for Transport the date the two outstanding Government director nominees will be placed on the board of Aer Lingus; the steps the Government is taking through its shareholding and directors on the board to ensure that Aer Lingus retain transatlantic flights from Shannon Airport into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3906/08]

The two remaining Minister's Nominees were appointed to the Board of Aer Lingus with effect from 31 January 2008.

Under Company Law all directors are obliged to pursue the best interests of the company.

Subject to that duty, the three Minister's Nominees on the Board of Aer Lingus will seek to ensure that all future decisions of the company that have significant implications for wider Government, aviation or regional development policies are considered at board level. The possible decisions concerned include decisions impacting on strategic air access, particularly with regard to the transatlantic market or regional development, in particular changes in services at non-Dublin airports.

EU Reform Treaty.

Joe Costello

Question:

376 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the date for the forthcoming referendum on the Lisbon Reform Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3521/08]

Following its signature in Lisbon on 13 December 2007, Member States are expected to ratify the Reform Treaty by 1 January 2009.

The Attorney General has advised that the legal effects of the Reform Treaty require amendment of the Constitution to enable ratification by Ireland. The timing of the referendum is currently under consideration by the Government. A number of points will have to be taken into consideration, including the timing of the legislation's passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas and the desired duration of the referendum campaign.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

377 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3092/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

378 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3107/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together.

At present, there is only one organisation which operates under the aegis of my Department which was established on a statutory basis, the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission).

The Fulbright Commission finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States of America. It was established in 1957 by means of the Scholarship Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1957 as amended by the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have certain specific statutory responsibilities in respect of the Fulbright Commission. Under section 3(1) of the 1991 Act, I am responsible for the appointment of four members of the eight-member Commission. Under section 5(10) of the 1991 Act, I am also responsible for laying before both Houses of the Oireachtas, a copy of the annually audited accounts of the Ireland-United States Educational Fund and the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon. However, the Fulbright Commission enjoys ‘autonomy of management and administration', by reason of section 2(5) of the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America), Act, 1991.

In each of the past five years, my Department has given Grant-in-Aid of €254,000 per annum to the Commission.

Human Rights Issues.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

379 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the arrest in Malaysia of human rights activists, including a person (details supplied), following a protest to mark International Human Rights day; if his attention has been further drawn to reports that Malaysian police have used tear gas and water cannons to break up human rights demonstrations, and that persons detained under so-called security legislation in Malaysia have been subjected to physical, mental and sexual abuse; if he will make representations to the Malaysian authorities regarding these arrests and human rights abuses in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3128/08]

I am aware of the arrest of 8 people, including 5 lawyers and the Malaysian citizen under reference, on 9 December 2007 during a protest to mark International Human Rights Day. I understand these individuals were charged under Malaysia's Police Act, and were released shortly thereafter. A date has not yet been set for their trial. I have asked that the Embassy in Kuala Lumpur continue to monitor these cases closely.

I am also aware of recent arrests under the Internal Security Act. Ireland and its EU partners have previously expressed serious concerns to the Government of Malaysia about the use and scope of the Act. While fully respecting the duty of the Government of Malaysia to ensure security and the rule of law within its borders, I believe more could and needs to be done to facilitate peaceful protests on human rights issues. Ireland, together with our EU partners will continue to monitor the situation closely on human rights in Malaysia.

Departmental Bodies.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

380 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3165/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

381 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3180/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

382 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3195/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 to 382, inclusive, together.

There is currently one task force operating in my Department. This is the Hunger Task Force which is serviced by the Development Co-operation Directorate of my Department. This is the only task force which has been established under the auspices of my Department in the past five years.

The establishment of a Hunger Task Force was one of the recommendations of the White Paper on Irish Aid published in September 2006. The aim of the Hunger Task Force is to identify the additional, appropriate and effective contributions that Ireland can make to international efforts to reduce hunger. The first meeting of the Hunger Task Force took place in Dublin on 14th September 2007 and the second in University College Cork on the 16th of November 2007. The next meeting is a field visit to Malawi which will take place from the 27th to the 29th of February 2008. It is estimated that the total cost of the Task Force will be in the region of €250,000.

The report of the Hunger Task Force is due around the middle of 2008 and it will outline a number of key actions which Ireland can take to give practical leadership internationally on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of those who suffer from hunger by 2015. It is expected that the report will also result in Ireland taking a more effective and focused approach to tackling hunger.

Members of the Hunger Task Force include a number of renowned national and international experts in the field of food security and development. A list of their names is set out below.

Mr Joe Walsh, Chairman

Ms Nancy Aburi, Self Help Development International

Dr Pamela K. Anderson, International Potato Centre

Mr Tom Arnold, Concern Worldwide

Mr Paul David Hewson (Bono)

Mr Kevin Farrell, World Food Programme

Professor Michael Gibney, UCD

Professor Lawrence Haddad, UK Institute of Development Studies

Mr Justin Kilcullen, Trócaire Professor

Denis Lucey, UCC

Mr Aidan O'Driscoll, Department of Agriculture

Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Columbia University

Ms Josette Sheeran, World Food Programme

Ms Sheila Sisulu, World Food Programme

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

383 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3210/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

384 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3225/08]

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's Headquarters, will decentralise to Limerick. Good progress has been made and personnel have either been assigned to, or identified for, 103 posts or approximately 83% of the 124 posts scheduled to be decentralised. An advance party involving 57 staff has already decentralised to interim office premises in Limerick, with most officers being in place since May 2007. It is expected that the remaining staff of Irish Aid will transfer to Limerick in June 2008, on completion and fit-out of the permanent accommodation.

There are still a number of issues to be worked out with regard to the specialist posts which are scheduled to move. Discussions are on-going at a very senior level with representatives of the specialists, with their union IMPACT and with the Departments of Finance and Foreign Affairs in order to resolve the outstanding issues. Progress has been made and I hope that these discussions can be brought to a successful conclusion at an early date.

In June 2005, the Department started reporting quarterly to the Department of Finance on non-property costs associated with the decentralisation programme. Table 1 below sets out the costs incurred by this Department during the period 2004-2006. The costs incurred during this time mainly related to training and subsistence. Table 2 below sets out the costs incurred in the first three quarters in 2007, mainly arising from the move to interim premises in May of that year. The Department will be reporting shortly to the Department of Finance on the final quarter of 2007.

TABLE 1

Non-Property Costs 2004-2006

Travel & Subsistence A.2

Training A.3

Postal & Telecom expenses A.4

Office Machinery & related expenses A.5

Office Premises A.6

Total Per Year

2004

0

1,200

0

0

0

1,200

2005

500

2,900

0

0

0

3,400

2006

1,900

7,200

0

0

0

9,100

Total 2004-2006

2,400

11,300

0

0

0

13,700

TABLE 2

Non-Property Costs 2007

Travel & Subsistence A.2

Training A.3

Postal & Telecom Expenses A.4

Office Machine & related expenses A.5

Office Premises A.6

Total Per Quarter

Quarter 1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Quarter 2

6,400

2,000

0

166,900

500

175,800

Quarter 3

0

0

0

0

6,000

6,000

Quarter 4

0

0

0

0

0

Total 2007

6,400

2,000

0

166,900

6,500

181,800

Passport Applications.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

385 Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of a name change on an Irish passport for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [3302/08]

Passports are generally issued in the name of the applicant as it appears in his or her certificate of birth. On request, a passport may also be issued to a person in a new name following marriage. Such applications require the provision of a civil marriage certificate and either the long form of the applicant's certificate of birth or a previous passport issued in the name that applied before marriage. Should the person in question require further information or assistance, she may contact Ms. Joan Fitzpatrick at the Cork Passport office on 021 4944722.

Reconciliation Fund.

Michael Ring

Question:

386 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if funding will be provided to a project (details supplied) in County Mayo. [3651/08]

Applications to the Reconciliation Fund are reviewed on a periodic basis by an Inter-Departmental Advisory Committee. After considering each application on its merits, the Committee forwards its recommendation to me for final decision. The overriding aim is to ensure as widespread and equitable distribution of funding as possible, giving consideration to the strength of the cross-community and cross-border elements in the application; the level of funding available each year; and the number and quality of applications received.

An application was received by the Reconciliation Fund from the Mayo Peace Park on 29 January 2008. This was after the closing date for the current tranche of funding, which is due to be decided later this month. The application will however be fully considered by the Inter-Departmental Advisory Committee in the context of the next tranche of grants, the closing date for which is likely to be 19 May 2008. The group will be informed in writing once a decision has been made in relation to this application.

Overseas Development Aid.

John Deasy

Question:

387 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the planned expenditure on overseas aid in each of the years 2008 to 2012; the estimated proportion of GNP and GDP this expenditure represents in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3716/08]

The Government is committed to expanding Ireland's Overseas Aid programme. We have set a target of spending 0.7% of GNP on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) by 2012 and we are well on track to meeting this UN target. For 2008 the Government has allocated €914 million to ODA. The majority of this funding — €814 million — comes under Vote 29, International Cooperation, which is managed by my Department. A further estimated €100 million will be spent by other Government Departments and through Ireland's contribution to the EU Development Cooperation Budget.

Expenditure on ODA in 2008 will be the highest in the history of the programme and will represent 0.54 % of GNP. This level of spending will ensure that Ireland remains one of the most generous donors in the world on a per capita basis. As with all exchequer funding, the ODA allocation for future years will be decided through the Estimates process. Figures for expenditure on ODA in the period 2009 to 2012 cannot be stated at this point as they are normally linked to estimated GNP growth at the time of the Estimates process. However, I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to meeting the target of 0.7% of GNP by 2012 in a planned and phased manner and that Ireland's ODA allocation will grow strongly year on year as we move towards that target.

John Deasy

Question:

388 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of Irish Government overseas aid spent in each of the top 12 recipient countries in 2007; the amount of such aid that is planned to be spent in each of these countries in each of the years 2008 to 2012; the plans he has to change the regional focus of overseas aid in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3717/08]

John Deasy

Question:

390 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proportion of overseas aid paid to each of the top 12 recipient countries that was channelled through the Government of each of those countries in 2007; the proportion of planned overseas aid expenditure in each of the years 2008 to 2012 that will be channelled through each of those Governments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3719/08]

John Deasy

Question:

391 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proportion of overseas aid paid to each of the top 12 recipient countries that was channelled through Irish non governmental organisations in 2007; the proportion of planned aid expenditure in each of the years 2008 to 2012 that will be channelled through Irish NGOs in each of those countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3720/08]

John Deasy

Question:

392 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proportion of overseas aid paid to each of the top 12 recipient countries that was channelled through non-Irish non governmental organisations in 2007; the proportion of planned aid expenditure in those countries in each of the years 2008 to 2012 that will be channelled through non-Irish NGOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3721/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 390 to 392, inclusive, together.

In 2008 Ireland's spending on Overseas Development Aid (ODA) will reach €914 million. This level of expenditure, the highest in the history of the programme, represents 0.54 % of GNP. It will ensure that Ireland remains one of the most generous donors in the world on a per capita basis. We are well on track to meeting the UN target of spending 0.7% on ODA by 2012, three years ahead of the EU commitment. Most of this funding — €814 million — comes under Vote 29 International Cooperation which is managed by my Department. A further estimated €100 million will be spent by other Government Departments and through Ireland's allocation to the EU Development Cooperation Budget.

As far as expenditure on individual countries is concerned, I set out below a table showing the 12 countries which received the largest volume of ODA in 2006 (final figures for expenditure in 2007 must await detailed returns from our partner organisations. These will be published in our 2007 Annual Report).

Country

Amount

Uganda

44,831,057

Mozambique

41,881,672

Ethiopia

39,457,355

Tanzania

30,567,113

Zambia

24,233,613

Sudan

15,024,219

South Africa

14,743,332

Kenya

11,814,703

Lesotho

10,835,042

Democratic Republic of Congo

9,976,916

Sierra Leone

8,895,072

Zimbabwe

8,350,290

The funding administered by Irish Aid is delivered through a wide range of partners including government, non Governmental organisations, missionaries, UN funds and programmes, international organisations and humanitarian agencies. Funding is delivered via local, regional and national government systems aimed at, inter alia, building health, education and local government systems. Irish Aid uses a number of modalities and funding mechanisms to manage ODA ranging from sector wide supports, mainly in the social sectors of health and education, to projects and general budget support.

A significant proportion of Irish Aid funding is delivered through our Multi Annual Partnership Scheme (MAPS) with the main Irish NGOs. In 2007 almost €63 million was provided to the five participating Irish NGOs under MAPS (Concern €23 million, Trócaire €18 million, GOAL €14.7 million, Self Help Development International (SHDI) €4 million and Christian Aid Ireland € 3.2 million). In the years 2007 through to 2011, we plan to support our MAPS partners by approximately €387 million as follows: Concern €148 million, Trócaire €116 million, GOAL €100 million, Christian Aid €17 million and SHDI €6.5 million.

As the deputy will be aware Irish Aid has consistently supported the work of Irish Missionaries. €16 million was provided to the Irish Missionary Resource Service in 2007 which will increase to €20 million next year. As far as future spending is concerned, the ODA allocation will be decided through the Estimates process. Figures for expenditure on ODA in the period 2009 to 2012 cannot be stated at this point as they are normally linked to estimated GNP growth at the time of the Estimates process. However, I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to meeting the target of 0.7% of GNP by 2012 in a planned and phased manner and that Ireland's ODA allocation will grow strongly year on year as we move towards that target.

Irish Aid will continue to focus on the world's poorest countries where need is greatest. As stated in the White Paper on Irish Aid, Sub-Saharan Africa will remain the principal geographic focus. Irish Aid will continue to focus on the world's poorest countries where need is greatest. As stated in the White Paper on Irish Aid, Sub-Saharan Africa will remain the principal geographic focus. However, Ireland places particular emphasis on long term support to eight programme countries: Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho, Timor Leste and Vietnam. In 2007 an Embassy was opened in Malawi, which will become Ireland's ninth programme country. These countries are amongst the poorest in the world and Ireland's assistance to them is directed primarily to the social sectors of health, education and rural development in order to make a real difference to the lives of ordinary people. ODA funding to these countries is allocated in accordance with the Country Strategy Papers (CSPs), which have a duration of five years. Five year CSPs were agreed in 2007 for Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique. CSPs for Ethiopia, Timor Leste and Malawi are under negotiation and the amount to be allocated will be announced once they are agreed.

John Deasy

Question:

389 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the criteria used by his Department to identify countries to receive overseas aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3718/08]

The Government's official programme of development assistance, Irish Aid, has as its primary aim the reduction of poverty. Africa is the primary geographic focus of Irish Aid.

The White Paper on Irish Aid sets out the principles and policies underlying the aid programme. It outlines the vision for the future and a number of key initiatives.

The White Paper was the subject of extensive consultation with the Irish public, with aid agencies and other stakeholders including UN agencies and Ireland's partners in the developing world.

Irish Aid delivers assistance to over 30 countries in Africa, but has a particularly deep relationship with seven countries called programme countries. These are Tanzania, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Uganda, Ethiopia and Malawi. In Asia, Vietnam and East Timor are also designated as programme countries.

The first three countries listed were designated as programme countries in the 1980s based on their poverty, links with Ireland and with Irish missionaries and on the comparative advantage which Ireland had in relation to their needs. The latter three were designated in the mid 1990's based on visits by appraisal teams which looked at the respective poverty indices and on the emergence of these countries from years of conflict.

Malawi has now become the 7th programme country in Africa on the basis of poverty indices, susceptibility to food insecurity and prior humanitarian operations and experience by Irish Aid there. An Embassy has now been opened in Malawi and work is in hand on setting up a comprehensive bilateral assistance programme.

Vietnam and East Timor were designated as programme countries on the basis of poverty levels, but also with a view to transferring the lessons from the development experience in Asia, where appropriate, to Africa.

The overarching objectives of the aid programme are poverty reduction and sustainable development. We address fundamental human needs such as food security, basic education, primary health care and safe water supplies.

We also place a particular emphasis on building good governance. This includes assistance for enhancing parliamentary oversight, building democratic systems of government that are underpinned by free and fair elections, strengthening the rule of law, enhancing respect for human rights, improving transparency and accountability through initiatives to enhance public financial management and building civil society.

A guiding principle of Irish Aid's policy is that Ireland's relationship with the developing world is based on a spirit of partnership and equality. The governments and peoples of our partner countries are primarily responsible for their own development and will lead the development process. Ireland will offer advice, expertise and assistance but decisions on development planning must, to the greatest extent possible, be locally owned and led.

The Irish Aid programme is growing rapidly. The commitment of the Government to reach the UN target of 0.7% of GNP by 2012 presents an important opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of millions of poor people in Africa and beyond. This practical and tangible assistance will also be matched by strong international advocacy for poverty reduction and a fairer global order.

Questions Nos. 390 to 392, inclusive, answered with Question No. 388.

John Deasy

Question:

393 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures in place to ensure that money allocated to overseas aid is not misappropriated through corruption in recipient countries; if he has satisfied himself that those measures are fully effective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3722/08]

Ireland provides development support to some of the poorest countries in the world, some of which are ranked as having a significant level of corruption. Working in countries with corruption and weak governance generates a risk for donors, including Ireland.

Corruption affects the poorest in society. We are committed to addressing it through improving transparency and accountability, supporting public oversight institutions, parliamentary reform, the independent media and building the capacity of civil society to influence and monitor public policy decisions.

For example, in Ethiopia, Ireland supports the strengthening of internal and external audit functions within the Government of Ethiopia. In Uganda, Ireland provides direct support to oversight bodies actively engaged in preventing and addressing corruption, such as the Inspectorate General of Government and the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity. In Zambia, Ireland supports the work of a special Task Force on Corruption. We also provide assistance to the public financial management system, as well as supporting parliamentary oversight of budget implementation and the work of civil society institutions engaged in anti-corruption activities.

In addition, Irish Aid has in place rigorous accounting and audit controls which are essential to ensuring a transparent, effective and high quality programme. Irish Aid programmes are regularly and intensively audited and evaluated by independent audit firms, by Irish Aid's Evaluation and Audit Unit and by the independent Audit Committee of the Department. Programmes are evaluated to ensure that funds are used for the purposes intended, in particular in respect of outcomes and value for money.

While we are working in some of the most difficult operating environments in the world, I am satisfied that the monitoring, evaluation and audit systems which we have in place provide the best protection possible against misuse of Irish taxpayers' funds.

International Agreements.

John Deasy

Question:

394 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government plans to ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3723/08]

I refer the Deputy to previous replies to similar questions concerning the United Nations Convention against Corruption, most recently on 27th November 2007. The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 2003 and was signed on behalf of Ireland, when it opened for signature, in December 2003. The Convention entered into force on 14 December 2005.

As with all international agreements, before ratification can take place it is necessary to put in place any domestic legislation required to give effect to the agreement.

In consultation with the Attorney General's Office and other Government Departments, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (which has responsibility in this area) has examined the Convention and identified what domestic legislation is required to give effect to its provisions. The Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill, which completed Committee Stage in the Dáil on 21 January, will enact certain necessary measures. I understand that it is intended to make whatever additional provision in Irish law is required, to enable ratification, in the forthcoming Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill.

A number of other issues in the civil and administrative area will also have to be addressed in advance of Ireland's ratification of the Convention. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will be pursuing these matters with the relevant Departments and Agencies.

The importance of ratification at the earliest date is appreciated. The Convention is a broad and comprehensive treaty which provides internationally-recognised measures to prevent and combat corruption. More generally, it aims to promote integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and public property.

Rapid Response Corps.

John Deasy

Question:

395 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of people assigned to the Rapid Response Corps; the funding allocated to the Rapid Response Corps in each of the years 2008 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3724/08]

Sixty four volunteers were invited to become members of the Rapid Response Corps in 2007 following a rigorous selection and interview process. Fifty two of this group completed their pre-departure training and checks in the past year, and seven of those have already been deployed to various humanitarian crises worldwide. A further member will be deployed shortly.

A new campaign to recruit further members will be launched in February. The campaign will seek to recruit volunteers with the logistics, engineering and humanitarian skills most requested, together with new skills profiles identified to us, by our partner agencies.

The level of funding assigned to the Rapid Response Corps will be dependent on the number of deployments of the Corps and the requested needs in the field. In 2008, it is estimated that the Corps will absorb approximately €1 million and the Deputy can be assured that the necessary funding will be made available to fund the Rapid Response Corps in the period to 2012.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

396 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3764/08]

There are no programmes currently being operated by my Department that are funded, either wholly or partly, by the European Union. In the time available, I am only in a position to provide information in regard to EU support for programmes operated by my Department in the past ten years.

My Department had responsibility for two measures under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace I) which was targeted at Northern Ireland and the six border counties and ran from 1995 to end-December 2001, although funding continued to be drawn down by approved projects until the end of 2005. The first of these two measures was entitled Measure 3.3 on Cross-Border co-operation between Public Bodies and had an expenditure of approximately €11 million. The second was entitled Measure 3.1 on Cross-Border Business and Cultural Linkages and had an expenditure of €12 million. The latter measure was implemented by an intermediary agency, Co-Operation Ireland, under the supervision of this Department.

Diplomatic Representation.

Billy Timmins

Question:

397 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3818/08]

When it is considered by the Department of Foreign Affairs that an appointment as Honorary Consul may be justified, suitable candidates who would be willing to undertake the duties involved are identified by the Irish Ambassador accredited to the country concerned. Such appointments also usually involve consultations with local Irish community representatives and business interests.

The Honorary Consul General of Ireland in Beirut, Lebanon, is Mr Khaled Daouk. He was appointed as Honorary Consul in 1988 and as Honorary Consul General in 1995. The appointment was made according to the above mentioned criteria.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

398 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3864/08]

An essential everyday part of the work of staff in my Department is serving the needs of this House. Preparing material related to answering Parliamentary Questions is an essential element of this.

Replies to Parliamentary Questions are drafted by the staff in the sections dealing with the particular issues raised. While 941 Parliamentary Questions were answered by my Department in 2007, no record is kept of the time taken to prepare material for replies to individual questions and therefore it is not possible to calculate the costs incurred. The number of staff and the time spent on an individual answer depends on the complexity of the issues raised, the level of supporting detail to be retrieved and collated and the form of the proposed response, i.e. whether oral or written.

Work Permits.

Tom Hayes

Question:

399 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when a decision will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [3064/08]

The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that an application in respect of the above was refused on the basis that his immigration status precludes him from entering full-time employment. In addition, the position of " Specialist Indian Restaurant Manager", for which he applied, would not fall within the eligible, high skills categories for Green Cards. An appeal was lodged in this case and the refusal decision upheld.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

400 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3089/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

401 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3104/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 401 together.

The following table sets out the information requested by the Deputy. All "budgets" refer to the actual outturn in the year in question. However, since the bodies concerned are preparing their final accounts for 2007 at this time and, therefore, audited figures would not yet be available, I am not in a position to provide the final expenditure figures for each body for 2007 at time of answering.

Statutory Bodies Associated with the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment as at 5 February, 2008

Name of Statutory Body

Date Established

Budget for Each year of the last 5 years (i.e. 2003 to 2007 inclusive) (€million)

An Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS)

1/1/88

2003 — 828.357 2004 — 830.142 2005 — 948.045 2006 — 1,016.413

Director of Consumer Affairs (a)

21/02/78

2003 — 4.486 2004 — 3.407 2005 — 3.630 2006 — 3.603 (b)

National Consumer Agency

01/05/2007

(b)

Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE)

21/11/01

2003 — 2.836 2004 — 3.067 2005 — 2.899 2006 — 3.356

Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA)

03/01/06

2006 — 0.570

The Competition Authority (c)

October 1991

2003 — 4.354 2004 — 4.738 2005 — 5.360 2006 — 6.104

Company Law Review Group (CLRG)

2001

The costs associated with the CLRG are included as part of the Department’s Administrative Budget (d)

Labour Relations Commission

21/01/1991

2003 — 3.566 2004 — 4.308 2005 — 4.671 2006 — 4.626

Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT)

1 Jan 1968

2003 — (e) 2004 — 1.641 2005 — 1.195 2006 — 2.279

Name of Statutory Body

Date Established

Budget for Each year of the last 5 years (i.e. 2003 to 2007 inclusive) (€million)

Labour Court

1946

2003 — 2.270 2004 — 2.309 2005 — 2.403 2006 — 2.761

National Authority for Occupation-al Safety & Health

1989

2003 — 14.019 2004 — 16.084 2005 — 20.804 2006 — 26.630

Patent Agents Board

Established under Rule 6 of the Register of Patent Agents Rules, 1992 (S.I. No.180 of 1992 dated 2 July 1992).

None

Trade Mark Agents Board

Established under Rule 51(2) of the Trade Mark Rules, 1996 (S.I. No.199 of 1996 dated 27 June 1996).

None

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

13/04/04

2004 — 3.359 2005 — 7.378 2006 — 11.258 (f)

National Standards Authority of Ireland

14/04/97

2003 — 17.695 2004 — 18.510 2005 — 20.475 2006 — 21.641

IDA Ireland

In 1969 as Industrial Develop-ment Authority of Ireland. In 1994 as IDA Ireland

2003 — 155.429 2004 — 123.492 2005 — 149.816 2006 — 165.611

Enterprise Ireland

1998

2003 — 267.307 2004 — 268.008 2005 — 278.390 2006 — 295.289

Crafts Council of Ireland

1971

2003 — 2,333 2004 — 2,454 2005 — 3,005 2006 — 2,978

Forfás

01/01/94

2003 — 20.265 2004 — 22.395 2005 — 27.576 2006 — 30.181

Name of Statutory Body

Date Established

Budget for Each year of the last 5 years (i.e. 2003 to 2007 inclusive) (€million)

35 City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) (g)

October 1993

2003 — €30.406 2004 — €28.687 2005 — €30.567 2006 — €32.829

Shannon Development (h)

28/01/59

2003 — 39.828 2004 — 33.335 2005 — 30.445 2006 — 43.547

InterTrade-Ireland (j)

13/12/99

2003 — 6.189 2004 — 7.127 2005 — 7.679 2006 — 9.664

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

Established as Sub Board of Forfas in 2000. In 2003, SFI was established as separate legal entity under Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Act, 2003.

2003 — 49.159 2004 — 113.730 2005 — 129.561 2006 — 147.570

National Employment Rights Authority

Established in February 2007 on an interim basis pending the enactment of the Employment Law Compliance Bill which will give NERA a statutory footing.

First Year of operation

Footnotes
(a)The Director of Consumer Affairs was a statutory post established under the Consumer Information Act 1978. The post was abolished on the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 which established the National Consumer Agency.
(b)The budgets of the Director of Consumer Affairs and the National Consumer Agency were merged when the Agency was established on a statutory basis.
(c)Figure quoted is from the Competition Authority's Annual Accounts.
(d)The costs associated with the CLRG are included as part of the Department's Administrative Budget.
(e)The Employment Appeals Tribunal does not have a separate budget/subhead and the administration costs are included in the Department's Administrative Budget. The cost shown does not include accommodation, rent etc as the EAT secretariat and Dublin hearing rooms are housed in the Department's Offices.
(f)The PIAB is substantially funded by means of fee income and the level of Exchequer support has diminished over the years. In 2006, Exchequer funding of €363,000 was provided to cover the costs of an extraordinary legal challenge, funding for which is not provided for under the PIAB Acts.
(g)There are 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs). The CEBs were established in October 1993 and are Companies limited by guarantee. Under their Articles of Association the approved number of members which a CEB can have is fourteen but this may slightly increase or decrease from time to time. In relation to staff numbers the CEBs in general have a staff complement of between 4 and 5 staff.
(h)Figures for Shannon Development represent total expenditure by the agency which is largely funded from its own resources through activities such as property management, investments and commercial tourism business. It receives grant-in-aid from the Department of Arts Sport and Tourism (€0.8m in 2007) in respect of its tourism activities and funding from my Department (€3m in 2007) to fund grants to industry in the Shannon Free Zone.
(j)As regards InterTrade Ireland, the figures given refer to the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment's contribution of two thirds of ITI's annual budget. The body also receives a one third contribution from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and also has resource income of its own at its disposal.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

402 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3162/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

403 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3177/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

404 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3192/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 to 404, inclusive, together.

Although no specific taskforces were established in my Department in the last five years, details relating to groups which might be considered taskforces and which were established under the auspices of my Department, are set out below:

2003

Name of Group

The Enterprise Strategy Group

The Enterprise Strategy Group published their report "Ahead of the Curve — Ireland's Place in the Global Economy" in 2004. The membership of the group, which was established in 2003, together with their terms of reference are set out below. The group made more than 50 recommendations directed at a wide range of Departments and agencies. During the period of the Enterprise Strategy Group study, which ran from July 2003 to July 2004, administrative support was provided by Forfás from within its normal allocation. No additional funding was sought or required for this task. The members of the group gave their time pro bono. The recommendations of the group were considered by Government and it was agreed to fully implement 70% of the 51 recommendations made in the ESG report, and deliver partial or modified implementation in all except 2 recommendations. It was decided on the basis of international experience not to proceed with the recommendation to "replace the existing regulators for networked sectors with a new regulatory body covering all networked sectors" and in addition, a recommendation on the introduction of carbon tax was not adopted.

Membership and Terms of Reference:

Name

Mr Eoin O’Driscoll

Managing Director of Aderra — Chair

Mr Alan Dwyer

Managing Director Eurostyle Limited

Mr Hugh Friel

CEO Kerry Group plc.

Mr Des Geraghty

Former General President of SIPTU

Mr David Griffin

Chief Risk Officer Allied Irish Bank

Professor Rita Gunther McGrath

Associate Professor Columbia University

Mr Nicky Hartery

Vice President, EMEA Operations, Dell

Professor John Hegarty

Provost of Trinity College Dublin

Dr James G Hoey

Managing Director of Masonite Ireland

Mr Frank Kenny

Managing Partner of Delta Partners

Ms Liavan Mallin

Chairperson and CEO of Zalco Investments Ltd.

Mr Martin McVicar

Managing Director, Combilift Ltd.

Dr Mary Meaney

Director of the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown

Dr Rory O’Donnell

Director of the National Economic and Social Council

Dr Reg Shaw

Managing Director Wyeth

Professor John Sutton

London School of Economics

Terms of Reference:

The Group will develop a medium term enterprise strategy and propose and prioritise national policy responses. The aims of the Group's work are:

to strengthen the competitiveness of Ireland's enterprise environment

to promote the emergence of an innovation and knowledge driven economy

to sustain those industries already providing employment

to underpin the industries of the future where Ireland is or can become a substantial player

to encourage business start-ups and companies with potential for growth, and

to examine the scope for increasing the value of sectors to the Irish economy as a whole

The Group will take account of long term international trends, in globalisation, EU enlargement, technology and regulation, as well as in the structure of industries and markets. It will recognise Ireland's increased prosperity and changing cost and competitiveness base, while taking account of trends in demography, of the regulatory environment, and of our physical, R&D and technological infrastructures. Against this background, the Group will produce a strategy based on a vision which recognises the desirability of appropriate balance:

between Business sectors in the economy

between foreign and domestic enterprise ownership

between regions as set out in the National Spatial Strategy

and between types of economic activity, such as research, manufacturing and commercial services.

The recommendations of this group were considered by Government and an Action Plan with 37 action points was approved in 2005. By November 2007 the points in the Action Plan had been implemented or were on target for implementation. This taskforce itself is no longer operating.

2004

Name of Group

Consumer Strategy Group

Membership and Terms of Reference:

Ms Ann Fitzgerald, Chairperson, Members: Ms Rosheen Callender, Mr Stephen Costello, Mr Colin Hunt, Mr Dermot Jewell, Ms Orna Ni Chionna, Mr Simon Nugent, Mr John O'Sullivan, Ms Aileen O'Toole, Mr Alex Schuster, Dr Edward Shinnick.

The Consumer Strategy Group (CSG) was established in March 2004 with a remit to advise and make recommendations for the development of a national consumer policy strategy. The Group published its report in May 2005. The report contained 33 separate recommendations directed at a number of Government Departments. A full list of the Group's recommendations can be downloaded from the Department's website at: http://www.entemp.ie/publications/ commerce/2005/consumerstrategy.pdf. The Taskforce is no longer operating. A High Level Interdepartmental Committee established to consider the implementation of the CSG recommendations endorsed all but one of those recommendations. The majority of the CSG's recommendations directed at this Department have been implemented. The implementation of those recommendations directed at other Departments are matters for the Departments concerned. The secretariat of the CSG was provided by Forfas. A total of €195,000 was given to Forfas in 2005 in relation to the preparation of the CSG's report. The cost of providing the secretarial support to the CSG was met from within Forfas' budget.

2004

Name of Group

Name of Taskforce

Expert Advisory Group on Workplace Bullying set up in 2004

Membership and Terms of Reference:

Name

Chair: Paul J Farrell

Partner, IBM Ireland Ltd

Patricia Murray

Health and Safety Authority

Mr. Seamus Doherty

(Labour Relations Commission)

Ms. Barbara Cashen

(Equality Authority)

Fergus Whelan

Industrial Officer, ICTU

Peter Flood,

Assistant Director of Social Policy, IBEC

Mr Brian Montague,

Director of Group Human Resources, Eircom Ltd

Ms Maura Harte,

Employee Support Manager, HR Department, Western Health Board

Jarleth McInerney

Solicitor

Professor Mona O’Moore

Anti Bullying Centre, Trinity College Dublin

Ms. Marie Corcoran

HR Consultant

Mr. Kevin Walsh

former HR Manager, Diageo

Ms. Marie Rock

HSA Board Member

Ms. Louise O’Donnell

HSA Board Member

Mr. Fergus Whelan

Industrial Officer, ICTU

Mr. Martin Lynch

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Ms. Lucy Fallon Byrne

National Centre for Partnership and Performance

Terms of Reference:

To advise and report on the

effectiveness of measures relating to the prevention of workplace bullying,

the identification of improvements in procedures, and

how to address the contribution made by bullying to the incidence of workplace stress

The Expert Group reported in 2005. The main thrust of the recommendations were implemented in a code of practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005. None recommendations were rejected. The Taskforce itself is no longer operating. The cost of Taskforce was €9,198.00.

2005

Name of Group

Small Business Forum

Membership and Terms of Reference:

Name

Mr Joe Macri

Microsoft Ireland (Chairperson)

Ms Mary Bennett

The Treasure Chest, Galway

Dr Joan Buckley

John C. Kelleher Family Business Centre, University College Cork

Mr Des Cummins

National Recycling Ltd, Dublin (Nominated by the Small Firms Association)

Dr Daniel Hickey

All in All Ingredients (Nominated by ISME – the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association)

Mr Michael Johnson

Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Enterprise Board

Ms Jacqui McNabb

County Carlow Chamber of Commerce (Nominated by Chambers of Commerce of Ireland)

Ms Breda O’Driscoll

Ultrasonic Scientific, Dublin

Mr Conor O’Mahony

Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment

Mr James O’Sullivan

M&P O’Sullivan, Cork

Prof. Frank Roche

University College Dublin

Ms Rosemary Sexton

Enterprise Ireland

Ms Rita Shah

Shabra Plastics/Recycling Group, Monaghan

Secretariat to the Forum was provided by Forfás.

Terms of Reference of the Small Business Forum:

The terms of reference of the Small Business Forum were as follows:

The over-arching task of the Forum is to consider in broad terms the current environment for conducting small business in Ireland and to advise on the adequacy and appropriateness of the public policy responses in the context of that environment, including the interventions by the enterprise development agencies. The Forum should consider whether there are new or revised strategies that would be beneficial in assisting small business to contribute to the growth of the economy. Any proposals for such new or revised strategies should be complementary to, and be consistent with, the revised enterprise strategy adopted by the Government in response to the Enterprise Strategy Group report. In particular, the Forum should:

Consider whether the strategies being followed to support and develop the spirit of entrepreneurship in Ireland are effective and appropriate;

Consider how the pattern of growth of small businesses in Ireland compares internationally and seek to identify the particular characteristics that tend to lead to the growth of small businesses or inhibit such growth;

Review the existing environment for accessing finance by small businesses at each stage of development;

Review the propensity of the small business sector to conduct research and development and to innovate and to consider the capacity of the sector to access the programmes aimed at the promotion of such activities; and

In the light of the foregoing, consider what additional or revised actions could be taken to help more small enterprises grow their businesses in a manner that contributes to the overall growth of the Irish economy.

In conducting this review, the Forum should take account of the relevant priorities for action set out in the revised Lisbon Agenda, including the actions contained in the European Charter for Small Enterprises. The Small Business Forum published its Report in May 2006, which is available at the following website link: http://www.forfas.ie/publications/2006index.htm. Considerable progress has been made on the Implementation of the SBF Report's Recommendations. A copy of the Third Progress Report of 10 December 2007 on the implementation of the SBF Recommendations, is available at the following website link: http://www.entemp.ie/ publications/enterprise/2007/THIRDPROGRESSREPORT(FINALVersionof10December2007). pdf

The Taskforce is still operating in the form of an Implementation Group, which meets with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment twice yearly, to discuss progress on the implementation of the recommendations. The costs of the work of the Small Business Forum are being met from Forfas' agreed annual Budget allocation.

2007

Name of Group

Employment Appeals Tribunal Revision of Procedures Group 2007

Membership and Terms of Reference:

Name

Mr Sean O’Riordain

General Secretary, Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants [chair]

Mr Tony Halpin

Members of Employment Appeals Tribunal;

Mr Peter O’Leary

Members of Employment Appeals Tribunal;

Mr Declan Winston

Members of Employment Appeals Tribunal;

Mr Seamus O’Donnell

Members of Employment Appeals Tribunal;

Mr Dominic McBride

Secretary to the EAT

Mr Martin Lynch

Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment

Mr Alan Haugh

Rep from Irish Business and Employers Confederation [IBEC]

Mr Fergus Whelan

Rep from Irish Congress of Trade Unions [ICTU]

Secretariat provided by DETE, Ms Anne-Marie Finlay and Ms Aisling O'Reilly

Terms of Reference of Working Group:

To make recommendations to the Minister for Labour Affairs to update the procedures of the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

The Group met on 8 occasions between February and May 2007 and made a number of recommendations to the Minister for Labour Affairs in May 2007. The final report is published on the www.entemp.ie website. None of the recommendations were rejected. The report's recommendations are under consideration in the context of drafting of Employment Law Compliance Bill. The Taskforce itself is no longer operating. The cost of Taskforce was € 8055.22 expenses, plus administrative support from my Department.

2005-2007

Name of Group

Business Regulation Forum (BRF)

Membership and Terms of Reference:

Dr Donal De Buitléir, Chairman, Diarmuid Bradley, Andy Cullen, Marie Daly, Pat Delaney, Gearóid Doyle, Pat Farrell, Mark Fielding, Pat Nolan replaced by Eugene Forde, Dr Eoin Gahan, Maurice Healy, Trevor Holmes, Andrew McDowell replaced by Declan Hughes, Dermot Jewell, Philip Kelly, Professor Irene Lynch Fannon, Eamonn Molloy, Ronald Long replaced by Breda Power, Senator Fergal Quinn, Imelda Reynolds, Miriam Ryan, Dr John Thompson

Terms of Reference:

To advise the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on any changes necessary to ensure that existing or proposed regulations, impacting on business, meet the criteria set out in the White Paper "Better Regulation". The Forum may focus on general administrative procedures and sector, or product, specific obligations. The BRF published its report in April 2007. It made one recommendation. The BRF ceased to exist in February 2007; the High Level Group on Business Regulation was set up in July 2007 to carry the work forward. The cost was €221,437.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

405 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3207/08]

The following tabular statement outlines the non-property costs relating to decentralisation that have been incurred by my Department since the project was initiated. The expenditure returns relate to the Administration Subheads A2 to A7 inclusive and outlines the spend on a quarter by quarter basis in each year, as outlined in my Department's quarterly return to the Department of Finance.

2004

Sub-head

A2

A3

A4

A5

A6

A7

Total Non-Capital Expenditure A2 to A7

Capital Expenditure

Total

Subhead Description

Travel &Sub-Sistence

Incidental Expenses

Postal & Telecom Expenses

Office Machinery & other office supplies & related services

Office Premises Expenses

Consultancy

Dept of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Quarter 1

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Quarter 2

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Quarter 3

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Quarter 4

128

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

128

Nil

128

Total

128

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

128

Nil

128

2005

Subhead

A2

A3

A4

A5

A6

A7

Total Non-Capital Expenditure A2 to A7

Capital Expenditure

Total

Subhead Description

Travel &Sub-Sistence

Incidental Expenses;

Postal & Telecom Expenses

Office Machinery & other office supplies & related services

Office Premises Expenses

Consultancy

Dept of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Quarter 1

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Quarter 2

Nil

847

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

847

Nil

847

Quarter 3

227

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

227

Nil

227

Quarter 4

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Total

227

847

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

1,074

Nil

1,074

2006

Subhead

A2

A3

A4

A5

A6

A7

Total Non-Capital Expenditure A2 to A7

Capital Expenditure

Total

Subhead Description

Travel & Sub-Sistence

Incidental Expenses

Postal & Telecom Expenses

Office Machinery & other office supplies & related services

Office Premises Expenses

Consultancy

Dept of Enterprise,Trade and Employment

Quarter 1

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Quarter 2

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Quarter 3

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

26,620

26,620

Nil

26,620

Quarter 4

Nil

Nil

Nil

72,175

Nil

Nil

72,175

Nil

72,175

Total

Nil

Nil

Nil

72,175

Nil

26,620

98,795

Nil

98,795

2007

Subhead

A2

A3

A4

A5

A6

A7

Total Non-Capital Expenditure A2 to A7

Capital Expenditure

Total

Sub-head Description

Travel & Sub-Sistence

Incidental Expenses

Postal & Telecom Expenses

Office Machinery & other office supplies & related services

Office Premises Expenses

Consultancy

Dept of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Quarter 1

281

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

281

Nil

281

Quarter 2

2,317

Nil

Nil

6,760

11,752

Nil

20,829

Nil

20,829

Quarter 3

8,345

400

306

50,919

3,570

Nil

63,540

Nil

63,540

Quarter 4

Not yet reported

Not yet reported

Not yet reported

Not yet reported

Not yet reported

Not yet reported

Not yet reported

Not yet reported

Not yet reported

Total up to and including Q.3 2007

10,943

400

306

57,679

15,322

Nil

84,650

Nil

84,650

Total spend to date Q1 2004 to Q3 2007

11,289

1,247

306

129,854

15,322

26,620

184,647

Nil

184,647

Leo Varadkar

Question:

406 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3222/08]

My Department is required to relocate a minimum of 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme and this is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009. In order to accommodate staff who wished to move earlier than the projected building completion date of late 2009, officials of my Department, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the OPW, as well as decentralising staff and Business Units, opened an advance office in Carlow on July 30 2007. The number of staff in this decentralised advance office is 99. As well as the 99 posts already decentralised to Carlow, my Department has 189 posts in Business Units due to decentralise in the substantive move to Carlow scheduled for 2009.

Health and Safety Regulations.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

407 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is his view that providing grant funding to the National Irish Safety Organisation gives them an unfair competitive advantage over other providers of safety training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3263/08]

The Department made allocations of €100,000 in 2006 and €75,000 in 2007 to the National Irish Safety Organisation (NISO). There is provision for a further €100,000 in the Department's Estimate for 2008. NISO is a not for profit registered charity, headed up by a voluntary tripartite Executive supported by a small full time administrative unit. It has a part-time network of trainers whose main occupation is working in a safety capacity in industry and it provides safety services in eight regions of the country: The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires that all actors in the workplace be more safety aware and assigns specific responsibilities to them. Training is vital to achieving this and can be very effectively delivered via the low cost model employed by NISO. Following a strategic review, it's financial position would not allow it to expand its training activities and the Department has provided assistance. This assistance is not to give NISO an unfair competitive advantage but is to assist the restructuring of the organisation and therefore does not act as a subsidy to the provision of training with which NISO also competes with other organisations in the marketplace.

Industrial Development.

Sean Sherlock

Question:

408 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of money allocated to the Irish Technology Leadership Group recently launched in Palo Alto, California; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3306/08]

The Irish Technology Leadership Group was established by a group of Silicon Valley business leaders of Irish origin. The Group is led by Palm Inc. (PALM) Senior Vice President John Hartnett and is dedicated to helping Ireland take advantage of the opportunities in new technology. It also includes current and former executives from firms including Sling Media, Intuit Inc. (INTU), Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL), Intel Inc. (INTC), Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) and Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ). In addition to serving as a think tank, the group will also cultivate a social network for members. As part of an extensive investment promotion visit to the West Coast in October 2007, I visited Palo Alto to meet with the founding members of the Irish Technology Leadership Group for the formal launch of the new organization. While I welcome the contribution that the Group will make to raising the profile of Ireland as a location for investment, no funds have been allocated by my Department, or by the development agencies under its remit, to fund the activities of the Group.

Work Permits.

Michael McGrath

Question:

409 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of an application to transfer a work permit by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [3341/08]

The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that the above applicant is a current holder of a work permit. If he wishes to accept a job offer with a new employer, he must submit a new employment permit application. Employment Permits are only valid in respect of the position and employer cited on the permit.

Industrial Relations.

Michael McGrath

Question:

410 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the decision of the Employment Appeals Tribunal in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [3344/08]

The Employment Appeals Tribunal is an independent body bound to act judicially on the basis of evidence and submissions from both parties to a case. As an independent body, I have no authority to intervene in any case heard by it. The Tribunal is answerable to the Higher Courts by way of Appeal or Judicial Review in its function, decisions and the manner in which it conducts itself. The case to which the Deputy refers, was heard by the Tribunal on 6 December, 2007 and the determination issued to all parties on 4 January, 2008.

Employment Rights.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

411 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Irish personnel, resident and domiciled here and working as employees of an embassy are to be treated as workers under domestic State legislation, entitled to the same rights and protections of Irish labour law as other Irish employees working for Irish or international firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3347/08]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

412 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons, employed by some foreign embassies located here are not being treated for wage and tax purposes similar to PAYE workers employed by foreign companies based here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3348/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together.

The matter of Irish law applying to locally recruited personnel working for a foreign embassy accredited to and located in Ireland is a matter that has been the subject of Supreme Court decision such as in the case of the Government of Canada v the Employment Appeals Tribunal and Brian Burke (1992) 2 I.R. 484 S.C. to which I would refer the Deputy. The Deputy will note that in its judgement the Court had regard to principles of international law, to the nature of the duties and the position of confidence that attaches to locally recruited personnel that determines the nature of the employment relationship between locally recruited personnel and the ambassador, and to the question of sovereign immunity attaching to such activity.

Practice suggests that in the case of Irish persons working for an embassy in a position of confidence, who would be privy to business of the embassy, the embassy normally applies the law of its home country — the country which the embassy concerned represents. In other cases, the embassy concerned may apply Irish labour law in respect of their employment contracts with Irish personnel.

In the event of a dispute between a foreign embassy here and one or more of its Irish staff, where such personnel do not hold a position of confidence, the aggrieved staff may seek redress through the medium of representation to the ambassador concerned, to the authorities in the home country or through media publicity here or abroad, either through their own efforts or that of a trade union. In Ireland, the parties may utilise the expert services of the State's dispute settling machinery such as the Labour Relations Commission to assist them. There is also the option of going to a Rights Commissioner in regard to alleged breaches of Irish employment rights law although there may be a problem in enforcing any findings from such a process.

Job Creation.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

413 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for job creation in east Cork; and the impediments to job creation his Department has identified in the region. [3512/08]

State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through the industrial development agencies. While I may give general policy directives to the agencies, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings, or from giving preference to one area over others.

A range of strategies, programmes and financial incentives are in place to promote economic development that will give rise to sustainable employment throughout east Cork.

The strategies and programmes of the development agencies are very much in line with the National Development Plan and the National Spatial Strategy, which have been specifically designed to overcome any impediments that may exist to economic development and job creation across the country as a whole.

The enterprise development agencies have seen the emergence of an economic corridor along the N25 with the initial development of Little Island many years ago followed by new developments at Eastgate, Fota Business Park, Carrigtwohill and Midleton. IDA has also been instrumental in attracting additional client investment to the area with the development of the IDA Business and Technology Park in Carrigtwohill. More recently, Apex — a fund administration financial services company announced their decision to locate in Midleton with the creation of 40 jobs. IDA Ireland has found that the availability of quality property solutions in the East Cork area has proved attractive to visiting IDA clients.

In general, the east Cork area has benefited greatly from investment in recent times and, in order to build on our existing successes, the focus should be on building critical mass at regional, as opposed to local, level.

Flexible Work Practices.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

414 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work undertaken by the National Framework Committee for Work-Life Balance in 2007; and the way the group has supported and facilitated the development of family friendly policies in the workplace. [3517/08]

That National Framework Committee for Work-Life Balance, which has its origins in Social Partnership, comprises representatives from IBEC, ICTU, the Equality Authority and various Government Departments and is chaired by my Department. During 2007 it continued its remit as set out in Towards 2016 and the Programme for Government where it is charged with supporting and facilitating the development of family friendly policies aimed at assisting in the reconciliation of work and family life at the level of the enterprise. The Committee had a budget of €278,000 in 2007, of which just under €220,000 was spent.

Work Life Balance Day, an annual initiative first developed by the Committee in 2001, fell on March 1st. In the lead up to the day the Committee ran a national media campaign in press and radio to raise awareness of the whole issue of work life balance with employers and employees alike. It also distributed posters and leaflets to over 15,000 employers/organisations all across Ireland for use in the work place. A seminar was hosted by the Committee on the day when the then Minister for Labour Affairs formally launched the booklet A Planned and Systematic Approach to Work Life Balance, which was developed by the Committee to assist employers to successfully introduce or enhance work life balance arrangements in the workplace.

In 2007, the Committee also established a Panel of Consultants to assist employers in the development of that planned and systematic approach to work life balance at enterprise level. Under the scheme an experienced consultant can be made available to work with small to medium sized enterprises in developing and implementing work life balance policies and arrangements. For successful applicants to the scheme, the Committee will fund up to a maximum of 5 days consultancy. I formally launched the initiative in November, 2007.

The Committee continued to host and update the website www.worklifebalance.ie. The Committee secretariat also dealt with a wide range of queries from employers and employees — these queries varied between phone, letter and via the work life balance website.

In 2007, the Committee also began planning for Work Life Balance Day 2008, which falls on Friday February 29th.

Employment Support Services.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

415 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on introducing criteria which would prohibit the issuing of employment grant aid to companies who have made workers redundant in the past two years, even when those companies were returning a profit at the end of each year. [3591/08]

I am conscious of the need to ensure that employment grants are restricted to additional jobs and am satisfied that the schemes operated by the industrial development agencies under my Department, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development reflect this need.

A condition of approval obliges recipient companies to maintain employment at specified levels. Where employment falls below these levels it gives rise to grant recovery for non-compliance. First time applications from eligible companies submitting eligible investment programmes will be considered and evaluated on the basis of their prevailing employment base at the time of consideration/approval.

Regardless of strategic decisions applicant companies might have made in the past, once the applicant company falls within the agency's legislative and policy requirements the proposal for funding will be considered on its particular merits. This includes the impact it will have on future employment and value creation within the State. Past employment levels and sustained profitability prior to a first time application would not therefore necessarily militate against the applicant company.

In the light of the eligibility criteria already in place and the thorough assessment process engaged in by the agencies, I see no need to introduce additional criteria along the lines envisaged in the Question.

Departmental Agencies.

Martin Ferris

Question:

416 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the budget of the Industrial Development Authority; and the amount of same that is allocated towards attracting investment and developments in the Kerry region. [3642/08]

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

The budget of IDA Ireland is made up of Exchequer funding and own resource income. The total budget for the Agency for the year 2007, as published in the Revised Estimates for the Public Service 2007, was €206,001,000. The final figure for 2008 will not be available until the Revised Estimates volume is published at the end of the month.

The Agency does not maintain separate budget headings in respect of each county and grant monies provided by IDA for industrial development purposes are not allocated on a county basis.

Job Creation.

Martin Ferris

Question:

417 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by the Industrial Development Authority in County Kerry in 2007. [3643/08]

The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are clients of the industrial development agencies. Information is aggregated at county level. There were 120 new jobs created in IDA supported companies County Kerry during 2007.

Grant Payments.

Liz McManus

Question:

418 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the full status of conditions attached and amount of money allocated to a company (details supplied); if he will recoup this money; if he will ensure that any money recouped will be earmarked for job creation in Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3740/08]

Payment and repayment of grants are day to day operational matters for the Industrial Development agencies. I do not have any role in day to day operational matters of the agencies. However, in this particular case, I understand from IDA Ireland that the company received approximately €3.7 million in grants since 1989. Discussions will take place between the agency and the company in relation to grant liabilities shortly.

In its ongoing drive to attract investment opportunities to Arklow and Co. Wicklow in general, I can say that IDA Ireland is currently in negotiations with two investors with regard to relocating and expanding in the agency's Arklow Business Park. In addition, Servier Ireland Industries Limited, which is based in Arklow, is actively recruiting at present and employment figures have consistently increased over the last number of years.

I am satisfied that IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the local County Enterprise Board will continue to promote Arklow and Co. Wicklow in general as attractive locations for employment and investment opportunities.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

419 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3761/08]

Officials in my Department are currently compiling the information sought by the Deputy. However, due to the large amount of work involved it will not be possible to supply the material within the timescale requested. A full response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Work Permits.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

420 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason a work permit application for a person (details supplied) was refused; if his Department took into account that, despite extensive efforts including prolonged advertising campaigns and assistance from FÁS, all efforts failed to yield an eligible candidate for the position on offer; and if in this circumstance he will re-examine this work permit application. [3782/08]

The Employment Permits Section of my Department has informed me that the application in respect of the above named was initially refused as her immigration status precluded her from entering full-time employment. The decision was appealed and upheld. However, it is intended that the Employment Permits Section contact the employer in question this week, on the basis of new information received from that employer, in order to clarify what would be required to submit a completed, valid application in this case.

Arms Trade.

Billy Timmins

Question:

421 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an Irish based, or Irish supported company manufactures cluster munitions or components for cluster munitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3819/08]

My Department is not aware of any Irish company engaged in the manufacture of cluster munitions or their components. I can also confirm that no such companies are supported by the Agencies under the aegis of my Department.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to campaign for a complete ban on the use of cluster munitions. Pending the establishment of effective international instruments to address humanitarian concerns regarding their use, the Government is actively seeking agreement on an immediate freeze on the use of cluster munitions. In this regard, I welcome and fully support the initiative of my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs to host a Diplomatic Conference at Croke Park from 19-30 May 2008 at which it is hoped to finalise the first-ever international agreement on cluster munitions.

Decentralisation Programme.

Denis Naughten

Question:

422 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the decentralisation of FÁS to Birr; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3830/08]

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, FÁS is to transfer its Head Office, including some 383 staff, to Birr, Co Offaly by 2009.

FÁS currently has 21 members of staff based in Birr who are working out of leased offices located within the Birr Technology Centre. In the meantime FÁS has recently completed the purchase of a site of approximately 5.59 acres in Birr at a cost of €1.537 million in connection with the building of a permanent decentralised location. An application for planning permission is currently being prepared and will be submitted in due course.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

423 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3861/08]

No data is kept in my Department on the cost of answering parliamentary questions. Answering parliamentary questions is an activity which is integral to my Department's activities, and the costs are spread across a wide number of divisions and systems; there are also costs arising in the Oireachtas for which my Department would not be accountable.

However, it is estimated that the staffing cost of answering a parliamentary question in my Department is not less than €200 per question. However, for complex questions requiring coordination across all Divisions in the Department and requiring also an input from all Agencies under the aegis of my Department, the average is likely to be many multiples of this amount.

Work Permits.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

424 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to concerns by the Irish Nurses Organisation regarding the green card scheme, which imposes new restrictions on nurses (details supplied); if his attention has further been drawn to ongoing concerns that nurses may be tempted to leave Ireland for countries such as Canada with more nurse friendly immigration policies; if he will review these policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3869/08]

The Work Visa/Work Authorisation Scheme was replaced by new Work Permit and Green Card schemes following the enactment of the Employment Permits Act 2006. A key feature of the new system involves the issuing of permits which are employer-specific, with a view to this Department having the ability to track such positions for the purposes of ensuring employee rights are being met and that the conditions of the permit are being complied with.

In general permit holders are expected to remain with their initial employer for 12-months unless there are exceptional circumstances involved. After 12 months, permit holders may submit an application for a new employer, which will be considered on its merits.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

425 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3084/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

426 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3099/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 426 together.

The statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department and their dates of establishment are listed in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2005-2007 and Annual Reports which are available on my Department's website. Campus and Stadium Ireland Ltd (CSID) has been replaced by the National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA). The NSCDA was established with effect from 1st January 2007 and has responsibility to oversee, develop and procure all elements of the Sport Campus at Abbotstown.

Details of the income and expenditure of the bodies are set out in their Annual Reports and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Dáil Library.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

427 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of taskforces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if he will report on the progress being made by the taskforce; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3157/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

428 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3172/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

429 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3187/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 to 429, inclusive, together.

The only specific taskforce set-up in my Department since its establishment in 2002 is the London 2012 Olympics Task Force. The details in respect of this group are set out below. Name of Taskforce: London 2012 Olympics Task Force Terms of Reference: The London 2012 Olympics Task Force was established by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in August 2006 to examine all possible opportunities; identify priority areas of interest; and map out a strategy with a view to ensuring that Ireland can benefit to the maximum extent possible from its proximity to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership

Name

Philip Furlong (Chair)

Former Secretary General of the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism

Gillian Bowler

Businesswoman & Chair of Fáilte Ireland

Olive Braiden

Chair, Arts Council

Des Casey

former Honorary Secretary of the FAI & UEFA Life Member

Anne Ebbs

Secretary General of the Paralympic Council of Ireland

John Fitzgerald

former Dublin City Manager

Dan Flinter

former Chief Executive of Enterprise Ireland & Chair of the National Sports Campus Development Authority

Pat Hickey

President of the Olympic Council of Ireland & President of the European Olympic Committees

Seán Kelly

former president of the GAA and Executive Chairman of the Irish Institute of Sport

Ossie Kilkenny

Chair of the Irish Sports Council

Noel Murphy

former President of IRFU & IRB Council Member

Mícheál Ó Suilleabháin

Chair of Culture Ireland (replaced by Eugene Downes, Chief Executive of Culture Ireland on 13 June 2007)

Paul O’Toole

Chief Executive Tourism Ireland

Peter Quinn

Businessman & former President of GAA

Ray Rooney

Businessman & former Senior Steward of the Turf Club

Donagh Morgan

Assistant Secretary, Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism (from 13 June 2007)

Progress & Recommendations: The Task Force met on six occasions. Indecon International consultants will shortly be submitting a final report to the Task Force on their evaluation of the potential economic benefits arising from the London 2012 Olympic games. On receipt of this report the Task Force will be submitting recommendations to the Minister for consideration.

Costs: The Task Force commissioned Indecon International Economic consultants to analyse and evaluate the potential economic benefits to Ireland in the sporting, business and tourism areas from the London 2012 Games. The cost of this consultancy was €113,847.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

430 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3202/08]

The non-property costs of decentralisation for my Department as reported on a quarterly basis to the Department of Finance and the Decentralisation Implementation Group (D.I.G) are set out below:

Quarter

Expenditure

Quarter 1 2006

1857

Quarter 2 2006

3276

Quarter 3 2006

104,446

Quarter 4 2006

74,052

Quarter 1 2007

100,095

Quarter 2 2007

83,712

Quarter 3 2007

67,317

Quarter 4 2007

117,248

Leo Varadkar

Question:

431 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3217/08]

The number of civil servants who have relocated to date to my Department's temporary premises in Fossa, Killarney, under the Government's decentralisation programme stands at 70.

A further 61 posts are scheduled to be decentralised on completion of my Department's permanent headquarters in Killarney towards the end of 2008.

No public servants have transferred, nor are any scheduled to transfer, to my Department's decentralised location in Killarney.

Physical Education Facilities.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

432 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on coordinating with the Department of Education and Science on the shared use of sports and physical activity facilities between schools and the community; if he will develop and implement such a policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3634/08]

The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations and, in certain circumstances to schools and colleges, throughout the country. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Under the programme priority is given to the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of sports facilities.

Primary and post-primary schools wishing to be considered for funding under the programme may apply for funding jointly with local sports clubs or community groups and must meet other conditions including a requirement that the local community will have significant access to the proposed facility, at least 30 hours a week throughout the year, when it is not being used by the school itself. Any sports facility proposed for funding by a sporting organisation and which would be located within school grounds would have to meet these same conditions.

Applications from primary and post-primary schools and colleges on their own are not considered under the programme. Responsibility for the provision of sports facilities in schools and colleges is a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Education and Science.

Work on the development of a National Sports Facility Strategy is now underway in my Department. The aim of the strategy is to provide high- level policy direction for future investment at national, regional and local level. An inter-agency steering group has been established to oversee this work and includes representation from the Department of Education & Science. The work of this group has included discussions with the Department of Education and Science on how its policy on the provision of sports hall facilities and my Department's policy for the provision of sports facilities might be complementary.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

433 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3756/08]

I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 327 of 20th November 2007. The position is unchanged.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

434 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3856/08]

As answering parliamentary questions is part of the normal duties of civil servants no separate records are kept of the associated costs. These are covered within the Department's administration budget.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

435 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3095/08]

The five statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, the Citizens Information Board (formerly Comhairle), the Family Support Agency and the Social Welfare Tribunal. In addition the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of my Department. The following table contains the information sought.

Name of Statutory Body

Date of Establishment

Social Welfare Tribunal

October 1982

Combat Poverty Agency

September 1986

The Pensions Board

December 1990

Comhairle

(Comhairle combines the functions of the former National Social Services Board with certain functions of the former National Rehabilitation Board)

June 2000

Citizens Information Board (The Comhairle name was changed to Citizens Information Board in February 2007 under the Citizens Information Act 2007)

February 2007

Family Support Agency

May 2003

Office of the Pensions Ombudsman

September 2003

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

436 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3110/08]

The information requested is currently being compiled within the Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

437 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3168/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

438 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3183/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

439 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3198/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 to 439, inclusive, together.

No task forces are currently operating in my Department and none have been established in my Department in the past five years.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

440 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3213/08]

Since the commencement of the Decentralisation programme in my Department, quarterly returns have been submitted to the Central Decentralisation Unit within the Department of Finance detailing expenditure under the heading of non-property costs.

The table below sets out the expenditure incurred by my Department since 2004 under the 5 subheads associated with non-property costs (the figure for Q4 2007 is provisional at this time). The total outturn for non-property costs for last year will be finalised very shortly and this will then be communicated to the Department of Finance.

Table: Quarterly Breakdown of non-property costs for the Department of Social and Family Affairs

Subhead

A2

A3

A4

A5

A6

A7

Subhead Description

Travel and Subsistence

Incidental Expenses

Postal & Telecom Expenses

Office Machinery & Other Office Supplies and Related Services

Office Premises

Consultancy Services

Total

2007

Quarter 1

1,714

225

738

2,677

Quarter 2

1,504

2,010

3,514

Quarter 3

18,152

18,152

Quarter 4*

9,245

9,245

TOTAL 2007

30,615

225

2,010

738

33,588

2006

Quarter 1

5,425

5,425

Quarter 2

3,384

829

4,213

Quarter 3

5,769

5,769

Quarter 4

2,099

2,099

TOTAL 2006

16,677

829

17,506

2005

Quarter 1

796

74

870

Quarter 2

3,533

17

130

817

6,150

10,647

Quarter 3

40

598

638

Quarter 4

TOTAL 2005

4,369

17

204

1,415

6,150

12,155

2004

TOTAL 2004

6,907

19

270

783

6,436

14,415

GRAND TOTAL

58,568

1,090

2,484

2,936

12,586

77,664

*Q4 figures for 2007 provisional

Leo Varadkar

Question:

441 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3228/08]

Under the Government's current decentralisation programme for the civil and public service, some 1,210 posts comprising this Department's headquarter sections and the Social Welfare Appeals Office are relocating to 6 locations – Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, Donegal, Buncrana, Carrickmacross and Drogheda. In addition, the Combat Poverty Agency is scheduled to relocate 25 posts to Monaghan and the Citizens Information Board is scheduled to relocate 47 posts to Drogheda under the programme.

To date, 177 posts have relocated from the Department's Dublin Offices to Carrick-on-Shannon and Sligo. In addition, the Department has decentralised offices in Longford, Sligo, Letterkenny, Waterford, Dundalk and Roscommon and some 170 employees have transferred to these offices and other offices of the Department to fill vacancies created by the current decentralisation programme.

Furthermore, a total of 205 employees of the Department have transferred to other Government Departments for the purposes of their decentralisation programmes.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

442 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 386 of 27 November 2007, his plans to review the operation of waiting days in respect of claims with a view to either abolishing or reducing the number of days; the cost to the Exchequer if the number of waiting days were reduced by one day; the cost to the Exchequer if waiting days were abolished in their entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3283/08]

Under the legislation, a person who claims Disability/Injury Benefit or an Unemployment payment is not normally paid for the first 3 days, which are known as waiting days. Where, however, the person had a recent claim in respect of any of these schemes, payment may be made from the first day of the claim.

Waiting days have been a feature of these schemes since their inception and are a feature of similar social security schemes in many countries.

The cost of abolishing waiting days is estimated at some €36m, while the cost of reducing waiting days by one day is estimated at €12m. There would also be additional unquantifiable costs related to illnesses of three days or less duration, as well as administrative costs involved in processing claims.

I have no plans to change t he qualifying conditions at this time and any changes in the future would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

Enda Kenny

Question:

443 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 was entitled to a payment from the community welfare officer in one location to help pay for the costs of adapting their home for their mother for whom they care, but is no longer entitled to the same payment when they moved to a different home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3334/08]

Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the Executive based on the particular circumstances of the case. Eligible people would normally be in receipt of a social welfare or health service executive payment.

The Dublin/Mid-Leinster Area of the Executive has advised that a final decision has not been made in relation to a request for an exceptional needs payment from the person concerned. It further advises that while a payment had been made by the community welfare office responsible for the area in which the person concerned previously lived, his current request for an exceptional needs payment is being examined as his circumstances have changed since the previous payment was awarded. The Executive will be in contact with the person concerned shortly when a decision has been made regarding his entitlement to a payment.

There are a number of grant schemes available to assist older people in carrying out repairs and improvements to their homes and to assist people with a disability with their accommodation needs. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government provide grants under the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme to improve conditions in the existing housing of older people living in unfit or unsanitary conditions. The Scheme is administered by a Task Force under the aegis of the Department of the Environment and is processed at local level by the HSE.

In addition, local authorities provide grant aid through the following schemes:

The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme to assist older people in carrying out necessary repairs or improvements to their homes.

The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability Scheme to adapt accommodation to meet the specific needs of people with a disability.

The Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems, primarily but not exclusively, associated with ageing.

Pension Provisions.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

444 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the apparent anomaly surrounding the transition pension, whereby individuals in receipt of this pension may earn no more than €38 a week, but when in receipt of a contributory pension the following year there is no limit on their earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3336/08]

The state pension (transition) was introduced in 1970 when it was known as the retirement pension. It was designed to bridge the gap between the standard social welfare pension age, which at that time was 70 years of age, and retirement at age 65. A key qualifying condition for the scheme is that a person has to be retired in order to qualify for a payment. Retirement was defined as not engaging in insurable employment, which today means earning less than €38 per week. The social welfare pension age was reduced over a period of years until it reached 66 years of age, which means that the retirement condition is now only effective for 1 year.

I consider it important that those who wish to continue in employment after normal retirement age should, as far as is possible, be facilitated and supported. Longer working can play an important role in ensuring that our pensions system is sustainable in the future and it can also be beneficial to the individual.

The retirement condition associated with the state pension (transition) is only one aspect of a much broader agenda which will need to be addressed if we are to create the conditions where people can continue in employment past what we now regard as normal retirement age.

As the House is aware, I published the Green Paper on Pensions on 17th October and this includes an examination of all the issues surrounding retirement age, the barriers faced by older workers who wish to remain in employment and the incentives in this regard which can be considered. A consultation process on the Green Paper is now underway and will remain open until mid 2008. The Government will respond to the process by publishing a framework for future pensions policy and I expect that this will happen towards the end of the year.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

445 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on carrying out a review of social welfare payments to take account of the relatively high cost of healthy food for socially disadvantaged groups; if he will develop and implement such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3632/08]

The policy of this and previous governments has concentrated on providing real increases in primary social welfare rates, to help improve the ability of people who depend on social welfare to meet their basic living costs including food.

The Department through its various social insurance and assistance schemes provides income supports to people to meet their basic living needs, including food, clothing, heat and light.

In recent years, budgetary increases in social welfare payment rates have consistently exceeded increases in the cost of living. This key policy is the primary focus of Budget allocations to my Department each year, and it has helped ensure that those depending on social welfare experience real improvement in their ability to meet their basic needs, including provision of adequate food, heating, etc.

In addition to basic payments, supplements are also payable in certain circumstances for specific needs, for example fuel allowances, rent supplements, living alone allowance for older people or the household benefits package for pensioners, eligible disabled people and carers. Where people on low incomes have particular medical conditions or dietary requirements, diet supplements are available through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Expenditure on diet supplements in 2007 amounted to €5.5m with over 10,000 people benefiting.

Revised diet supplements arrangements were introduced in April 2006 and subsequently updated in January 2007. These revised arrangements reflected the findings of a study commissioned from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute on healthy eating. The objective is that all social welfare recipients, including those with special dietary needs, should be able to purchase an appropriate diet at a cost of no more than one third of their income. The study on healthy eating and specialised diets — Examination of the Cost of Healthy Eating and Specialised Diets for a Single Individual in Ireland — was carried out to inform policy on diet supplement arrangements and incorporated a costing for a healthy eating diet. It was published in January 2006. This report was updated in November 2007 in the light of changing prices and ongoing research on nutritional issues. One of the key findings in this update is that a balanced healthy eating diet can be purchased for between 18% and 30% of a person's social welfare allowance.

I am satisfied that the policy of providing substantial real increases in primary social insurance and assistance payment rates has been effective in ensuring that those who depend on social welfare income have sufficient income for healthy food and I do not consider that a review of social welfare payments in this regard is required.

Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

446 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the inclusion of access to a healthy diet, for example fruit and vegetables, as an indicator to measure food poverty, as part of the National Anti Poverty Strategy Inclusion process; if he will develop and implement such a policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3633/08]

Access to a healthy diet and tackling food poverty is a clear priority for this Government and the approach being adopted is linked to a wide range of policy initiatives which are reinforced in the Agreed Programme for Government.

Towards 2016 contains targets relating to the development of the Schools Meals Programme, a new Health Promotion Policy and action on children's food poverty and obesity. Building on this, the NAP inclusion 2007-2016 contains a number of targets aimed at providing access to a healthy and affordable diet. Commitments in relation to food and nutrition include:

a National Nutrition Policy to address children's food poverty and obesity — this will be launched shortly by the Department of Health and Children; and

the initiation, by the Department of Health and Children working in partnership with other stakeholders, of specific community and sectoral initiatives to encourage healthy eating and physical activity among adults, with a particular focus on adults living in areas of disadvantage.

The school meals schemes for children in disadvantaged areas funded by my Department — the urban school meals scheme and the local projects scheme- can make an important contribution to ensuring that children receive better nutrition. It is a criterion of schemes that funding is used for healthy, nutritious food only and schools are encouraged to include fruit with each meal. In 2007, some 185,000 pupils in 1,800 schools benefited from the scheme at a cost of some €27m. The number of meals being provided on a daily basis through the school meals local projects scheme doubled from 89,915 in the school year 2005/2006 to 179,660 in the school year 2006/2007.

In addition, my Department is involved with a Healthy Food for All initiative to develop a code of best practice for school meals. Healthy eating is affected by dietary and nutritional awareness, cultural attitudes and access to good quality grocery shopping, as well as to the adequacy of social welfare income supports. A costing for a healthy eating diet was incorporated in the study entitled the Examination of the Cost of Healthy Eating and Specialised Diets for a Single Individual in Ireland which was undertaken by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute for my Department to inform policy on diet supplement arrangements. Over 10,000 people received such supplements through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme at a cost of €5.5 million in 2007.

The study was updated in November 2007 in the light of changing prices and ongoing research on nutritional issues. One of its key findings is that a balanced healthy eating diet can be purchased for between 18% and 30% of a person's social welfare allowance. In line with the Government's targets in the NAP inclusion, increases in social welfare payment rates have consistently exceeded increases in the cost of living in recent years. This has helped to ensure that those depending on social welfare experience real improvement in their ability to meet their basic needs, including provision of adequate food, heating, etc.

There is no one indicator or measure of poverty that gives a complete picture of the situation regarding deprivation, poverty and social exclusion. The official Government approved consistent poverty measure was developed independently by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). The main objective of this poverty measure is to clearly identify those who are most deprived and vulnerable in society i.e. the proportion of people, from those with less than 60 per cent of median income, who are deprived of goods or services considered essential for a basic standard of living. Deprivation of food is reflected in two out of the eleven indicators used to obtain the measure of consistent poverty measure.

The overall goal in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (NAP inclusion, is to reduce the proportion of the population experiencing consistent poverty to between 2 per cent and 4 per cent by 2012, with the aim of eliminating consistent poverty by 2016. The latest results from the EU SILC survey, released November 2007, indicate that the Government is on target to achieve this goal. It showed that the rate of consistent poverty in the population in 2006 was 6.5 per cent, down from 8.2 per cent in 2003. A reduction in food poverty is being achieved as part of the overall reduction in consistent poverty.

Child Support.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

447 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the delay in processing child benefit applications; and the steps he is taking to address same. [3649/08]

There is no delay in processing the majority of Child Benefit and Early Childcare Supplement awards. Awards on behalf of Irish — born children are processed either automatically or in a partially automated way using the child's birth details when they are registered with the General Registrar's Office. Parents are contacted by the Child Benefit office within two days of the registration of their child's birth. The Early Childcare Supplement is paid automatically when Child Benefit is awarded. Payments on behalf of some 65,000 children were paid this way in 2007.

Currently there are delays in processing Child Benefit for children born outside Ireland – both where the children are living here with their parents and for children living in other EU countries who have a parent or parents working in Ireland. These cases are slower to process as the customer must satisfy the Habitual Residency condition test and this may entail contacting employers, Department of Justice and other relevant bodies to confirm their status in the state. The residency of the children in Ireland must also be confirmed.

EU nationals who come to work in Ireland but whose families remain in their home country may have an entitlement to Family Benefits in Ireland under EU Regulation 1408/71. Before payment of Child Benefit is made for non-resident children it is necessary to contact the authorities in the country of residence of the children to confirm details and establish what, if any, family benefits are payable in the home country as this will determine entitlement to Irish payments.

The process in respect of EU nationals with non resident children can take a number of months to complete in normal circumstances and, as a result the number of claims that have been finalised to date is relatively small.

The number of claims received from EU nationals for non resident children is down approximately 50% on the same period last year. Additional temporary staff and overtime work is being applied to process these claims and this, along with the reduction in the number of claims, will result in an improvement during 2008.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

448 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3767/08]

My Department is involved in a number of programmes and schemes some of which are funded by the EU. Details of the amount received by this Department from the EU since Ireland joined in 1973 are not immediately available. However, my Department will write to the Deputy with these details as soon as they are available.

Decentralisation Programme.

Denis Naughten

Question:

449 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the status of the decentralisation of his staff to Carrick-on-Shannon; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3835/08]

Under the programme of decentralisation, 220 posts in the Department are to be relocated to Carrick-on-Shannon.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is charged with securing accommodation in Carrick-on-Shannon for this Department. Following an examination of the availability of accommodation in Carrick-on-Shannon, it was decided, following consultation with this Department, that a building which was under construction would provide the most suitable solution in the short-term and would allow the Department progress its decentralisation programme. To date, 113 employees have relocated to this building in Carrick-on-Shannon. A further 27 posts will transfer during the first quarter of 2008. The annual rental cost for this office space is €800,000 and fit-out costs have totalled €4,331,000.

At this time, there is no indicative timeframe from the OPW regarding the availability of further accommodation in Carrick-on-Shannon. The Department is, however, fully committed to fulfilling its obligation under the programme.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

450 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3867/08]

The costs associated with answering a Parliamentary Question can vary considerably depending on the nature of the enquiry and the level of detail that needs to be obtained. By their nature oral questions would generate higher costs than written questions.

As the processing of Parliamentary Questions is undertaken as part of the normal day to day work of the individual sections within the Department it is not possible to readily isolate the costs of processing Parliamentary Questions from the overall administrative costs of the Department.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

451 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3086/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

452 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3101/08]

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together.

As the Deputy will be aware this Department was established in June 2002 and, as requested, I set out below a Table detailing the statutory bodies that I have responsibility for and the annual operating costs for these bodies over the last five years.

The Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board was dissolved on 4th January 2006 in accordance with the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005. A reconstituted Board (Dormant Accounts Board) was established under the same legislation.

The fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursement Board were met directly from the Dormant Accounts Fund and no staff was directly employed by the Board. Details of the fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Board from its establishment to its dissolution in January 2006 are available in Annual Reports produced and published by the Board. These are available in the Dáil library.

For the sake of completeness, I should add that the amounts detailed in the table may not reflect the full operating budget in each case as some of the bodies receive income/funding from sources other than this Department.

Table: Date of Establishment and Operating Costs of statutory bodies under the ambit of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Name of Body/Board/Agency/ Authority

Date of Establishment

Operating Costs 2003

Operating Costs 2004

Operating Costs 2005

Operating Costs 2006

Operating Costs 2007

An Foras Teanga – comprising

Foras na Gaeilge

2 Nollaig 1999

€13.06m

€13.59m

€13.05m

€14.36m

€15.07m

Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch

2 Nollaig 1999

€0.55m

€0.66m

€0.67m

€0.76m

€0.92m

Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge (functions transferred to Foras na Gaeilge w.e.f. 1 January 2008.

1952

€922,000

€950,000

€1.343m

€950,000

€.074m

Board of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland

19th Century.

€336,000

€310,000

€335,000

€364,000

€382,000

Dormant Accounts Board

4th January 2006

n/a

n/a

n/a

Outturn €157,905, on fees and expenses, met from the Dormant Accounts Fund

Outturn €226,207.30 fees and expenses, met from the Dormant Accounts Fund

Údarásna Gaeltachta

1979

€32.720m**

€33.193m**

€36.655m**

€42.776m**

€39.963m**

Western Development Commission (WDC)

1999

€1.385m

€1.563m

€1.792m

€2.224m

€2.495m

Oifig Choimisinéir na dTeangacha Oifigiúla

2004

NIL

€500,000

€700,000

€731,000

not available

Waterways Ireland

1999

€22.293 m

€28.783m

€30.054m

€34.133m

€36.218m

*The amounts shown above do not reflect the full operating budget in each case as some of the bodies receive income/funding from other sources.

**Údarás na Gaeltachta voted expenditure.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

453 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3159/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

454 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3174/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

455 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3189/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 453 to 455, inclusive, together.

I presume the Deputy is referring to high level committees that Departments establish from time to time to consider and advance particular strategic issues. In this context, my Department has set up no such task force since it was established in June 2002.

However, the Deputy may wish to note that my Department supports the work of 14 Local Drugs Task Forces and 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces. The Task Forces include representatives of the relevant statutory agencies as well as the community and Voluntary sector. Each Task Force is currently implementing an action plan for their areas, supporting a broad range of community based projects in the areas of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The budget for the Task Forces in 2008 is €35m approx.

Although the questions refer to task forces, for completeness sake, I would like to also inform the Deputy that my Department also has a number of advisory groups, amongst which are Forum na Gaeilge and Comhairle na Tuaithe.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

456 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3204/08]

The table below shows the non-property costs incurred from 2004 to end-July 2008.

Year

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Total

(€)

(€)

(€)

(€)

(€)

2004

1,840

376

4,428

58

6,702

2005

825

2,039

1,641

931

5,436

2006

2,039

49,243

295,691*

372,216*

719,189

2007

39,113

47,027

n/a

n/a

86,140

Total

817,467

*Figures relate to the setting up and equipping of new office in Tubbercurry.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

457 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3219/08]

To date, 76 of the 140 staff of my Department originally due to relocate to Co. Mayo have transferred to an interim location in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, pending the acquisition of a site and the building of a new headquarters at Charlestown, Co. Mayo. It is planned to increase the number at the interim location to just over 100 from March 2008. The Department has already fulfilled its commitment to relocate 10 officers to Na Forbacha, Galway.

Pobal have filled 25 posts in Clifden, Co. Galway. The remaining 15 positions will relocate when a permanent building is in place, which is expected in late 2009.

In relation to Foras na Gaeilge, 5 posts have been identified as an initial decentralisation tranche from within the overall complement of 30 posts to be relocated in Gaoth Dobhair. I am hopeful that the necessary approvals can be processed so that these 5 posts will be filled in the course of 2008. The provision of suitable accommodation is being pursued by the Office of Public Works and Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Charities Regulation.

Joe Costello

Question:

458 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will regulate the hours that leaflet drops by businesses and stickers and bags seeking donations by charities can be delivered to households; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such activities are causing fear and annoyance to residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3307/08]

I have no statutory power to regulate the hours that leaflets and other items may be delivered to households. However, in a broader sense, I am well aware that the common practice of persons and organisations collecting goods, and particularly clothing, door-to-door, purportedly for charitable purposes, is an issue of concern both to genuine charities and to the general public.

Measures in the Charities Bill 2007, which recently completed Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann, will lead to increased transparency in relation to the operations of charities and should help to ensure that the public will be able to make more informed decisions about the organisations to which they choose to donate.

At the present time, the activities of persons and organisations purporting to collect goods for charitable purposes are unregulated. However, it will be mandatory under the Charities Bill for a charity wishing to operate in the State to register with the proposed Charities Regulatory Authority. It is envisaged that the register will be accessible to the general public on the Authority's website, thus enabling members of the public to easily check the charitable bona fides of a body operating here. The Bill also provides that charities on the register must state they are so registered in all public documents or such other publications as may be prescribed by regulations and that a person who holds out a body as being a charity, but is not registered here, will be guilty of an offence punishable, on conviction, by a fine and/or imprisonment. It will be within the remit of the Regulatory Authority to take steps to make the public aware of how to determine the veracity of door-to-door collectors.

I am also taking advice as to whether additional legal provisions are required in the Charities Bill to restrict the practice of non-charitable organisations holding themselves out as charitable organisations and will introduce such further provisions at the Report Stage of the Bill, if necessary.

Community Development.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

459 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when his Department proposes to approve an application by a company (details supplied) in County Galway under the community services programme of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3581/08]

The business plan for this group is currently in the process of being appraised. My Department expects to receive a recommendation from POBAL in relation to this group before the end of the month and the group will be notified of the outcome in March.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

460 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on facilitating the strengthening of the capacity of communities to address health related issues at a local and national level; if he will develop and implement such a policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3628/08]

This is a matter, in the first instance, for my colleague the Minister for Health and Children. Deputies will be aware, however, that the general aim of my Departments policies and programmes is to provide support to communities in the most appropriate way as they work to shape their own futures and achieve their full potential. I have adopted a co-ordinated approach in this work within my Department and with the other Departments and State agencies with which my Department engages. Accordingly, I am happy to consider any appropriate support role suggested by the Minister for Health and Children for my Department in this area.

Catherine Byrne

Question:

461 Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if an association (details supplied) received funding from the 2007 funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector; the amount they received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3704/08]

The organisation referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under the ‘Funding Scheme to support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector'. As stated in the Scheme's guidelines, to be eligible for funding, an organisation has to operate at a national level with evidence of a nationwide membership. Following the assessment process, this organisation was deemed ineligible as it did not fulfil this criteria. An appeal was submitted by the organisation but the original decision was upheld by the Appeals Officer.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

462 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3758/08]

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established in June 2002. Since that date, a number of schemes and programmes have been operated by my Department which were — or continue to be — funded in full or in part by the European Union.

Details of these programmes and schemes and the funding allocated to them since establishment of the Department are outlined below.

Programme

Total €m

PEACE 11

87,637

2002-2007

Interreg 111A

2,398

2002-2007

LEADER + Community Initiative

73.7

2000-2006 round

National Rural Development Programme

75.6

2000-2006 round

Rural Development Programme for Ireland

425.4

Axis 3 and 4 of the programme 2007-2013

Departmental Funding.

Damien English

Question:

463 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if local sporting organisations can avail of grant aid to offset the cost of defibrillators from his Department or agencies under his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3845/08]

At present my Department has no specific scheme for the funding of defibrillators for sporting bodies. However, for completeness I should mention that groups, including local sporting organisations, may be eligible for funding towards the cost of defibrillators under my Department's programme of Grants for Locally Based Community and Voluntary Organisations, the RAPID programme or the CLÁR Programme. Detailed information in respect of these programmes can be found on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

464 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3858/08]

The costs of answering PQs are not currently available in my Department. However, I have asked the Department to prepare costings based on a representative sample of questions arising over the next two months and I will advise the Deputy accordingly.

Common Fisheries Policy.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

465 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she is satisfied that the Irish coastal community with particular reference to families dependent on the fishing industry are being fairly treated through the EU fisheries policy with particular reference to conservation measures which appear to have the least impact on major fishing fleets that have caused serious depletion of the fish stocks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3888/08]

I assume that the Deputy is referring to the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. It is not clear from the Deputy's question whether he has specific conservation measures in mind that he believes are impacting unfairly on families of those working in the industry.

In general terms, it is clear that many of the fish stocks of importance to Irish fishermen in Irish and other European waters are already seriously depleted or are seriously at risk of it. In order to address that problem, with the objective of trying to ensure the viability of the fishing industry going forward, a range of conservation and recovery measures are already in place or are being introduced, both at national and EU level. These include for example:

technical measures such as specifications for net and mesh sizes for different fisheries;· specifications for minimum landing sizes aimed at protecting juvenile fish;

area and temporal closures to protect spawning, and to promote stock recovery;

the establishment of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) on an annual basis to provide inter alia that fishing pressure on stocks is kept to a sustainable level; and

reduction of the size of the European fishing fleet as a whole in the interest of sustainability of fish stocks and a more viable industry for the remainder.

As well as our responsibility to conserve and protect our oceans and seas for their own intrinsic value, a key theme underpinning all of these conservation measures, and one which informs national policy here in Ireland also, is the economic, social and cultural impact of the fishing industry on the small coastal communities who depend on it. If strong measures are not taken to conserve fish stocks now, it is clear that there will be no fishing industry in the future and that prospect is indeed a bleak one for both those particular communities and the community as a whole. I will continue to work closely with our fishing industry to deliver strong and effective conservation measures that ensure a sustainable and profitable fishing industry and protects, going forward, the livelihoods of coastal communities dependent on fishing.

Grant Payments.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

466 Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason for the delay in the reversion of entitlements from her Department to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if having regard to the hardship involved, consideration will be given towards arranging for the payment at an early date. [3061/08]

During a routine check, it was noted that the herd number in question had been transferred to the person named from her late husband on 19 May 2007. A letter issued to the person named advising her of the need to transfer Single Farm Payment entitlements to allow payment to issue under the 2007 Scheme year. Relevant application forms were issued to the person named and subsequently received in the Transfer of Entitlements section on 24 November 2007.

The entitlements in question had previously been leased out under the 2005 Scheme year to another farmer for a period of two years. The entitlements have now reverted and payment for the 2007 Scheme year issued to the person on 31 January 2008.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

467 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the statutory bodies for which she has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3083/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

468 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which she has responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3098/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 468 together.

The establishment dates for the statutory bodies for which I have responsibility is as follows:

Name of Statutory Body

Date of Establishment

An Bord Bia

1 December 1994

Teagasc

8 September 1988

Coillte

1 January 1989

Irish National Stud

11 April 1946

Veterinary Council of Ireland

1 January 2006

National Milk Agency

1 October 1995

Sea Fisheries Protection Authority

1 January 2007

Bord Iascaigh Mhara

24 April 1952

Marine Institute

30 October 1992

Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats

1 July 2003

Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board

17 June 1998

With regard to annual operating costs for each of the past five years, that is a matter for the organisations concerned and can be obtained from their annual reports. In the case of the Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats, most of the operating costs arise from salaries of its staff. The staff are all Civil Servants and are paid directly out of the Departments Vote. Operating costs of the Authority are not separately identified.

Legal Proceedings.

Ulick Burke

Question:

469 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if legal proceedings are ongoing between her Department and an association (details supplied) or if difficulties between both parties have been resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3113/08]

I am not a party to the proceedings referred to in the question. I am advised that an appeal is pending and consequently it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.

Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

Ulick Burke

Question:

470 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the REP scheme was made available to farmers; the number of applications to date; the number paid to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3114/08]

I launched REPS 4 on 8 August 2007. To date some 1,250 applications have been received and the first payments under REPS 4 will issue next week.

Ulick Burke

Question:

471 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the proposed payment schedule for the REP scheme four in view of the requirement that all intending participants must have REP scheme plan four submitted prior to single farm payment application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3115/08]

There are still questions to be resolved with the European Commission regarding processing of payments in REPS 2, REPS 3 and REPS 4 and whether we can continue with the previous practice of making up-front payments to all REP scheme participants at the start of the contract year. My officials have argued in the strongest terms with the Commission Services that we should be allowed to continue with this practice. I also raised this issue with Commissioner Fischer Boel on her recent visit and I am awaiting a response from the Commission before payment procedures for all REP schemes can be finalised.

Michael Ring

Question:

472 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make the REP scheme package more flexible for the sheep sector, particularly for hill sheep farmers with designated lands; if she will include the €2,000 top up for hill sheep farmers in designated areas as a supplementary payment measure in REP scheme four; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3130/08]

REPS 4 includes a new mixed grazing supplementary measure specifically targeted at the sheep sector. Farmers availing of this new supplementary measure can draw down an additional annual payment of up to €1,000. In addition, payment rates in REPS 4 are 17% higher than those in REPS 3, in accordance with the partnership agreement with the farming organisations.

I have recently had discussions with farmers' representatives who made certain suggestions about the supplementary measure. I undertook to have these examined and I hope to respond shortly. However the European Commission's agreement for this measure in REPS 4 was secured on the basis that it would deliver specific environmental benefits and the scope for amendment is limited.

I understand that the reference to the €2,000 payment to certain hill farmers relates to a specific arrangement in County Mayo operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. REPS farmers in this area received payment for undertaking a new grazing regime which was necessary to deal with serious environmental problems caused by overgrazing. The agreement was confined to farmers in REPS 2 and REPS 3 on the grounds that the specification for REPS 4 would contain a requirement for a grazing regime to include a sustainable stocking requirement to protect against both undergrazing and overgrazing. Such a provision is included in the current REPS 4 specification. Consequently there are no grounds on which an additional payment under REPS 4 could be justified.

Foreshore Licences.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

473 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications for foreshore licences from Waterford County Council that are before her Department; the date each application was received; the position regarding each application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3133/08]

There are a number of applications for foreshore licences being processed in respect of applications from Waterford County Council.

The current position regarding the applications is as follows. Regarding the Outfall from Stormwater/Surfacewater Collection system at Cappoquin (Application received 29 April 2005), my Department's Engineering Division, having reviewed additional information provided by the Council in respect of the application has advised that the application in respect of this outfall should be amended so that the outfall would consist of an appropriate type pipe buried to discharge point with protection provided against scour etc by appropriately sized rock armour. Revised drawings have been received from the consulting engineers acting for the Council and these are being examined by Engineering Division. In addition, I understand that the consultants acting for the Council are in communication with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding concerns expressed by that Department in relation to the Quay Wall at Cappoquin.

Regarding Outfall from Wastewater Treatment Plant at Cappoquin (Application received 29 April 2005), the Engineering Division, having reviewed additional information supplied by the Council requires that a rock layer be put in place at the outfall. Revised drawings have been received from the consulting engineers acting for the Council and these are being examined by Engineering Division.

Regarding Outfall from Stormwater/Surfacewater Collection system at Ardmore (Application received 29 April 2005), the revised proposal by the Council to construct a new outfall is currently being assessed by Engineering Division. In addition I understand that the consultants acting for the Council are in communication with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding archaeological issues associated with the proposed works.

Regarding Outfall from Wastewater Treatment Plant at Ardmore (Application received 29 April 2005), the Engineering Division has examined additional information supplied by the Council in respect of this application and remains of the view that the outfall should be protected by a rock layer, revised drawings have been received from the consulting engineers acting for the Council and these are being examined by Engineering Division.

Regarding Outfall from Stormwater/Surfacewater Collection System at Stradbally (Application received 29 April 2005), this application is being examined by Engineering Division.

Regarding Outfall from Wastewater Treatment Plant at Stradbally (Application received 29 April 2005), the Engineering Division having examined the application and supplementary information supplied has indicated that it remains of the view that the outfall should be protected by a rock layer. Revised drawings have been received from the consulting engineers acting for the Council and these are being examined by Engineering Division.

Regarding Outfall from Wastewater Treatment Plant at Ballyduff/Kilmeaden (Application received 31 July 2006), this application has been examined by Engineering Division and as the proposed discharge point is above High Water Mark, a foreshore licence will not be required.

Regarding Dunmore East – Outfall from Stormwater/Surfacewater and Wastewater Treatment Plant (Application received 18 April 2005), Draft specific conditions have been issued to the Council in respect of these two applications. Additional conditions received from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government have been communicated to the Council and the Council has indicated its acceptance for same. However, the Council has indicated that it wishes to have amendments made to some of the other specific conditions included in the draft licence and this request is being examined by my Department.

Regarding Cheekpoint Sewerage Scheme (Application received 27 May 1999), following extensive correspondence between my Department and Waterford County Council, the Council has agreed to accept proposed specific conditions to be included in the licence and I have given consent to the grant of a licence in respect of this scheme. The formal licence document is being prepared by the Chief State Solicitor's office.

Regarding Dungarvan Sewerage Scheme (Application received 12 February 1999), following extensive correspondence with the Council, revised draft specific conditions in respect of the licence for the Dungarvan sewerage scheme were issued to the Council. The Council has indicated that it has concerns about a number of the proposed conditions and the matters raised are being examined by my Department.

Regarding Stormwater flood relief scheme – Tournore Detention Pond (Application received 8 March 2007), this application was circulated to the Department's consultees and responses are awaited from our Engineering Division and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority.

Regarding Stormwater flood relief scheme – River Colligan (Application received 8 March 2007), this application was circulated to the Department's consultees and responses are awaited from our Engineering Division. Nature conservation observations from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government are also awaited,

My Department considers these applications as being of high priority and will continue to make every effort to ensure that they are expedited having due regard to the requirements of good foreshore management.

Grant Payments.

Pat Breen

Question:

474 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3152/08]

The person named submitted an application under the consolidation measure of the 2007 Single Payment Scheme. This application is now processed in full and outstanding payment will issue in the coming days.

Departmental Bodies.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

475 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of task forces currently operating in her Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if she will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3156/08]

There is only one Taskforce currently operating in my Department as follows:

In response to the threat posed by the spread of avian influenza and the need to coordinate the development of a robust range of contingency measures, a Government Taskforce on Avian Influenza was established in 2006. It is chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and, apart from my Department, includes senior representatives from the following Departments/Agencies: Arts, Sports & Tourism; Health & Children; Environment, Heritage & Local Government; Transport; An Garda Síochána; Taoiseach; Defence Forces; Foreign Affairs; Defence; Finance; Health Service Executive; Health Protection Surveillance Centre; and Justice.

The Taskforce has been required to meet on very few occasions, though members are kept advised of developments by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from time-to-time. Because its membership is drawn exclusively from other Government Departments and State Agencies and given the relatively few occasions on which it has met, there have been little or no costs associated with its establishment. As required, secretariat services are provided by my Department's Animal Health & Welfare Division, as part of their day-to-day work in maintaining contingency arrangements.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

476 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the taskforces established under the auspices of her Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3171/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

477 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the taskforces established under the auspices of her Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3186/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together.

The following taskforces were established in my Department in the past five years:

Mushroom Taskforce

The taskforce was set up in December 2003 to arrive at a consensus on the major issues facing the mushroom sector and to devise a time bound action plan to address those issues in order to secure the future viability of the sector. The task force published its report in May 2004 and its 36 recommendations, which had a time frame of up to 36 months, related to supply arrangements, price transparency, cost reduction, marketing and promotion, training and advisory, research and the environment. A review group met on four occasions to review the implementation of the recommendations by the industry and the State Bodies concerned. The period since publication of the Taskforce Report has been marked by major consolidation in the sector. Increasing the supply of Phase III mushroom compost is the only issue which is still being actively pursued.

Over the five-month duration of the Taskforce, administrative support/secretariat services were provided from existing staff resources within my Department and Plant Health Division. Expenses amounting to €9,620 were incurred for the printing of the Report, a stipend for travel expenses of the Chairman and refreshments at meetings.

Government Taskforce on Avian Influenza

In response to the threat posed by the spread of avian influenza and the need to coordinate the development of a robust range of contingency measures, a Government Taskforce on Avian Influenza was established in 2006.

Because its membership is drawn exclusively from other Government Department and State Agencies and given the relatively few occasions on which it has met, there have been little or no costs associated with its establishment. As required, secretariat services are provided by my Department's Animal Health & Welfare Division, as part of their day-to-day work in maintaining contingency arrangements.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

478 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to her Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3201/08]

The returns to the Decentralisation Implementation Group for the non-property costs of the move to Portlaoise are as follows.

Quarter

Costs

Prior to July 2006

Nil Return

July – September 2006

6,116.33

October – December 2006

7,885.76

January – March 2007

12,201

April – June 2007

14,535

July – September 2007

13,185

Total

53,923

These costs are the extended extra costs that are directly attributable to the decentralisation programme and do not include expenses that would have been incurred in the normal course of the Department's operations.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

479 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of civil and public servants in her Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3216/08]

To the end of December 2007, 253 civil servants have decentralised to my Department's offices in Portlaoise and 80 civil servants have decentralised to my Department's offices in Clonakilty.

The Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department is that the headquarters will move to Portlaoise involving some 600 staff; the local offices in Cork city will move to Fermoy involving some 100 staff; the laboratories in Cork and Limerick will move to Macroom involving up to 100 staff. The Fisheries move to Clonakilty is now substantially complete.

Grant Payments.

Michael Creed

Question:

480 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is having difficulty transferring their entitlements from their deceased spouse’s name; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3256/08]

While an application under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme was received on 21 March 2007, it was in the name of the spouse of the person named. Due to the subsequent death of the spouse of the person named, it is necessary to transfer the herd number to the person named. An official from my Department will visit the person named to allow speedy completion of the necessary documentation, following which the 2007 payments concerned will issue without delay.

The person named was also advised by an official from my Department of the need to transfer Single Payment entitlements from her late husband to her own name in respect of the 2008 Scheme year. The relevant application form has been forwarded to the person named.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Michael Creed

Question:

481 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if forestry and bog land are used as calculators when determining the CO2 contribution of agriculture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3257/08]

Michael Creed

Question:

482 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the tonnage of CO2 each agricultural sector absorbs by storing and by exchanging CO2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3258/08]

Michael Creed

Question:

483 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the contribution of cereal crops, grassland, hedge rows and trees to the total CO2 produced by agriculture in tonnes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3259/08]

Michael Creed

Question:

484 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of CO2 produced by agriculture in tonnes; the amount each sector of agriculture contributes to this figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3260/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 to 484, inclusive, together.

The contribution of agriculture to Greenhouse Gas Emissions is recorded in the National Inventory System in accordance with reporting guidelines adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). According to the latest official figures from the EPA, the amount of CO2 equiv produced in 2006 by each sector of agriculture (as defined in the National Inventory) was as follows:

Agriculture Sector kilotonnes CO2 equiv

2006

Fuel Combustion

861.5536

Enteric Fermentation

9,151.1644

Manure Management

2,632.6383

Agricultural Soils

6,663.7145

Total

19,309.0708

The absorption and exchange of CO2 due to land use is not recorded under the agriculture sector of the National Inventory. It is accounted for under Land Use Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF), which includes sequestration from forestry, and emissions from net land use changes such as putting grassland into cereals. Net sequestration by the Kyoto-eligible forests currently amounts to an average of 2.1 million tonnes of CO2 equiv per annum and land change from grassland to tillage amounts to approximately 2.5 tonnes of CO2 equiv per hectare per year depending on the soil type.

Emissions or sequestration of CO2 by hedgerows, grassland, and bogland are currently not accounted for in the Inventory System. Emissions associated with the use of fertiliser, whether used on grassland or tillage, are accounted for under Direct Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Synthetic Fertilisers and are counted under the Agricultural Soils category, but are not accounted for separately. There are further emissions from cereals under the heading of Crop Residues which amounts to approximately 130, 000 tonnes of CO2 equiv. per year. There is an additional emission associated with nitrogen lost through leaching and nitrogen lost through ammonia volatilisation. These emissions are not broken down between grassland and tillage crops in the inventory accounting system.

Animal Welfare.

Joe Costello

Question:

485 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her views on whether it is cruel to slaughter animals for their fur alone; if she has proposals to ban fur farming here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3323/08]

Under the Musk Rats Act, 1933 (Application to Mink) Order 1965, the keeping of mink is prohibited except under licence, obtained from my Department. Licences are issued under this legislation only if the applicant, following an inspection, is found to be compliant with a number of key conditions. There is no legislation requiring the licensing of fox farms.

Licensed fur farms are also inspected to assess compliance with the Council of Europe recommendations concerning fur animals and Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. These inspections have to date found that the licensed fur farms have been operating in compliance with current legislation. Inspections have also found that the slaughter methods employed by the licensed fur farms are permitted under the Sixth Schedule of the European Communities (Protection of Animals at Time of Slaughter) Regulations, 1995.

Fur Farming is considered to be a legitimate farming activity throughout the greater majority of Member States of the European Union, the exceptions being the UK where fur farming was banned from 01/01/2003 and Austria or Luxembourg where fur farming is not permitted.

Given that the licensed fur farms operating in this country meet current national and EU requirements there is no reason why what is, after all, a legitimate farming activity, which is permitted in the greater majority of EU Member States, should be banned.

My Department continues to monitor the operation of the licensed fur farms.

Grant Payments.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

486 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she has documentary evidence available in her Department to state when off farm income was calculated for eligibility for the old disadvantaged areas scheme payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3580/08]

The provisions governing the Scheme of Headage Payments in the Disadvantaged Areas were altered with effect from the 1979 Scheme when applicants with an off-farm income of more that £3,550 were deemed ineligible. With effect from the 1982 Scheme, the off-farm income of an applicant's spouse was taken into account to establish eligibility under the Scheme of Headage Payments in the Disadvantaged Areas. The requirements in relation to off-farm income were abolished with effect from the 1990 Scheme.

Aquaculture Licences.

Joe McHugh

Question:

487 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the policy on licensed mussel growers in Lough Swilly being allowed to go into other licensed grounds on the Swilly to avail of mussel spat for the growing and cultivation of mussels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3626/08]

I refer the Deputy to my written reply of 30 January 2008 (Ref No: 1892/08) in which I indicated that My Department operates the aquaculture licensing system in full conformance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997.

Section 16 of the 1997 Act provides that an aquaculture licence is binding on the State and on all persons, and, subject to section 8(3) of that Act, shall operate to enable the licensee to carry on, in accordance with the licence, such operations as are specified in the licence, free from all prior or other rights, titles, estates or interests, if any. Section 16 also provides that the licensee shall, by virtue of, but subject to the conditions of, the licence and the requirements of any regulations made under section 71, have the exclusive right to do within the boundaries or limits specified in the licence anything authorised by the licence or necessary or expedient to conduct the operations specified in the licence.

Grant Payments.

Michael Ring

Question:

488 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for the farm improvement scheme; and the reason they have been told that their application was two days late to be accepted despite the fact that it was submitted to her Department on 23 October 2007 and therefore is eligible for consideration as per a previous parliamentary question reply. [3653/08]

Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016. The application concerned is, therefore, eligible for consideration subject to funding still being available at the time the application is processed.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Simon Coveney

Question:

489 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government conducted, during 2007, an analysis of research needs required to support the development of future measures to reduce emissions from the agriculture sector and to identify potential climate change adaption measures, as announced in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3706/08]

My Department is fully committed to addressing the challenges of climate change by developing mitigation and adaptation strategies for the agriculture sector. Considerable research is already under way to inform the development of suitable measures in relation to greenhouse gas emissions reductions and in the area of bio-energy crops. In order to identify areas where further or more focused research is needed the Department carried out a comprehensive research needs analysis in 2007. The results of this analysis will inform future calls for project proposals under my Department's Research Stimulus Fund, the Public Sector Research Programme of the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation and other publicly funded research programmes.

Milk Quota.

Sean Fleming

Question:

490 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Laois is eligible for the milk quota trading scheme 2007/2008 second stage; and if so the reason the person was not eligible for the first stage of this scheme. [3727/08]

The named person submitted an application to sell his quota into the first stage of the 2008/2009 Milk Quota Trading Scheme. He was successful on that occasion, selling all of his quota. Consequently he will not need to make further applications to any subsequent Milk Quota Trading Schemes.

Grant Payments.

Denis Naughten

Question:

491 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the grant aid committed to the redevelopment of a plant (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3745/08]

My Department has not committed any grant aid for the redevelopment of the plant in question.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

492 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the names of the programmes and schemes operated by her Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3755/08]

The information sought for the period 1973 to 2006 is set out in the tables. Further details are available in the Compendium of Irish Agricultural Statistics, 2007, which is published on my Department's web site.

For the duration of the current EU financial perspective and programming period, 2007 to 2013, the European Agriculture Guarantee Fund (EAGF) will continue to finance the Single Farm Payment, Export Refunds and Market Intervention for a range of agricultural products, the Sugar Restructuring Fund, the Operational Programmes for Fruit and Vegetable Producer Groups and a number of smaller schemes. EU receipts in Ireland in respect of these schemes in the 2007 EAGF financial year amounted to approximately €1.388 billion of which €1.256billion was in respect of the Single Farm Payment.

In addition, under Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, the European Agricultural Fund For Rural Development (EAFRD) co-funds the Early Retirement Scheme, the Young Farmer Installation Aid Scheme, the Farm Improvement Scheme, the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and the Scheme of Compensatory Allowances in Disadvantaged Areas. EAFRD co-funding amounted to €365million in 2007.

My Department also received some €10.46m in respect of the BSE and other veterinary eradication programmes and €39.8m in respect of on farm investment schemes under the 2000-2006 round of Structural Funds. In the fisheries sector, EU receipts in 2007 in respect of aquaculture and other fisheries development projects amounted to approximately €5.2million.

Claims Submitted to FEOGA Guarantee Fund — Payments by Sector and Scheme, 1973 -2006

Scheme

1973-1988

1989-1994

1994-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

1973-2006

Single Payment Scheme

Single Payment Scheme

2,367,365,154

Single Payment Scheme Total

2,367,365,154

Arable Crops (Chapter B0110)

Export refunds

40,903,204

30,958,621

10,718,309

2,124,296

364,902

182,320

146,207

39,966

59,248

78,700

85,575,772

Denaturing Premium

368,049

368,049

Italian Grain Subsidy

110,808

110,808

Co-Responsibility Levy

(16,534,258)

(41,078,855)

33.0

(164)

(57,613,243)

Delayed interest charge

(82,904)

(82,904)

Reimbursement of Additional Levy

3,141,359

3,141,359

Reimbursement of Co-Resp. Levy Setaside

666,412

18,930.5

685,342

Production Aids

10,958,853

14,890,241

1,369,750

283,582

149,977

(17,528)

5,135

49,390

38,130

13,326

27,740,857

Intervention costs (cereals)

26,715,746

41,574,591

205,145

2,074,743

658,541

819,221

(18,502)

120,538

48,442

72,198,466

Dehydrated Fodder

2,358,532

2,446,528

1,900,610

313,025

324,633

345,248

283,249

236,469

101,647

8,309,940

Arable Crops-Area Aid

144,602,655

571,875,379

119,888,720

129,322,147

134,237,536

130,417,601

132,639,917

2,099,453

418,442

1,365,501,850

Accession Compensatory Amounts

1,555,884

20,773

1,576,657

MCAs

56,521,669

7,005,880

63,527,550

Carryover Payments

2,939,045

2,939,045

Reoveries to EAGGF Fund under Arable Crops Sector

(3,838)

(3,838)

Arable Crops Total

125,897,532

204,145,300

586,088,157

124,684,366

130,820,036

135,566,797

130,833,690

132,725,436

2,553,838

660,557

1,573,975,709

Scheme

1973-1988

1989-1994

1994-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

1973-2006

Sugar (Chapter B0111)

Export Refunds

47,036,463

3,208,298

22,868,408

1,300,466

2,121,087

1,853,311

8,373,586

7,944,501

5,304,827

100,010,946

Denaturing Premium

27,698

27,698

Imex Import Subsidy

3,315,851

3,315,851

Refunds for Storage

57,622,867

39,999,401

26,343,589

4,007,824

3,488,901

198,000

131,660,582

Refunds for Sugar Used in Chemical Industry

112,598

5,588,304

2,082,678

167,627

195,791

1,044,279

1,269,543

1,630,121

129,799

153,756

12,374,496

Accession Compensatory Amounts

208,533

208,533

MCAs

19,695,048

2,894,435

22,589,484

Refining Subsidy D.O.H. Sugar

153,618

153,618

Intervention costs (Sugar)

4,381,607

287,075

4,668,682

Recoveries to EAGGF Fund under Sugar Sector

(329)

(168)

(270)

(767)

Sugar Total

128,172,677

51,690,438

51,294,346

5,475,917

3,684,524

3,363,096

3,122,855

10,003,707

12,455,907

5,745,657

275,009,122

Dried Fodder and Grain Legumes (Chapter B0113)

Production Aids

291,962

291,962

Dried Fodder and Grain Legumes Total

291,962

291,962

Fruit and Vegetables (Chapter B0115)

Export Refunds

630,132

192,511

35,940

13,010

871,593

Withdrawal Compensation/ Production Aid

553,560

752,014

316,683

469,041

2,018,739

2,967,594

3,781,637

10,859,268

Aid for Colza and Rapeseed

1,163,951

3,021,768

4,185,720

Aid for Flax

52,354

5,610,258

46,226

14,089

5,722,927

Aid for Grass Seed Production

1,401,326

470,782

795,050

45,455

10,064

1,990

2,724,668

Aid for Hops

243,378

41,256

272,873

1,103

1,104

1,104

560,819

Aid for Peas & Field Beans

6,347,685

14,790,884

21,138,569

Olive Oil

-6,309

621,431

615,122

Agriculture

52,191

52,191

Measures to Improve Apple Production

152,191

152,191

Accession Compensatory Amounts

2,118,738

2,118,738

Scheme

1973-1988

1989-1994

1994-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

1973-2006

MCAs

34,255

35,718

69,973

Promotion Measures

71,960

3

12,677

63,840

148,480

Operational Fund — Producer Organisation Aid

5,594,565

5,635,850

3,386,077

14,616,492

Fruit & Vegetables Total

12,591,261

25,688,814

1,538,732

529,689

2,042,920

2,983,365

3,845,477

5,594,565

5,635,850

3,386,077

63,836,749

Other Plant Sectors or Products (Chapter B0118)

Graminaceous Seeds

12,268

20,446

32,714

Other Plant Sectors Total

12,268

20,446

32,714

Dairy Products (Chapter B0120)

Export Refunds (including Food Aid)

1,436,509,117

600,514,149

454,733,025

97,441,880

51,323,902

48,867,981

88,238,496

100,361,634

78,055,540

46,589,152

3,002,634,874

Aid for SMP for Animal Feed

213,665,560

46,603,446

21,311,506

10,112,621

(1,462,536)

2,542,265

2,631,074

2,036,544

256,484

297,696,963

Aid for LSM for Other Feed

268,714,404

4,332,999

3,798,061

360,491

3,704,269

404,502

281,314,726

Aid for Casein

784,887,430

557,172,270

480,163,952

92,860,778

69,584,713

62,304,385

104,600,725

95,533,953

17,567,031

7,453,378

2,272,128,616

Intervention Costs

565,221,592

936,805,353

193,716,137

(47,593,144)

15,189,290

133,424,377

70,900,381

18,921,194

33,280,694

(300,940)

1,919,564,934

Private Storage

42,310,338

27,831,322

16,779,834

4,614,637

4,892,580

3,718,457

2,512,968

2,441,905

3,885,586

3,697,453

112,685,079

Measures to reduce Butter Fat Surplus

174,421,260

124,195,437

65,827,940

4,785,191

3,558,225

2,378,686

1,439,239

2,054,700

711,200

330,299

379,702,176

Premium for Conversion of Dairy Herds

21,444,832

(110,914)

5,828

21,339,746

Milk Co-Responsibility Levy

(245,510,022)

-59,175,268

(111,629)

(12,392)

(304,809,311)

Milk Super Levy

(2,593,897)

(20,784,641)

(44,592,149)

(6,007,817)

(161,725)

(3,079,266)

(9,543,224)

(14,999,871)

(2,330)

(101,764,919)

Reimbursement of Super Levy

1,799,920

21,791

1,821,711

Aid for Supply of School Milk

19,513,746

16,290,201

8,297,020

965,848

958,253

963,401

659,219

713,306

48,360,994

Market Development Measures

15,208,017

11,492,755

827,460

1,333,277

(5,640)

89,040

28,944,910

Improvement of Milk Quality

12,153,736

21,764,345

(300,877)

137,247

30,449

33,784,901

Cessation of Milk Production

13,857,797

89,213,550

33,930,456

137,001,803

Compensation for Temporary Suspension of Quotas

21,929,668

96,690,611

118,620,278

Purchase of Milk Quotas

21,710,625

21,710,625

Scheme

1973-1988

1989-1994

1994-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

1973-2006

Milk Sector Compensation (SLOM)

43,115,593

962,073

(1,087)

79,738

44,156,317

Non Marketing and Conversion

(9,655)

(9,655)

Restructuring Milk Production

1,199,845

1,199,845

Dairy Premium

60,266,458

1,118,327

16,884

61,401,669

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee under Milk Sector

-29,943

(7,798,294)

(17,646)

(19,418)

(796,419)

(122,428)

(82,773)

(8,866,921)

Accession Compensatory Amounts

80,049,013

80,049,013

MCAs

205,652,638

21,056,190

226,708,827

Other

-7,683

(7,683)

Free Distribution (intervention cost)

4,456,642

4,456,642

Aids for small Milk Producers

23,481,106

67,731

23,548,837

Dairy Products Total

3,655,365,295

2,541,687,844

1,227,562,480

158,026,430

147,569,508

250,407,759

271,261,650

272,058,121

120,682,228

58,753,685

8,703,375,000

Beef and Veal (Chapter B0121)

Export Refunds (including Food Aid)

1,989,890,353

1,804,215,028

2,013,438,189

306,690,891

42,548,186

87,163,036

70,360,751

51,814,580

34,040,909

19,677,100

6,419,839,023

Private Storage

148,054,721

100,549,023

248,603,744

Intervention Costs

1,643,820,735

2,148,513,184

256,709,118

(2,921,857)

9,260,882

1,823,589

4,124,699

(4,641)

4,061,325,709

Suckler Cow Premium

111,365,847

416,512,168

875,229,678

227,802,218

195,875,969

256,959,728

243,939,063

198,389,818

101,413,070

850,220

2,628,337,778

Special Beef Premium

156,050,115

1,060,024,804

256,241,770

229,900,151

270,962,490

280,069,989

262,751,138

246,028,931

1,959,217

2,763,988,606

Single Premium

35,117,321

228,279,038

263,396,359

Deseasonalisation Premium

-19

30,687,078

120,724,544

165,227

4,147

3,041

391

1,798

43

151,586,252

Slaughter Premium

73,265,757

126,211,248

140,843,177

133,527,848

64,783,746

594,013

539,225,790

Compulsory Slaughter Programme

11,376,845

11,376,845

Extensification Premium

60,365,856

439,704,686

99,772,994

143,627,862

144,543,415

156,689,714

162,611,982

164,983,769

1,274,384

1,373,574,662

Calf Premium

161,283,239

30,394,577

9,519

(1,701)

191,685,634

Processing Male Calf Premium

4,812,877

27,178,620

31,991,498

Deferred Slaughter Premium

20,627,764

20,627,764

BSE Compensation Measures

151,149,018

11,763,476

23,153,355

51,219,056

46,665,737

29,616,370

27,746,529

112,909

341,426,449

Quality Beef Marketing/Promotion

18,729

1,564,719

(338,571)

1,126,166

173,905

228,553

2,773,501

Control and Monitoring Measures

969,624

1,373,593

(951,415)

1,391,802

MCAs

280,151,682

15,937,163

791,829

296,880,674

Scheme

1973-1988

1989-1994

1994-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

1973-2006

Accession Compensatory Amounts

3,656,686

3,656,686

Free Distribution (intervention cost)

4,051,196

4,051,196

Purchase for Destruction

98,829,706

36,855

24,716,640

123,583,201

Speical Beef Purchase3

6,285,504

77,709,992

35,222,490

119,217,986

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee under Beef Sector

(14,743,168)

(164,074)

(685,780)

(511,227)

(4,851,804)

(3,193,589)

(24,149,642)

Beef & Veal Total

4,398,038,252

4,993,067,949

4,908,482,149

927,901,156

822,240,490

998,009,399

846,892,149

638,996,954

24,467,887

Sheepmeat (Chapter B0122)

Ewe Premium

313,400,393

878,798,919

618,260,353

104,229,798

80,682,473

111,811,183

105,981,530

108,608,037

6,160,482

186,299

2,328,119,467

Private Storage

769,299

1,142,680

368,299

2,280,278

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee under Sheepmeat

(220)

(344,814)

(279,092)

(75,577)

(699,702)

Sheepmeat Total

313,400,393

879,568,218

619,402,814

104,598,097

80,682,473

111,466,369

105,702,438

108,532,460

6,160,482

186,299

2,329,700,044

Pigmeat, Poultry and Eggs (Chapter B0123)

Export Refunds — Pigmeat

17,060,563

9,783,157

3,615,721

5,581,471

202,953

681,716

231,624

312,595

112,094

2,005

37,583,899

Pigmeat Subsidy

4,236,068

4,236,068

Private Storage

1,376,022

1,020,425

867,232

383,489

45,847

223,940

151,970

4,068,924

Accession Compensatory Amounts

1,088,939

1,088,939

MCAs — Pigmeat

30,191,979

389,636

30,581,615

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee under Pigmeat

(5,714)

(64,197)

(69,911)

Export Refunds — Poultry

293,948

830,009

174,165

25,588

141

10,320

20,635

1,161

1,355,966

Accession Compensatory Amounts

109,159

109,159

MCAs — Poultry

1,552,081

431,590

1,983,671

Export Refunds — Eggs

1,369

1,369

Aid for Bee-Keeping

27,021

31,872

32,018

29,036

15,429

25,000

36,914

197,290

Pigmeat, Poultry & Eggs Total

1,955,188

1,261,599

174,165

25,588

141

10,320

20,635

490,934

113,255

38,919

4,090,744

Scheme

1973-1988

1989-1994

1994-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

1973-2006

Processed Products (Chapter B0130)

Export Refunds

326,456,477

224,125,131

241,881,346

70,079,825

43,092,068

47,644,775

67,815,289

53,243,430

39,672,944

24,743,802

1,138,755,087

Recoveries to EAGGF Guarantee Fund

(444,731)

(154,593)

(34,372)

(60,683)

(3,632)

(698,011)

Accession Compensatory Amounts

6,825,288

7,933

6,833,221

MCAs

48,951,270

8,056,712

57,007,982

Processed Products Total

382,233,035

232,189,776

241,436,615

69,925,231

43,057,696

47,644,775

67,754,607

53,239,797

39,672,944

24,743,802

1,201,898,279

Food Programmes (Chapter (B0131)

Butter Food Programme

196,920

207,616

404,536

School Milk

878,011

878,011

Food Programme Total

1,074,931

207,616

1,282,547

Clearance of Previous Years Accounts (Chapter B0137)

Clearance of Accounts

(4,786,052)

-28,165,429

(119,558,206)

(14,834,919)

(174,843)

(2,444,896)

1,583,699

(35,544)

(1,110,061)

(2,747,045)

(172,273,296)

Clearance of Accounts Total

(4,786,052)

(28,165,429)

(119,558,206)

(14,834,919)

(174,843)

(2,444,896)

1,583,699

(35,544)

(1,110,061)

(2,747,045)

(172,273,296)

Promotion and Information Measures (Chapter B0138)

Milk Promotion

7,468

7,468

Plant Promotion

66,254

270,607

96,894

433,755

Egg Promotion

22,500

3,273

25,773

Promotion and Information Measures Total

66,254

29,968

273,880

96,894

466,996

Agri monetary Measures (Chapter B0139)

Agri monetary Measures

139,429,400

37,845,483

15,840,911

6,099,056

7,412

6,982

3,786

3,359

199,236,388

Recoveries to EAGGF Gurarantee Fund

(17)

(17)

Agri-Monetary Measures Total

6,965

3,786

3,359

14,110

Scheme

1973-1988

1989-1994

1994-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

1973-2006

Other Measures (Chapter B0140)

Accompanying Measures1

35,406,885

842,146,040

250,339,453

274,078,317

320,000,748

255,895,268

357,399,377

358,433,275

356,045,964

3,049,745,327

Other Measures Total

35,406,885

842,146,040

250,339,453

274,078,317

320,000,748

255,895,268

357,399,377

358,433,275

356,045,964

3,049,745,327

0

0

0

0

Clearance of Accounts — Rural Development (Chapter B0141)

0

0

0

0

Clearance of Accounts

0

0

0

(1,746.43)

(50,152)

39,724

(12,174)

Clearance of Accounts — RD Total

0

0

0

(1,746.43)

(50,152)

39,724

(12,174)

0

0

0

0

Other Sectors

Interest Payments — Guarantee Expenditure

13,061,039

97,046,891

13,049,028

123,156,959

Set Aside of Agricultural Land2

1,378,932

1,378,932

MCAs Collected

(93,536,428)

14,596,355

(108,132,783)

MCAs — trade with non-member countries

2,160

2,160

Settlement of Disputes — Calberson (05 07 02 00 0000)

24,681

24,681

Recoveries-All Sectors

(5,271,083)

(803,826)

(6,074,909)

Recoveries (05 02 99 00 0000)

(203,414)

(203,414)

Other Sectors Total

-85,259,281

91,070,924

875,066,263

273,350,017

289,744,385

323,654,907

257,486,379

(178,733)

(5,271,083)

(803,826)

2,018,859,952

Fisheries 1

Export Refunds

6,034,769

6,034,769

Private Storage

182,400

182,400

Withdrawal Compensation

12,884,642

10,660,186

8,442,499

31,987,327

Fisheries Total

19,101,811

10,660,186

8,442,499

38,204,496

Grand Total

9,005,449,735

9,042,224,265

8,524,058,733

1,670,513,323

39,297,815,130

1 Includes Compensatory Allowances from 2000

2 Included with Arable Aid payments

3 SPS payment in 2003 as result of EU Court Judgement

Source: Department of Agriculture and Food

Claims Submitted to FEOGA Guarantee Fund — Payments by Category, 1987-2006

Category

1987-1994

1995-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Export Refunds

Arable Crops

Export Refunds

45,105,701

10,718,309

2,124,296

364,902

182,320

146,207

39,966

59,248

78,700

Sugar

Export Refunds

22,581,205

22,868,408

1,300,466

2,121,087

1,853,311

8,373,587

7,944,501

5,304,827

Fruit & Veg

Export Refunds

342,067

35,940

13,010

Dairy Products

Export Refunds (incl. Food Aid)

842,593,497

454,733,025

97,441,880

51,323,902

48,867,981

88,238,496

100,361,634

78,055,540

46,589,152

Beef and Veal

Export Refunds (incl. Food Aid)

2,279,352,157

2,013,438,189

306,690,891

42,548,186

87,163,036

70,360,751

51,814,580

34,040,909

19,677,100

Pigmeat, Poultry & Eggs

Export Refunds

14,480,243

3,789,886

5,607,059

203,094

692,036

252,259

313,964

113,255

2,005

Processed Products

Export Refunds

335,559,092

241,881,346

70,079,825

43,092,068

47,644,775

67,815,289

53,243,430

39,672,944

24,743,802

Export Refunds Total

3,540,013,962

2,747,465,103

483,244,417

137,545,162

186,671,235

228,666,314

214,147,160

159,886,396

96,395,586

Intervention

Arable Crops

Intervention Costs (cereals)

60,909,186

205,145

2,074,743

658,541

819,221

(18,502)

120,538

48,442

Dairy Products

Intervention Costs

1,185,926,942

193,716,137

(47,593,144)

15,189,290

133,424,377

70,900,381

18,921,194

33,280,694

(300,940)

Dairy Products

Private Storage

36,554,592

16,779,834

4,614,637

4,892,580

3,718,457

2,512,968

2,441,905

3,885,586

3,697,453

Beef and Veal

Private Storage

152,254,356

Beef and Veal

Intervention Costs

2,639,741,574

256,709,118

(2,921,857)

9,260,882

1,823,589

4,124,699

(4,641)

Beef and Veal

Free Distribution (intervention cost)

4,051,196

Beef and Veal

Purchase for Destruction

98,829,706

36,855

24,716,640

Beef and Veal

Special Purchase Scheme**

6,285,504

77,709,992

35,222,490

Sheepmeat

Private Storage

769,299

1,142,680

368,299

Pigmeat

Private Storage

1,414,566

867,232

383,489

45,847

223,940

151,970

Sugar

0

0

4,381,607

287074.82

Intervention Total

4,081,621,711

469,420,147

(43,073,833)

135,162,350

217,532,492

137,682,615

21,510,428

41,668,425

3,732,031

ACAs/MCAs

Arable Crops

Accession Compensatory Amounts

-226,644

Arable Crops

MCAs

24,456,628

Sugar

MCAs

11,161,297

Fruit & Veg

Accession Compensatory Amounts

-2,432

Fruit & Veg

MCAs

55,625

Dairy Products

MCAs

87,304,336

Beef and Veal

MCAs

139,919,648

9,509

Category

1987-1994

1995-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Beef and Veal

Accession Compensatory Amounts

Pigmeat

MCAs

5,796,461

Poultry & Eggs

MCAs

1,465,282

Processed Prod

Accession Compensatory Amounts

19,920

Processed Prod

MCAs

28,852,531

All Sectors

MCAs Collected

-108,132,783

All Sectors

MCAs — trade with non-member countries

2,160

ACAs/MCAs Total

190,672,029

9,509

Direct Payments *

Arable Crops

Arable Aid

144,602,655

571,875,379

119,888,720

129,322,147

134,237,536

130,417,601

132,639,917

2,099,453

418,442

Beef and Veal

Suckler Cow Premium

452,617,528

875,229,678

227,802,218

195,875,969

256,959,728

243,939,063

198,389,818

101,413,070

850,220

Beef and Veal

Single Premium

263,396,359

Beef and Veal

Special Beef Premium

156,050,115

1,060,024,804

256,241,770

229,900,151

270,962,490

280,069,989

262,751,138

246,028,931

1,959,217

Beef and Veal

Deseasonalisation Premium

30,687,078

120,724,544

165,227

4,147

3,040

391

1,798

43

Beef and Veal

Extensification Premium

60,365,856

439,704,686

99,772,994

143,627,862

144,543,415

156,689,714

162,611,982

164,983,769

1,274,384

Beef and Veal

Slaughter Premium

73,265,757

126,211,248

140,843,177

133,527,848

64,783,746

594,013

Beef and Veal

Compulsory Slaughter Programme

11,376,845

Beef and Veal

Calf Premium

60,942,742

9,519

(1,701)

Beef and Veal

BSE Compensation Measures

151,149,018

11,763,476

23,153,355

51,219,056

46,665,737

29,616,370

27,746,529

112,909

Dairy Products

Dairy Premium

60,266,458

1,118,327

16,884

Dairy Products

Milk Sector Compensation (SLOM)

43,115,593

962,073

(1,087)

79,738

Sheepmeat

Ewe Premium

1,029,171,760

618,260,353

104,229,798

80,682,473

111,811,183

105,981,530

108,608,037

6,160,482

186,299

Other Plant Sectors

Aid for Flax

5,643,508

46,226

14,089

Other Plant Sectors

Aid for Hops

68,806

272,873

1,103

Accompanying Measures

Rural Environment Protection Scheme

443,492,516

143,230,358

119,234,396

149,964,289.92

103,747,710

143,176,654

186,697,403

172,774,771

Accompanying Measures

Afforestation

32,561,888

152,278,781

-

51,119,427

59,130,772

30,208,983

Accompanying Measures

Compensatory Allowances

45,100,300

110,982,996

129,927,775.46

116,866,081

123,913,627

83,044,180

127,034,637

All Sectors

Set Aside of Agricultural Land

1,378,932

All Sectors

Agri-monetary measures

139,429,400

37,845,483

15,840,911

6,099,056

7,412

6,982

3,786

3,359

All Sectors

Single Farm Payment

1,058,417,133

1,308,948,021

Direct Payments Total

2,280,602,821

4,573,459,850

1,046,052,747

1,121,890,164

1,381,938,817

1,325,308,142

1,418,006,902

2,001,627,581

1,644,382,182

Category

1987-1994

1995-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Other

Arable Crops

Co-Responsibility Levy

-56,870,111

33

Arable Crops

Delayed Interest Charge

(82,904)

Arable Crops

Reimbursement of Additional Levy

3,141,359

Arable Crops

Reimbursement of Co-Resp. Levy Setaside

666,412

18,931

(164)

Arable Crops

Production Aids

20,468,075

1,369,750

283,582

149,977

(17,528)

5,135

49,390

38,130

13,326

Arable Crops

Dehydrated Fodder

3,121,539

1,900,610

313,025

324,633

345,248

283,249

236,469

101,647

Arable Crops

Carryover Payments

Sugar

Refunds for Storage

52,551,883

26,343,589

4,007,824

3,488,901

198,000

Sugar

Refunds for Sugar Used in Chemical Industry

5,700,902

2,082,678

167,627

195,791

1,044,279

1,269,543

1,630,121

129,799

153,756

Dried Fodder & Grain Legumes

Production Aids

291,962

Fruit & Veg

Withdrawal Compensation / Production Aid

830,816

316,683

469,041

2,018,739

2,967,594

3,781,637

Fruit & Veg

Aid for Colza and Rapeseed

3,021,768

Fruit & Veg

Aid for Peas & Field Beans

18,113,077

Fruit & Veg

Olive Oil

621,431

Fruit & Veg

Measures to Improve Apple Production

152,191

Fruit & Veg

Promotion Measures

71,960

3

12,677

63,840

Fruit & Veg

Aid for Grass Seed Production

587,024

795,050

45,455

10,064

1,990

Fruit & Veg

Aid for Hops

1,104

1,104

Fruit & Veg

Operational Fund — Producer Organisation Aid

5,594,565

5,635,850

3,386,077

Other Plant Sectors

Graminaceous Seeds

12,268

20,446

Dairy Products

Aid for SMP for Animal Feed

82,250,485

21,311,506

10,112,621

(1,462,536)

2,542,265

2,631,074

2,036,544

256,484

Dairy Products

Aid for LSM for Other Feed

37,254,038

3,798,061

360,491

3,704,269

404,502

Dairy Products

Aid for Casein

836,154,363

480,163,952

92,860,778

69,584,713

62,304,385

104,600,725

95,533,953

17,567,031

7,453,378

Dairy Products

Measures to reduce Butter Fat Surplus

149,306,726

65,827,940

4,785,191

3,558,225

2,378,686

1,439,239

2,054,700

711,200

330,299

Dairy Products

Premium for Conversion of Dairy Herds

(117,631)

5,828

Dairy Products

Milk Co-Responsibility Levy

-117,194,025

-111,629

(12,392)

Dairy Products

Milk Super Levy

(22,380,049)

-44,592,149

(6,007,816.5)

(161,725)

(3,079,266)

(9,543,225)

(14,999,871)

(2,330)

Dairy Products

Reimbursement of Super Levy

1,799,920

21,791

Category

1987-1994

1995-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Dairy Products

Aid for Supply of School Milk

21,736,810

8,297,020

965,848

958,253

963,401

878,011

659,219

713,306

Dairy Products

Market Development Measures

14,833,916

827,460

1,333,277

(5,640)

89,040

Dairy Products

Improvement of Milk Quality

23,036,753

-300,877

137,247

30,449

Dairy Products

Cessation of Milk Production

103,071,347

33,930,456

Dairy Products

Compensation for Temporary Suspension of Quotas

118,620,278

Dairy Products

Purchase of Milk Quotas

21,710,625

Dairy Products

Non Marketing and Conversion

-9,655

Dairy Products

Restructuring Milk Production

1,199,845

Dairy Products

Free Distribution (intervention cost)

4,456,642

Dairy Products

Aids for small Milk Producers

-400

67,731

Beef and Veal

Processing Male Calf Premium

4,812,877

27,178,620

Beef and Veal

Quality Beef Marketing/Promotion

1,564,719

-338,571

1,126,166

173,905

228,553

Beef and Veal

Control and Monitoring Measures

1,751,944

1,373,593

(951,415)

Pigmeat, Poultry and Eggs

Aid for Bee-keeping

27,021

31,872

32,018

29,036

15,429

25,000

36,914

Other Measures

Plant Promotion

66,254

270,607

96,894.31

Other Measures

Bee-Keeping Programme

27,021

31,872

32,018

29,036

15,429

Food Programmes

Butter Food Programme

196,920

207,616

Food Programmes

School Milk

Promotion and Info. Measures

Milk Promotion

7,468

Promotion and Info. Measures

Egg Promotion

22,500

3,273

Arable Crops

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee

(3,838)

Beef and Veal

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee

(14,743,168)

(164,074)

(685,780)

(511,227)

(4,851,804)

(3,193,589)

Dairy Products

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee

-29,943

(7,798,294)

(17,646)

(19,418)

(796,419)

(122,428)

(82,773)

Pigmeat

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee

(5,714)

(64,197)

Sheepmeat

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee

(220)

(344,814)

(279,092)

(75,577)

Processed Products

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee

(444,731)

(154,593)

(34,372)

(60,683)

(3,632)

Sugar

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee

(329)

(168)

(270)

Total

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee

(5,244,729)

(803,826)

Category

1987-1994

1995-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Agri-monetary

Recoveries to FEOGA Guarantee

(17)

Accompanying Measures

Early Retirement Scheme

2,844,997

246,374,742

62,008,796

43,860,925

40,108,682

35,281,476

39,189,669

29,560,920

26,027,573

Rural Development

Clearance of Accounts

(1,746)

(50,152)

39,724

Clearance of Accounts

Clearance of Accounts

(31,664,048)

(119,558,206)

(14,834,919)

(174,843)

(2,444,896)

1,583,699

(35,544)

(1,110,061)

(2,747,045)

Other Sectors

Interest Payments — Guarantee Expenditure

110,107,930

13,049,028

Other Sectors

Settlement of Disputes

24,681

Other Sectors

Recoveries

(203,414)

(26,354)

Fisheries

Withdrawal Compensation

13,121,854

8,442,499

Other Total

1,423,708,614

733,704,123

184,289,992

125,525,315

105,896,528

146,851,051

134,472,127

33,806,280

35,263,793

Grand Total

11,516,619,137

8,524,058,732

1,670,513,324

1,520,122,991

1,892,039,071

1,838,508,121

1,788,136,616

2,236,988,682

1,779,773,591

Source: Department of Agriculture and Food

*Direct Payments refer to EU Guarantee Fund Payments only

**SPS payment in 2003 as result of EU Court Judgement

Original Programme Period

Measure

1973-1988

1989-1994

1995-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

20043

2005

2006

Total to end 2006

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

Animal Disease Eradication

15.511

15.511

Beef and Veal Premia

0.733

0.733

Cessation of Farming

0.256

0.013

0.269

Control of Farmyard Pollution Operational Programme

0.000

80.598

3.798

84.396

Cross Border Drainage

3.077

3.077

Farm Improvement Programme

3.664

94.595

98.259

Farm Modernisation Scheme

54.794

1.503

56.297

Fishery Products

0.080

0.080

Forestry Operational Programme

0.000

53.376

1.331

54.707

Hop Producers

0.001

0.001

Individual Projects

29.695

29.695

Inshore Fishery Conversion Explor. Fishing & Ice Plants

24.189

11.777

35.966

Less Favoured Areas

264.766

371.420

636.186

Marketing and Processing

93.594

101.667

4.569

199.830

Agricultural Products

37.664

10.335

47.999

Marketing and Processing

5.089

5.089

Fishery Products

8.227

6.128

14.355

Non-Marketing Premium/Dairy Herd Conversion

14.146

14.146

Measure

1973-1988

1989-1994

1995-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

20043

2005

2006

Total to end 2006

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

Producer Groups

Cereals

0.062

0.062

Fruit and Vegetables

0.086

0.225

0.311

Potatoes

0.041

0.041

Sheepmeat

0.024

0.024

Rural Development — OP — Agriculture

20.525

2.364

22.889

Rural Development — OP — Forestry

2.380

2.380

Socio-Economic/Vocational Training

1.393

1.393

Special Measures (Beef Cattle)

23.898

23.898

Statistical Survey of Fruit Trees

0.004

0.004

Structures Survey

0.328

0.328

System for detecting residues in beef and veal carcases

0.399

0.171

0.570

Western Drainage

54.010

-0.447

53.563

West of Ireland — Operational Programme

75.734

55.793

131.527

Community Intiatives

Interreg 1 — Agriculture

0.923

1.154

2.077

Interreg 1 — Forestry

1.587

1.587

Interreg 1 — Dept of Marine

0.768

0.768

Leader

6.594

1.275

7.869

1994-1999 Programme Period

Food Sub-Programme — Measure 1

9.371

80.97

3.484

10.270

104.091

Measure

1973-1988

1989-1994

1995-1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004 3

2005

2006

Total to end 2006

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

Measure 4

1.321

19.55

1.825

22.699

Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Dev & Forestry

49.016

766.050

26.951

25.630

867.647

Village Renewal Scheme (OPLURD)

18.157

18.157

Community Intiatives

Interreg II

0.196

1.168

1.364

Leader II

6.030

1.233

0.449

2.390

10.102

Peace and Reconciliation Initiative

3.277

1.545

4.822

Other

2.567

2.567

2000-2006 Programme Period

NDP S&E/BMW Region (OPARDF)1

11.856

11.350

4.182

20.692

22.846

34.385

105.311

LEADER Plus2

3.353

2.124

11.280

6.113

3.541

26.411

Peace and Reconciliation Initiative3

0.882

1.938

4.049

2.815

9.684

TOTAL

659.958

914.512

925.353

34.661

20.654

11.350

16.576

61.930

33.007

40.741

2,718.741

(1) Includes DCRGA related receipts of €3.74m in 2005
(2) Includes DCRGA related receipts of €6.11m in 2005
(3) Includes DCRGA & DEHLG related receipts of €.076m and €.59m respectively in 2005
Source: Department of Agriculture and Food

Milk Quota.

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

493 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her Department operates a grant scheme to provide financial assistance to young people wishing to purchase milk quotas in order to start up a dairy farm business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3784/08]

My Department does not operate such a grant scheme. However, it does operate a Milk Quota Trading Scheme, through which young people, subject to certain conditions, have an opportunity to purchase milk quota as priority applicants, in order to enter the dairy business.

Full details of the Milk Quota Trading Scheme are available from Co-operatives and from my Department.

Bovine Disease Controls.

Denis Naughten

Question:

494 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of animals tested from meat processing plants for scrapie in 2007; the cost of the testing of these animals; the percentage of the total flock slaughtered in meat plants which were tested; the fees collected by meat processors in 2007 for scrapie testing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3813/08]

The overall number of sheep from meat plants that were TSE rapid tested in 2007 was 26,958 which represented 0.99% of the total number of sheep presented for slaughter. The costs incurred by my Department for testing these sheep amounted to € 933,887.12, inclusive of 21 per cent VAT.

Any fees collected by the factories in respect of scrapie testing is a commercial matter between the processor and the farmer and for which I do not have any responsibility.

Animal Breeding Regulations.

Michael Creed

Question:

495 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the regulations and licence requirements laid down by her Department for fox rearing here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3820/08]

There is no legislation specifically governing the licensing of fox farms in Ireland.

Michael Creed

Question:

496 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the inspection regime which licence holders under the Musk Rats Act 1933 have to comply with; the number of inspections carried out on the holding of each licence holder for each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3821/08]

Under the Musk Rats Act, 1933 (Application to Mink) Order 1965, the keeping of mink is prohibited except under licence, obtained from my Department. Licences, which are time-bound, are issued under this legislation only if the applicant, following an inspection by officers from the Agricultural Inspectorate of my Department, is found to be compliant with a number of key conditions. These conditions require the Licensee to:
Submit an application for a licence in the format prescribed by me, as Minister.
Pay the appropriate fee for the licence.
Comply fully with all National and European legislation relating to their enterprise.
Be subject to the overall Veterinary and Zootechnical control of my Department.
Ensure that Mink are kept only at the premises specified in the licence and in a manner acceptable to my Department.
Inform persons to whom they dispose of mink of the need for a licence to keep them.
Inform my Department if mink cease to be kept at any premises covered by this licence and of any change in ownership.
Allow authorised officers (of the Department) to inspect the premises at all reasonable times.
Inform my Department at once of any escape of mink.
I, as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, may withdraw or amend any of these conditions and may add further conditions where necessary. Licences are not transferable and may be revoked at any time if the licensee fails to comply with any of these conditions.
The number of inspections carried out specifically for licensing purposes under the Musk Rats Act, 1933 (Application to Mink) Order 1965, during each of the past ten years is outlined in the following table:

Year

No. of Inspections

1998

1

1999

7

2000

2

2001

7

2002

7

2003

8

2004

6

2005

7

2006

5

2007

0

Agricultural Inspectors from my Department carry out the inspections for the purpose of renewal of licences. There were no inspections carried out in 2007 as there were no licences due for renewal in this year.
Licensed fur farms are also inspected by Veterinary Inspectors from my Department to assess their compliance with the Council of Europe recommendations concerning fur animals and Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. These inspections have to date found that the licensed fur farms have been operating in compliance with current legislation. Inspections have also found that the slaughter methods employed by the licensed fur farms are permitted under the Sixth Schedule of the European Communities (Protection of Animals at Time of Slaughter) Regulations, 1995.

Michael Creed

Question:

497 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of licences issued under the Musk Rats Act 1933 for each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3822/08]

The number of licences issued under the Musk Rats Act 1933 (Application to Mink) Order, 1965 for each of the past ten years is as follows:

Year

No. of Licences Issued

1998

0

1999

3

2000

1

2001

7

2002

6

2003

8

2004

6

2005

7

2006

5

2007

0

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

498 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the average cost to her Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3855/08]

The cost of preparing replies to Parliamentary Questions varies considerably depending on the nature of the Question, the type of information sought, the degree of detail requested and the staff time and effort required to extract the relevant information. I am required to reply to a large number of questions during each Dail session and as no record is kept of the time spent or other costs incurred by my staff in preparing material for replies, it is not possible to indicate the overall cost to my Department over a recent period or the average cost of a reply.

Schools Building Projects.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

499 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the position of the application by a school (details supplied) in County Laois under the grant aid for major capital works for national schools; the status of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3044/08]

The Department recently received an updated application for large scale capital funding from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers.

The updated application is currently being assessed. When this has been completed, the project will be assigned a Band rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and progress on the project will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Schools Amalgamation.

Dara Calleary

Question:

500 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Science the benefits that may be available where a number of national schools in a parish intend to merge into one school; if their building request will be expedited or if it will be subject to the normal process. [3059/08]

Initially agreement needs to be reached between the management authorities of schools in question to amalgamate. The final decision on amalgamation rests with the patron of those schools, subject only to Departmental approval. Application forms for large scale capital must be submitted by the management authority of the schools involved.

Architectural assessments would have to be carried out on all the existing school buildings to determine which, if any, would be suitable to act as hosts for the proposed rationalisation and what are the longer term accommodation needs of the area. These assessments will enable my Department to take a view on how infrastructure can properly be developed to facilitate the proposals.

When this has been completed, the project will be assigned a Band rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and progress on the project will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

The reasons for amalgamation can be many and varied ranging from, demography (decline in enrolments) to desire for co-education, to financial reasons, to condition of school buildings, to parental/teacher demand etc.

Special Educational Needs.

Michael McGrath

Question:

501 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the concessions available to students sitting the leaving certificate who have been diagnosed as dyslexic. [3068/08]

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 including the supervision of examinations.

I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the certificate Examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students.

I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Joe McHugh

Question:

502 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has been refused a reader for the leaving certificate examinations, despite the fact that the person had the use of one for the junior certificate; her views on whether it is fair that students who become reliant on a reader, have the assistance removed before one of the most important exams in their life; if she will intervene in this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3069/08]

Joe McHugh

Question:

503 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has been refused a spelling waiver for the leaving certificate; if she will consider an appeal made by the school principal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3071/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together.

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 including the supervision of examinations.

I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the certificate Examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students.

I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Higher Education Grants.

Brian Hayes

Question:

504 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford was refused a mature student grant by County Dublin VEC; if this decision can be appealed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3082/08]

Under the prescribed terms and conditions of my Department's student maintenance grant schemes grant assistance may not be awarded in respect of a repeat period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not funding was previously awarded. The awarding body may, however, waive this provision in exceptional circumstances such as certified serious illness. In such instances decisions are made by the assessing authority on a case by case basis. It should be emphasised, however, that this discretion would only be exercised where a candidate is repeating a period of study on the same course.

My Department understands, from the information provided by the Deputy that the candidate has already pursued an undergraduate course, which he did not complete and is now pursuing a different course at undergraduate level. It would appear that the decision made by the deciding body is in line with the provisions of the grant schemes.

The decision on eligibility for repeat year funding is a matter for the relevant assessing authority. The assessing authorities do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant assessing authority. Where an individual applicant has an appeal turned down by the relevant assessing authority, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his/her case, an official appeal form (available from the assessing authority) outlining the position may be submitted by the candidate to the Higher Education: Equity of Access unit in my Department.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

505 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Science the statutory bodies for which she has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3088/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

506 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Science the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which she has responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3103/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 506 together.

The Deputy will be aware that while individual institutions in the education sector have varying degrees of autonomy according to their status and statutory provisions, the Minister has an overarching responsibility for education policy across all levels of the education system and responsibility for funding provided from the Education Vote.

The compilation of the information sought by the Deputy in relation to the annual operating cost for each statutory body for each of the past five years would involve an inordinate amount of administrative time.

The Deputy will also be aware that information on staffing and budgets is available in annual reports and other documents published by various bodies. Many of these reports are available in the Oireachtas Library or can be downloaded from the websites of bodies concerned. Also information on expenditure for a number of bodies is included in my Department's Audited Appropriation Accounts published annually. If the Deputy has any queries in relation to a particular body then officials in my Department would be more than happy to discuss these with her.

Set out below are a list of education related bodies with statutory provisions:

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies — Institute for Advanced Studies Act 1940 (established 1940)

Further Education & Training Awards Council — Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999 (established 2001)

Grangegorman Development Agency — Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005 (established 2006)

Higher Education and Training Awards Council — Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999 (established 2001)

Higher Education Authority — HEA Act 1971 (established 1971)

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment — Education Act 1998 (established 1987)

National Council for Special Education — Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (established 2003)

National Educational Welfare Board — Education (Welfare) Act 2000 (established 2002)

National Qualifications Authority of Ireland — Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999 (established 2001)

Residential Institution Redress Board — Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 (established 2002)

Residential Institution Review Committee — Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 (established 2002)

Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse — Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000 (established 1999)

Education Finance Board — Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005 (established 2006)

Royal Irish Academy of Music — 1885 Educational Endowments Act (established 1848)

Royal Irish Academy — 1785 Royal Charter (established 1785)

State Examinations Commission — State Examinations Commission (Establishment) Order 2003 (established 2003)

The Teaching Council — Teaching Council Act 2001 (established 2006)

Vocational Education Committees — VEC Act 1930 (VECs were originally created by the Vocational Education Act 1930, as successors to the Technical Instruction Committees established by the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act 1899.)

Institutes of Technology — Regional Technical Colleges Act, 1992 and Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999* Some of the Institutes of Technology were originally Regional Technical Colleges established in 1970.

Athlone Institute of Technology, 1970,

Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, 1999,

Institute of Technology Carlow 1970,

Cork Institute of Technology, 1974

Dundalk Institute of Technology 1970

Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, 1997

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology 1972,

Letterkenny Institute of Technology 1971,

Limerick Institute of Technology, 1992

Institute of Technology Sligo, 1970

Institute of Technology Tallaght, 1992

Institute of Technology Tralee 1977,

Waterford Institute of Technology 1970

Dublin Institute of Technology — Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 and DIT Act 1992* The DIT Act 1992 provided for the formation of the Dublin Institute of Technology by bringing together six colleges of higher education formerly under the City of Dublin Vocational Educational Committee.

*See also Institutes of Technology Act 2006

Universities: Irish Universities Act 1908 & Universities Act 1997 (the 1908 Act dissolved the previous Royal University system and created the current National University of Ireland)

National University of Ireland (established 1908)

University College Dublin (established 1908)

University College Cork (established 1845)

National University of Ireland Galway (established 1845)

National University of Ireland Maynooth (established 1997)

Dublin City University (established 1980)

University of Limerick (established 1972)

Trinity College Dublin (established 1592)

National College of Art and Design NCAD Act 1971 (originally founded as a college in 1746, became NCAD in 1971)

Schools Refurbishment.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

507 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has received an application for major capital works for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when this application was received and its status; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the school buildings have defective windows, minimum insulation, a very old roof and an antiquated mechanical and electrical system; if she will afford priority to this funding application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3119/08]

Discussions are ongoing in relation to the amalgamation of post-primary schools in New Ross. When the outcome of these discussions is known, the Department will take decisions related to capital investment in the area for the future.

Higher Education Grants.

Brian Hayes

Question:

508 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if under special extenuating circumstances, her Department would agree to providing funding for a maintenance grant for postgraduate studies in England to a student who would have qualified for such a grant had they studied for their postgraduate studies here; if she will make an exception in order to promote her Department’s equity of access ethos; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3125/08]

The Third Level Student Support 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. The extension of the Schemes at that time did not include courses at postgraduate level and, accordingly, there is no grant aid available under the schemes for students pursuing postgraduate studies outside of Ireland.

Any extension of the current arrangements to provide for students pursuing postgraduate courses outside of Ireland could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education sector. At present, there are no plans to expand the provisions in the grant schemes in relation to postgraduate study abroad.

However, Section 21 of the Finance Act 2000, as amended by Section 29 of the Finance Act 2001, provides for the introduction of tax relief for postgraduate tution fees paid in colleges outside of Ireland. This relief, which is available from the tax year 2000/01 onwards, applies at the standard rate of tax. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from an individual's Local Tax Office.

Special Educational Needs.

Michael McGrath

Question:

509 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the special needs of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [3139/08]

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 including the supervision of examinations.

I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the certificate Examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students.

I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Schools Building Projects.

Alan Shatter

Question:

510 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction the construction of the extension sought by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16 and the undertaking of essential refurbishments to the school; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is an urgent need to replace the prefabricated buildings currently in use and to provide proper facilities for physical education; the consideration given to date by her to the application made by the school; and when the sanction necessary and funding required will be given. [3148/08]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

571 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science when a decision will be made on the application by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16 for the extension and refurbishment of the school which is urgently needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3660/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 571 together.

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers have applied for large scale capital funding. The applications have been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Progress on individual projects will be considered in the context of the multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Departmental Bodies.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

511 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of task forces currently operating in her Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimated cost of the taskforce; if she will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3161/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

512 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the taskforces established under the auspices of her Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3176/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

513 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the taskforces established under the auspices of her Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3191/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 to 513, inclusive, together.

The information being sought by the Deputy is currently being compiled in my Department and I will forward the information directly to the Deputy.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

514 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to her Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3206/08]

My Department is required to report on non capital costs incurred in connection with the programme of decentralisation to the Central Decentralisation Unit in the Department of Finance. Reports to date have confirmed that no non capital costs have been incurred directly by my Department.

Non capital costs of €13,157 have been reported in connection with the decentralisation of the State agencies in the Education sector.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

515 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of civil and public servants in her Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3221/08]

Since the start of the implementation of the programme of decentralisation 84 civil servants from my Department have relocated to posts outside of Dublin.

In the region of 350 civil servants in my Department who have not relocated to date have made application through the Central Application Facility (CAF) to relocate under the programme, approximately 220 of these applicants are opting to relocate with my Department. At this time it is not possible to say how many of these applicants will actually relocate. This will depend on a number of factors, including the availability of posts in the applicants' locations of choice and, as the programme is voluntary, decisions made by individuals when offered a transfer to relocate.

Site Acquisitions.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

516 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the school sites acquired by her Department in 2007; the location, area and cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3231/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

518 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the school sites acquired by her Department to date in 2008; the location, area and cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3233/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 516 and 518 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate prices for individual sites are commercially sensitive and, as they may be prejudicial to future negotiations for similar sites, I am not in a position to disclose this information. Details in relation to the location and area of sites purchased in 2007 are as follows. My Department is actively involved in seeking sites for 2008 and the information sought is not available.

County

Site

Approx. size of site (Acres)

Clare

Ennistymon

14.8

Cork

Foxwood Rochestown Co. Cork

3

Dublin

Archbishop McQuaid Senior School, Loughlinstown

4.6

Dublin

Ongar/Castaheany

1.864

Dublin

Adamstown

3.122

Dublin

Balbriggan NS (Flemington/Bremore site)

4.5

Galway

Killimor and Boleybeg

2.96

Galway

Carna

7.12

Kildare

Bawnog's Kilcock

6

Kilkenny

Thomastown

2.6

Leitrim

Mohill

12.5

Leitrim

Ballinamore

6.38

Limerick

Lisgaugh, Doon

16

Louth

Eden View, Mornington Road, Drogheda

2.77

Mayo

Carrowkennedy, Liscarney

2

Mayo

Claremorris

2.51

Meath

Dunboyne

2.5

Meath

Laytown, Bettystown

20.6

Meath

Athboy

6.889

Meath

Athboy

0.969

Offaly

Ferbane

5.75

Roscommon

Rathcroghan

1.5

Secondary Schools.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

517 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the difference between secondary, comprehensive and community schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3232/08]

There are a number of different types of post-primary school in the Irish education system. The second level sector is comprised of voluntary secondary schools, community schools and comprehensive schools, which are generally denominational (for example, Roman Catholic or Protestant). Vocational schools and community colleges are non-denominational.

All of these schools provide courses in accordance with the curriculum prescribed by my Department, enter their pupils for the State examinations and are subject to evaluation by my Department's inspectorate. Approximately 340,000 students are enrolled in about 750 second-level schools.

Voluntary secondary schools are privately owned and managed. They are under the trusteeship of religious communities, boards of governors or individuals. The Education Act, 1998, requires secondary schools to have boards of management that include parent and teacher representatives. Voluntary secondary schools may be fee-paying or non-fee paying. In the past, voluntary secondary schools provided a more academic education but increasingly, they provide a range of academic, practical and vocational subjects.

Community and comprehensive schools were established in the 1960s in order to provide a broad curriculum for all the young people in a community. Many of these schools were established as the result of the amalgamation of voluntary secondary and vocational schools.

Comprehensive schools combine academic and vocational subjects in a wide curriculum. They are managed by a board of management representative of the diocesan religious authority, the VEC of the area and the Minister for Education and Science.

Community schools are managed by boards of management representative of local interests. These schools offer a broad curriculum embracing both practical and academic subjects. They also provide facilities for adult education and community development projects.

The remaining schools in the sector are Vocational Schools and Community Colleges. These schools are administered by 33 Vocational Education Committees established as statutory bodies set up under the Vocational Education Act, 1930, as amended. The boards of management for these schools are sub-committees of the VEC. Membership of the boards include, VEC representatives, parent, teacher and community representatives. Initially, the main thrust of these schools was directed towards the development of manual skills and preparation of young people for trades. Today, they generally provide a wide range of both academic and practical subjects. Vocational schools and Community Colleges are the main providers of adult education and community education courses.

Question No. 518 answered with Question No. 516.

Site Acquisitions.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

519 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has acquired land in the Kellystown, Porterstown or Annfield areas in Dublin 15 for the purposes of providing a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3234/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

520 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has acquired land in the Tyrellstown area of Dublin 15 for the purposes of providing a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3235/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 520 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Department is moving to acquire a number of sites in the Dublin 15 area for the purposes of providing additional school places. Due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment further on this aspect of the matter until such a time as the acquisitions have been completed.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

521 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science the way she will use the recently purchased 1.3 acre site at Littlepace, Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3236/08]

This site is being acquired under the Fingal School Model Agreement and is required to extend an existing school site. My Department is currently liaising with Fingal County Council on its transfer. The Deputy will appreciate however that due to the commercial sensitivities of land acquisitions, that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the detail in relation to specific land purchases until the acquisition is fully complete.

School Equipment.

Brian Hayes

Question:

522 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if funding for white boards has been granted for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 7. [3279/08]

There is no record of an application for funding for white boards from the school in question, having been received in my Department. However, an official from my Department's Building Section has been in contact with the school authorities and advised them that should an application be submitted it will be assessed and the school informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

Schools Building Projects.

Finian McGrath

Question:

523 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will support a project (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [3292/08]

Stage 3 architectural design submissions for the building project at the school to which the Deputy refers are currently being considered by the Technical Unit of the Department. Once this has been approved, progress on the project will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Special Educational Needs.

Finian McGrath

Question:

524 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will support a school (details supplied) in County Offaly. [3293/08]

As the Deputy will be aware, special needs assistants (SNAs) are sanctioned by special education needs organisers (SENOs) to schools specifically to assist in the care of pupils and students with disabilities in an educational context. SNAs may be appointed to a special school or a mainstream school to assist school authorities in making suitable provision for children who have been assessed as having such needs. Applications for SNA support are made by schools to the local SENO and the SENO conveys a decision on the application directly to the schools without recourse to my Department. The SENOs operate within the policy outlined in my Department's circular for allocating such support.

In allocating SNA support, I can confirm that there have been no cutbacks in relation to the allocation of SNAs to schools and any SNA posts that have been terminated was as a result of the pupils for whom such support was originally granted no longer requiring such support or transferring from the school system. In fact the number of SNAs in our schools has increased significantly and there are now over 9,800 SNAs in the primary, post-primary and special schools supporting children with special care needs. I understand that the local SENO is due to carry out a review of the current SNA allocation in the school referred to in the correspondence on foot of an appeal from the school.

Schools Building Projects.

Bobby Aylward

Question:

525 Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will approve the application for a devolved grant for an extension to a national school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [3298/08]

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he refers. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating. Progress on the proposed works will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

The school was approved devolved funding on 11 January 2008 to upgrade the heating, lighting, water, etc., in the existing school building.

John Curran

Question:

526 Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date on the plans to re-organise schools (details supplied) to form a junior and senior school on a single site in Clondalkin, Dublin 22 with the provision of two sixteen classroom schools; and if she will acknowledge the urgency of this project and advise as to the timescale envisaged. [3303/08]

As the Deputy will be aware, agreement has been reached to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which he refers on a V.E.C. owned site. The site was recently master planned to ascertain if it would be feasible to facilitate both this school and two other all-Irish schools on the site.

With the completion of the masterplan, progress on the project can now be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

527 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has decided that the best course of action is to build a new school to replace a school (details supplied) in County Galway. [3305/08]

Following on from a technical visit by the Department the Patron has confirmed the availability of additional lands for a new school building. This project is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Psychological Service.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

528 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science the fees paid by her Department per year over the past five years to psychologists and other expert witnesses in legal proceedings involving children with special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3325/08]

The information sought regarding the fees in question is not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy at a later date.

School Transport.

Enda Kenny

Question:

529 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that a child (details supplied) in Dublin 24 is unable to attend school in their locality owing to a lack of available places in suitable schools, she will make arrangements for transport to be provided to bring the child to and from school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3333/08]

The provision of transport under the School Transport Scheme may be considered in respect of education facilities which are recognised by my Department. As the facility referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied is neither recognised nor funded by my Department, the question of providing transport under the terms of the Scheme does not arise.

However, the Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education has responsibility, through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for the establishment of special education facilities and for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. Parents are encouraged to contact their local SENO to discuss their child's special educational needs using the contact details on www.ncse.ie.

School Enrolments.

Chris Andrews

Question:

530 Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will make it a requirement for schools which receive public funding to make their enrolment policy publicly accessible and not only available upon request as is currently the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3343/08]

Section 15(2)(d) of the Education Act 1998 requires the Board of Management to publish the policy of the school concerning the admission to and participation in the school.

In summary, Section 15, subsection (2) of the Education Act states that:

"A board shall . . . publish, in such a manner as the board with the agreement of the patron considers appropriate, the policy of the school concerning admission to and participation in the school, including the policy of the school relating to the expulsion and suspension of students and admission to and participation by students with disabilities or who have other special educational needs . . . and ensure . . . that . . . the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents' choice are respected . . .".

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act. In this regard a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion. In formulating an admissions policy a school must, however, ensure it is lawful. In particular, it must act in accordance with section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 (as amended by Section 50 of the Equality Act, 2004).

School Placement.

Michael McGrath

Question:

531 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school place will be provided for a child (details supplied) in County Cork. [3356/08]

As the Deputy is aware a specific function of the National Council Special Education, 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 the school and is available to parents to provide support and advice. My officials have been in contact with the NCSE and I can confirm that the pupil in question is on a waiting list for the special school referred to by the Deputy. I wish to advise the Deputy that the matter of the enrolment of a pupil in a school including a special school is a matter for the Board of Management of the school and my Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment by schools. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld, the Secretary General of my Department may direct a school to enrol a pupil.

Ministerial Appointments.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

532 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science when she will appoint two student representatives onto the Higher Education Authority and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, as promised in the Programme for Government; if she will include this as part of the Student Support Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3366/08]

The matter raised by the Deputy is not appropriate to the Student Support Bill. The commitment under the Programme for Government to appoint a further student representative to the HEA can be accommodated under existing legislation and will be considered when future vacancies arise. The composition of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is set out in Section 6 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, and provides for one representative of learners. The Authority is committed to working in a participative manner and engages extensively with student and other stakeholder interests as an integral part of its work, through a variety of consultative fora.

School Transport.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

533 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if, arising from the section on school buses in the Programme for Government, her Department conducted a review of the school transport system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3367/08]

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to review the school transport system, including catchment boundaries. The Department is currently developing proposals to advance this commitment.

Youth Services.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

534 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science when she will outline the objectives and timetable for the Youth Work Development Plan, for the period 2008 to 2012, as promised in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3368/08]

Towards 2016, the Social Partnership Agreement 2006-2015, provides for consideration to be given to the need for a further plan following a review in 2008 of the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007. The Programme for Government commits to supporting a new Youth Work Development Plan for the period 2008 – 2012.

In that context my Department will commence the process of reviewing the 2003-2007 Plan in the first instance, and will then, taking into consideration the review and any other relevant advice or information, consider how best to progress a new Plan.

School Management.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

535 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science when she will publish the manual to support school boards of management as promised in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3369/08]

I wish to advise the Deputy that when copies of the revised Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure issued to all new primary school boards of management in December, 2007, ten copies of an Information Manual for Primary Boards of Management issued to the schools at the same time.

Special Educational Needs.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

536 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department recruited extra staff to the Educational Welfare Board and the National Educational Psychological Service as promised in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3370/08]

This government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that every child gets all the opportunities and support they need to enable them to achieve their potential and participate fully in education. Through increased investment and improved services we are determined to optimise access, participation and educational outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups. The programme for government is committed to providing these educational supports to the most vulnerable sections of our society.

In addition to the programme for government, the partnership agreement "Towards 2016" includes provision for an additional 100 posts in total for the NEWB and the National Educational Psychological Service by 2009. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that under the Ist Phase of the agreement, an additional 15 staff were allocated to the NEWB during 2007. I have been informed by the Board that the recruitment process is ongoing and will be finalised shortly. This allocation brings the current authorised staffing of the Board to 109 posts of which 90 are working directly in the service delivery area. The staffing complement is comprised of 19 HQ and support staff, 5 Regional Managers, 13 Senior EWO's and 72 EWO's. The financial allocation to the Board in 2008 is €10.119million.

With regard to the recruitment of psychologists for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), as the deputy will be aware all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.

I can inform the Deputy that the number of NEPS psychologists increased from 128 to a current level of 139 during 2007. As I have previously announced, my Department is committed to increasing psychological service staffing further, so that by 2009 there will be 200 NEPS psychologists in the service. In this regard, and following a national recruitment process put in place in late 2007 by the Public Appointments Service, interviews are currently being held to form regional panels from which appointments will be made as soon as possible, leading during 2008 to an expansion in NEPS psychologist numbers to 169.

The recruitment of extra staff to both services will continue to strengthen local delivery and contribute to improving the coverage in respect of services provided by both NEPS and the NEWB. The ongoing allocation of posts will continue to be evaluated in light of operational experience and identified need.

It must also be remembered that these services are just two aspects of the comprehensive framework that this Government has put in place to support schools, families and young people themselves. In this regard, extra supports targeted at young people in disadvantaged areas include both educational initiatives such as intensive literacy programmes and the provision of breakfast and homework clubs. In fact, in addition to the NEWB, there are currently in excess of 620 staff within the education sector in education disadvantage programmes of which over 130 are additional posts allocated under DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) the action plan for educational inclusion which provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme (SSP). The School Completion Programme (SCP) is a preventative measure designed to combat issues of poor attendance and early school leaving. The Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) works to involve parents in their children's education which is a crucial component in convincing young people of the value of education. School attendance is a central objective of School Completion Programme with targeted interventions for children at risk of early school leaving through a variety of extra supports aimed at encouraging them to stay in school. The supports cover both educational and non-educational interventions and are provided during and outside of school time. Work is ongoing to develop appropriate protocols for all agencies and services to work together in collaboration and to ensure that optimum use is made of the resources deployed.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

537 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science when she will implement the Educate for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 as promised in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3371/08]

As the Deputy will know, the legislature, in passing the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004, recognised that implementation would require a considerable change agenda, to develop and support inclusive schools to deliver on the provisions of the Act. For this reason, the EPSEN Act, 2004 specifically refers to a five year implementation period. The National Council for Special Education was required, by the Act, to make a report on the implementation of the Act and I accept the core thrust of the principles and recommendations set out by the Council in its Implementation Report. I am anxious to implement the Act in full in the quickest time possible. However, following consideration of the issues raised in the Council's implementation plan, and the consultations to date with the Education Partners, I consider that the five year timeframe acknowledged in the legislation is the appropriate period in which to implement the provisions of the Act.

A number of sections of the Act have been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special needs. Specifically, the following sections have been commenced: 1, 2, 14(1)(a), 14(1)(c), 14(2) to 14(4), 19 to 37, 40 to 53.

The remaining sections have not yet been commenced. As the EPSEN Act does not provide for phased commencement by age cohort the education sector must be in a position to provide the required services to all children before the relevant provisions are commenced. My Department's priority, therefore, has been to put in place the resources required for children with special educational needs, and to ensure that the necessary supports are in place to facilitate the commencement of the remaining sections of the Act. It must also be acknowledged that, during this necessary period of preparation and planning for the roll-out of the EPSEN Act, my Department continues to expand capacity and services for students with special educational needs. I am committed to continue this expansion of services to ensure that schools have the necessary capacity to support students with special educational needs. It is envisaged that proposals for the implementation of the Act will be completed shortly by a working group in my Department with a view to the full implementation of the Act by 2010.

School Staffing.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

538 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will make provisions to expand primary teaching colleges here in order to meet the increasing demand for teachers in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3372/08]

My Department continually monitors the situation in relation to retirements, demographics and the many other factors affecting supply and demand of teachers, in the light of system needs, available resources and Government commitments.

The Deputy might be interested to know that for the intake to the 2008 post graduate diploma in education (for primary teaching) my Department approved an additional 210 places.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

539 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the maximum amount of students that are expected to graduate from all of the primary teaching colleges here in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3373/08]

The maximum numbers of students that are expected to graduate from all of the Colleges of Education here in 2008 are as follows:

Graduates (CoE) Maximum Possible Nos

BEd

P-Grad

St Patrick’s College/DCU

423

109

Mary Immaculate/UL

435

104

Coláiste Mhuire, Marino

100

50

Church of Ireland College of Education

31

0

Froebel College of Education

87

36

Hibernian

0

515

Totals

1,076

814

Health Promotion.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

540 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the developments and implementation as part of a health impact assessment, schemes and policies, including public procurement, that encourage healthy eating and active living, particularly those aimed at children and vulnerable groups; if she will develop and implement same policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3504/08]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

548 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on encouraging and supporting the development of consistent school policies to promote healthy eating and active living including addressing physical activity and school meals; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3592/08]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

561 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on working with the national parents’ organisations for primary and post-primary schools in helping them to support parents in the encouragement of healthy eating and active living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3605/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 540, 548 and 561 together.

Our schools already promote, support and encourage healthy eating and physical exercise in a range of ways.

Physical education is part of the curriculum at primary and at post-primary level and plays a key role not just in giving students an opportunity to exercise during the school day but also in encouraging a positive attitude towards physical activity which students will hopefully carry with them into adult life.

With regard to educating students about making good food choices, a curriculum in Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE) is mandatory for all primary students and its implementation is also being assisted by a full-time support service. Health and well-being along with food and nutrition are two areas dealt with under the "taking care of my body" unit of that curriculum. The objective is that by fifth and sixth class, pupils should be enabled to realise that they, as individuals, have some responsibility for adopting a healthy balanced diet and for taking regular and appropriate exercise.

All second level schools have been required to provide SPHE as part of the junior cycle curriculum since September 2003. The aims of this programme include preparing students for responsible decision-making and promoting their physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.

Quite apart from curricular provision, schools can implement measures to encourage physical activity during school breaks and schools already play a major role in promoting the involvement of students in sporting activities in the wider community. Sports organisations such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, Basketball Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) provide extensive opportunities for schools to participate in sport.

Together, the above initiatives ensure that children not only get opportunities to exercise at school but also learn about balanced nutrition and making good food choices. I believe that schools are playing their part in terms of promoting a healthy diet and adequate physical exercise for children. However, it is important to remember that children spend just 20% of their waking hours at school so schools can only do so much with regard to promoting exercise and healthy eating and the main role must rest with parents.

The provision and sale of certain foods in schools, is primarily a matter for the Board of Management of individual schools who may devise policies around the types of food that are available on the school premises and such policies should be driven by the needs and the welfare of the students. I know that many schools have developed healthy eating policies in co-operation with their parents' associations, and I would encourage others to do so.

Health and Safety Regulations.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

541 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the recent safety standards survey carried out on a school (details supplied) in Dublin 22 which found the school to be a health and safety risk for staff and children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3515/08]

In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work, Act 1989, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and to put appropriate safeguards in place.

It is open to school management authorities to have the type of survey referred to carried out and the Department would not necessarily be aware of this. Results are issued to the management authorities of schools in the first instance.

Having said that, the Department is keenly aware of the need to provide a permanent building for the school in question. In this regard, agreement has been reached to provide permanent accommodation for the school on a V.E.C. owned site. The site was recently master planned to ascertain if it would be feasible to facilitate both this school and two other all-Irish schools on the site.

With the completion of the masterplan, progress on the project can now be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Third Level Fees.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

542 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is a targeted fund in place to alleviate fees in public institutions for part-time courses at third level for those at work who have not previously pursued third level education and are not in receipt of social welfare benefits, as proposed in Towards 2016. [3516/08]

A pilot Modular Accreditation Programme commenced in Tallaght IOT in October 2007 as part of the implementation of the commitment for a targeted scheme for the alleviation of fees for part-time study.

The Higher Certificate in Good Manufacturing Practice and Technology, to be awarded at HETAC Level 6, will focus on providing education and training in fundamental and applied aspects of science and good manufacturing practice relevant to the pharma/healthcare industry. It is proposed to launch a number of additional Modular Accreditation programmes in 2008.

Schools Building Projects.

Michael Creed

Question:

543 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if funding has been provided for the commencement of a new school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3570/08]

My Department has determined the long term projected staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy and the school authorities involved have been advised of same outcome. Further progression of this project will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Michael Creed

Question:

544 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if funding has been allocated for the commencement of a building for a new school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3571/08]

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question has been included in my recent announcement for schools that are progressing to construction.

My Department will be in contact with the school authorities over the next number of days to advise on the most appropriate preparation schedule applicable to this project.

Michael Creed

Question:

545 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide a detailed breakdown of funding for the primary school building programme 2008 for County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3572/08]

I recently announced a list of major school building projects which are due to go to construction in 2008. My Department will be in contact with the school authorities over the next number of days to advise on the most appropriate preparation schedule applicable on each project. I intend to make further announcements regarding projects that will be proceeding to construction during the course of the year as the school building programme is rolled out. The next announcement will occur after Easter.

Pension Provisions.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

546 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will specifically state if the scheme for the compulsory purchase of reckonable service which is currently being offered to institutes of technology, vocational educational colleges, local authority and semi-State organisations is based on the current income of the employee or on the salaries that were paid to such employees some years ago for the period that they are now purchasing the pension; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an employee who started in an IT establishment in 1995 as temporary whole time and was subsequently made permanent in 1997 is now asked to buy back pension rights for the years 1995 to 1997 based on a current salary and not the salary that the employee was in receipt of from 1995 to 1997; her views on whether the system is fair; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3582/08]

Under the relevant pension schemes for VEC and Institutes of Technology officers, a person on appointment to a permanent post is required to purchase previous temporary whole-time and part-time service where this was not pensionable. In the case of an officer who becomes liable on permanent appointment to Class A rate PRSI, the cost of purchasing such prior service is determined on the officer's rate of pay applicable to the permanent post at the time the payment is made.

In the past, where a delay occurred on the part of the employer in notifying the officer of the contributions payable, through no fault of the officer, the cost could have increased. It has recently been agreed, following the outcome of a determination by the Pensions Ombudsman within the general area covered by the Local Government Superannuation Scheme, to amend the charging mechanism for prior service in the case of officers appointed to permanent pensionable positions who are liable to pay class A PRSI. In such cases the cost of purchasing prior service, where purchase is compulsory, will be determined on the person's current pay applicable not later than 3 months from the date of appointment to the permanent post.

While payment of main scheme contributions is compulsory on appointment to a permanent pensionable post, a number of options for the payment of the contribution to the Spouses and Children's Scheme exists. Where a person opts to pay the Spouses' and Children's contribution immediately on appointment to a permanent post, then these contributions fall to be determined in the same manner as contributions under the main scheme.

My Department is preparing a circular for issue to VECs and Institutes of Technology advising them of the revised position and this will be issued later this year.

I should point out that this compulsory feature is confined to a very specific period. More recently introduced improvements in superannuation terms means that compulsory purchase will no longer arise in the case of newly appointed permanent personnel as temporary and part-time service in approved posts is now considered pensionable on an ongoing basis.

Schools Building Projects.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

547 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science the present position regarding the proposed building of the new school (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason it is taking so long to have the project expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3583/08]

Delivery of all building projects, including the project in question, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Question No. 548 answered with Question No. 540.

Physical Education Facilities.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

549 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on achieving the optimum 60 minutes of physical activity per day recommendation, excluding physical education time, for school going children and on the restructuring of the school day if necessary, to achieve a minimum of 30 minutes dedicated physical activity every day in all education settings; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3593/08]

Physical Education is one of the seven curriculum areas within the revised Primary School Curriculum (1999). A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils.

In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second-level schools should provide Physical Education as part of the curriculum. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on my Department's approved syllabuses and the teaching hours should be registered in the school timetable. The syllabuses have been developed on the basis of a time allocation of two hours per week.

In addition to this, schools have a long and proud tradition of promoting the involvement of students in sporting activities in the wider community. Sports organisations such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, Basketball Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland, the Irish Sports Council and the Local Sports Partnerships provide extensive opportunities for schools to participate in sport.

The achievement of a minimum of 30 minutes dedicated physical activity every day in all educational settings, excluding PE time, is unrealistic at both primary and post-primary levels in the context of a number of factors:

the length of the school day and the challenge to cover all the subjects in the curriculum adequately. Any changes to the length of the school day would require negotiation with the teachers' unions allied with the commitment of significant additional resources

the necessity to use games/sports facilities to provide for all pupils in each school. There are limitations to the numbers that can use some resources at any one time; and

the fact that primary school pupils have just half an hour for lunch and need to spend at least half of that time eating a proper lunch.

It is important to realise that children spend just 20% of their waking hours at school and so their level of physical activity during the rest of the week in just as important. Indeed, the ‘State of the Nation's Children' report published by the Minister for Children recently, found that children in Ireland are doing well on physical activity, ranking second across the 32 WHO countries in being physically active for at least 4 hours per week.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

550 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on schools meeting the minimum requirement of two hours of physical education per week delivered by appropriately qualified staff; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3594/08]

Physical Education is one of the seven curriculum areas within the revised Primary School Curriculum (1999). A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils.

In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second-level schools should provide Physical Education as part of the curriculum. The programme that each school plans and delivers should be based on my Department's approved syllabuses and the teaching hours should be registered in the school timetable. The syllabuses have been developed on the basis of a time allocation of two hours per week.

The most extensive in-service provision in relation to PE has been happening in Ireland in recent years in the context of implementation of revised curricula in PE at primary and junior cycle level. The curriculum support services at primary and post primary level provide professional development for teachers as well as school based support. School-based support is a very rich form of support and allows the teacher explore the possibilities and limitations of the environment in which they teach. Through modelling of lessons and professional dialogue, the quality of teaching is enhanced and teachers are further enabled to develop their teaching skills.

The Irish Primary PE Association and the PE Association of Ireland (Subject Associations) have been active in organising conferences where teachers can avail of an opportunity to witness the latest thinking in physical education. My Department continues to provide funding for workshops and courses on PE related topics run in conjunction with the Education Centre network across the country. The Primary School Sports Initiative (PSSI) launched a CD of lesson plans for primary teachers in Spring 2006 and these have been distributed to all schools in the country. The lessons correspond with the content objectives of the Primary School PE Curriculum.

In addition to the above, my Department has invested heavily in resources for schools through the inclusion of PE facilities as part of major capital projects, through an unprecedented level of capital spending, and through grants at primary and post primary level in 2006 and 2007 to provide for upgrading and replacement of PE equipment.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

551 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on prioritising the provision and maintenance of physical education and physical activity facilities to address the issue of equity and access in all schools; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3595/08]

My Department is committed to the provision, maintenance and modernisation of physical education and physical activity facilities in our schools for our children and young people.

The Physical Education curricula at both primary and second level have been developed on the understanding that facilities available to schools vary. Consequently, they offer a level of flexibility that allows each individual school to design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to it. Many primary schools have a general purpose room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are used for teaching different aspects of the PE programme. A similar situation with sports halls and outdoor facilities applies at second level. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools. Where schools decide to provide pupils with swimming classes in school time, they are expected to fund them from resources already available to them.

The extent and quality of local sports facilities has been improved dramatically in recent years, with more than €450 million invested by the Government since 1998 in over 5,000 projects through the Sports Capital Programme. At the same time, PE, general purpose and outdoor play facilities have been provided for schools all over the country through the School Building Programme. Over €2.6 billion has been provided for school building infrastructure between 2000 and 2006 and a further €4.5 billion is to be invested under the new National Development Plan 2007-2013.

New curricula for PE in primary schools and at Junior Cert level have also been put in place. Primary schools received €2000 each in PE equipment grants last year, at a total cost of €6.5 million. A similar grant of €4,000 per pupil, at an overall cost of around €3 million, issued to post-primary schools earlier this year. In addition, since 2000 my Department has provided in excess of €5.5m in grant-aid to primary schools to facilitate the provision of coaching or mentoring in connection with physical education or to purchase resource materials associated with the provision of physical education. Such materials and equipment would normally have a useful life of several years.

So, through an increased focus on exercise in school and in the community, the Government is working to encourage more children and young people to get active.

Indeed, the ‘State of the Nation's Children' report published by the Minister for Children, found that children in Ireland are doing well on physical activity, ranking second across the 32 WHO countries in being physically active for at least 4 hours per week.

In-service Training.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

552 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the provision of resources for adequate teacher training to support healthy eating and active living; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3596/08]

My Department is currently funding initiatives at both Primary and Post Primary levels to train teachers to support healthy eating and active living.

Currently at primary level, there is an Assistant National Co-ordinator working with the Primary Curriculum Support Service (PCSP) who has responsibility for leading a team of 17 Physical Education/Social Personal and Health Education Cuiditheoir who are involved in supporting teachers in schools in the promotion of physical activity and healthy lifestyles. This Co-ordinator also takes responsibility for co-ordinating the Active Schools Awards, another Department of Education and Science initiative which aims to raise the profile of PE and co-curricular physical activity in the context of the Primary PE curriculum and to promote lifelong involvement in sport and physical activity.

At post primary level the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a part of the post-primary curriculum which aims to support the personal development, health and well-being of young people and helps them create and maintain supportive relationships. Section 9 (d) of the 1998 Education Act places an obligation on schools to promote the social and personal development of students and to provide health education for them. SPHE has been a requirement on the Junior Cycle Curriculum since September 2003, with Circular M11/03 requiring all post-primary schools to timetable SPHE at Junior Cycle.

The implementation of the SPHE curriculum by schools is a very important strand of Government policy in addressing a range of social and health issues covered by a wide range of policies/strategies.

The broader remit of SPHE includes its potential role in health promotion, in whole school policy, in cross-curricular linkages, and its relationship with the Health Promoting School process.

Health Promotion.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

553 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the issue of nutrition and physical activity levels of school children being seen as part of the duty of care of each school, for example in relation to catering for school meals, policy on vending machines and the provision of fresh drinking water; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3597/08]

Our schools promote, support and encourage healthy eating and physical exercise in a range of ways.

All second level schools have been required to provide Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) as part of the junior cycle curriculum since September 2003. This course builds on SPHE in the Primary School Curriculum.

SPHE, when considered both at primary level and in the junior cycle, provides all students with opportunities to develop skills and competences to enable them to engage in responsible decision-making and to promote their physical, mental and emotional health and well-being. Nutrition and physical activity are specifically addressed in the SPHE module on ‘Physical Health'.

Physical education is also part of the curriculum and plays a key role not just in giving students an opportunity to exercise during the school day but also in encouraging a positive attitude towards physical activity which students will hopefully carry with them into adult life.

Quite apart from curricular provision, schools can implement measures to encourage physical activity during school breaks and schools already play a major role in promoting the involvement of students in sporting activities in the wider community. Sports organisations such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, Basketball Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) provide extensive opportunities for schools to participate in sport.

Together, the above initiatives ensure that students not only get opportunities to exercise at school but also learn about balanced nutrition and making good food choices. I believe that schools are playing their part in terms of promoting a healthy diet and adequate physical exercise for students.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

554 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the banning of vending machines in primary schools; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3598/08]

Schools are privately managed institutions which, although funded by the State, enjoy a large degree of autonomy. It is, therefore, primarily a matter for each school to devise guidelines around the types of food that are available on the school premises and such policies should be driven by the needs and welfare of the pupils.

I know that many schools have developed healthy eating policies in co-operation with their parents' associations and I would encourage others to do so.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

555 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the development of a clear code of practice in relation to the provision and content of vending machines in post primary schools by industry, her Department and schools’ representative bodies; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3599/08]

Schools are privately managed institutions which, although funded by the State, enjoy a large degree of autonomy. It is, therefore, primarily a matter for each school to devise guidelines around the types of food that is available on the school premises and such policies should be driven by the needs and welfare of the pupils. I know that many schools have developed healthy eating policies in co-operation with their parents' associations and I would encourage others to do so also.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

556 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the schools Inspectorate, in the course of its evaluation of activities in schools, focusing on the prevention of obesity and on the further development of its indictors to do this; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3600/08]

The subjects Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Physical Education (PE), cover, among elements of the syllabus, the areas of healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, physical health, body care, exercise, relaxation and diet. They are evaluated in schools by the inspectorate, using indicators specific to primary and to second-level schools as appropriate.

In the development of Whole School Evaluation over the past five years, the inspectorate has sought to ensure that its inspection processes support the full implementation of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) at both primary and second-level.

Thematic evaluations in schools examine, in a focused way, particular aspects or organisational issues in schools. A number of thematic evaluations of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) were conducted in primary schools in the last year. Reports on some of these evaluations are already on my Department's website, and others will follow shortly. These inspections included evaluation of the schools' work in promoting healthy eating, exercise, and healthy lifestyle. SPHE has been routinely included as an important element of Whole School Evaluation as well as in thematic evaluations in schools. Inspectors evaluate the course and also the environment of the school and the school's policies on promoting healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle.

In spring 2007, I requested the Inspectorate to develop and conduct subject inspections of SPHE in second-level schools also. These subject inspections commenced in the past year and are continuing. Reports of these inspections will also be on my Department's website.

Within these evaluations, inspectors focus, as part of the inspection, on ‘Physical Health'. This forms a specific module in SPHE in second-level schools. Inspectors use specific indicators to evaluate healthy eating and healthy living in primary schools. In second-level schools, whole-school support for students is evaluated which includes students' health and well-being. The Physical Health module referred to includes topics such as body care, healthy eating, exercise, relaxation and diet.

The inspectors of Physical Education (PE) also stress these areas in their inspections in schools, as they form an important part of the PE syllabus. These inspections comprise both subject inspections of PE and also PE evaluation within Whole School Evaluation (WSE) in schools.

My department has, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, prepared a publication promoting Healthy Eating Policy in second-level schools. This book complements the earlier publications on Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Pre-Schools, and Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Primary Schools, published by the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health and Children.

School Curriculum.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

557 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the restructuring of the senior cycle curriculum to incorporate social, personal and health education, a focus on life skills and empowerment necessary to prevent obesity; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3601/08]

A senior cycle programme in Social Personal and Health Education is being developed by the NCCA. To date, a draft curriculum framework has been published, and consultations on the draft have also been completed. It is envisaged that "physical activity and nutrition" will be one of the core content areas within the curriculum that will emerge.

The Senior Cycle will build on the knowledge gained from participation in the primary and junior cycle programmes. In primary school, the SPHE unit ‘Taking care of my body' specifically addresses the need for regular exercise and activity as well as the whole area of nutrition and food and the need for a balanced diet. This unit is built upon from Infants classes onwards, so that by Fifth and Sixth classes, students have the skills to realise and accept responsibility for making wise food choices and adopting a healthy, balanced diet, and in that context, exploring and examining the food pyramid. These themes are continued in the SPHE programme which is mandatory at junior cycle.

I look forward to receiving the recommendations of the Council on the Senior Cycle SPHE curriculum at an early date.

Home-School Liaison Scheme.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

558 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on home school community co-ordinators incorporating healthy life skills within the wider framework of home visitations; her views on the promotion of courses and classes for parents; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3602/08]

Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) is a major mainstream preventative strategy under DEIS and the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion focuses directly on the salient adults in children's educational lives and seeking indirect benefits for the children themselves.

450 local HSCL coordinators serve 651 schools (281 post primary and 370 primary) addressing the development of the parent-teacher relationship in collaboration with the local community in order to enhance the nurturing of the whole child — this implies noting personal and leisure needs, the curricular and learning needs of parents so as to promote their self-worth and self-confidence and secondly, addressing the development of staff and teacher attitudes and behaviour so that the school becomes a place where all young people can reach potential.

HSCL initiatives are focused primarily on adults including parents, teachers and others whose roles or responsibilities impact upon or influence the lives of children. The initiatives are concerned with:

promoting parents' education, development, growth and involvement.

the participation of parents in their children's education including homework support.

providing a parents' room and child care facilities for parents who attend programmes in the school.

developing principal and teacher attitudes towards partnership and a whole-school approach. Parents and teachers are encouraged to collaborate in sharing their complementary skills, experiences and knowledge.

Almost all HSCL activities, including courses and classes for parents, are organised as a direct result of a needs identification process conducted by the local HSCL coordinators. Examples of HSCL activities for parents, organised by coordinators, can be categorised on four broad levels as follows:

Leisure time activities, which are a non-threatening starting point for marginalised parents.

Curricular activities, which enable parents to come closer to their children's learning.

Personal development courses including parenting, leadership skills development, and involvement in formal learning take place.

Parents support and become a resource to their own child/children, to coordinators and to teachers by organising activities. These parents pass on their skills to children by acting as teacher aides in the classroom and as support persons in the community.

Developing life-skills which lead towards and promote healthy lifestyles involves working at many levels with schools, communities and families as well as with other agencies in an integrated way. Co-ordinators commonly work at school level through their involvement with SPHE teachers and through their engagement with the Stay Safe Programme. Coordinators also engage with Early Start teachers and childcare workers and all pre-schools.

The promotion of positive healthy life-skills is a key objective in the context of home visitation as well as at the community level where the Local Committee (LC) of the HSCL Scheme arrange courses on school attendance issues, substance misuse, self-image courses, health and environmental issues, healthy eating and sports activities.

The Scheme also works in close collaboration with the National College of Ireland in its national outreach of ‘Parents in Education' — including parenting programmes and The Early Learning Initiative. Further collaboration with agencies such as the Drugs Task Force, Public Health Nurse, Sporting Agencies and clubs is also an essential feature of the scheme.

Health Promotion.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

559 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on post-primary schools encouraging the engagement of their student councils and parents’ associations in promoting the concept of healthy eating and active living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3603/08]

Under Section 27 of the Education Act 1998, the boards of management of post primary schools are encouraged to facilitate and promote the establishment of student councils. In 2002, my Department issued guidelines on the establishment and operation of student councils, ‘Student Councils: A Voice for Students'. An Assistant National Co-ordinator with responsibility for Student Councils has been appointed to the Citizenship Education Support Team of the Second Level Support Service to design and deliver a programme of professional development to support teachers and schools involved in establishing and developing student councils.

In November 2005, a curriculum development project on the setting up and development of student councils, entitled Giving Young People a Voice, through the Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE) curriculum was established. This was a partnership project between the Office for the Minister for Children and the City of Dublin VEC Curriculum Development Unit. The Project has assisted and supported schools, teachers and students in the establishment of Student Councils in schools through the development and piloting of a teaching and learning resource for the CSPE curriculum. It is important that schools engage with the issues which student councils themselves highlight as matters of concern.

A curriculum in SPHE is a mandatory part of all programmes for primary students, and its implementation is also being assisted by a full-time support service. The programme begins in the infant classes and specifically addresses the need for regular exercise, and examines food and nutrition issues and the need for a balanced diet. The objective is that by fifth and sixth class, students are equipped to take responsibility for making wise food choices and adopting a healthy balanced diet, and in that context, exploring and examining the food pyramid. These themes are continued in the SPHE programme at junior cycle, as well as in the Home Economics, PE and Science curricula.

National Healthy Eating Week is promoted by the Department of Health and Children in co-operation with the Department of Education and Science and the Association of Teachers of Home Economics. It is a themed week during which activities to promote the concept of healthy eating for the whole school are organised and delivered through the medium of Home Economics including cookery demonstrations, projects, and displays.

Schools are also encouraged to promote a whole school approach to Social Personal and Health Education which engages the school community, parents and students in implementing strategies to promote healthy lifestyles, building on the success of the ‘Health Promoting School' initiative.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

560 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on encouraging third level colleges and institutions to adopt the health promoting college concept and to actively address issues concerning healthy eating, drinking behaviour and sedentary lifestyle patterns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3604/08]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

564 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on catering training colleges placing greater emphasis on healthy food options; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3608/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 564 together.

Within a broad health promotional framework, higher education institutions develop policies to create and maintain an environment which is conducive to the health and well-being of students and staff. Guidelines in this regard have been published by the Higher Education Authority. All Higher Education Institutions have or are developing policies on Alcohol in line with the Framework launched by the Minister for Health and Children in October 2001.

All of the Institutes of Technology provide medical staff on campus (nurses and doctors) who frequently hold events promoting healthy lifestyles and make literature available to all students on exercise, diet, alcohol, safe sex etc. Institutes also provide financial and other support to clubs and societies and encourage all students to take part in exercise and sports. Institutes have policies on the use and abuse of alcohol — particularly in relation to events organised by the Students' Union.

In the University sector a number of College Health Services have part-time Health promotion officers who run Health promotion weeks and develop educational material, both paper and online, focusing on Mental health, Sexual health, Nutrition, Exercise and on issues re Alcohol and Drugs and run workshops. A typical Health promotion week would involve Sport, Peer Supporters, catering etc. The health promotion officer at TCD runs a smoking cessation programme.

Many University counselling services also run workshops focused on mental health issues such as Stress management, resilience and coping skills. Some but not all counselling services have addiction counsellors.

A National Food and Health Collaborative Research Programme has been funded under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions. The collaborative programme is a formal joint venture between University College Dublin, University College Cork, the University of Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, University of Ulster, Queen's University Belfast and Teagasc.

The objective of the programme is to establish a cohesive and integrated national framework for research and training in the area of food and health and associated agri-food related areas.

Question No. 561 answered with Question No. 540.

Industry Sponsorship Policy.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

562 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the development and implementation of a national regularly reviewed code of practice in relation to industry sponsorship and funding of activities in schools; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3606/08]

Three official Circulars (i.e. Circulars 23/84, 7/87 and 38/91) have issued from my Department to school authorities concerning the promotion and marketing of commercial products through schools. The Circulars noted concern at the pressure on schools from time to time to become involved in the marketing and promotion of commercial products.

Private companies are free to promote their business in accordance with accepted marketing practices. There are also accepted marketing standards, such as compliance with advertising regulations which guide, inform and control the relationship between the vendor and the potential customers. My Department recognises the sensitivities attached to the issue of promotion initiatives linking schools, pupils and parents to commercial activity. However, it would be inappropriate to prohibit marketing or sponsorship initiatives, provided that such schemes do not place undue pressure on parents in terms of additional expenditure, that children are protected from engagement in inappropriate promotional activity and that the schemes are linked to desirable projects serving national educational initiatives.

School authorities are required to ensure, as is outlined in the circulars to which I have already referred, that pressure is not placed on parents to purchase or engage in activities in respect of particular commercial products.

In this context, Circular 38/91 specifically requests school authorities, following consultation with staff, to formulate agreed school policies in relation to commercial promotions. Such policies can assist school authorities to act prudently in taking steps to ensure that certain commercial products are not promoted and marketed through their schools.

In view of this, I am satisfied that due awareness and vigilance already exists in relation to this matter.

Health Promotion.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

563 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the introduction of an evidence based intervention programme to all primary schools on a consistent basis in line with exemplars of good practice such as NEAPs and the Food Dude Programme; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3607/08]

I have arranged for an official from my Department to contact the Deputy regarding this matter.

Question No. 564 answered with Question No. 560.

Road Safety.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

565 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the provision of safe walkways, cycleways or transport to permit every child to receive a safe and active passage to school; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3609/08]

The question of whether children walk to and from school is a matter for decision by their parents. However, it is clear that walking to school can make an important contribution to children's health and to developing their sense of road safety, as well as decreasing traffic congestion around school routes.

Many local authorities have developed schemes to encourage walking to school, through initiatives such as the organisation of a ‘walking bus', the provision of school traffic wardens, the organisation of Walk to School Weeks, and the development of ‘park and stride' initiatives. Local authorities are also involved in promoting car pooling initiatives.

An Taisce's Green Schools Initiative includes measures such as the Safer Routes to School Project, which aims to increase the number of children who walk and cycle, increase the number of families who ‘park and stride' or ‘car-pool', and reduce school-related congestion.

The Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Programme in all primary schools includes a specific ‘safety and protection' strand which is designed to develop in children an increasing sense of personal responsibility for their own safety and that of others. The learning objectives of this strand specifically include such provisions as safety strategies for crossing the road, using the bus or being a pedestrian, crossing the road with an adult, and being familiar with the rules for travelling in a car or bus, or on a bicycle.

SPHE is also a mandatory junior cycle subject at second-level. The SPHE curriculum at both primary level and in the junior cycle at second-level stresses the importance of daily exercise and a healthy diet to maintaining health and well being. The ‘personal safety' strand of the junior cycle programme includes such issues as road safety and is supported by a range of curriculum materials. In addition, a road safety programme for use in Transition Year has been developed and is currently being piloted by the Road Safety Authority in collaboration with my Department, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the Second Level Support Service.

In addition, school transport services operated by Bus Éireann on behalf my Department provide a safe means of access to school for pupils who, because of where they live, might otherwise have difficulty in attending regularly. Some 135,000 children are carried annually under the scheme, of which approximately 8,500 are children with special needs. Transport is provided by Bus Éireann and private contractors with a mix of large, medium and minibuses, as well as a number of car/taxis. One of the effects of provision on this scale is to lessen the amount of children being transported to school in cars.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to review the school transport system, including catchment areas, and my Department is currently progressing this matter.

I should point out, also, that my colleague, the Minister for Transport, has begun the process of developing a Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan, which will provide the basis for public policy aimed at the achievement of a sustainable transport system by 2020. As part of the process, a Steering Group, on which my Department is represented, has been established to guide the delivery of an issues document for public consultation, leading to the preparation of the Action Plan. It is envisaged that the Plan will require a considerable shift to public transport and other sustainable forms of travel, including cycling and walking.

Finally, in February of last year, the Road Safety Authority launched the RSA MACE "Safe to School" campaign at primary level, which is aimed at helping primary school children learn effective road safety lessons. The first part of this campaign was about walking to school safely and the current year's programme will cover cycling to school. As part of this initiative educational packs and DVDs have been distributed to all primary schools and Walking / Cycling to School Guides have been produced. A dedicated website, www.safetoschool.ie, has also been launched as part of the campaign.

Physical Education Facilities.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

566 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on increasing opportunity for physical activity in schools that are inclusive and appropriate to age, gender and ability, such as those that concentrate on increasing physical activity among teenage girls; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3610/08]

Physical education is a core part of the curriculum at primary level, and at post primary level all schools are required to offer physical education. A revised Junior Cycle Physical Education syllabus was introduced in 2003, and the Leaving Certificate syllabus in PE and the Health and Leisure module of the Leaving Certificate Applied programme are also available. In addition, Social Personal and Health Education which is mandatory at primary and junior cycle level stresses the importance of regular exercise, and the need for a balanced diet as essential to physical and mental well being.

Schools also play a major role in nurturing and promoting the involvement of students in sporting activities in the wider community. Sports organisations such as the Gaelic Athletic Association, Basketball Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland provide extensive opportunities for schools to participate in sport. The Irish Sports Council, in co-operation with bodies such as the FAI and Local Sports Partnerships, has developed a national Buntús Primary Schools Initiative through which additional supports — training, resource cards and equipment — are provided to support teachers and others in introducing young people to sport, and to complement the Physical Education curriculum. The initiative aims to raise the profile of physical activity and sport, improve inservice training opportunities for teachers, assist governing bodies of sport to develop and deliver appropriate supports for teachers, and provide enjoyable and meaningful activity for children which supports the delivery of the curriculum.

For practising teachers, curriculum support services at primary and second level provide training and school based support for teachers. School-based support is a very rich form of support and allows the teacher explore the possibilities and limitations of the environment in which they teach. Through modelling of lessons and professional dialogue, the quality of teaching is enhanced and teachers are further enabled to develop their teaching skills. Teachers must also aim to include all students in PE lessons – irrespective of gender, or physical and/or learning deficits. The Irish Primary PE Association and the PE Association of Ireland (Subject Associations) have been active in organising conferences where teachers can avail of an opportunity to witness the latest thinking in physical education, and my Department also funds programmes on PE through the network of education centres.

The Primary Curriculum Support Programme (PCSP) and the School Development Planning Support (SDPS) have prepared planning templates (with prompts) for schools to assist them in school planning for the implementation of the PE Curriculum and the wider aspects of physical activity and school sport. A key element of this approach is aimed at ensuring that gender and intercultural issues are addressed, and that PE is accessible to all, irrespective of gender or physical or learning abilities.

This Government has worked hard to improve the opportunities for young people to get physical exercise both in school and in their local communities. In a new school building or refurbishment/extension, PE facilities are included as part of the design. Between 2000 and 2006 a total of 516 large-scale projects were delivered in primary and post-primary schools by the Department as part of a record overall investment of €2.6 billion in modernising primary and post-primary school facilities throughout the country. Many more large-scale projects are under construction or due to go to construction in the near future. New PE equipment such as balancing benches and gym mats are funded as part of any major building programme. The Department also provided €6.5m in 2006 and €3m in 2007 for primary and post primary schools respectively, for replacement and updating of PE equipment.

So, through an increased focus on exercise in school and in the community, we are working to encourage more children and young people to get active. Indeed, the ‘State of the Nation's Children' report published by the Minister for Children recently, found that children in Ireland are doing well on physical activity, ranking second across the 32 WHO countries in being physically active for at least 4 hours per week.

School Curriculum.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

567 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the introduction of a skills programme, which teach and develop training in basic food preparation and budgeting in schools; if she will develop and implement such a policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3611/08]

In the Home Economics curriculum at post-primary level, the concepts of ‘Balanced Eating' and ‘Healthy Exercise' underlie the Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle syllabi. These are addressed in the core content areas of Food Studies and Social and Health Studies at Junior Cycle.

At Senior Cycle, the issue of obesity is addressed within the areas of dietary and food requirements and the Irish diet. The study of obesity includes identifying risk factors, considering what it is, the inter-relationship of dietary excesses and diet related problems, how to prevent obesity and the corrective measures required. Menu planning and the food studies practical course work areas enable students to plan and prepare meals for the prevention and control of obesity. Home Economics in the post-primary curriculum promotes the current dietary guidelines from the National Nutrition Survey.

In addition to the curriculum itself, my Department participates in initiatives such as National Healthy Eating Week, which is promoted by the Department of Health and Children in co-operation with my Department and the Association of Teachers of Home Economics. It is a themed week during which activities to promote the concept of healthy eating to the whole school are organised and delivered through the medium of Home Economics including cookery demonstrations, projects, and displays.

State Examinations.

Joe McHugh

Question:

568 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused support for the junior certificate examinations, despite detailed reports on the person’s dependence on this support; if she will intervene in this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3624/08]

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 including the supervision of examinations.

I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the certificate Examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students.

I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Schools Building Projects.

Martin Ferris

Question:

569 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Science when the application for a new unit for a school (details supplied) in County Kerry will be approved; and if the current site is suitable for such a development. [3644/08]

An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building has been received from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. An assessment of the projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and the housing developments in the area will be required to determine the long term projected staffing figure on which the school's accommodation needs will be based. The issue of the school building project including location will be considered in the context of the school building programme.

Richard Bruton

Question:

570 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if decisions have been issued to schools regarding approval to proceed to tender on capital projects for 2008; and if she has given approval to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [3655/08]

I announced recently a list of schools which are due to go to construction in 2008. My Department will be in contact with the school authorities over the next number of days to advise on the most appropriate preparation schedule applicable on each project.

The school to which the Deputy refers is not included in that announcement. However, I intend to make further announcements regarding projects that will be proceeding to construction during the course of the year as the school building programme is rolled out. The next announcement will occur after Easter.

Question No. 571 answered with Question No. 510.

Climate Change Strategy.

Simon Coveney

Question:

572 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Education and Science if biomass heating was installed in eight schools in the summer of 2007 as announced in the national climate change strategy; if this heating has been installed in other schools since; and the plans in place to expand this programme on a wider national basis in the near future. [3709/08]

The Planning & Building Unit of my Department is currently conducting a demonstration and research project to evaluate the suitable application and performance and compatibility of biomass systems with school heating requirements in terms of heating demand characteristics, controls, reliability, fuel storage and maintenance and operation.

This project comprises the design, installation and monitoring of Biomass heating systems in Primary and Post Primary Schools. Eleven systems are presently installed with a further number of schools at tender / design stage.

The project also includes the development of a good practice guide for the design and installation of biomass heating systems in schools specifically aimed at school design teams and managers and will lead to the development of a suite of case studies on the selected projects.

The objectives of the scheme may be summarised as follows:

to test and evaluate the suitable application and performance and compatibility of Biomass heating systems with school heating requirements in terms of heating demand characteristics, controls, reliability, fuel storage and maintenance and operation.

to reduce energy in use and CO2 savings in the selected schools.

to evaluate the appropriateness and benefits of combining solar hot water heating to biomass systems.

to develop a best practice design guide for the design and installation of biomass heating systems in schools specifically aimed at school design teams and managers.

to develop a suite of case studies on the selected projects which will be of benefit to the wider educational sector and other buildings sectors.

These case studies shall be in print format and will also be available on the Department of Education & Science Website.

to use automated monitoring to determine the performance of the installations for two heating seasons and to establish accurate energy in use figures.

to conduct an optimisation study using monitored results to establish data and design solutions for the appropriate ratio of boiler size/ hours of use and buffer storage tanks. This is a critical area for optimisation as oversized biomass boilers will not operate efficiently and result in higher capital costs.

The expansion of this programme will be reviewed based on the findings of the monitoring programme.

Schools Building Projects.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

573 Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress towards the restructuring of a school (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if money has been allocated towards same; her views on whether there is an urgent need for this project to go ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3715/08]

The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning.

The Design Team are currently preparing the stage 3 report (developed sketch scheme) and are to advise on a date for receipt of the report in the Department. When this is received it will be evaluated by my Department's technical team and the School Authorities will be advised of developments.

Progression of the project to tender and construction will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation programme.

Special Educational Needs.

Tom Hayes

Question:

574 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the money that was spent every year since 2000 to develop ABA schools and education; the percentage of this that was of the education budget; the percentage of the population under 18 here who have been diagnosed with autism; the average diagnosis percentages for France, Denmark, UK, and Italy; the funding and schooling that is provided for autism spectrum children in France, Denmark, UK, and Italy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3730/08]

The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, receive an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings where children may have access to individualised education programmes, fully-qualified professional teachers who have received additional training in autism, special needs assistants, the appropriate school curriculum with the option, where possible and appropriate, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils.

Furthermore, as each child with autism is unique, such children should have access to a range of different interventions including ABA to meet their individual needs. My Department funds training for teachers in ABA through the Special Education Support Service and it provides funding for the ABA pilot programme which facilitates a number of stand-alone units providing ABA specific methodologies. I am arranging for the figures on the amount of funding spent in relation to the pilot scheme to be forwarded to the Deputy.

My Department does not retain information in relation to the percentage of the population below 18 years of age who have been diagnosed with autism. However the Task Force on Autism (2001) considered that the national prevalence rate was 56 per 10,000 (20 per 10,000 for Autistic Disorder and 36 per 10,000 for Asperger's Syndrome).

The international statistics requested are not readily available in my Department.

Education Schemes.

Tom Hayes

Question:

575 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide as a table, the total budget for back to education schemes for every year since 2000; and the amount of that budgeted amount that was spent every year since 2000. [3731/08]

The Back to Education Initiative commenced in October 2002 to provide for flexible part-time options across Further Education. Its priority is to those adults with less than upper second level education. The programme's aim is to give adults who wish to return to education an opportunity to combine their return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. Programmes are offered on a part-time basis in the mornings, afternoons, evenings or at weekends.

The Back to Education Initiative comprises two strands:

Formal Strand (VECs and Secondary, Special and Community and Comprehensive Schools)

Community Strand (There is a commitment to reserve 10% of all places approved annually for course provision in community groups and organisations).

The following table details the total budget and total spend under the Back to Education Initiative for the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Year

Total Budget

Total Spend

2002

6,222,047

3,562,944

2003

14,485,000

13,290,618

2004

14,056,000

11,218,147

2005

15,456,000

13,399,877

2006

16,500,000

15,462,876

2007

18,000,000

17,509,995

The take-up of this valuable initiative has increased year-on-year as VECs and community organisations have built up capacity. My Department works closely with these organisations in order to assist them in building this capacity and we anticipate that the allocation for 2008 of €18,500,000 will be fully spent.

Higher Education Grants.

Brendan Kenneally

Question:

576 Deputy Brendan Kenneally asked the Minister for Education and Science when a third level grant will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who is in the second year of a course for the first time and for which there has already been written correspondence with herself; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3739/08]

Under the prescribed terms and conditions of my Department's student maintenance grant schemes, grant assistance may not be awarded in respect of a repeat period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not funding was previously awarded. The deciding authority may waive this provision in exceptional circumstances such as certified serious illness. In such instances decisions are made on a case by case basis. It should be emphasised, that this discretion would only be exercised where a candidate is repeating a period of study on the same course.

The candidate referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to my Department, the decision of Waterford VEC the awarding body in this case was upheld as maintenance grants may not be paid in respect of a second period of attendance at the same level for a course approved for the purposes of the schemes, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. Where funding for a repeat year of study is awarded in respect of a period of attendance at the same level on medical grounds, it would only be in relation to a repeat year on the same course. As the candidate in question is pursuing a different course, the decision of the awarding body was upheld in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant schemes.

On 26th October 2007, a reply was issued to the candidate in question informing her of the outcome of her appeal.

You will appreciate that the terms of my Department's Schemes of Student Support must be applied impartially and it is not possible to make exceptions in individual cases, regardless of the circumstances.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

577 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Science the names of the programmes and schemes operated by her Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3760/08]

The information requested by the Deputy is available in the following tables.

Table 1 details the level of EU aid received, per Measure, by the Department of Education and Science from the European Social Fund under the Community Support Framework, 1994-1999.

Table 2 details the level of EU aid received, per Measure, by the Department of Education and Science from the European Social Fund under the Community Support Framework 2000-2006.

The Deputy should be aware that EU funds are drawn-down in arrears, following certification and checking of accounts and in accordance with European Commission rules and procedures.

For historical data detailing the level of EU aid received by the State since 1973, I would direct the Deputy to the EU Transfers Section of the Department of Finance publication — Budgetary and Economic Statistics.

Table 1(a) — EU aid received 1994-1999 — Aid amounts in IR£

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

1994-1999

Measure

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

HUMAN RESOURCES OP

Preventive Actions

2,625

2,629

2,691

2,464

2,602

10,511

23,522

Early School Leavers

4,635

4,433

4,433

4,180

8,548

12,387

38,616

Vocational Preparation and Training

22,835

36,254

37,179

33,400

37,496

41,050

208,214

Apprenticeship

8,581

7,619

7,799

7,143

7,377

7,529

46,048

Middle Level Technician/Higher Technical Skills

32,489

40,533

46,218

46,084

47,782

48,630

261,736

Advanced Technical Skills

7,565

5,911

6,050

5,542

5,345

3,077

33,490

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme

13,894

9,518

9,743

8,923

9,215

9,406

60,699

Training of Trainers

3,678

4,664

5,497

6,409

6,618

7,215

34,081

Certification

666

1,107

1,481

1,427

1,660

1,862

8,203

Promotion of Equal Opportunities

0

2

16

16

443

1,500

1,977

Technical Assistance

0

93

225

119

0

0

437

Modern Languages

0

0

0

0

270

912

1,182

Adult Literacy

4,678

4,678

SUB-TOTAL

96,968

112,763

121,332

115,707

127,356

148,757

722,883

INDUSTRY OP

Graduate Training

44

345

517

634

759

1,115

3,414

Enterprise Development

197

378

342

222

242

741

2,122

SUB-TOTAL

241

723

859

856

1,001

1,856

5,536

TOURISM OP

Initial Training

4,186

5,590

4,292

4,027

4,348

4,716

27,159

Continuing Training

465

621

477

447

481

527

3,018

SUB-TOTAL

4,651

6,211

4,769

4,474

4,829

5,243

30,177

GRAND TOTAL

101,860

119,697

126,960

121,037

133,186

155,856

758,596

Table 1(b) — EU aid received 1994-1999 — Aid amounts in €

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

1994-1999

Measure

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

€’000

€’000

€’000

€’000

€’000

€’000

€’000

HUMAN RESOURCES OP

Preventive Actions

3,333

3,338

3,416

3,129

3,302

13,347

29,865

Early School Leavers

5,885

5,629

5,629

5,307

10,854

15,728

49,032

Vocational Preparation and Training

28,994

46,033

47,207

42,410

47,609

52,123

264,376

Apprenticeship

10,895

9,675

9,903

9,070

9,367

9,560

58,470

Middle Level Technician/Higher Technical Skills

41,253

51,467

58,684

58,515

60,671

61,747

332,337

Advanced Technical Skills

9,606

7,505

7,682

7,036

6,786

3,907

42,522

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme

17,641

12,085

12,371

11,330

11,701

11,943

77,071

Training of Trainers

4,670

5,922

6,980

8,137

8,403

9,161

43,273

Certification

845

1,405

1,880

1,812

2,108

2,365

10,415

Promotion of Equal Opportunities

0

2

21

20

563

1,905

2,511

Technical Assistance

0

119

285

151

0

0

555

Modern Languages

0

0

0

0

343

1,158

1,501

Adult Literacy

0

0

0

0

0

5,940

5,940

SUB-TOTAL

123,122

143,180

154,058

146,917

161,707

188,884

917,868

INDUSTRY OP

Graduate Training

56

438

656

804

964

1,416

4,334

Enterprise Development

251

480

435

282

307

941

2,696

SUB-TOTAL

307

918

1,091

1,086

1,271

2,357

7,030

TOURISM OP

Initial Training

5,315

7,098

5,449

5,113

5,520

5,988

34,483

Continuing Training

590

788

605

568

611

670

3,832

SUB-TOTAL

5,905

7,886

6,054

5,681

6,131

6,658

38,315

GRAND TOTAL

129,334

151,984

161,203

153,684

169,109

197,899

963,213

Table 2 – EU Aid received 2000-2005 — Amounts in €

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2000-2005

Programme/Measure

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

ESF

€’000

€’000

€’000

€’000

€’000

€’000

€’000

Employment Human Resources Development OP

School Completion Programme

1,412

3,164

7,823

8,912

8,865

9,078

39,254

Third Level Access

815

2,921

5,746

6,969

7,472

6,731

30,654

Early School Leavers — Community Training Workshops

0

1,169

630

706

804

1,986

5,295

Early School Leavers — Youthreach & Travellers Workshops

18,866

23,005

14,763

36,689

27,180

29,456

149,959

Back to Education Initiative

0

0

0

3,823

3,205

5,331

12,359

Adult Literacy

11,611

0

2,671

6,110

5,962

8,618

34,972

Undergraduate Skills

0

1,582

40,289

5,682

3,463

15,400

66,416

Certification and National Qualifications Framework

2,164

253

848

742

777

358

5,142

Education Equality Initiative

0

84

175

26

0

-12

273

Equal Opportunities Promotion and Monitoring

0

64

304

355

438

187

1,348

TOTAL

34,868

32,242

73,249

70,014

58,166

77,133

345,672

*A further €5.86M in aid was received by the Department of Education and Science in December 2007 following claims made in respect of 2006 activity. The European Commission will process the final Operational Programme payment of €20.042M withheld due to the 95% restriction on interim claims rule, based on the submission of the Member State's final closure documents.

Decentralisation Programme.

Denis Naughten

Question:

578 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of the decentralisation of her staff to Athlone; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3828/08]

The Athlone element of the decentralisation of my Department involves the relocation of approximately 90 posts to Athlone. Twelve of these posts have already relocated to Athlone and the balance will relocate as soon as the new building in Athlone is ready for occupation. I understand that the building could be fully ready for occupation within the next 2 to 3 months. In addition to the relocating posts the new building will also accommodate in the region of 100 posts that are currently located in a temporary building on the campus in Athlone.

The new building in Athlone is sited on the same campus as my Department's existing offices in Athlone on land that was already in State ownership. The OPW is charged with the responsibility for the property aspects of the programme of decentralisation — including the procurement of property for decentralising organisations and the disposal of property in Dublin that will become surplus — so the management of and reporting on this aspect of the programme is a matter for the OPW.

Denis Naughten

Question:

579 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of the decentralisation of the Higher Education Authority to Athlone; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3829/08]

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is not one of the State agencies under the aegis of my Department that has been designated as an "early mover" by the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG). The acquisition of property for the programme of decentralisation is a matter for the Office of Public Works (OPW). I am not aware that any property has been acquired in connection with the decentralisation of the HEA. The timeline to the availability of accommodation in Athlone for the HEA will be a significant element in determining the timescale to its decentralisation. At present it is not possible to predict a timetable for the decentralisation of the HEA.

The decentralisation of the HEA will involve the relocation of approximately 64 posts to Athlone.

Higher Education Grants.

Damien English

Question:

580 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Meath was awarded a higher education grant for 2007/2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3846/08]

My Department funds three maintenance grant schemes for third level students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses.

The Higher Education Grants Scheme is administered by the Local Authorities. The other three schemes are administered by the Vocational Education Committees.

Under the terms of the maintenance grants schemes, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of maintenance grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant local authority or VEC.

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the relevant local authority or VEC, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to my Department.

Special Educational Needs.

Damien English

Question:

581 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Science the provisions that have been made to help children with dyslexia in County Meath for 2008; the supports her Department offers on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3848/08]

I wish to advise the Deputy that the level of resources being made available by my Department to support students with special educational needs (SEN) in mainstream education nationally, including those in Co Meath, has grown significantly in recent years. In relation to supporting pupils with dyslexia, my Department implemented a new scheme for allocating learning support / resource teachers to schools to cater for the needs of children with high-incidence special educational needs including dyslexia in all primary schools in September 2005. The general allocation model was designed to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special needs.

There are now over 8,800 teachers at primary and post-primary schools working directly with children with SEN, including those requiring learning support, compared with fewer than 1,700 in 1998. In addition, significant progress has been made in relation to increasing the number of special needs assistants (SNAs) in our schools who specifically cater for children with care needs. There are currently in excess of 9,800 SNAs in primary, post-primary and special schools supporting pupils with special care needs compared with approximately 300 in 1998.

At primary level, where a pupil's condition is of a more serious nature, provision can be made in one of the 4 special schools, or 23 special classes attached to ordinary mainstream schools, dedicated to the needs of children with dyslexia. All special schools and special classes for such children operate at a reduced pupil teacher ratio of 9:1 and pupils attending such facilities attract a special increased rate of capitation grant.

At post-primary level, pupils with dyslexia are normally integrated into ordinary classes with appropriate intervention to meet their needs delivered in the class setting. In such situations they may receive additional support from the remedial/learning support teacher, guidance counsellor and individual subject teachers. All second level schools in the free education/block grant schemes have an entitlement to an ex-quota teacher allocation in respect of remedial/learning support teaching and guidance provision.

My Department also allocates additional teacher support and SNA support to post-primary schools to cater for the assessed needs of pupils with SEN, including, where appropriate, pupils with dyslexia. Where a pupil with SEN is enrolled in a post primary school, it is open to the school to apply to the local SENO for additional teaching support and/or SNA support. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO.

In accordance with the terms of circular letter M10/94, pupils with dyslexia may also meet, depending on an educational assessment, the criteria for exemption from the learning of the Irish Language on the grounds of having a learning disability. Depending on the degree of the condition, they may also be eligible for special arrangements in the Certificate Examinations.

My Department provides funding to the Dyslexia Association to facilitate the operation of dyslexia workshops. This funding helps the organisation operate an information service for members and the public. In addition, part of the funding assists in meeting the costs associated with the attendance of some children from disadvantaged backgrounds at workshops and programmes organised by the association. Part of the funding also goes towards the cost of the adult education activities such as literacy training, pre-course assessment, teaching materials and educational and administration support.

My Department also provides funding to schools for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers to assist pupils with SEN, including children with dyslexia, with their education once relevant professionals recommend the equipment.

In September 2003, my Department established the Special Education Support Service (SESS) to manage, coordinate and develop a range of supports in response to identified training needs. As part of its response to the growing demand from teachers for support and training, the SESS is currently developing teams of trainers to deliver training in four specific areas: Autism, Challenging Behaviour, Dyslexia, and Inclusion. This training will be delivered locally through the Education Centre network and/or through whole-staff in-school support. The SESS provides fees subsidies for the online training course, "Dyslexia: Identification and Early Interventions". Fees subsidies are also provided for teachers to enable them to avail of the Dyslexia Association of Ireland courses.

Training is available through the 21 Teacher Education Centres nationally for teachers using ICT and assistive technologies to support pupils with SEN, including those with dyslexia.

The Deputy may be aware that my Department has developed an information resource pack on dyslexia in CD-Rom, DVD and video format, in association with the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. This product has been made available to all primary and post-primary schools. The DVD and video provides support for parents of pupils with dyslexia while the CD-Rom assists teachers who are teaching children with dyslexia in the mainstream classroom.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

582 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Education and Science the average cost to her Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3860/08]

Written and oral Parliamentary Questions (PQs) are dealt with by staff in the line section responsible for the particular issue raised in the question. The number and level of staff involved in preparing a particular answer varies depending on a number of factors including the complexity of the issues raised in the question and the volume and accessibility of information required for the response. It is not possible to isolate the administrative cost of processing PQs from the overall administrative costs of the Department as processing of PQs is carried out as part of the normal day-to-day work of sections.

Third Level Institutions.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

583 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if University College Dublin is contemplating or negotiating the sale of part or all of Lyons Estate, Celbridge, County Kildare; the location where it is expected to relocate the present facilities in the event of such action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3876/08]

The Lyons Estate is in the ownership of University College Dublin. The institution is an autonomous body, with the day to day management of the institution's affairs being a matter for the Governing Body of the institution. I have been informed by the Higher Education Authority that the Governing Body is continuing to carry out a full analysis of its requirements in relation to its overall campus development. In this regard, the University is exploring all options open to it, including an examination of the suitability and use of the Lyons Estate.

Schools Building Projects.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

584 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to an urgently needed extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3877/08]

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers have applied for large scale capital funding. The application have been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Progress on individual projects will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

585 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3087/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

586 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3102/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 585 and 586 together.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables.

Civil Defence Board Established on 7 May 2003 under the Civil Defence Act 2002

Year

Budget

2003

5,579,000

2004

5,593,000

2005

5,767,000

2006

5,928,000

2007

6,099,000

Army Pensions Board Established under Section 5 of the Army Pensions Act 1927.

Date of enactment of the Army Pensions Act 1927 was 30 April 1927.

Year

Expenditure

2003

86,275.52

2004

89,944.13

2005

97,060.27

2006

100,089.72

2007

107,000.00

In addition to the foregoing, the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established on 1 December 2005 under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2005. Whilst the Office of the Ombudsman is funded from the Defence Vote, the Ombudsman is independent in the performance of her functions. The amount paid from the Defence Vote since the establishment of the Office is as follows:

13 months ended 31 December 2006 — €289,249

The year ended 31 December 2007 — €597,765.

Defence Forces Personnel.

Jack Wall

Question:

587 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Defence the period of time a person (details supplied) in County Kildare was a member of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3141/08]

I am advised by the military authorities that the person in question enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force on 4 February, 1952 and was discharged on 24 April, 1953.

Departmental Bodies.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

588 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Defence the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimated cost of the task force; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3160/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

589 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Defence the task forces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each task force; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3175/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

590 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Defence the task forces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these task forces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3190/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 588 to 590, inclusive, together.

In reply to the Deputy's questions I wish to state that I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning. Membership of the Task Force includes ministers, senior civil officials of government departments, senior officers of the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána and officials from other key public authorities that have a lead role in emergency planning. There are no additional costs associated with the work of the Task Force.

The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning focuses on coordination and oversight of emergency planning across government departments and the promotion of best practice. The Task Force has met on 54 occasions since it was established in 2001 and I am very satisfied with the progress that has been made to date.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

591 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Defence the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the decentralisation implementation group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3205/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

592 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Defence the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3220/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.

The Government Decision on decentralisation, announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement on 3 December 2003, provides for the transfer of my entire Department's Dublin based civil service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of posts to be relocated to Newbridge is about 200. Currently, 143 Newbridge bound staff are in their decentralising posts. Staff will not transfer to Newbridge until the construction of the Department's new headquarters is completed in 2009. In addition to the civil servants, 43 military personnel will be located in Newbridge. A further 335 military personnel together with 78 support staff will decentralise to the new Defence Forces Headquarters building in the Curragh Camp. 8 staff members have transferred under the CAF to my Department's offices in Renmore, Co Galway.

The Civil Defence Board, which is a State Authority under the aegis of the Department of Defence, transferred to its new purpose built Headquarters in Roscrea in May 2006 with a staff of 17. The Civil Defence Board in Roscrea currently has a complement of 24 staff. My Department has not incurred any non-property costs in relation to decentralisation to date.

Army Barracks.

John O'Mahony

Question:

593 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the military barracks in Castlebar, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3748/08]

There are no plans at present to change the status of Castlebar Military Barracks.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

594 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Defence the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3759/08]

My Department has been in receipt of funding from the EU since 1979 in the form of a financial contribution towards expenditure incurred on fishery protection measures. The amount of funding received each year since 1979 is as follows:

Year

Amount in €m

1972-1978

0.0

1979

9.9

1980

5.7

1981

7.1

1982

0.0

1983

16.2

1984

0.0

1985

1.8

1986-1989

0.0

1990

1.0

1991

4.6

1992

4.8

1993

5.2

1994

6.2

1995

3.4

1996

4.1

1997

3.4

1998

1.7

1999

8.6

2000

2.2

2001

3.2

2002

0.2

2003

0.0

2004

0.7

2005

0.9

2006

0.0

2007

0.0

Total

90.9

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

595 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Defence the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3859/08]

In reply to the Deputy's question it has not been possible to quantify the cost of answering parliamentary questions within my Department. However, I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as I have any more information.

Denis Naughten

Question:

596 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding to be made available from 1 April 2008 for the fund for integration of immigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3524/08]

The Office of the Minister for Integration is responsible for the promotion and coordination of measures to assist in the integration of legally resident immigrants. For obvious and practical reasons it is the primary responsibility of Departments and public authorities — The Health Service executive, local authorities, etc. to take account of the needs of this group of residents in planning and delivering services and making financial provision as required.

The Minister for Integration is glad of this opportunity to place on record his appreciation of the work being done by these bodies, as well as groups in the non Governmental and voluntary sectors. Since his appointment as Minister with responsibility for integration matters he has visited many projects throughout the country and is impressed at the commitment of the various groups and bodies in responding and adapting to the challenges we face in the matter of integration.

In addition to the funding provided by the various bodies 1.2 million euro is available from the European Refugee Fund for the provision of services to asylum seekers and refugees and 1.6 million euro is available from the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals to promote integration at a local level. Applications for funding were recently sought for the above funds through Pobal. Pobal are currently engaged in evaluating the applications made. Further calls for proposals will be advertised under these initiatives later this year or in early 2009. Applications will be sought in the coming months for funding from the European Social Fund to promote employment related initiatives for vulnerable immigrants.

A sum of three million euro has been provided in the Estimates for 2008 to provide funding for integration initiatives. This funding will have a particular emphasis on membership organisations, faith based groups and building local structures. The Office of the Minister for Integration also manages a small grants scheme with funding of 400,000 euro for 2008 that provides grants of up to 15,000 euro to community and voluntary organisations to promote the participation and integration of legally resident immigrants at a local level.

Proposed Legislation.

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

597 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the setting up of a national property services regulatory authority, as recommended by the National Consumer Agency in its report on management fees and service charges levied on owners of property in multi-party dwellings; if a national property services regulatory authority Bill has been drafted; the stage this Bill is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3785/08]

Catherine Byrne

Question:

645 Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will publish the Property Services Regulatory Authority Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3705/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 597 and 645 together.

It is my intention to publish the Property Services Regulatory Authority Bill as soon as possible in 2008. Pending enactment of this legislation, a Chief Executive designate has been appointed and preparatory work for establishment of the Authority and implementation of the licensing system for property services providers is already underway.

Cultural Events.

Billy Timmins

Question:

598 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the concept of the organisation of an international parade day for foreign national communities in order to increase an awareness of their culture and contribution to society here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3810/08]

The Office of the Minister for Integration is not aware of any particular demand from migrant groups for the holding of an event such as that suggested by the Deputy. A number of events, stressing the cultural heritage of various migrants groups are held, both at a national and local level. The holding of such events enables each community to learn more about the culture and history of each others communities and also is important for the sponsoring community to provide information on its history. In the absence of a demand from communities themselves, it is doubtful that one national day would be accepted, given the particular attachments so many communities have to particular dates or festivals.

Registration of Title.

Billy Timmins

Question:

599 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to the Land Registry if a person was left a house on the death of their mother in 1984 and they have not registered this or taken out probate; if they must have the house registered in their own name in order to leave it to another person; if this will make a difference to the person they leave the house to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3062/08]

The registration of title in the Land Registry is governed by the Registration of Title Act 1964, the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006 and the Land Registration Rules 1972 to 2007. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to give legal advice in any individual case.

Criminal Prosecutions.

Joe McHugh

Question:

600 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in the Director of Public Prosecutions report on the tragic deaths of persons (details supplied) in a road accident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3077/08]

I am informed by the Garda authorities that a Garda investigation file has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in respect of the incident referred to. The directions of the DPP are awaited. The DPP is independent in the exercise of his functions and, therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

601 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3094/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

602 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3109/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 602 together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 471 & 472 of 2 October, 2007 which deals with the various bodies, statutory and non-statutory, under my Department's aegis.

Garda Vetting Services.

David Stanton

Question:

603 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda clearances processed each month in the past six months in respect of voluntary and social activity; the amount of time it takes to process such a clearance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3118/08]

The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) makes criminal history vetting disclosures to registered organisations in respect of prospective employees, volunteers and students on placement who would have substantive, unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults. Statistical information on the number of such vetting disclosures is not retained according to whether the activity in question is voluntary and/or social. However, in 2007, the total number of vetting applications received at the GCVU was 187,864, with a disaggregation for the final six months of 2007 is as follows:

Month

Number

July

15,269

August

21,416

September

21,337

October

20,024

November

18,747

December

17,956

In order to meet the increased demand arising from recent, major expansion in the provision of its vetting service, the GCVU has been in receipt of very significant additional resources. In particular, the human resource allocation to the Unit has increased from 13 originally to its current level of 63, comprising 5 members of the Garda Síochána at Inspector and Sergeant rank and 58 civil servants. Eleven of these personnel were made available as recently as last month, and when they have completed their induction and training it is anticipated that processing times will be reduced accordingly. In this regard, the current average processing time for valid vetting applications is approximately 7 weeks, but it is anticipated that this time period will be reduced to the normal, prevailing processing time of approximately 4 weeks.

Residency Permits.

Denis Naughten

Question:

604 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for residency by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the reason his Department has retained the person’s passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3127/08]

The person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements for non-EEA parents of children born in Ireland prior to 1st January, 2005, commonly referred to as the IBC/05 Scheme. The application was refused on 13th July, 2005 as the person in question did not meet the criteria of the scheme. My Department is currently considering a number of judgements delivered by the Supreme Court relating to the IBC/05 Scheme. The implications for individual cases, and for the Judicial Review proceedings ongoing in this case, are being assessed. Officials from my Department have returned the passport to the person in question.

Michael Ring

Question:

605 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for residency was lodged for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the position in relation to this application; and when it will be finalised. [3147/08]

An application for residence in the State on the basis of marriage to an Irish national on behalf of the person in question was received by the Immigration Division of my Department in March 2007. Applications of this kind, in fairness to all other such applicants, are dealt with in strict chronological order and currently take up to twelve months to process. It should be noted that marriage to an Irish national does not confer an automatic right of residence in the State. A request for documentation was made to the applicant by the Immigration Division of my Department and further documentation was received from the applicant on 24 January 2008. The person in question's application is currently under consideration.

Departmental Bodies.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

606 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the task force; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3167/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

607 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the task forces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each task force; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3182/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

608 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the task forces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these task forces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3197/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 606 to 608, inclusive, together.

I wish to refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 578 of 6 July, 2006. No new entities described as "task forces" have been set up by my Department since that date. The Deputy should note that the Youth Justice Task Force was established to review the youth justice system in 2004 and reported to Government in late 2005. In December 2005, the Government decided to establish the Irish Youth Justice Service as an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Irish Youth Justice Service's remit is to improve the co-ordination and effective delivery of services in the youth justice system.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

609 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3212/08]

The non-property costs incurred by my Department under the Decentralisation Programme up until the end of the third quarter of 2007 amounted to €1.26 million, as follows:

Year/Quarter

Non-Property Costs

End of year — 2005

585,177

Q1 2006

72,165

Q2 2006

61,256.29

Q3 2006

66,569

Q4 2006

63,389.71

Q1 2007

93,084

Q2 2007

113,147

Q3 2007

205,788

TOTAL

1,260,576

Leo Varadkar

Question:

610 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3227/08]

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 1292 of 30 January 2008, which provides a comprehensive progress report on my Department's decentralisation programme.

Garda Operations.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

611 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the outsourcing of the speed cameras and enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3242/08]

The Garda Síochána continues to focus its enforcement activities on the main causes of deaths and serious injury on the roads — drunk driving, speeding and the non-wearing of safety belts. The Garda Policing Plan for 2008 aims to increase detections for driving while intoxicated, speeding and road transport offences by 10% over the course of the year. The continuing increase in the strength of the Garda Traffic Corps, which will reach its planned level of 1,200 by the end of this year, is enabling a continuing increase in enforcement activity to take place. Along with the increase in its strength, a corresponding allocation of vehicles and other resources is being made to the Traffic Corps. With regard to combating speeding, detailed analysis by the Garda of collision data is under way to identify locations and times where the greatest tendency for speed related collisions occur. Speed enforcement will be prioritised on a risk assessment basis on such locations and at such times. The public will continue to be made aware of roads which have been identified as having a propensity for speed related collisions, including through the Garda website. The Garda is planning to replace its existing vehicle-based mobile speed detection systems this year. It is developing proposals to introduce an automatic number plate recognition capability in a range of Garda vehicles, which will have a speed detection capability and assist in detecting suspect and untaxed vehicles. With regard to outsourcing the provision and operation of safety cameras to a service provider, following the issue of a Request for Tender, tenders were received and evaluated. Issues have arisen because the costs involved are substantially higher than those estimated for the Government previously. I intend to bring proposals before my Cabinet colleagues shortly, taking into account issues of value for money and the commitment, as evidenced by the enhanced activity by the Garda I have outlined, to reduce speeding on our roads.

Identification Cards.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

612 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will require legal non-EU immigrants and their children to carry biometric identification cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3247/08]

Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004 places a requirement on a foreign national to produce on demand, unless he or she can give a satisfactory explanation as to why he or she is prevented from doing so, a valid passport or equivalent document establishing his or her identity and, also, his or her registration certificate where he or she is required to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau. This requirement does not extend to foreign nationals under the age of 16 years. Section 109 of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, which was published on 29 January 2008, proposes to continue this requirement with the substitution of a reference to a permit for the current reference to a registration certificate. Also, the provision applies to all foreign nationals, including those under 16 years of age. Section 34 of the Bill sets out the information to be contained in a permit. It includes a provision whereby information relating to the holder, including biometric information, may be contained in the permit where so prescribed. With the introduction of the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System, I envisage the inclusion of fingerprints on permits in the near future.

Criminal Compensation Tribunal.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

613 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the role of the Criminal Compensation Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3248/08]

I can inform the Deputy that the primary function of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is to administer the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted and the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted on Prison Officers. I have asked the Tribunal to forward copies of both schemes to the Deputy.

Citizenship Applications.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

614 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the basis for the refusal of the 509 applications for naturalisation in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3249/08]

The compilation of statistics relating to refusals would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources. However, I advise the Deputy that the majority of the applications that are refused are as a result of failure to meet residency and/or good character requirements or a failure to be self-supporting.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

615 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the basis for the refusal of the 1,867 applications for naturalisation in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3250/08]

The compilation of statistics relating to refusals would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources. However, I advise the Deputy that the majority of the applications that are refused are as a result of failure to meet residency and/or good character requirements or a failure to be self-supporting.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

616 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the length of time it takes, on average, to assess an application for naturalisation or long-term residency; if he is satisfied with this time frame; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3251/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

617 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has a target timeframe for making a decision on the assessment of applications for naturalisation and long-term residency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3252/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together.

The current processing times for applications for certificates of naturalisation and long-term residency are 30 months and 18 months respectively. The procedures involved in the naturalisation and long-term residency processes have been developed and refined over a number of years. I am satisfied they are necessary to maintain the integrity of the processes. Consequently, having regard to the resources available, which are kept under constant review, there is a limit to the reduction in the processing times that can be achieved. However, I am aware that the existing waiting times are excessive and accordingly, I have instructed my officials to undertake a review of the various processes so they may be streamlined further where possible.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

618 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will grant naturalisation to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3253/08]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in my Department's citizenship section in October 2006. Officials in the section are processing applications received in the middle of 2005 and have approximately 7,600 applications on hand to be dealt with before that of the person concerned. Such applications are generally dealt with in chronological order, as this is deemed to be the fairest approach for all applicants. It is likely, therefore, that further processing of the application will commence in the first half of 2009. I will inform the Deputy and the person in question when a decision is reached in the case.

Finian McGrath

Question:

619 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if persons (details supplied) will be supported. [3261/08]

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 175 of 22 November 2007. The position remains as stated.

Departmental Staff.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

620 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff assigned to assessing applications for naturalisation and long-term residence for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3274/08]

There are 47 staff presently assigned to the Citizenship Section of my Department. The Section comprises of 1 Principal Officer, 1 Assistant Principal, 3.7 Higher Executive Officers, 9.8 Executive Officers and 25.78 Clerical Officers — all figures represent whole-time equivalents. There are currently 15 staff assigned to the General Immigration Division of whom 14 work full-time. The Section comprises of 1 Principal Officer, who is also charged with responsibility for the Citizenship Section, 1 Assistant Principal, 1 Higher Executive Officer, 0.8 Executive Officer, 1 Staff Officer and 10 Clerical Officers — all figures represent whole-time equivalents. The Deputy will appreciate that staffing levels fluctuate on a regular basis due to transfers, retirements, promotions, etc. They are also subject to review in the context of the overall workload facing the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service at any given time. It is not possible therefore to provide a breakdown of the staffing levels for each of the past five years. Apart from long-term residency, the staff in the General Immigration Division also process a wide variety of applications from non-EEA nationals seeking to reside in the State on various grounds. The Principal Officer is also charged with responsibilities other than for Citizenship Section and General Immigration Division. The Assistant Principal Officer in General Immigration also has other responsibilities that come within his remit.

Garda Deployment.

Brian Hayes

Question:

621 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the person who is responsible for the policing of the Phoenix Park; the plans in place to improve the level of policing in the park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3280/08]

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Superintendent in Blanchardstown has operational responsibility for policing the Phoenix Park area, which is patrolled by members of the Garda Síochána assigned to Cabra Garda Station. The force liaises with the Phoenix Park rangers, who are employed by the Office of Public Works and are responsible for enforcing the by-laws enacted for the park. A number of Garda initiatives are in place for the policing of the Phoenix Park. Operation Staple is monitoring illegal sexual activity in the Phoenix Park area. Operation Scholar is monitoring and tracking the movements of criminals in the area by increasing patrols in the park and setting up checkpoints. This operation concentrates on the prevention and detection of crime in the park, in particular thefts from vehicles parked in the area. Operation Encounter is an ongoing initiative targeting public disorder and other anti-social behaviour including the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor to people under the age of 18. Operation Torque is targeting those suspected of criminal activity including robberies from the person and theft from MPVs. These ongoing initiatives have proved valuable for gathering intelligence and disrupting local criminals and their criminal activities. They have resulted in numerous detections and subsequent arrests. Community Policing Units perform mountain bike patrols of the Phoenix Park, particularly during the summer months. Crime prevention advice leaflets were distributed to the public in the park during 2007. It is proposed to repeat this initiative during the summer of 2008. The leaflets provide crime prevention and security advice on how to keep personal belongings safe. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for allocating personnel throughout the force taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the Phoenix Park will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of policing needs throughout the country.

Citizenship Applications.

John Perry

Question:

622 Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will intercede with his officials in the Garda National Immigration Bureau on behalf of persons (details supplied) in County Sligo; if he will allow these persons to apply for citizenship in view of the fact that they have been resident here for the past seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3282/08]

I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the people in question will need to travel to London to obtain Zimbabwean passports. They have been granted permission to remain in the State under EU Treaty Rights until 2009 and 2010 respectively. The people concerned may make an application to the Travel Documents Section of my Department to facilitate travel to London for this purpose. Upon receipt of their new Zimbabwean passports, the persons concerned should present themselves to the Local Registration Office of The Garda National Immigration Bureau to have their new passports endorsed with the appropriate permission to remain in the State. On the question of citizenship, it is open to the people concerned to apply for citizenship by making an application to the Citizenship Division of my Department.

The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation, as long as certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. These 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; and 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.

Crime Prevention.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

623 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the amount of anxiety, frustration and upset that many so called boy racers are inflicting on people who live in small towns and villages in County Galway, and that this nuisance of anti-social behaviour is becoming common place in most small towns and villages; the number of so called boy racers who have been summoned to appear before the Courts in County Galway in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3286/08]

One of the strategic goals set out in the Garda Síochána Corporate Strategy 2007-2009 is to significantly reduce the incidence of fatal and serious injuries and to improve road safety. One of the actions identified in the Garda Policing Plan 2008 in support of this goal is targeted intelligence-led operations against offending young drivers. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a number of initiatives to target the activities of young male drivers in the areas referred to have been established. Specific areas identified as places where young drivers congregate are targeted. As a result, uniform members of the Garda, supported by Divisional Traffic Corps personnel, establish checkpoints and enforce in a highly visible manner the provisions of the Road Traffic Acts. The initiatives have resulted in detections being made for a wide range of road traffic offences, including offences relating to dangerous driving, careless driving, no silencer fitted, L plates not displayed, identification plates not conforming with legislation, road tax offences, insurance and driving licence offences, speeding offences, dangerously defective vehicles and modified vehicles. Offences detected are dealt with by way of prosecution, fixed charge notice or, where appropriate, through the Juvenile Diversion Programme. In 2006 and 2007, over 100 offenders were charged before the local district courts. In addition to these intelligence-led operations, all uniform members of the Garda are tasked with enforcing the relevant legislative provisions. Regular mobile patrols and roving checkpoints are established throughout the Galway Garda Division. In addition, websites are monitored to establish where such anti-social activities are taking place with a view to providing an appropriate response. Garda road safety awareness programmes are conducted in schools, third level colleges, factories, workplaces and other facilities, with the aim of educating road users of the obligations on all road users under the Road Traffic Acts and to promote road safety among the target group.

Asylum Applications.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

624 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of the application of a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [3287/08]

The person concerned arrived in the State on 24 March 2004 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed, by letter dated 16 September 2005, that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him. He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a deportation order or of submitting written representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why he should be allowed to remain in the State. Representations were received on behalf of the person concerned and will be fully considered in advance of the file being passed to me for decision. My decision, when made, will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned by an Official of my Department.

Citizenship Applications.

Tony Gregory

Question:

625 Deputy Tony Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of the application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 for naturalisation and for a work permit. [3288/08]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the question was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department in December 2007. Officials in the section inform me that the application has not been examined in detail. Examination of the residency requirement will take place in the near future and the applicant will be contacted at that time informing her when her application will be further examined or of any shortfall in her residency. I will inform the Deputy and the person in question when a decision has been reached on the application. Questions concerning the issue of work permits are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin.

Garda Investigations.

Finian McGrath

Question:

626 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will investigate the new evidence in the case of a person (details supplied); and if their family will be assisted. [3291/08]

I refer the Deputy to the replies to Questions Nos. 195 and 206 of 14 February 2007 and Question No. 676 of 25 April 2006. I have nothing further to add to these responses.

Citizenship Applications.

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

627 Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3299/08]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department in January 2005. Officials in the section inform me that processing of the application has commenced and the file will be submitted to me for a decision in the coming months. I will inform the Deputy and the person concerned when I have reached a decision on the matter.

John Curran

Question:

628 Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects to make a decision in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 22. [3304/08]

Applications for the individuals referred to in the Deputy's question were received in the Citizenship section of my Department in September 2007. Officials in that section have recently contacted the applicants, via their solicitor, requesting further documents to enable them calculate the reckonable residency. The applications will be further examined on receipt of these documents. The persons in question will then be informed when further processing of the applications will commence or of any shortfall in their residency. I will inform the Deputy and the persons in question when a decision has been reached on their applications.

Garda Deployment.

Mary Upton

Question:

629 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that several Garda stations in the Dublin south central electoral area, namely Crumlin, Terenure, Sundrive and Ballyfermot have less than the average number of community Gardaí as measured against the rest of the Dublin metropolitan region; the steps, he plans to take to remedy this lack of community Gardaí for these stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3317/08]

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are 4,227 Gardai attached to the Divisions in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and of these, 398 (approx 9%) are Community Gardai. Of course, community policing involves more than a just single unit within An Garda Síochána. All Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues. I fully agree with the view of the Garda Inspectorate, expressed in its most recent report, that community policing is a fundamental policing philosophy and that it is based on strong foundations in Ireland.

Specifically in relation to the areas mentioned by the Deputy the following are the percentage of Community Gardai in each station:

Station

Community Gardaí

%

Crumlin

5

5

Terenure

6

6

Sundrive

6

8

Ballyfermot

9

10

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the allocation of Community Gardaí will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

Garda Operations.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

630 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position following the Dillon versus the Director of Public Prosecutions ruling on begging; the impact this will have on the ability of the Gardaí to deal with the problem; the action being taken to tackle the practice among some parents using their children for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3326/08]

My Department is currently examining the High Court judgement in Dillon v. DPP with a view to bringing forward proposals to address the issues arising from the judgement. I would point out that although the High Court found section 3 of the Vagrancy (Ireland) Act 1847 to be unconstitutional, other statutory provisions continue to apply. For example, individuals who engage in begging in a public place in a manner likely to cause fear or annoyance or who obstruct the free passage of or harass any person or who fail to comply with the direction of a Garda are liable to prosecution under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 or the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 for obstruction, disorderly conduct, harassment etc. I would add that the High Court’s judgement in Dillon does not affect the operation of section 247 of the Children Act 2001; that section relates to cases where children are procured for the purpose of or are allowed to engage in begging.

Residency Permits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

631 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current or expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3352/08]

The person in question was originally granted permission to remain in the State on 6 February 2001 based on her parentage of an Irish born child under the particular scheme which existed at that time. This permission has been renewed for the person concerned until October 2012.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

632 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3353/08]

The person concerned arrived in the State on 1 May 2000 and claimed asylum on 25 July 2000. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

The person concerned was informed by letter dated 30 March 2001 that the Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of him and afforded him three options in accordance with Section 3(3)(b)(ii) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended) namely to leave the State voluntarily, to consent to the making of a Deportation Order or to submit, within 15 working days, written representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why he should be allowed to remain temporarily in the State i.e why he should not be deported.

His case was examined under Section 3(6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), and Section 5 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) on the Prohibition of Refoulement. Consideration was given to all representations submitted on his behalf for permission to remain in the State. On 18 June 2001 the then Minister refused permission to remain temporarily in the State and instead signed a Deportation order in respect of him. Notice of this order dated 22 June 2001 was served by registered post requiring the person concerned to present himself at Portlaoise Garda Station on Friday 29 June 2001 in order to make travel arrangements for his removal from the State. A further notice dated 26 October 2001 was served by registered post on the person concerned following the conclusion of Judicial Review proceedings which were struck out in the High Court on 24 October 2001. The person concerned was then required to present himself at Naas Garda Station on Friday 2 November 2001 in order to again make travel arrangements for his removal from the State. He failed to comply with his reporting requirements on both occasions and was classified as evading his deportation. The effect of the deportation order is that the person concerned must leave the State and remain thereafter outside the State.

The person concerned subsequently re-entered the State. He came to the attention of the Gardaí on 21 March 2007 and was arrested on foot of his deportation order. He was subsequently released with the requirement to present himself to the GNIB on 26 April 2007 in order to make travel arrangements for his removal from the State. He presented as required and was given subsequent presentation dates which he complied with. He was finally removed from the State on 17 January 2008.

By correspondence dated 15 January 2008, the legal representative of the person concerned made representations requesting a) the revocation of the deportation order and b) the exercise of my discretion under Regulation 4(2) of the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006 requesting that the person concerned be afforded an opportunity to make an application for Subsidiary Protection. This correspondence is currently under consideration in my Department.

Asylum Applications.

John Deasy

Question:

633 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has not had a decision on their asylum application following their application in 2002 and subsequent appeal in 2003; when he will make a decision in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3374/08]

The person concerned arrived in the State on 1 February 2002 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The Minister's decision to refuse the person concerned a declaration of refugee status was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 27 February 2003.

The aforementioned letter of 27 February 2003, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), also informed the person concerned that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him. He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a deportation order or of submitting written representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why he should be allowed to remain in the State. Representations were received on behalf of the person concerned.

I understand that the processing of the file of the person concerned is nearing completion. As a result, I expect the file to be passed to me for decision within the next few weeks. The decision, when made, will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned by an Official of my Department.

Citizenship Applications.

Michael Ring

Question:

634 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for a certificate of naturalisation will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [3577/08]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the individual referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department in March 2007. Officials in that section have recently contacted the applicant requesting further documents to enable them calculate the reckonable residency acquired by him. The application will be further examined on receipt of these documents. The person in question will then be informed when further processing of the application will commence or of any shortfall in his residency. I will inform the Deputy and the person in question when I have reached a decision on the matter.

Visa Applications.

Pat Breen

Question:

635 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a copy of previous information will be forwarded to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3579/08]

An employment visa was approved for the person concerned in May, 2001 and records show that he arrived in Ireland on 26 May, 2001. Paper records of Visa Applications are kept for a maximum period of four years, after which time they are destroyed. Hence, it is not possible to ascertain if the document in question was received, or retained. Several re-entry visas have been approved since then but information such as the document in question would not normally be sought for these applications.

Criminal Injuries Compensation.

John Deasy

Question:

636 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford under the Criminal Injuries Board following an assault in 2006. [3636/08]

I can inform the Deputy that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is an independent body and that I have no role in its examination of individual applications. However, in order to be of assistance in the matter, I have had enquiries made with the Tribunal and understand that the application referred to has been submitted to a Tribunal member for determination and that a decision is expected shortly.

Garda Vetting Services.

John Deasy

Question:

637 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to delays being experienced by people seeking Garda clearance to work with people with special needs and in particular students at university participating in this course who need Garda clearance to enable them to carry out work experience and complete their course, bearing in mind that 30% of their marks are obtained through their work experience; the period of time it takes to obtain this clearance from the date of application; and the steps he will take to improve this system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3637/08]

Michael Noonan

Question:

641 Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the delay in the vetting by the Gardaí of personnel being hired for the care of children and that certain special schools are suffering from staff shortages due to these delays; the additional resources he will provide to the Gardaí to enable such vetting to take place as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3664/08]

John Cregan

Question:

642 Deputy John Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the delay in processing Garda clearances for prospective employees in the health care sector; if he will assist in having this process expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3666/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 637, 641 and 642 together.

As the Deputies may be aware, since 2006, the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) has been engaged in a major expansion in the provision of its criminal history vetting service to all sectors and organisations involved in the recruitment of persons to work in a substantive, unsupervised capacity with children and vulnerable adults. At this stage, vetting has now been made available to a broad range of sectors, including health and social services; primary, secondary and tertiary education; pre-school and childcare; youth work; disability; care homes; and so on.

In order to meet the dramatically increased demand arising from such expansion, the GCVU has been in receipt of very significant additional resources. In particular, the human resource allocation to the Unit has increased from 13 originally to its current level of 63, comprising 5 members of the Garda Síochána at Inspector and Sergeant rank and 58 civil servants. Eleven of these personnel were made available as recently as last month, and when they have completed their induction and training it is anticipated that processing times will be reduced accordingly. In this regard, the current average processing time for valid vetting applications is approximately 7 weeks, but it is anticipated that this time period will be reduced to the normal, prevailing processing time of approximately 4 weeks.

Finally, it is envisaged that a further allocation of personnel will be made in the coming months. In this respect, I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda management are continually monitoring resource requirements within the GCVU so as to ensure a match between demand and supply in terms of the processing of vetting applications.

Casino Regulation.

Finian McGrath

Question:

638 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the gaming and leisure report; and the plans for legislation to regulate the sector in the future. [3638/08]

I take it that the Deputy is referring to the Report of the Casino Regulation Committee. The Deputy may be aware that in August, 2006, the Government agreed to the proposal of my predecessor for the establishment of a Committee (the Casino Regulation Committee) to report on the possibilities for a legislative basis for the strict regulation of casino-style operations in the State.

The Casino Regulation Committee completed their Report in April last year. It is a lengthy document which deals with a range of complex and inter-related public policy issues which are now being considered, as are the modalities to advance the situation in the most appropriate manner. I do not propose to comment on the Report or any of its recommendations in advance of that consideration having taken place.

Citizenship Applications.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

639 Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if naturalisation will be granted. [3650/08]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department in November 2004. Officials in that section submitted the application for a decision in July 2007 and my predecessor decided to refuse the application. The reasons for the decision were disclosed to the applicant in a letter dated 1 August 2007. It is open to the person in question to lodge a fresh application if and when he is in a position to meet the statutory requirements applicable at that time.

Residency Permits.

Michael Ring

Question:

640 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the expired passport of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be returned to them in order that they can obtain a PPS number. [3652/08]

I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions No. 358 of Wednesday 19 December 2007, No. 228 of Thursday 28 June 2007, No. 488 of Tuesday 25 October 2005 and No. 367 of Wednesday 12 October 2005 and the written replies to those Questions.

The person concerned arrived in the State on 16 July 2002 and was granted permission to remain in the State until 26 July 2002. He married an Irish National on 24 July 2003 and, on 28 January 2004, he made an application for permission to remain in the State based on his marriage to an Irish National. This application was considered but was refused.

Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was informed, by letter dated 18 October 2005, that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him. He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a deportation order or of submitting written representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why he should be allowed to remain in the State. Representations were received on behalf of the person concerned.

Following consideration of the case of the person concerned, under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended), as an exceptional measure and subject to certain conditions, the person concerned was granted temporary permission to remain in the State for one year until 20 January 2009. The person concerned was duly notified of this decision by letter dated 21 January 2008. The expired passport of the person concerned was returned to him by registered post on 31 January 2008.

Questions Nos. 641 and 642 answered with Question No. 637.

Willie Penrose

Question:

643 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to an application for long term residency in the State by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3668/08]

The person referred to by the Deputy was granted long term residence on 18 January 2008. He subsequently attended at his immigration office and he was granted permission to remain until 17 January 2013.

Willie Penrose

Question:

644 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to an application for long term residency in the State by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3669/08]

The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five year residency extension. In that context they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit requirements.

The dependants of the aforementioned, who have been legally resident in the State for over five years may also apply for long term residency. This particular long term permission does not grant an exemption from employment permit requirements to any such dependants. Time spent in the State on student conditions cannot be counted towards long term residency. While applications for long term residency are under consideration, the person concerned should ensure that their permission to remain in the State is kept up to date.

An application for long term residency from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in December 2006. I understand that applications received in July 2006 are currently being dealt with. As soon as a decision is made on the case, the person concerned will be notified.

Proposed Legislation.

Catherine Byrne

Question:

645 Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will publish the Property Services Regulatory Authority Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3705/08]

It is my intention to publish the Property Services Regulatory Authority Bill as soon as possible in 2008. Pending enactment of this legislation, a Chief Executive designate has been appointed and preparatory work for establishment of the Authority and implementation of the licensing system for property services providers is already underway.

Registration of Title.

Sean Fleming

Question:

646 Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a first registration certificate will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Laois. [3728/08]

As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority was established as and from 4 November, 2006. The Property Registration Authority replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions.

I would also like to refer the Deputy to a service for TDs and Senators concerning the current status of applications, such as the subject of this question, which was introduced in May 2006. The service was introduced, inter alia, to provide a speedier and more cost effective alternative to submitting Parliamentary Questions. This service, which is operated by the Property Registration Authority, is available all year round.

I can further inform the Deputy that his query has been forwarded to the Property Registration Authority for attention and direct reply via the above mentioned service.

Garda Stations.

Tom Hayes

Question:

647 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the budget for the proposed rural Garda station programme nationally; the number of places in Tipperary south that will benefit from this programme by getting new Garda stations; and when the Garda authorities and his Department will have completed the discussions in order that this will go ahead. [3732/08]

The detailed allocation of resources, including accommodation, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide in accordance with his identified operational requirements. There is a significant ongoing programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda stations and other Garda accommodation around the country, including in County Tipperary. The Garda accommodation programme is based on agreed priorities established by An Garda Síochána and is brought forward in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.

Under the National Development Plan a total of €260 million is assigned for Garda stations and other accommodation. In addition, a budget of €9.5 million is available this year alone for the maintenance of Garda premises. This level of resources translates into tangible improvements with improved conditions and service levels for both Gardaí and public alike.

I have been informed by the Office of Public Works that a review of a number of rural stations nationwide is currently taking place in consultation with An Garda Síochána with a view to putting in place a targeted programme of renewal. The results of this review will feed into a broader Garda accommodation strategy which is being developed at present by An Garda Síochána.

Garda Deployment.

Tom Hayes

Question:

648 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Gardaí who worked in Fethard in 1998; the number that currently work there; the amount he plans to have working there in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3733/08]

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Fethard Garda Station on 31 December, 1998 and 31 December, 2007 (the latest date for which figures are readily available) was 3 and 2 respectively. Fethard Garda Station forms part of the Clonmel Garda District in the Tipperary Garda Division. The personnel strength of the Clonmel Garda District on 31 December, 1998 and 31 December, 2007 was 64 and 74 respectively. The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day the overall strength of the organisation may fluctuate due, for example, to retirements, resignations etc.

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the Garda station referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

Citizenship Applications.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

649 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who is seeking naturalisation. [3734/08]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department in August 2007.

On examination of the application it was determined that the person concerned did not meet the residency requirements as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. A letter informing him of this was issued, to the address supplied by the Deputy, on 28 November 2007 and again on 14 January 2008. It is open the person in question to lodge a new application if and when he is in a position to meet the statutory requirements applicable at that time.

Prisoner Releases.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

650 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the impact the Prison Rules Revision enacted in October 2007 has had; the eligibility of prisoners to receive extra remission on their sentences in this regard; and if any prisoner has obtained the 8% additional remission since October 2007. [3735/08]

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

651 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if prisoners who are denied additional remission to their sentences are being informed as to the reason they were refused the additional remission. [3737/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 650 and 651 together.

The Prison Rules, 2007 reflect international best practice, the provisions of the European Prison Rules, and provide a modern regulatory framework for the administration of our prisons. Section 59 (2) of the Prison Rules, 2007 allows for the discretionary granting of additional remission, up to one third as opposed to the standard rate of one quarter, where a prisoner has shown further good conduct through his engagement in authorised structured activity and where as a result, the prisoner is less likely to re-offend and will be better able to reintegrate into the community.

I can at the outset advise the Deputy that this additional concession will only be awarded in exceptional cases and where I am satisfied beyond any doubt that the prisoner concerned has demonstrated that she/he meets the requirements as set out in the Prison Rules. I can further advise that no category of offender is excluded from consideration for this concession and furthermore, that prisoners who request reasons as to why they do not qualify will be advised accordingly. While there are a number of applications for extra remission under consideration at present, to date no prisoner has been granted this concession.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

652 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3766/08]

While it would not be feasible to collate the full range of data in respect of the period referred to by the Deputy without the application of a disproportionate amount of staff resources, the position insofar as programmes under my Department's aegis which received EU funding in 2007 is concerned is that funding was received from the European Refugee Fund and the European Social Fund.

The purpose of the European Refugee Fund is to support and encourage efforts made by Member States in receiving asylum seekers, integrating refugees and voluntary repatriation projects. The fund was established in 2000 and the current phase of the fund runs from 2005 to 2008. In the period 2000-2007 a total of €7.5m approximately has been allocated to Ireland, however all allocations are subject to verification by the European Commission.

In addition, my Department received European Social Funding (ESF) under the Employment and Human Resources Capital Programme of the 2000 — 2006 National Development Plan (NDP) / Community Support Framework to fund

positive actions under the Equality for Women Measure

the NDP Gender Equality Unit

The total ESF received (or still outstanding) to my Department for this purpose under the 2000 — 2006 NDP/CSF amounted to just over €7 million. Under the National Development Plan 2007 — 2013, my Department is due to receive up to €15.75 million of ESF funding for a further Positive Action Programme to address gender equality.

Garda Transport.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

653 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a Garda patrol car will be reallocated to the Garda station at Newtowncunningham in Letterkenny, County Donegal. [3775/08]

The detailed allocation of Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide in accordance with his identified operational requirements and priorities. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Newtowncunningham area is policed as part of the Donegal Garda Division and a total of 64 vehicles is allocated to the Division. The responsibility for the efficient deployment of all official transport in a division is assigned to the Divisional Officer who may allocate vehicles between stations as required.

Decentralisation Programme.

Denis Naughten

Question:

654 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the decentralisation of the Land Registry to Roscommon; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3833/08]

Under my Department's Decentralisation Programme, two hundred and thirty posts from the Property Registration Authority are scheduled to transfer from Dublin to Roscommon. An advance move to temporary office accommodation in Roscommon took place in August 2006. There are now seventy-four officers serving in that office with plans to increase this number to ninety by the end of March 2008.

I understand that the purchase of a site in Roscommon for the permanent accommodation was completed in 2007 at a cost of €3m. The Office of Public Works, who are charged with the responsibility of providing the accommodation, are currently in the process of examining tenders in respect of the construction of the permanent office building. It is anticipated that the offices will be ready for occupation by the two hundred and thirty staff by the end of 2009/early 2010.

Denis Naughten

Question:

655 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the decentralisation of the Prison Service headquarters to Longford; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3834/08]

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Headquarters of the Irish Prison Service opened for business in Longford in July 2007. One hundred and forty one posts have moved from Dublin to Longford, one hundred and sixteen officers are currently working there and work is continuing on the transfer of the remaining twenty-five prison and technical posts. Twenty contract I.T. staff are also based there.

I understand that the cost of the site in Longford was €576,000. The building is designed to accommodate both the Irish Prison Service H.Q. and a subsidiary office of the Garda Ombudsman Commission. Overall the property will accommodate around two hundred people with an inbuilt provision for an increase of 10% on that number.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

656 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3866/08]

It is not readily feasible to isolate the costs associated with the answering of parliamentary questions from the administrative costs of my Department generally. Nevertheless, there is no doubt but that a substantial and growing cost is in fact associated with this exercise. This is well-illustrated by the growth in the number of questions in recent years, with 1729 questions answered (excluding those withdrawn or disallowed) in the last four months of 2007 alone, representing an increase of 230% over the equivalent period in 2000. Most Divisions within my Department must dedicate a proportion of their resources to this work and in some instances the drafting of responses represents a major drain on the resources of the Division in question. While I consider responding to Parliamentary Questions an important element of my functions as a Minister, it is questionable whether the full extent of the resources deployed to this end truly represents the best use of the Department's resources, especially when one considers the many other less expensive means by which information may be obtained.

Moreover, I should also add that in many instances preparation of a response requires operational agencies, notably An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service, to devote their own resources to the collection and collation of information for incorporation in the response. The Deputy will appreciate that the deployment of such resources to this function may be at the expense of core law-enforcement and public safety activities.

Asylum Applications.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

657 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current or expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3883/08]

This applicant applied for asylum on 16 September 2002. Her application was refused and a Deportation Order was made on 11 March 2005.

The applicant instituted Judicial Review proceedings on 18 April 2005 challenging the Deportation Order made in respect of her and accordingly, as the matter is sub judice, I do not propose to comment further.

Asylum Support Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

658 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will arrange for transfer to alternative accommodation for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin having regard to medical evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3884/08]

The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. The RIA is currently accommodating almost 7,000 people in 61 centres in 22 counties.

The person referred to in the Deputy's question made an application for asylum on 13 September, 2002. This person was provided with accommodation by the RIA, initially at Gardiner Place reception centre, Dublin and subsequently at Glenvera accommodation centre, Cork. He departed from the Glenvera accommodation centre of his own accord in May, 2007 and is now presumably living in private rented accommodation. He has a judicial review associated with his application for asylum.

The RIA has received no correspondence from this person since his departure in May, 2007, either in respect of any desire to return to RIA accommodation or in respect of any dietary requirements should he do so. If this person wishes to avail of RIA direct provision accommodation, he should present himself to the RIA office at the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner at Timberlay House, Mount Street where his request will be dealt with.

Garda Investigations.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

659 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if in relation to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 5 December 2007, there was correspondence from the Garda Commissioner to the Secretary General at the Department of Education and Science, the CEO of the Health Board and the then director of the children’s centre, Finglas regarding co-operation in investigations into concerns regarding possible child abuse during the second half of 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3903/08]

In the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply the details requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

Michael Ring

Question:

660 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number — in relation to REP scheme 3 for hill sheep farmers in the designated areas — of herd owners who availed of the €2,000 top-up payment for taking their sheep off the mountain for five months of the year, irrespective of the number of sheep they had; and the amount paid out under this scheme. [3129/08]

111 farmers in the REPs schemes 2 and 3 in the Owenduff/Nephinbeg Complex Special Area of Conservation in County Mayo have each received up to €2,000 to compensate them for losses incurred as a result of having to remove all sheep from this commonage land during the two off-wintering periods that run from 01 November to 31 December and from 14 February to 13 May. From February 2007 to date, my Department has made payments totalling €273,000 to these landholders.

Motor Taxation.

John Cregan

Question:

661 Deputy John Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on changing the present system to permit motorists purchasing new vehicles with low emissions before July 2008, to avail of the lower rate of motor tax and VRT in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4036/08]

Michael Ring

Question:

663 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way the new car tax regime will work. [3046/08]

Deirdre Clune

Question:

700 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the motor tax that will apply to a car purchased in January 2008 at the time of renewal; if this will be based on engine size or CO2 emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1297/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 661, 663 and 700 together.

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 1307, 1308, 1319, 1326, 1342, 1343, 1351 and 1371 of 30 January 2008.

Policy in relation to VRT is a matter for the Minister for Finance.

Land Sales.

Denis Naughten

Question:

662 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in the issuing of payment to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the status of this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3045/08]

I understand that the Chief State Solicitor's Office raised a legal query which needs to be resolved before the sale can be completed in this case. The matter is now being considered by the solicitors for the parties.

Question No. 663 answered with Question No. 661.

Planning Issues.

Phil Hogan

Question:

664 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has ordered or asked Meath County Council to place a development exclusion zone in archeologically sensitive areas along the route of the M3 motorway that is currently under construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3047/08]

Phil Hogan

Question:

665 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to protect archeologically sensitive areas along the route of the M3 motorway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3048/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 664 and 665 together.

I am conscious of pressures for clusters of commercial and other development to occur adjacent to motorways, particularly in the vicinity of motorway interchanges. In the case of the M3 motorway, measures are in place to address these concerns.

Within the development plan process, appropriate objectives to protect the archaeology and surrounding landscape in the vicinity of the Hill of Tara have been incorporated in the Meath County Development Plan 2007 to 2013, adopted in March 2007, a copy of which is available on the Council's website at www.meath.ie. Chapter 8 of the Plan includes specific objectives and policies in this regard — relevant extracts are reproduced below:

Section 8.3.2 Archaeological Heritage: Meath County Council are also committed to the conservation of the Tara Skyrne area, another of the prime archaeological resources in the county. This can be seen in its objective to designate this area as a Landscape Conservation Area in conjunction with the Heritage Council.

HER POL 66: To employ the full extent of the statutory provisions of the Planning and Development Acts and Regulations and all other relevant legislation including the National Monuments Acts to ensure the sustained protection of landscapes of exceptional value and sensitivity and in particular to protect the rural character, setting, amenity and archaeological heritage of Brú na Bóinne and the Hill of Tara, and of the surrounding areas including the area in the vicinity of the proposed M3 Motorway and its related Interchanges.

Section 8.4.4 Heritage Landscapes: The Council will, over the life of the plan, move towards the preparation of a Local Area Plan in respect of areas surrounding and influencing (a) the World Heritage site of the Brú na Bóinne complex and will explore the designation of Landscape Conservation Area(s), pursuant to Section 204 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, in respect of their core areas for (a) the Tara and Skreen area(s) and (b) Loughcrew and Slieve na Callliagh Hills. The purpose of such plans and/or designations is to protect the rural character, setting, historic context and archaeological heritage of the landscape. In identifying and/or designating such areas, the Planning Authority will be required to ensure that the scope and extent of such designation is sufficient to conserve the specific areas requiring protection, i.e. may be wider than the immediate area of the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site, the Tara and Skreen area and/or Loughcrew/Slieve na Calliagh Hills. In the case of Tara-Skreen area, particular regard will be had to protecting the landscape from the perceived threat of possible secondary development on foot of the approved M3 Motorway and adjoining Interchange.

I support the objective of Meath County Council to designate the area in the vicinity of the Hill of Tara as a Landscape Conservation Area in accordance with the provisions of section 204 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. My Department has recently met with the local authority to consider how this can be progressed having regard to the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a national landscape strategy, work on which is being initiated by my Department.

I am also a statutory consultee under the Planning Acts, under which individual planning applications with the potential to impact on the built or natural heritage must be referred by the planning authority to me as Minister. Any comments from my Department must be taken into account before a decision is made on a planning application, with my Department also having a right to appeal to an Bord Pleanála against an individual planning decision, where an adverse impact on the built or natural heritage so warrants. It is my intention to pursue a robust approach in relation any development proposals impinging on the archaeological heritage, the rural character of the area and the setting of the Hill of Tara.

In addition, my Department, together with the Department of Transport and the National Roads Authority, is currently developing statutory planning guidelines on planning policy and roads to ensure that roads planning, development planning and development management processes are appropriately aligned. When finalised, these guidelines will issue under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

Dara Calleary

Question:

666 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the benefits that have accrued to each individual town, designated as a hub town in the National Spatial Strategy 2003; if he will provide a written outline for each town and the future benefits each hub town may gain in the next five years. [3055/08]

Dara Calleary

Question:

667 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to review the National Spatial Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3056/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 666 and 667 together.

As outlined in the reply to Question No. 1370 of 30 January 2008, the 20-year National Spatial Strategy (NSS) which was published in November 2002, aims to achieve a better balance of social, economic and physical development across Ireland, supported by more effective planning, and has designated nine gateways and nine hubs which have the capacity to grow sustainably and to act as drivers of growth for their hinterlands and wider regions.

Among the principal objectives of the Strategy are to build up the strengths of all areas in order to achieve more balanced regional development through a better spread of economic activity, employment and population growth; to energise the potential of all urban and rural areas with the support of a stronger urban structure, including the gateways, hubs and other towns; and to set a national context for regional and local planning strategies. The Department has taken due account of changing economic and demographic circumstances since the publication of the Strategy, through for example, revised regional population targets, on foot of the Census 2006 data analysis, which are being reflected in regional and local plans.

Investment priorities identified under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and Transport 21 are fully aligned with the NSS. The 2004 Regional Planning Guidelines (RPGs), which are due to be reviewed by 2010, translate the NSS objectives into concrete actions at local level. City and County Councils have regard to the NSS and regional priorities in their development plan and local area planning processes. My Department has undertaken extensive research into the development issues and challenges of the nine Hub towns. This work culminated in the publication in June 2007 of the report, NSS Hubs – Development Issues and Challenges, which is available on the Department's website – www.environ.ie — and the dedicated NSS website – www.irishspatialstrategy.ie. Based on responses to a comprehensive questionnaire completed by each of the hub local authorities, the study provides a detailed description of the current status of the hubs, identifies the many development issues and challenges associated with the hubs and makes recommendations to support and advance future hub growth and development. On foot of this study, my Department is considering how best to implement the recommendations at both central and local Government levels.

Responsibility has been assigned to my colleague, Minister of State Batt O'Keeffe, to support work at central and local government levels to secure better co-ordination and timely delivery of key infrastructure and services in fast growing developing areas. The initial focus is on strategic locations which are experiencing significant development pressures within the gateways and hubs.

Electoral Boundaries.

Dara Calleary

Question:

668 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the review committee on local government electoral boundaries will take public submissions; and the proposed timescale for these submissions. [3057/08]

On 8 January 2008 I announced that I had established two committees to review local electoral areas. These committees are independent in the performance of their functions. I understand, however, from public notices that the committees have established a website (www.electoralareacommittees.ie) and have invited submissions which should be received no later than 14 March 2008.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Dara Calleary

Question:

669 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress on a sewerage scheme (details supplied) in County Mayo. [3058/08]

The Kiltimagh Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 as a scheme to start construction in 2008.

My Department is awaiting submission of Mayo County Council's Tender Report for the scheme.

Motor Taxation.

Joe McHugh

Question:

670 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason a person (details supplied) has had the tax on their car increased by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3070/08]

The Financial Resolution passed by Dáil Eireann on 5 December 2007 provides for motor tax increases of 9.5% for cars below 2.5 litres and 11% for cars above that threshold, with effect from 1 February 2008. The same motor tax rate applies to both new and imported cars.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

671 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3090/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

672 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3105/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 672 together.

The information requested is set out in the table below. The budget figures listed refer to funding provided by my Department to the agencies. Some agencies are funded by local authority contributions or own resources from fees etc. A combination of income from the Department, local authorities and own resources would also apply in some cases.

Name of body/board

Date of establishment

Budget

Year applicable

Affordable Homes Partnership

2005

1,100,000

2005

26,835,263

2006

26,960,737

2007

An Bord Pleanála

1977

10,823,000

2003

12,510,000

2004

12,074,000

2005

13,609,000

2006

15,990,000

2007

Building Regulations Advisory Body

1998

18,000

2003

19,000

2004

19,000

2005

20,000

2006

20,000

2007

An Chomhairle Leabharlanna

1947

N/A

2003

N/A

2004

N/A

2005

N/A

2006

N/A

2007

Comhar Sustainable Development Council

1999

250,000

2003

227,800

2004

156,500

2005

320,000

2006

320,000

2007

Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board

1998

33,868

2003

72,559

2004

64,102

2005

89,886

2006

100,000

2007

Dublin Docklands Development Authority

1997

N/A

2003

N/A

2004

N/A

2005

N/A

2006

N/A

2007

Environmental Protection Agency

1993

20,357,000

2003

24,064,000

2004

25,051,000

2005

29,099,000

2006

39,659,000

2007

Fire Services Council

1983

372,000

2003

377,000

2004

435,000

2005

379,000

2006

634,000

2007

The Heritage Council

1995

9,370,000

2003

10,178,000

2004

8,987,000

2005

10,970,000

2006

11,800,000

2007

Housing Finance Agency

1981

N/A

2003

N/A

2004

N/A

2005

N/A

2006

N/A

2007

Irish Water Safety

1999

447,000

2003

423,390

2004

553,000

2005

582,000

2006

604,000

2007

Limerick Northside Regeneration Agency

June 2007

€1.13 million was made available in 2007 between the Limerick Northside and the Limerick Southside Regeneration Agencies in respect of salary, start up and other costs associated with work on the regeneration process.

2007

Limerick Southside Regeneration Agency

June 2007

See above

2007

Local Government Computer Services Board

1975

N/A

2003

N/A

2004

N/A

2005

N/A

2006

N/A

2007

Local Government Management Services Board

1997

N/A

2003

N/A

2004

N/A

2005

N/A

2006

N/A

2007

National Building Agency

1960

N/A

2003

N/A

2004

N/A

2005

N/A

2006

N/A

2007

Private Residential Tenancies Board

2004

267,259

2004

2,176,992

2005

3,480,435

2006

5,739,940

2007

Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII)

1992

3,068,000

2003

3,310,000

2004

3,663,000

2005

4,662,000

2006

3,971,000

2007

The Rent Tribunal

1983

85,760

2003

99,966

2004

64,282

2005

187,661

2006

53,000

2007

Water Quality.

Joe Costello

Question:

673 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of defective or failed waste and water treatment systems brought to the attention of his Department in each county in the past five years; if he is satisfied that the regulations governing the construction, maintenance and monitoring of these systems are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3124/08]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) produces regular reports on municipal waste water discharges, including treatment standards, and on the quality of drinking water supplies in Ireland. The Agency's most recent reports "Urban Waste Water Discharges in Ireland – A Report for the Years 2004 and 2005" and "The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland – A Report for the Years 2006 – 2007" are available in the Oireachtas Library.

The Drinking Water (No 2) Regulations 2007 strengthened the enforcement provisions in relation to drinking water standards. The regulations provide for the supervision of local authority drinking water supplies by the EPA. Local authorities continue to be responsible for supervising group water scheme supplies but all monitoring programmes are now subject to approval by the Agency. The Agency is required to supervise the performance by local authorities of their monitoring functions. Penalties for non-compliance with the requirements of the Regulations have been increased considerably with the inclusion of indictable offence provisions, and supervisory authorities now have powers of direct intervention if necessary to ensure compliance with their instructions.

In the case of waste water, the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations, 2007, which I made in September 2007, provide for the authorisation and compliance monitoring by the Agency of discharges from local authority waste water treatment works and collection systems to all types of receiving waters. The Regulations implement aspects of the Dangerous Substances and Water Framework Directives and will ensure that waste water discharges into surface waters, groundwater and coastal waters will meet highest international standards.

Decentralisation Programme.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

674 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the decentralisation of part of his Department to Waterford City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3135/08]

Under the decentralisation programme, all Dublin based operations of my Department are being decentralised, with the exception of Met Éireann, ENFO, the Private Rented Tenancies Board and a small co-ordination section which it is proposed to retain in Dublin to assist with the Department's Dáil and other business. A total of 682 Dublin based posts will be transferred to four locations in the South East: Wexford (270 posts); Waterford (225 posts); New Ross (125 posts) and Kilkenny (62 posts).

The OPW identified a suitable site in Waterford City for the Department's offices and purchase terms have been agreed with Waterford City Council. The contract for sale for the 2.9 acre site located at Bolton Street/Catherine Street was signed on 12 December 2007.

The indicative timescale for the completion of the Department's offices in Waterford as set out in the Progress Report (September 2007) from the Decentralisation Implementation Group is Quarter 3, 2010.

Departmental Bodies.

Joe Costello

Question:

675 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he has taken to regulate the adult entertainment industry; if he has set up a working group on this matter; the composition and terms of reference of this working group; when the working group will report; if there will be a public consultation on the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3142/08]

In 2007 my Department established a task force to examine the regulatory context around the siting and location of adult entertainment venues. The task force is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; the Office of the Revenue Commissioners; An Garda Síochána; and Dublin City Council.

The task force has met on a number of occasions, and its work has been informed by detailed consideration of a range of issues based on agreed terms of reference (set out below). Given the relevance of a number of different statutory codes to this matter, it is not clear that planning regulation alone can adequately support an appropriate and effective local control regime, and the interaction of these various codes needs to be examined to ensure that the best possible approach is taken.

I understand that the task force is close to finalising its work and I expect to receive a draft report shortly. On completion of a final report, I will, in consultation with Government colleagues, consider appropriate measures to progress the issues raised.

In advance of any new proposals, local authorities should use the powers currently available to them under the planning code, such as the development plan process, to ensure that new late night entertainment venues are not inappropriately located, for example in quiet residential areas.

Agreed Terms of Reference

To define which types of premises are at issue for the purposes of the deliberations of the taskforce.

To examine, with reference to the planning code, the various codes which apply to those premises to establish the interfaces and identify the existence of any regulatory ‘gaps'.

To establish how synergies between the planning code and other codes can be exploited to close any identified gaps in the existing regulatory framework.

To examine issues in relation to how the siting and land-use implications of such premises complement their licensing and wider regulation.

To make recommendations for any further work required in this area.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

676 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3163/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

677 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3178/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

678 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3193/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 676 to 678, inclusive, together.

It is not feasible to separate taskforces from a variety of administrative arrangements such as working or action groups, steering committees or project teams which are routine and efficient mechanisms for the management of a range of projects and tasks and for the delivery of the business objectives contained in my Department's successive Statements of Strategy. The detailed information sought is not readily available and because of the number of such arrangements its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

679 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3208/08]

Details of the non-property cost of decentralisation incurred by my Department by end Quarter 3 2007 are set out in the table below. These costs, which have been incurred in relation to the establishment of an advance office in Wexford in June 2007, cover training, travel and subsistence, IT facilities and office administration.

Year

2005

Q3

4,622

Q4

4,400

2006

Q3

1,657

Q4

4,099

2007

Q1

1,590

Q3

68,102

Leo Varadkar

Question:

680 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3223/08]

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 1317, 1413, 1417 and 1418 of 30 January 2008 which provides the requested details in relation to the decentralisation of my Department.

Social and Affordable Housing.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

681 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number with regard to the operation of the Affordable Housing Partnership in 2007, of affordable housing units provided by the agency; the number occupied and the net cost thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3243/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

682 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number with regard to the operation of the Affordable Housing Partnership in 2006, of affordable housing units provided to date by the agency; the number occupied and the net cost thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3244/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 681 and 682 together.

Since its establishment in 2005, the Affordable Homes Partnership has played a key role in progressing a range of affordable housing issues, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area. Its areas of activity have included measures to promote common approaches to the implementation of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 – 2006, secure improved affordable housing information, source additional land for affordable housing and advance a number of direct procurement projects.

In terms of the direct delivery of additional affordable homes, the Partnership's activities have included the exchange of a number of State properties for affordable housing and a programme of purchases in the housing market. The three land exchanges undertaken to date (the first of which was commenced by Dublin City Council prior to the Partnership's establishment) have yielded 497 affordable homes – the total cost, in terms of the value of the land exchanged in return for discounts on affordable houses, was some €56.5m. The sales of 408 of these were completed by end 2006, with 28 further sales completed in 2007. The sales of the remaining 61 homes are expected to be completed by end February 2008.

The Partnership also contracted to purchase 502 homes in the open market in the Greater Dublin Area in a process undertaken in late 2006/early 2007. At the end of 2007, the sales of 186 of these homes had been completed and the sale of the remaining 316 homes continues to be progressed with a view to completion as early as possible this year. The net cost to the Exchequer of the discounts for the 502 homes was just under €50 million.

Special Amenity Areas.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

683 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a wood and lake (details supplied) in County Laois are under the remit of his Department; if so, the steps his Department have taken to maintain the same area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3324/08]

Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough are State-owned nature reserves, managed by my Department, which undertakes routine management and maintenance works in the area.

With the support of funding from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the Native Woodland Scheme works will begin shortly involving the replacement of non-native species with native species such as oak and the upgrading of paths for improved public access.

Enda Kenny

Question:

684 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his position on the need to preserve the Liffey Valley in west County Dublin and north County Kildare as a permanent area of natural heritage protected from future development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3355/08]

I refer to the reply to Question No. 1357 of 30 January 2008 which noted that a special amenity area order for the Liffey Valley from Lucan Bridge to the city boundary was confirmed by the Minister on 8 March 1990. That order offers extensive protection to the area, under the planning code, from inappropriate development.

The Liffey Valley site is important because of the diversity of the habitats within the site, and for that reason, the area has been proposed as a Natural Heritage Area. It is also protected as such in the Local Authority Development Plans covering the area.

Hunting Licences.

James Bannon

Question:

685 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in relation to the granting of a licence to a hunt (details supplied), in view of the important role it plays in the equestrian sector, the service it provides to farmers and the role it plays in the rural community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3357/08]

Section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976 provides that I may grant to the master or other person in charge of a pack of stag hounds, a licence authorising the hunting of deer by that pack, during such period or periods as is or are specified in the licence.

The Ward Union Hunt applied to my Department for a hunting licence for the 2007/2008 season. In my consideration of the licence application I raised a number of issues of serious concern with the Ward Union Hunt including in relation to animal welfare, conservation and protection of stags generally and compliance with previous licence conditions. Meetings were held between my Department and representatives of the Ward Union Hunt and correspondence was exchanged with the Hunt in order to convey my serious concerns and provide them with an opportunity to address these concerns.

Following these deliberations I decided in December 2007 to issue a licence to the Hunt subject to twenty-eight conditions. I am of the view that the licence subject to these conditions will allow for the hunting of stags in a manner which is consistent with considerations of animal welfare, conservation and protection of stags.

I understand from media reports that the Ward Union Hunt has initiated a High Court challenge to the new conditions in the licence.

Animal Welfare.

James Bannon

Question:

686 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will exempt hunt kennels from the provisions of legislation or ministerial order regarding dog breeding establishments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3359/08]

Work is underway in my Department on the preparation of regulations to implement the majority recommendations of the Working Group to Review the Management of Dog Breeding Establishments. The question of whether or not to provide exemptions for specific types of organisations, or breeding establishments, from the requirements of the proposed regulations is being considered in the context of this work.

Social and Affordable Housing.

Michael McGrath

Question:

687 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 583 of 16 October 2007, the position in relation to a local authority social and affordable housing project (details supplied) in County Cork. [3362/08]

My Department has recently written to the local authority indicating that it is favourably disposed to the advancement of this project as a mixed development, to include the construction of a primary school.

To advance the project, my Department has indicated that it would be prepared to consider the early development of part of the site for sheltered and affordable housing. The local authority has been advised to submit a revised plan seeking approval to proceed to Part 8 of the planning process.

Natural Heritage Areas.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

688 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there are plans to turn Spike Island into a natural heritage site, complete with a visitors centre. [3511/08]

The Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000 defines a Natural Heritage Area (NHA) as "an area which is worthy of conservation for one or more species, communities, habitats, landforms or geological or geomorphological features, or for its diversity of natural attributes". I do not propose to designate Spike Island as a Natural Heritage Area as there is no scientific basis on which to do so.

In accordance with the provisions of section 8(i) of the National Tourism Development Authority Act, 2003, it is a matter for Fáilte Ireland, which is within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, to encourage, promote and support either inside or outside the State (a) the development of tourism traffic within and to the State and (b) the development and marketing of tourist facilities and services within the State.

Local Authority Funding.

Martin Ferris

Question:

689 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the capital funding to local authorities for the development of playgrounds as promised under the National Development Plan will be reinstated for 2008; if moneys that should have been awarded for 2007 will be paid; and when an announcement can be expected. [3645/08]

Grant aid in respect of 161 playgrounds has been awarded to local authorities by my Department under the 2004, 2005 and 2006 playground schemes. Progress with the completion of these projects is a matter for the individual local authorities and time scales have varied considerably due to a range of planning and procurement issues locally. Consideration of a scheme in 2007 was deferred to allow local authorities to make progress with over 80 outstanding projects. I expect to make an announcement regarding a new scheme this year.

Departmental Strategy Statements.

Simon Coveney

Question:

690 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Action Plan for Green Public Procurement was published in 2007 as scheduled; and if not, when it will be published. [3710/08]

The Action Plan on Green Public Procurement is still in preparation and will be published later this year.

Building Regulations.

Simon Coveney

Question:

691 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the revised part L building standards regulations, due to come into force in 2008 and to achieve up to 40% improvement on current standards, will come into force. [3711/08]

I signed the Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 2007 on 24 December 2007, thus meeting my commitment under the Programme for Government in full. These new regulations amend Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the Building Regulations to provide for a minimum of a 40% improvement in energy efficiency and a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions in new dwellings.

The Regulations apply to the construction of new dwellings from 1 July 2008. This operative date is subject to a transitional arrangement in relation to new dwellings for which planning permission or approval is applied for on or before 30 June 2008 and where substantial work has been completed by 30 June 2009.

Planning Issues.

Simon Coveney

Question:

692 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the Guidelines on Sustainable Development due to be published in draft for consultation in autumn 2007 will be published. [3712/08]

I refer to the reply to Question No. 1339 of 30 January 2007. I intend to issue a public consultation draft of Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas in the very near future: the public consultation period will last 12 weeks. These draft guidelines will update and replace my Department's 1999 Residential Density Guidelines for Planning Authorities.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

John O'Mahony

Question:

693 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding his Department has given to sewerage schemes in County Mayo in each of the years 2002 to 2007; if he will list those schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3750/08]

Details of the sewerage schemes in County Mayo for which recoupments were made by my Department to Mayo County Council under the Water Services Investment Programme in the period 2002 to 2007 are set out in the following Table. In addition, my Department made block grant allocations to Mayo County Council in each of these years in respect of small public water and sewerage schemes under the devolved Rural Water Programme. Details of the schemes funded from these annual allocations may be obtained from the Council.

Water Services Investment Programme 2002-2007

Mayo Sewerage Schemes

Sewerage Schemes

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Achill Sound Sewerage Scheme

342,917

292,505

258,269

301,944

Balla Sewerage Scheme — SLI

32,505

28,261

Ballina Main Drainage Stage 2 (Phase 1)

686,727

286,956

101,787

1,448,050

11,515,185

1,988,776

Ballina Main Drainage Stage 2 (Phase 1) — Killala Road & Swinford Road — SLI

169,276

Ballindine Sewerage — SLI

58,915

92,025

Ballinrobe Sewerage & Sewage Disposal Scheme — Extensions to Castlebar

55,613

Ballycastle Sewerage Scheme — SLI

32,505

Ballyhaunis Sewerage

387,331

Bangor Erris Sewerage

12,697

Belmullet Sewerage

322,636

29,480

Bonniconlon Sewerage

213,504

Castlebar Environs Sewerage

1,718,553

1,878,149

2,619,989

2,926,878

13,562,191

9,180,209

Castlebar Environs Sewerage Scheme Advance Section

155,312

13,307

Castlebar Environs Sewerage Scheme — Ext to Moneen

552,413

329,509

Castlebar Environs Sewerage Scheme-Ext to Saleen

196,343

42,068

Castlebar Environs Sewerage Scheme — McHale Road Advance Section

1,014,957

Castlebar Environs Sewerage Scheme — Outfall Extension

4,786,344

429,799

27,615

449,668

Castlebar Environs Sewerage Scheme Stage 2 — Castlehill Advance Section

301,562

7,936

Claremorris Sewerage

2,327,514

25,395

69,642

Cong Sewerage Scheme

1,141,398

540,596

371,053

Crossmolina Sewerage Scheme

4,990,014

3,279,665

808,929

25,919

1,922,715

Doogort Sewerage Scheme Resort Scheme Proposal

103,079

Foxford Sewerage Scheme

132,148

154,467

19,141

Killala Sewerage Scheme Stage 3

396,580

39,942

390,543

Kiltimagh Sewerage

164,114

363,352

40,519

Knock Sewerage & Sewage Disposal (Stage 1)

4,273,835

7,307,658

2,986,204

360,948

Knock Sewerage Scheme –Carrowmore Extension — SLI

38,400

21,224

Louisburgh Sewerage SLI

56,885

Louisburgh Westport Road Sewerage Scheme — SLI

22,437

15,978

Mayo Sludge Management Plan

76,377

Mulranny Sewerage Scheme –Ext to Murreveagh -SLI

60,000

36,000

75,134

Newport Sewerage

157,582

68,005

279,246

Shrule Sewerage Scheme Stage 2 (Dalgan) — SLI

101,579

82,670

Swinford Sewerage

50,786

Tourmakeady Sewerage Scheme — Ext On Finney Road -SLI

20,000

12,000

20,107

Westport Sewerage & Sewage Disposal

19,489,873

10,521,610

1,907,459

Totals

33,549,655

27,785,396

16,916,853

6,940,736

27,110,825

11,895,923

Note: "SLI" indicates a scheme undertaken under the Serviced Land Initiative — a sub-programme of the Water Services Investment Programme.

John O'Mahony

Question:

694 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding his Department is allocating to sewerage schemes in County Mayo; if he will list those schemes and the stages they are at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3751/08]

Details of approved sewerage schemes in County Mayo, including estimated costs and timeframes, are set out in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Details of schemes funded from the annual block grants allocated by my Department to Mayo County Council may be obtained from the Council.

Social and Affordable Housing.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

695 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the date on which he plans to publish a new housing strategy for people with disabilities; if his attention has been drawn to the drastic shortages of social housing and housing within the community available for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3770/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

696 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he plans to ensure that local authorities and the Health Service Executive work in partnership to ensure that the housing needs of people with disabilities are adequately identified; when this plan will be implemented; and the strategy that will be used. [3771/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

699 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many people with disabilities are often only able to avail of part-time or low income work; if he has plans to introduce an affordable housing scheme for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3774/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 695, 696 and 699 together.

The Government's Housing Policy Statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, published in 2007, reflects the commitment in Towards 2016 to develop a national housing strategy for people with a disability which will give a broad framework to inform the future development of local authority Housing Action Plans. Work has commenced on the development of this strategy, which is being progressed by a National Advisory Group under the aegis of the Housing Forum, headed by my Department and involving the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive, social partners and other relevant stakeholders including the National Disability Authority. The strategy, which will be developed by end 2009, will support the provision of tailored housing and housing supports for people with a disability, and will have particular regard to adults with significant disabilities and people who experience mental health issues. It will be designed to reflect the diverse housing needs of people with a disability and ensure that the appropriate structures and supports, to deliver effectively on these needs, are in place.

In terms of assisting with works to provide additional or adapted accommodation, a new Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability was introduced with effect from 1 November 2007. Under the new scheme, the grant has increased from €20,320 to an effective maximum grant of €30,000, which may now cover up to 95% of the cost of the works, compared to 90% previously. In addition, it is open to persons with a disability to apply for affordable housing, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria, principally relating to income, and demonstrating the financial capacity to service the mortgage costs involved.

Under the framework of Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, protocols for inter-agency co-operation will be developed with regard to all special needs housing where there is a care dimension to the supports required. Specifically, in the area of housing for people with a disability, protocols are being developed to deal with cooperation between the HSE and housing authorities in order to provide a strategic framework for inter agency cooperation at local level.

My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, the HSE and local authorities, has developed a protocol governing liaison between the HSE and housing authorities on the assessment of the individual accommodation needs of people with a disability, who have been assessed under Part 2 of the Disability Act, 2005 and identified as being likely to require housing support. This protocol, which has been in operation since July 2007, ensures that there is a smooth and transparent system to facilitate referral between the HSE and housing authorities in these cases.

A further protocol to govern liaison between the HSE and housing authorities in relation to a strategic assessment of the nature and extent of local housing needs of people with a disability will be developed in the context of the housing strategy for people with a disability. This protocol will improve the capturing of data in relation to the housing needs of people with a disability.

Building Regulations.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

697 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the review of the Building Regulations Part M will be completed. [3772/08]

Part M of the Building Regulations deals with Access for People with Disabilities.

In accordance with the commitment given in my Department's Outline Sectoral Plan published under Section 36 of the Disability Act 2005, a comprehensive review of Part M and the related Technical Guidance Document, TGD-M, was initiated. Comments were invited from the public/disability bodies on necessary amendments to Part M.

More than 40 detailed submissions were received under this public consultation process. Following consideration of these submissions, a preliminary draft of Part M and TGD-M has been presented to the statutory Building Regulations Advisory Body (BRAB). A sub-group of BRAB has been appointed to advance a comprehensive review of the draft documents. I intend to publish draft amendments for a final round of public consultation which will be completed by the middle of 2008, with a view to making new Regulations thereafter.

Local Authority Housing.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

698 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the numbers of people on local authority social housing waiting lists for each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3773/08]

The most recent assessment of need for social housing was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005. The results of that assessment indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists. Data in relation to these assessments for each housing authority are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. The next statutory assessment of housing need is due to be undertaken by housing authorities in March 2008.

Question No. 699 answered with Question No. 695.
Question No. 700 answered with Question No. 661.

Services for People with Disabilities.

David Stanton

Question:

701 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 53 of 14 November 2007, if beaches are included for the purposes of accessibility audits and implementation plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3853/08]

My Department's Sectoral Plan made under section 36 of the Disability Act 2005, which covers Local Government, provides for accessibility audits and implementation plans to be drawn up by local authorities. These plans would include measures to facilitate access by persons with disabilities to public roads, other public places and to other services provided by local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to decide whether some or all of the beaches in its functional area should be included in its accessibility audit and implementation plan.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

702 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3862/08]

Parliamentary questions are dealt with by staff in the line sections responsible for the particular issues raised in the questions. The number and level of staff, and time spent, on an individual draft reply depends on a number of factors including the complexity of the issues raised in the question, the volume and accessibility of information required for the proposed reply and the form of the proposed reply, i.e. whether oral or written. As no record is kept of the time taken by Departmental officials in formulating draft replies, it is not possible to indicate the total administrative cost involved.

Animal Welfare.

Michael Creed

Question:

703 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the arrangements in place in his Department for the licensing, supervision and inspection of puppy farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3904/08]

In the light of concerns raised about the absence of regulation of commercial dog breeding establishments, my predecessor established a Working Group to consider regulating such establishments under the Control of Dogs Acts.

The majority report of the Working Group contained a number of recommendations, including the introduction of statutorily enforceable standards for the dog breeding industry in Ireland, and proposed the introduction of a registration system for dog breeding establishments.

Following extensive public consultation on the matter which showed that, while there is some opposition to the majority recommendations, there is general support for regulation in this area, work has been ongoing in my Department on the preparation of regulations to give legal effect to the majority recommendations of the Working Group. I hope to finalise these regulations shortly.

Local Authority Housing.

Jack Wall

Question:

704 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the guidelines or the policy of his Department in relation to contracts funded by Department funding for local authority housing or voluntary housing in relation to the employment of unionised employees either by the main contractor or by sub contractors in relation to the employment opportunities that such contracts determine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3907/08]

My Department issued a circular to housing authorities on 27 June 2007 dealing with revised arrangements for the procurement of public works projects and for the engagement and payment of construction consultants.

The conditions of contract applying to all public works contracts include a provision that the rates of pay and conditions of employment are no less favourable than those for the relevant category of work person in any employment agreements registered under the Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 2004. This clause covers all employees regardless of their union status.

Decentralisation Programme.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

705 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the decentralisation of Ordnance Survey Ireland to Dungarvan, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3134/08]

Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, 199 posts in Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) are due to transfer to Dungarvan, County Waterford. At present 16 staff have been recruited to posts relocating since the announcement of the Programme and some 57 staff have a relocation clause in their employment contract.

The Government has always recognised that the State agency aspect of the Programme presents different challenges from that of the Civil Service but is determined to make progress towards the objectives announced in December 2003. With a view to further advancing this element of the Programme, the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) is engaging in a round of meetings with each agency's CEO and the Secretary General of its parent Department.

I understand that a site has been purchased by the OPW and that OSi has agreed the details of the accommodation brief for the new headquarters building with them. It is expected that tender documents will be completed and tenders invited later this month. Following receipt and evaluation of tenders, the preferred tenderer will be selected and required to submit an application for planning permission. On receipt of satisfactory planning permission the preferred tenderer will be asked to prepare contract documentation in order to enable a contract to be placed. Construction work will commence on the site thereafter.

Departmental Bodies.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

706 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the statutory bodies for which he has responsibility; and the date of establishment of each of these statutory bodies. [3085/08]

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

707 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3100/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 706 and 707 together.

The Statutory Bodies, including establishment dates, for which I have responsibility, are detailed in the following table.

The annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body can be found in the annual reports and accounts published by each of these bodies, which should be available through the library of the Houses.

Board Name

Date of Establishment

An Post

1st January 1984

Commission for Communications Regulation

1st December 2002

Digital Hub Development Agency

21st July 2003

RTÉ

Radio 1st January 1926: Television 31st December 1961

TG4

1st April 2007

Broadcasting Commission of Ireland

IRTC was established on 17th October 1988 (Broadcasting Act, 2001 effective 1/9/01 resulted in the change of name for the Independent Radio and Television Commission to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI))

Broadcasting Complaints Commission

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission was established by the Government in 1977 under Section 18A of the Broadcasting Act, 1960, inserted by Section 4 of the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1976.

Central Fisheries BoardRegional Fisheries Boards (7)

29th October 198029th October 1980

ESB

11th August 1927

EirGrid

1st July 2006

Bord Gáis Éireann

13th September 1976

Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)

Commission for Electricity regulation established on 14th July 1999. The functions of the CER along with its name were changed by the Gas (Interim Regulation) Act, 2002.

Bord Na Móna

31st December 1946

Irish National Petroleum Corporation Ltd

29th June 1979

Loughs Agency

2nd December 1999

National Oil Reserves Agency

1st August 2007

National Salmon Commission

21st March 2000

Sustainable Energy Ireland

1st May 2002

Mining Board

Established under the Minerals Development Act, 1940

Ordnance Survey of Ireland

4th March 2002.

Telecommunications Services.

Dara Calleary

Question:

708 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress of the national broadband scheme; when he expects the tender to be awarded; and when the roll out of the scheme will commence. [3123/08]

The procurement process for a National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is under way. The NBS will provide broadband services to areas that are currently unserved and will ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband in unserved areas are met.

The first phase of the procurement process (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)) is now complete, and four candidates pre-qualified to enter the next phase of the procurement process. As my Department indicated on 2 September 2007, the four candidates were, in alphabetical order, BT Communications Ireland Ltd Consortium, eircom Ltd, Hutchinson 3G Ireland Ltd and IFA/Motorola Consortium.

Following the withdrawal of the IFA/Motorola Consortium as a candidate the remaining three candidates have now commenced "Competitive Dialogue" with the Department and are developing their proposed solutions to meet the Department's requirements for the delivery of broadband to the unserved areas of the country. It is anticipated that a preferred bidder will be selected and appointed in June 2008, with rollout to commence as soon as possible thereafter, subject to agreement with the chosen candidate.

Departmental Bodies.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

709 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3158/08]

There are no task forces operating in my Department at this time.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

710 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3173/08]

Leo Varadkar

Question:

711 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3188/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 710 and 711 together.

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources was established in June 2007. The majority of current Departmental functions arise from significant transfer of responsibilities between Departments in 2002, 2006 and again in 2007.

The identification of records prior to January 2006 cannot be facilitated without undue commitment of staff resources and administrative cost. However, if the Deputy has a question in relation to a specific item I will make appropriate enquiries. The information sought by the Deputy as and from 1 January 2006 is set out below.

Title of Task Force

Date of establishment

Recommendations

Progress on implementation of Recommendations

Details of any rejected recommendations

Cost

Independent Group established to examine the implications of alignment with scientific advice for the commercial salmon fishing sector in 2007 and beyond.

March 2006

Establishment of a Salmon Hardship Fund amounting to €30 million — €25 million in respect of a Salmon Hardship Scheme and €5 million in respect of a Community Support Scheme; the level of payments to be made and attaching conditions.

The Salmon Hardship Fund was established. The Salmon Hardship Scheme is being administered by BIM. The scheme closed from 31 December 2007.The Community Support Scheme is to be administered by the LEADER companies under the supervision of this Department in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA). Details of the scheme will be announced shortly. Available funds will be allocated to those affected fishery districts, proportionate to the impact of the cessation of the mixed stock fishery.

While the Independent Group recommended a once off payment, the Government decided to permit the spread of payments under the Salmon Hardship Scheme over a 3-year period.

€69,355

Decentralisation Programme.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

712 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the non-property cost of decentralisation for each quarter since the project was initiated with regard to his Department’s quarterly return to the Decentralisation Implementation Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3203/08]

The total non-property costs incurred by the Department in respect of the Government's decentralisation programme and reported to date to the Department of Finance are €104,538. This expenditure relates to advance moves of functions and staff resources to Cavan and Clonakilty.

The majority of costs relates to the relocation of the entire seafood functions to Clonakilty and as the Deputy will be aware, subsequent to the relocation of staff to Clonakilty being completed, these functions were transferred to the now Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

713 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of civil and public servants in his Department who have been decentralised to date; the number who will be decentralised in total under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3218/08]

As part of the Government's decentralisation programme, the headquarters of my Department is scheduled to relocate to Cavan at the end of 2010. This will involve the relocation of approximately 300 civil service posts. An advance party of 45 is currently in situ in Cavan.

Telecommunications Services.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

714 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps being taken to effect the roll-out of broadband in County Offaly; the steps being taken to provide broadband facilities in the Blueball, Tullamore and its surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3284/08]

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Details of broadband services throughout the country are available on my Department's broadband website www.broadband.gov.ie.

The role of the Government is to formulate regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services by competing private sector service providers. The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These include providing grant-aid under the recently concluded Group Broadband Scheme and investment in Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs).

There are still some parts of the country where the private sector will be unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, the procurement process for a National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is under way. The NBS will provide broadband services to areas that are currently unserved and will ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband in unserved areas are met.

The first phase of the procurement process (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)) is now complete, and four candidates pre-qualified to enter the next phase of the procurement process. As my Department indicated on 2 September 2007, the four candidates were, in alphabetical order, BT Communications Ireland Ltd Consortium, eircom Ltd, Hutchinson 3G Ireland Ltd and IFA/Motorola Consortium.

Following the withdrawal of the IFA/Motorola Consortium as a candidate the remaining three candidates have now commenced "Competitive Dialogue" with my Department and are developing their proposed solutions to meet my Department's requirements for the delivery of broadband to the unserved areas of the country. It is anticipated that a preferred bidder will be selected and appointed in June 2008, with rollout to commence as soon as possible thereafter, subject to agreement with the chosen candidate.

Natural Gas Grid.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

715 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there are plans to extend a natural gas supply to Youghal. [3509/08]

I have no statutory functions with regard to the connection of towns to the gas network. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory independent body, has, since 2002, been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002.

Acting in this capacity, the CER in 2006 approved a new network connections policy, which provided an opportunity to reconsider the feasibility of connecting certain towns to the gas network. In order for any town to be connected to the gas network, certain economic criteria need to be satisfied as a prerequisite. This is to ensure that, over a certain period, the costs of connecting the town to the network are recouped through the consumption of gas and the associated tariffs. The new policy allows for the appraisal of a new town either on its own or as part of a regional group of towns. In this context, Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) is carrying out a comprehensive study of towns not already connected to the national gas network.

The BGÉ New Towns Study (under the new criteria set out in the Connections Policy) is being carried out in three Phases. Phase 2 of this assessment of towns was completed in October of last year, and included consideration of Youghal and Dungarvan as part of a regional group of towns. I am advised that connection of these towns was determined to be economically non-viable at the time. However, these towns will be kept under review as part of an ongoing review process. BGÉ has a dedicated e-mail address, newtowns@bge.ie, should you have any queries with regard to this study.

Alternative Energy Projects.

Simon Coveney

Question:

716 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Sustainable Energy Ireland extended the energy agreements programme to the small and medium enterprise sector during 2007 as scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3707/08]

In December 2006, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) was requested by my Department to initiate a pilot extension of its energy services for business, based on engaging a wider range of firms, especially SMEs, and testing the effectiveness of the energy agreements approach across the enterprise sector.

SEI accordingly developed and implemented a new programme in 2007, with particular emphasis on small and medium size enterprises. The enhanced level of activity has seen SEI engage directly with up to 1,000 firms across all sectors, including over 700 in the small and medium categories, as well as many stakeholders and service providers.

External evaluation of the support programmes indicates that energy savings to business worth over €24 million annually will result directly from these programmes. SEI has used the evaluation to inform design of further support programmes for business, which will continue in 2008.

Energy Efficiency.

Simon Coveney

Question:

717 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the Power of One awareness campaign was extended to an all-island campaign during 2007 as scheduled; and if not, when it will become an all-island campaign. [3708/08]

In the context of continuing cooperation with Northern Ireland to mutual economic and social benefit on energy matters, I have agreed with Minister Nigel Dodds that the scope for further cooperation on energy efficiency initiatives will continue to be explored. Both Departments are working together to this end. In the meantime respective energy efficiency awareness campaigns are continuing North and South.

EU Funding.

John O'Mahony

Question:

718 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the names of the programmes and schemes operated by his Department which were or continue to be funded in full or in part by the European Union; the amount of funding in each case since Ireland joined the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3757/08]

The following table sets out the EU funding received by the Department for programmes and schemes administered by the Department and agencies under its remit as and from 1 January 1997. It should be noted that the receipts relate to the specific responsibilities that were under the Department's remit at the time received. The receipts are shown primarily on an activity related basis. It would require a substantial amount of work to translate each of these figures to a programme basis and the associated costs could not be justified.

The identification of records prior to January 1997 cannot be facilitated without undue commitment of staff resources and administrative cost. However, if the Deputy has a question in relation to a specific item I will make appropriate enquiries.

EU Receipts received by Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources since 1997

Year

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Technical Assistance

34,876

Tourism OP

59,811

Harbour Works

564,368

Fisheries Conservation

221,464

291,800

520,816

50,000

515,030

44,501

529,239

53,395

801,539

Inland Fisheries Boards

697,654

49,856

263,017

140,635

Forest Service

14,583,846

48,084,050

57,266,314

57,367,249

39,444,031

60,641,898

44,358,963

Aquaculture

1,721,849

2,453,497

4,217,275

3,503,077

6,819,070

1,876,121

Marine Institute

480,593

1,747,374

2,447,966

1,999,252

536,761

803,616

1,643,550

2,499,339

2,969,522

1,654,394

3,100,000

BIM

9,845,248

5,046,624

10,272,229

9,987,257

3,808,000

253,270

120,000

57,000

Interreg

235,500

195,894

78,910

Salmon Research Agency

18,729

11,346

156,687

Coillte Teo

57,179

100,778

145,191

81,704

119,777

119,997

15,111

Sustainable Energy Ireland

9,100,000

19,506

56,604

Electricity Supply Board

3,848,862

12,000,000

Formation of Fish Producers Organisations

57,830

Advance for new Fisheries OP

4,746,000

FIFG Fisheries

3,268,521

4,343,518

16,360,352

5,223,371

1,849,964

ESF Element of Fisheries OP 94-99

198,683

Vessel Monitoring System

368,925

Contributions to Conferences

63,460

Peace II Initiative

189,001

753,466

472,962

Euro

25,904,713

55,956,007

70,844,079

69,778,792

49,554,494

76,280,723

64,467,564

11,192,437

24,339,651

14,889,922

7,496,682

Decentralisation Programme.

Denis Naughten

Question:

719 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the decentralisation of the Central Fisheries Board to Carrick-on-Shannon; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3827/08]

The decentralisation of the Central Fisheries Board under the Government's programme involves the relocation 62 posts to Carrick-on-Shannon. To date, none of these posts has been decentralised. At present 20 staff have been recruited to posts relocating since the announcement of the Programme and some 20 staff have a relocation clause in their employment contract.

The Government has always recognised that the State agency aspect of the Programme presents different challenges from that of the Civil Service but is determined to make progress towards the objectives announced in December 2003. With a view to further advancing this element of the Programme, the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) is engaging in a round of meetings with each agency's CEO and the Secretary General of its parent Department.

The Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) has not included the Central Fisheries Board among the State Agencies ascribed early mover status. Property issues in relation to the Decentralisation Programme are a matter for the Office of Public Works (OPW). However, I understand from the Central Fisheries Board's ongoing liaison with the OPW, that a suitable accommodation solution for the Board has not yet been identified in Carrick-on-Shannon. In that regard no firm timelines have as yet been established and no costs have been incurred.

Departmental Expenditure.

Charlie O'Connor

Question:

720 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3857/08]

Serving the needs of this House and the democratic process is an essential everyday part of the work of staff in the Department. Work related to Parliamentary Questions is an important element of this process built into the business plans of individual divisions of the Department. In addition, input into individual questions varies depending on the complexity of the issue raised and the level of expertise required to service it. Because it is part of the ongoing workload of civil servants and, because staff resources are not exclusively deployed to deal with questions, it is not possible to separate out the cost of answering Parliamentary Questions from overall administration costs.

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