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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Oct 2008

Vol. 663 No. 4

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].

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

1 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35107/08]

No payments have been made by my Department nor any body under the aegis of my Department to the aforementioned supplier.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

2 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by her Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35100/08]

My Department and the Offices of my Department have not awarded any contracts to the company involved and consequently the information requested by the Deputy is not relevant insofar as my Department and its Offices are concerned.

The awarding of contracts by the State Agencies that come under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the State Agencies concerned, and consequently, I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with the information requested insofar as my Department's State Agencies are concerned.

FÁS Training Programmes.

Michael Ring

Question:

3 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of contractual workers who have been let go in an organisation (details supplied); when they were let go; the reason they were let go when they were needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35156/08]

The employment of contractual workers is a day-to-day operational matter for FÁS.

Workplace Accidents.

David Stanton

Question:

4 Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 76 of 9 October 2008 and 98 of 6 March 2007, dealing with reducing deaths and injuries in the workplace, if the Claritas report referred to in Parliamentary Question No. 98 has been published; the action her Department or State agencies have taken as a result of that report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35164/08]

Both the Report referred to by the Deputy, which was commissioned by FÁS and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), and its implementation are day-to-day operational matters for those Agencies. I am informed that the Report has not been formally published but that it is freely available from FÁS and the HSA. I am assured that all of those recommendations in the Report, which were accepted by the Construction Industry Group, an advisory group to the Board of FÁS, have been implemented or will be implemented by the end of 2008.

Pension Provisions.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

5 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer, if the maximum allowable pension fund was capped at €5 million, €4 million, €3 million and €2 million respectively. [35084/08]

Budget and Finance Act 2006 introduced a maximum allowable pension fund on retirement for tax purposes. A limit of €5 million was placed on the total capital value of pension benefits that an individual can draw upon in their lifetime from tax-relieved pension arrangements. This is known as the Standard Fund Threshold (SFT).

A higher limit (the Personal Fund Threshold — PFT) was also introduced at that time for individuals whose pension fund values exceeded €5 million on the date the SFT was introduced, 7 December 2005. The PFT was deemed necessary on the grounds that those individuals with pension funds in excess of €5 million had built up those funds in good faith over the years while availing of tax reliefs available by reference to the law as it stood prior to the change and it would not have been possible to retrospectively deny them those reliefs.

Finance Act 2006 also introduced indexation for both the SFT and PFT from 2007 onwards in line with an earnings factor. As a result, for example, the value of the SFT for 2008 has increased to over €5.4 million. Indexation will not occur in 2009 however.

As with the Budget 2006 change, therefore, any reduced SFT limit, as proposed by the Deputy would have to take account of the pension funds of individuals that had been built up legitimately above any new limit. Consequently, any reduction in the SFT would be unlikely to have immediate effects in terms of Exchequer savings.

I am also informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant data is not captured in such a way as to provide a dedicated basis for compiling the estimates requested by the Deputy.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

6 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35102/08]

Since 2000, no contracts have been awarded to the company in question by my Department or bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Financial Institutions.

Phil Hogan

Question:

7 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Finance the extra supervisory steps which have been taken on the six credit institutions covered by the system wide guarantee granted on 30 September 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35112/08]

Intensified oversight and scrutiny of financial institutions has been in place since the onset of the current turmoil in financial markets. I note that the Chief Executive of the Financial Regulator, appearing yesterday before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, stated the Regulator intends to increase further its focus on the management of credit and liquidity risks of the banks, through measures such as the deployment of additional senior supervisory staff and introducing enhanced reporting obligations in relation to capital, asset quality and individual large loans to supplement its daily liquidity reporting requirements. Later today, under powers conferred on me by the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act, 2008, I will present to the Houses of the Oireachtas the scheme setting out the detailed terms and conditions on which support will be provided to financial institutions, including additional provisions to ensure that high standards of regulation are achieved in Ireland and that the quality of corporate governance in the institutions that benefit from the guarantee acts as a bulwark against any risk of loss for the State.

In relation to the increased access to funds that credit institutions have enjoyed in recent weeks, it is to be welcomed that the guarantee of deposits and lending to credit institutions active in this economy has, as intended, enabled credit institutions to access adequate liquidity.

Home Ownership.

Phil Hogan

Question:

8 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Finance if he has examined the potential role for increased use of mortgage insurance here as a means of facilitating increased home ownership for people requiring higher loan to value mortgages; his views on measures to increase its use here; the nature of such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35113/08]

As the Deputy will appreciate, mortgage insurance is only one of a number of factors that has the potential to increase home ownership for people requiring higher loan to value mortgages.

Mortgage insurance for lenders is a financial product that already exists in Ireland and providers of the product must be authorised in accordance with the European Communities (Non Life Insurance) Regulations, 1994 (Statutory Instrument No. 359 of 1994).

The provider should conduct an appropriate assessment of the risk attached to each mortgage in line with commercial considerations and regulatory requirements should it wish to take out mortgage insurance cover.

These regulatory requirements include the Financial Regulator's Consumer Protection Code. The Code requires a mortgage provider to gather and record sufficient information from the consumer to enable it to provide a recommendation appropriate to that consumer. The level of information gathered should be appropriate to the nature, and complexity, of the product sought and allow the provider to provide a professional service. The provider must ensure that, having regard to the facts disclosed by the consumer and other relevant facts about the consumer of which it is aware, the product is suitable to that consumer.

Medical Aids and Appliances.

Bernard Allen

Question:

9 Deputy Bernard Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a wheelchair and chair as requested and recommended by their medical advisors. [35067/08]

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.

Health Services.

Mary Upton

Question:

10 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if the funding for residential placement in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 8 will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35086/08]

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.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

11 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in an appeal being determined in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35088/08]

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.

The Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office has advised my Department, that the claimant referred to by the Deputy lodged an appeal form with the Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office on 1 October 2007 and an oral hearing took place on 19 October 2007. The Appeals Officer has referred this appeal to the Scheme Administrator for review and verification. When the Appeals Officer receives the requested information and finalises his investigations he will make a determination on this appeal and will write to the claimant and will provide the claimant with the reasons for his decision.

Health Services.

James Reilly

Question:

12 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has not received the funds required for their rehabilitation programme. [35092/08]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which under the Health Act, 2004 are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. 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.

Vaccination Programme.

James Reilly

Question:

13 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children when the steering committee on vaccination compensation will report. [35093/08]

I understand that the Vaccine Damage Steering Group is at an advanced stage of finalising its consideration of this matter and I expect to receive its report and recommendations very shortly.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

14 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by her Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35104/08]

My Department has no record of having awarded any contracts to the company in question. The placing of contracts by an agency is an operational matter for the agency in question. My Department does not routinely hold information of this nature. My Department has referred the Deputy's question to the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive for its attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Bobby Aylward

Question:

15 Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will instruct the Health Service Executive to approve finance towards the provision of a primary care centre in Callan, County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35131/08]

Under the Health Act 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. This includes operational responsibility for the establishment of Primary Care Teams and Primary Care Centres. 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.

Denis Naughten

Question:

16 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide funding to a group (details supplied) in line with other similar organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35139/08]

Since the introduction of the Health Act 2004, the Department of Health and Children does not provide direct funding to non statutory organisations working in the disability sector. As the Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, 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.

John O'Mahony

Question:

17 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a group (details supplied) was not included under the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 to repay recoverable health charges funded under long stay residential care. [35140/08]

The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive.

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.

Hospital Waiting Lists.

Jack Wall

Question:

18 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment at Naas or Tallaght General Hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35143/08]

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 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.

Health Services.

Jack Wall

Question:

19 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has not received a dietary allowance in view of their serious health conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35158/08]

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 Service Staff.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

20 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children when the list for chiropodists to apply for work under the GMS system will be closed; when a decision will be made on those chiropodists who will be able to carry out that work; the remuneration involved; and the persons who are on the panel adjudicating on the applications for work under this scheme. [35178/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

21 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the practice of some chiropodists who have been accepted for work under the GMS scheme but for whom other practitioners carry out the work, at several locations, and sign their initials in order that payment can be received for work under the GMS scheme, and that this practice is taking business away from other chiropodists who may wish to tout for GMS business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35179/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.

Under the Health Act 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. This includes operational responsibility for chiropody services. 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.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Brendan Kenneally

Question:

22 Deputy Brendan Kenneally asked the Minister for Health and Children the reasons that a hospital (details supplied) in County Donegal is not recognised by her Department to deliver a service; the efforts being made by both the hospital concerned and the Health Service Executive to have difficulties overcome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35186/08]

The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) is responsible for the implementation of CervicalCheck, the National Cervical Screening Programme. Colposcopy services are an integral part of a population based screening programme. Women who have pre-cancerous cell changes detected by their smear test are referred for colposcopy.

The NCSS is making a significant investment to enhance colposcopy services. This will ensure timely access to a quality assured colposcopy service for women who require further investigation. It is important to ensure that as part of CervicalCheck, women can access colposcopy services within international best practice timeframes, based on adherence to quality assured clinical practice and the achievement of best clinical outcomes for women.

The NCSS has identified eleven colposcopy services to support CervicalCheck initially. The colposcopy service at Letterkenny General Hospital (LGH) has not been identified for initial referrals of women. However, in the interim LGH will continue to provide colposcopy services to women already attending or awaiting colposcopy.

The provision of additional colposcopy services to women in the North West is being examined. The colposcopy service at LGH requires a number of enhancements to meet the quality assurance standards defined by the NCSS. The NCSS is working with LGH and the question of the hospital's future participation in the colposcopy service for CervicalCheck will be considered in this context.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Dan Neville

Question:

23 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will honour the commitment to make a minimum amount of €50 million available to put in place services and support to vulnerable people who are on waiting lists in view of the fact that 2009 is the final year of the multi-annual investment programme under the National Disability Strategy. [35188/08]

In relation to health services for people with a disability, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the significant resources which have been expended on disability services in 2008. The Multi-Annual Investment Programme for Disability Services makes provision for the development of additional residential, respite places and day care places for people with intellectual disability and Autism and additional residential care and home support services for people with physical and sensory disabilities.

In the 2008 Budget, €50m was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to fund a range of additional services under the Multi-Annual Investment Programme for Disability. Although the commencement of the planned developments in disability services this year had been delayed to a financial review, I am pleased to inform you that the Executive has informed the Department of Health and Children that it is now in the process of rolling out the planned developments. The HSE has indicated that due to the delayed start to some of these developments, it expects to spend €33m of the €50m by the end of 2008. The resulting €17m time related savings were included in this Department's budgetary consolidation measures announced in the House in July 2008.

In light of the current financial circumstances, it has been necessary to defer the implementation of the 2009 element of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme. Priority is being given in 2009 to therapy services for children with special needs, with €10m in additional funding being made available to provide 125 additional posts, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and clinical psychologists.

Road Signage.

Michael Ring

Question:

24 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding drawn down by local authorities for erecting road signage in the past 12 months;. [35176/0

Local authorities are responsible for the provision of road traffic signs on regional and local roads. A five-year Regional Road Signposting Programme was introduced in 2003 with the aim of upgrading directional signposts on all significant junctions on all regional roads in county council areas. A sum of €3.9 million was provided for this programme in 2007 and a total of €7.5 million has been allocated towards it in 2008.

Local authorities may also use discretionary improvement and block grants towards the cost of providing signposting on regional and local roads. In 2008, the discretionary improvement grant allocation to County Councils is €24.9 million and the block grant allocation to City, Borough and Town Councils is €16.1 million.

In accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act, 1993, the allocation of funding in relation to the construction or maintenance of national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority.

Airport Charges.

Michael Ring

Question:

25 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport the per passenger charge for persons travelling through each airport here. [35071/08]

I have no role in determining the per passenger charges at the State or regional airports. The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) regulates airport charges levied at Dublin Airport. Charges at Cork and Shannon are set by the airport authority. Details of all airport charges are provided on the State airports' websites.

Passenger charges levied at the six regional airports at Donegal, Sligo, Knock, Galway, Kerry and Waterford, which are owned and operated independently, are a matter for each airport concerned. Relevant charges policy information is published on the airports' websites.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

26 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35108/08]

No contracts have been awarded by the Department of Transport to the company mentioned above.

In relation to Agencies this is a matter for the Agencies themselves.

Rail Services.

Jack Wall

Question:

27 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport the new initiatives planned or changes that have been made since 2006, in terms of line improvements, car parking facilities, waiting areas, toilets, lighting, safety barriers in residential areas and any other cost factor facility that has occurred to improve the Waterford to Dublin rail line in the Kildare section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35146/08]

The matters raised by the Deputy are day to day operational matters for Irish Rail. I have asked Irish Rail to compile the information sought by the Deputy and forward it directly to him.

Public Service Vehicles.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

28 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport if he will make a decision in relation to the report from the Road Safety Authority which he received more than a year ago in relation to small public service vehicles, in particular to limousines, and the inability of National Car Test to weigh or test vehicles over a certain weight, and the fact that many SPSVs have been licensed, despite being over the allowed weight limit; when he will publish the report or act according to its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35180/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

29 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the reason it has taken more than a year and a half to sort out an anomaly in the taxi regulations which is being applied to discriminate against persons (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35181/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

30 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport when his attention was drawn to the details of the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 10 who have been refused a limousine licence for their small public service vehicle on the grounds that it is too heavy; and the action taken to deal with their claim for a licence in respect of their vehicle. [35182/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

31 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the reason it has taken from April 2007 to look at dealing with an anomaly regarding the licensing of limousines in view of the fact that people’s future livelihoods are on hold due to the delay. [35183/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 to 31, inclusive, together.

The issues raised by the Deputy, and the issues raised in the RSA report, fall across the spheres of responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, the Commission for Taxi Regulation and my Department. Because of this, consideration of the matters has taken longer than envisaged, which I regret. I have asked my officials to expedite their consultations, and to report to me urgently. I expect that a decision on these matters will be made next month.

Regional Airports.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Question:

32 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport if the Irish Aviation Authority has the legal power to change the aerodrome licence at Weston Aerodrome from Code 1A to Code 2B and in the process disregard Condition 2 of a decision by An Bord Pleanála (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35190/08]

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has statutory responsibility for the safety oversight of civil aviation in Ireland. In accordance with its statutory remit, it licences aerodromes for public and private use. Decisions on aerodrome licences, including code changes, are made by the Authority based on aviation regulatory considerations only. It is the responsibility of the licensee to adhere to any conditions imposed by planning authorities and other statutory bodies.

The IAA has advised me that it has made no amendment to the Weston Aerodrome Licence since 2005, when the Authority harmonised the licence conditions for all public use aerodromes. Furthermore, I am advised that in considering any amendment to an aerodrome licence, the Authority reminds applicants of their obligations to comply with any planning conditions.

Road Traffic Offences.

Jack Wall

Question:

33 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of traffic offences recorded in Kildare for each of the past three years; the number that involved alcohol related offences; the number that related to insurance and motor tax offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35147/08]

The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.

Property Services Regulation.

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

34 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of members which will comprise the Property Services Regulatory Authority as discussed in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities; the way they will be selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35172/08]

Details regarding establishment of the Property Services Regulatory Authority will be available shortly on publication of the Property Services (Regulation) Bill in this Session.

Criminal Law Codification.

Terence Flanagan

Question:

35 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the work to date of the Criminal Law Codification Advisory Committee; when it is expected to finish its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35091/08]

The Criminal Law Codification Advisory Committee was established on 1 February 2007 under Part 14 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 to oversee the development of a programme for the codification of the criminal law. It is chaired by Professor Finbarr McAuley of the School of Law in UCD and consists of representatives of the judiciary, the legal profession, legal academia, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The codification project is long-term and is estimated to take up to 10 years to fully complete. Thereafter the Advisory Committee will continue in existence to advise on the maintenance of the code.

The code is to be enacted on a phased basis. The first codification Bill will consist of a general part dealing with the principles of criminal liability and a special part containing non-fatal offences against the person, public order offences, theft and fraud offences and criminal damage offences. The Advisory Committee will consider the feasibility of including homicide offences in the first Bill. Additional offences will be added to the code by subsequent codification Bills.

The Advisory Committee's first Programme of Work, for the two-year period 2008 and 2009, was approved in January of this year. It is expected that much of the substantive work on the general scheme of the first codification Bill will be completed by the end of 2009.

The Advisory Committee's first Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2007, was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in May 2008. The Annual Report can be accessed on the Advisory Committee's website www.criminalcode.ie. The Programme of Work 2008-2009 is appended to the Annual Report.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

36 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35105/08]

I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has no record of having awarded contracts to the company concerned.

Garda Recruitment.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

37 Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding a recruitment campaign (details supplied). [35115/08]

The most recent advertisement for recruitment to full time positions in An Garda Síochána appeared in the national press on the week ending the 11th of May 2008. As a result of these advertisements a pool of candidates are awaiting interview. Recruitment to An Garda Síochána is a matter in the first instance for the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána who utilises the offices of the Public Appointments Service. Any person wishing to join An Garda Síochána should express their interest in doing so by registering for job alerts at www.publicjobs.ie. Membership in An Garda Síochána is catalogued under the Security / Emergency Services section of that website.

Residency Permits.

Bobby Aylward

Question:

38 Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will approve the application for a long-term residency permit by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [35132/08]

Long Term Residency is an administrative scheme introduced in May 2004 and is focused on persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit / work authorisation / work visa conditions. Such persons may apply to 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 June 2008. Applications are dealt with in strict chronological order. I understand that applications received in January 2007 are currently being dealt with. As soon as a decision is made on his case, the person concerned will be notified.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

39 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns that applications for residency from persons outside of the EU area, and particularly from South African citizens, who are in possession of work permits that have been going astray within his Department; if he is satisfied that adequate procedures are in place to record and process all such applications; the number of such applications that are believed to have gone astray in 2007 and to date in 2008; the average time taken to process an application for residency within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35150/08]

I am not aware of any mislaid residency permits within my Department. If the Deputy has details of any person who feels their application may have been mislaid he should relay that information to me. I will then arrange for INIS (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service) to make direct contact with him in the matter. I understand that applications for long term residency received in January 2007 are currently being processed.

Probation and Welfare Service.

John Perry

Question:

40 Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will ensure that funding is provided to keep open an institution (details supplied) in County Sligo in order that it can continue to provide addiction counselling and recovery services; if he will provide an assurance that this institution will not close in view of the essential service it provides; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35163/08]

I can advise the Deputy that my Department, in association with the Probation Service commissioned a ‘Review of Adult Probation Residential Facilities' in 2007 in order to examine, inter alia, the management structure, overall governance and operation of the four residential facilities and the role of the Probation Service. The commission also sought recommendations for the future of the facilities. In addition, the review included an examination of the efficiency, effectiveness and value for money achieved from the funding provided. The report was completed at the end of July 2008 and provides the Probation Service and my Department with a very valuable ‘blue print' of how the four facilities are currently operating.

I would like to advise the Deputy that the residential facility in question was established to provide short term accommodation to prisoners on release. It has no role in the provision of ‘critical addiction counselling and recovery services' as stated by the Deputy. The findings of the review in respect of the facility detailed by the Deputy gave cause for concern. Of particular concern is that, "a clear vision, purpose and strategy for Kazelain is absent and it is difficult to determine its fit with the Probation Service's or any other strategy". The report notes the absence of ‘structured activities' and "while Kazelain's literature aspires to provide personal development and independent living skills there are no specific programmes in place to achieve this". The overall conclusion of the Report was that the centre in question was "a costly project and represents very poor value for money given the service provided. Taking the average occupancy rate of 7, the staff to resident rations is 1.71, well above the norms for supported housing in the homeless sector." The report went on to say that the Board of Management "appears divided, dysfunctional and is not working in harmony with the acting manager". The evaluator got no sense that there was a clear, coherent vision for Kazelain in the context of its role of providing services for the Probation Service that is shared by all the Board members.

Following receipt of the report the Board of Management (BOM) of the centre received a letter from the Probation Service in September advising them of the findings and inviting them to a meeting with the senior management of the Probation Service. At the meeting held on 2 October, the Director of the Probation Service discussed the report's findings with the Board. They undertook to communicate their decision following their consideration of the findings in the review, in writing, to the Probation Service.

I am committed to finding the best option available to us to meet the accommodation needs of the client group of the Probation Service. The current report, combined with other reports on the facility, gives us a good basis upon which to make informed decisions that will ultimately lead to a better, more focussed and tailored service to this particular client group.

Departmental Advertising.

David Stanton

Question:

41 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when content will be available on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website regarding residency rights for spouses of Irish nationals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35165/08]

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service is currently conducting a review of all of the content of the INIS web site with a view to improving the information available to all of its customers. The content for the website page referred to by the Deputy is currently being developed and will be available shortly.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

42 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35103/08]

There have been no payments or contracts between this company and my Department, or any bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, from 2000 to date.

Overseas Development Aid.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

43 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, in advance of World Food Day on 16 October 2008, that has been made both here and by the international community to eradicate hunger, according to the terms of the millennium development goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35138/08]

The Millennium Development Goal for hunger is to reduce by 50% the proportion of those suffering from hunger by the year 2015.

Progress to date on achieving this goal has been mixed. Success has been most marked in East Asia — notably in China and Vietnam. While some progress has been evident in other regions, such progress has been insufficient. In Southern Asia almost 50% of children are underweight and this region alone accounts for more than half of the world's undernourished children.

The majority of those States making the least progress in reducing child malnutrition are located in sub-Saharan Africa, where a number of countries are unlikely to achieve the millennium hunger goal. In sub-Saharan Africa a small improvement has been recorded overall, with the percentage of underweight children less than 5 years of age having fallen from 33% to 29%.

These statistics do not take account of the full impact of recent global food price increases which are likely, at least in the short term, to further imperil the attainment of the millennium hunger target throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

The recent report of our Hunger Task Force outlined the stark realities of the current hunger crisis. It is a chilling fact that the figure for the world's hungry quoted on the cover of that report — 862 million — was the estimate at the time of the Rome Food Summit last June. By the time of the launch of the report in September, the estimate had already risen to over 900 million and rising — driven by the recent upsurge in world food prices.

The report of the Task Force rightly reflects a sense of urgency at this continuing scandal. I share that sense of urgency. Their report is timely and I welcome its focus on three key areas where they believe Ireland could help to achieve progress. It is my intention to take forward our work in these areas and, in order to facilitate this, I am establishing a new section within my Department which, inter alia, will have a special dedicated focus on food security and which will be tasked with advancing our work on addressing the issue of hunger in our world.

Departmental Expenditure.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

44 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the payments Ireland has made and has received from the United Nations in connection with peacekeeping operations on behalf of the United Nations in each of the past 15 years. [35166/08]

All amounts assessed on Ireland to cover the expenses of UN peace-keeping operations are paid directly by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the UN on behalf of the Government. The total amounts paid in such obligatory assessed contributions from 1996 to 2008 are as follows:

2008 (to date)

€16,160,648

2007

€20,610,666.85

2006

€11,680,561

2005

€11,172,638

2004

€11,763,094

2003

€5,291,250

2002

€5,854,764.13

2001

€9,266,171.71

2000

€6,080,831.60

1999

£1,400,000

1998

£1,277,585

1997

£1,355,134

1996

£1,608,282

Figures for the period 1993 to 1995 could not be obtained in the time available. These will however, be provided to the Deputy at the earliest opportunity.
Reimbursements from the United Nations in respect of participation by Permanent Defence Forces are made directly to the Department of Defence while separate arrangements apply to Garda personnel in UN peace-keeping operations. Consequently any queries regarding such payments would require to be directed to the Departments of Defence and Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

45 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35095/08]

Since its establishment in June 2002, the Department, including the National Archives, has not awarded any contract to the company in question.

In respect of the agencies under the aegis of the Department, the placing of contracts is a matter for the agencies themselves.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

46 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35097/08]

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was established in June 2002. Since that date, my Department has no record of awarding any contract to the company referred to by the Deputy. In addition, I am advised that no contract has been awarded by any of the agencies under the ambit of my Department to the company referred to by the Deputy.

Community Development.

Brendan Kenneally

Question:

47 Deputy Brendan Kenneally asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason for the delay in having a payment made to a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35114/08]

Funding was awarded to the group in question under the 2005 cycle of the Programme of Support for Local Community and Voluntary Groups. The Programme provides support to groups to undertake refurbishment works, to engage in a broad range of training activities and to equip community facilities in support of the local delivery of services. This cycle of grants was closed over two years ago. Despite signing a contact, the group failed to meet its reporting and drawdown obligations. As a result of this, the Department moved during 2007 to get the group to claim the outstanding grant by the end of 2007 or have it withdrawn in line with the terms and conditions agreed. The group made a claim in March 2008 some two and half months after the deadline set by the Department. I understand that in a review carried out since mid-year, my Department has agreed to process a number of outstanding claims, even though a process to withdraw the grant in question had commenced. All payments due to the group will be made when outstanding queries have been satisfactorily resolved.

Social Welfare Code.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

48 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Question No. 251 of 24 June 2008, her views on extending the travel scheme to persons who suffer from medical conditions, such as epilepsy, which render it impossible for them to drive. [35066/08]

The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State who are aged 66 years or over. All carers in receipt of carer's allowance and carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance, regardless of their age, receive a free travel pass. It is also available to people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain disability-type welfare payments, such as disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind person's pension. People resident in the State who are in receipt of a social security invalidity or disability payment from a country covered by EU regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, and who have been in receipt of this payment for at least 12 months, are also eligible for free travel. The scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. The proposal to extend the free travel scheme to those with certain medical conditions is one of a range of proposals made to extend the free travel scheme. There are no plans at present to extend the scheme in this manner.

Social Welfare Appeals.

Michael Ring

Question:

49 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the outcome of an appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo pertaining to jobseeker’s benefit refusal. [35072/08]

The claim for jobseeker's allowance by the person concerned was refused by a Deciding Officer on 26 August 2008 on the grounds that the person concerned left work voluntarily and was not available for full-time work. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an appeal was opened on 2 October 2008 and that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. On receipt of the response, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Michael Ring

Question:

50 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a carer’s allowance appeal will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [35073/08]

The claim for Carer's Allowance by the person concerned was refused by a Deciding Officer on 1 August 2008 as, in the opinion of the Chief Medical Advisor, the care recipient was not so invalided or disabled as to need full-time care and attention. An appeal was opened on 18 September 2008. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with the statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. On receipt of their response the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Michael Ring

Question:

51 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a disability allowance appeal will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [35081/08]

The person concerned made an application for disability allowance on 11th December 2007. In order to determine her eligibility she was examined by a Medical Assessor of the Department on 30th April 2008 who considered her to be medically unsuitable for disability allowance.

She appealed this decision on 12 August 2008 and, in the context of this appeal, she was examined by a second Medical Assessor on 23rd September 2008 who also expressed the opinion that she was medically unsuitable for disability allowance.

I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in the light of this second medical opinion, she has been afforded an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of her appeal and to furnish any further medical evidence she wishes to submit. A form for this purpose was sent to her on 26th September 2008. No reply has been received to date. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Departmental Services.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

52 Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the interpretation facilities available in her Department for dealing with non-Irish national claimants; if interpretation facilities are available to local social welfare offices by phone or otherwise when language problems give rise to difficulties in dealing with claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35090/08]

The Department has a range of interpretation facilities available for non-English speaking customers. On-site interpreters are made available on request for medical reviews, appeal hearings or in any situation where there are particular difficulties communicating with an individual.

Each social welfare local office has a facility in place whereby an interpretation service is provided using a three way phone system. The Department also uses a mobile phone interpretation service which allows staff, such as Social Welfare Inspectors who make home visits, communicate effectively with the customer.

Officials of the Department and in particular front line staff in local offices make every effort to assist people who have language difficulties or if they need help in completing claim forms. The interpretation services currently provided by this Department are very effective and meet our requirements.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

53 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by her Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35106/08]

There is no record of my Department, or the agencies under its aegis, having awarded a contract to the company in question, from 2000 to date.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

54 Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people who are in receipt of carer’s allowance at full rate; the number of other social welfare recipients receiving the half rate carer’s allowance; if she is satisfied that this system means that more elderly and disabled people can remain in their own homes at minimal cost to the Exchequer compared to full-time care; her views on making the scheme more accessible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35135/08]

Supporting and recognising carers in our society is, and has been, a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended.

Budget 2007 provided for new arrangements whereby people can receive a maximum payment equivalent to a half rate carers allowance while receiving another social welfare payment, other than jobseekers benefit or allowance. At present there are 41,539 people in receipt of carers allowance. Of these almost 14,256 are in receipt of half rate carer's allowance in addition to another social welfare payment. A further 2,260 people are in receipt of carer's benefit.

In June 2006 the number of hours for which a person can engage in employment, self-employment, education or training and still be considered to be providing full-time care for the purposes of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant was increased from 10 to 15 hours per week.

From June 2005, the annual respite care grant was extended to all carers who are providing full-time care to a person who needs such care, regardless of their income. Approximately, 5,800 people who are not in receipt of carer's allowance or benefit have so far received a respite care grant in respect of 2008. A carer who is caring for two or more people is entitled to a full grant for each of the care recipients. The rate of the grant increased to €1,700 per year from June 2008.

I am satisfied that all of the improvements made to carers payments in recent years have helped more people with disabilities and older people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

55 Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs is she is satisfied that €7.70 is a realistic living alone allowance; if it will be increased in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35136/08]

The living alone increase is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and receiving payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. The increase is intended as a contribution towards the additional costs faced by a person living alone.

The policy in relation to support for older people has been, for many years, to give priority to increasing the personal rates of pension in addition to enhancing the household benefits package which includes TV licence, telephone, electricity/gas and the fuel allowance rather than supplements like the living alone increase. The objective is to use resources to improve the position of all pensioners to the fullest extent possible rather than focusing on particular groups.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

56 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Defence if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35098/08]

I am advised that the company was not awarded any contract by my Department or any of its agencies in the period in question.

Overseas Missions.

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

57 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence the operational issues that would have to be considered to ensure continued Defence Force participation in peace-keeping in Chad, if EU forces are replaced by a UN mission in March 2009; if participation could continue, if the UN replaces the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35129/08]

The EU-led operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, was established for a period of one year from March 2008. A total of 409 Defence Forces personnel are currently serving with EUFOR — 18 at the Operational HQ in Paris and 391 in Chad (23 at the Force Headquarters, and 368 as part of the 98th Infantry Battalion). The security situation in Chad will require a multidimensional presence well beyond 15th March 2009 when EUFOR's mandate expires. On 24 September 2008, the UN Security Council, (UN Security Council Resolution 1834 (2008)) expressed its intention to authorise a United Nations military component to follow on from the EUFOR when its mandate expires on 15 March 2009. The Security Council requested the Secretary-General to submit a report on the follow on operation by 15 November 2008 concerning its size, structure and mandate. The Security Council should take a decision on the matter by 15 December 2008. To ensure a smooth transition between EUFOR and United Nations follow-on force, the UN has sent a formal request to Ireland to consider putting the Irish troops currently deployed in CHAD with EUFOR under the command of the United Nations after the 15 March 2009. This request is currently being considered by my Department in consultation with the Defence Forces. However, any decision to participate will need to await the outcome of ongoing discussions on the size, composition and mandate of the follow-on operation. Account will also be taken of the intentions of other current EU contributors and the support they would provide. Irish participation in a UN follow-on operation will, of course, be subject to the "Triple Lock" of UN mandate, Government and Dáil approval. I would be positively disposed to participation by the Defence Forces in the follow-on mission subject to the above issues being addressed.

Departmental Expenditure.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

58 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the payments Ireland has made and has received from the United Nations in connection with peacekeeping operations on behalf of the United Nations in each of the past 15 years. [35168/08]

Payments made by Ireland to the United Nations are a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Currently, the only mission for which Ireland is entitled to reimbursement of troop costs by the UN is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Details of the amounts the UN has paid to my Department since 1 January 1993 in respect of contributions towards troop and other costs associated with the participation of Defence Force personnel in UN missions are set out in the table.

Receipts from UN — 1993-2007

Year

Amount

1993-2001 Converted to €

1993

£11,594,137

€14,721,517

1994

£9,924,473

€12,601,481

1995

£4,523,975

€5,744,263

1996

£4,821,544

€6,122,098

1997

£6,684,293

€8,487,301

1998

£5,815,978

€7,384,769

1999

£5,058,779

€6,423,324

2000

£8,630,184

€10,958,073

2001

£7,261,678

€9,220,429

2002

€5,172,864

2003

€2,946,481

2004

€5,165,977

2005

€16,767,200

2006

€5,980,525

2007

€10,206,322

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

59 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the expenditure to date arising from our participation in EU battlegroup operations in Chad and elsewhere; and if any of this money can be recouped from the EU or other bodies. [35169/08]

Battlegroups have been on standby in the European Union since 1 January 2007. To date no Battlegroup has been deployed to Chad or elsewhere. However, the Defence Forces are currently deployed with the UN mandated EU-led military operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA. All costs associated with deployment of personnel and equipment to this mission are borne by the troop contributing countries. All EU Member States, irrespective of participation, are contributing to the common costs of the operation. The estimated cost to the Defence Vote arising from the Defence Forces participation in this mission will amount to approximately €57m.

Ireland participated in the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG), which was on standby from 1st January 2008 to 30th June 2008. The other members of the Nordic Battlegroup were Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia. The Defence Forces contribution to the NBG was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (EOD/IEDD) contingent with its own security detail. Although the Nordic Battlegroup did not deploy, Ireland incurred expenditure of €6.77m, which covered the costs associated with training and the purchase of new equipment to fulfil our particular obligations to the NBG.

The expenditure on equipment covered the purchase of vehicles and spare part, ammunition, engineering equipment, etc. This equipment has subsequently been re-allocated within the Defence Forces, addressing equipment requirements as they arose.

Training costs related to deployment of Defence Forces personnel and equipment to Sweden for specific training exercises. These training exercises were primarily focused on testing the interoperability and strategic movement of the Defence Forces within the NBG and were designed to enhance the skills required for a real life Battlegroup deployment. None of the costs incurred by Ireland resulting from our participation in the Nordic Battlegroup or in the EUFOR operation in Chad are recoupable from the EU or elsewhere.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Andrew Doyle

Question:

60 Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the criteria for determining the inclusion of towns within the smokeless fuel scheme; if these criteria have changed since 1998; and if he has received expert advice on the contribution to greenhouse gases of different types of solid fuels. [35068/08]

The question of extending the areas subject to smokeless fuels regulations has been, and continues to be, kept under review in consultation with local authorities and having regard to the need to ensure good air quality. Monitoring at permanent and mobile monitoring stations by the EPA and local authorities confirms that air quality in Ireland is good. The question of the need to extend the air quality monitoring network to cover additional urban areas due to population changes has been raised with the EPA in the context of an overall monitoring review which has been requested by my Department as part of the Programme for Government commitment on monitoring air quality. I expect the EPA will conclude this review by year end.

On 8 October 2008 I signed a new voluntary agreement with the Solid Fuel Trade Group. This provides that in the towns and environs of Athlone, Carlow, Clonmel and Ennis, the Group will maintain the smokeless fuel market penetration level of 75%, as a percentage of overall solid fuel sales, as set out in previous agreements. These four towns are additional to those already covered by smokeless zones.

In the context of developing the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012, my Department engaged consultants to advise on greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions from the use of solid fuel in all sectors of the economy. The consultants report “Determining the Share of National Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Emissions Trading in Ireland 2008-2012” is available on my Department’s website (www.environ.ie). In addition, in its recent report on “Ireland’s Environment 2008”, the EPA addresses, and provides a breakdown of, the total energy requirement by fuel type in the period 1990-2006. A copy of the report and its greenhouse gas emission projections for the Kyoto Protocol commitment period 2008-2012 are available on the Agency’s website (www.epa.ie).

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Michael Ring

Question:

61 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding a scheme (details supplied) in County Mayo; and when the work will commence. [35076/08]

Michael Ring

Question:

62 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding a scheme (details supplied) in County Mayo; and when the work will commence. [35077/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together.

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 1412 and 1466 of 24 September 2008.

Private Rented Accommodation.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

63 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of landlords who were found not to have complied with the minimum standards deemed acceptable for habitability in rented accommodation during the 12 month period from January 2007, and from January to October 2008. [35087/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

67 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the date on which he will introduce the new legal standards for private rented accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35142/08]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 67 together.

Details of the inspections of rented accommodation carried out in 2007, the dwellings inspected which did not meet the statutory standards, and prosecutions initiated are included in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. It is expected that similar information in respect of 2008 will be published in 2009.

Standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 1993. In line with the commitment in Towards 2016 to update the minimum standards regulations for rental accommodation, work is nearing completion on a package of measures to deliver on this objective. I expect proposals in this regard to be ready for submission to Government shortly, with the associated regulations being made thereafter. A number of issues which require primary legislation will be addressed in the context of the passage through the Oireachtas of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

64 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35101/08]

There is no record of my Department placing any contract with the company in question. My Department does not compile or hold information in relation to contracts placed by agencies under its aegis.

Private Rented Accommodation.

Phil Hogan

Question:

65 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the backlog of cases to be decided by the Private Residential Tenancies Board; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35111/08]

My Department has no function in the operational matters of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), which is an independent statutory body established under the terms of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The PRTB may be contacted at their offices at O'Connell Bridge House, Dublin 2 or by telephone or email. Contact details are available on the Board's website at www.prtb.ie.

Local Authority Funding.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

66 Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused to elderly and disabled people in County Monaghan as a result of the failure of his Department to adequately fund Monaghan County Council for the housing adaption grants scheme, the mobility aid scheme and the housing aid for older people scheme since the introduction of these new schemes from 1 November 2007; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the council has a shortfall of more than €2.8 million versus the value of applications on hand at 20 September 2008 and that old and vulnerable people in the county are being forced to borrow from financial institutions as the council cannot pay out the grants approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35134/08]

My Department is very much aware of the critical role that the Housing Adaptation Grant schemes for Older People and People with a Disability play in the context of an overall continuum of care. The revised suite of grant schemes, implemented in November 2007, streamline the administrative and operational procedures governing the schemes, providing a more targeted and integrated response to the housing needs of some of the more vulnerable members of society.

The launch of the revised suite of grant schemes and the associated publicity has led to a heightened level of demand across a number of local authority areas. In light of this, housing authorities have been requested to prioritise applications within available resources, with particular consideration to be given to those applicants requiring alterations or adaptations to facilitate discharge from hospital or alleviate the need for hospitalisation in the future, and those applicants who require essential repairs or improvement works as a matter of urgency.

A combined allocation of €1,911,390 was notified to Monaghan County Council earlier this year for the operation of these schemes. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the level of funding to be provided for each of the schemes from within this combined allocation and to manage the operation of the schemes from within this allocation.

In light of particularly significant levels of demand under these schemes, Monaghan County Council was recently notified of an additional Exchequer allocation of €250,000 towards their operation in 2008.

Question No. 67 answered with Question No. 63.

Jack Wall

Question:

68 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a local authority (details supplied) has made an application for additional funding to alleviate the waiting list for grants to the authority for housing adaption grants in respect of persons with disabilities, housing aid for older people and the mobility aids housing grant; when the application was submitted; the funding requested to meet the demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35145/08]

As previously indicated to local authorities, requests for additional funding under the Housing Adaptation Grants Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are dealt with in the context of the reallocation of any surplus resources arising elsewhere. In this context, my Department has advised all local authorities to monitor their expenditure under the Schemes carefully.

Requests have been received from a number of local authorities, including Kildare County Council, for supplementary allocations in respect of the Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes and the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Schemes. In response to the particularly high levels of activity under the revised schemes experienced in 2008 by certain local authorities, my Department recently made supplementary Exchequer allocations totalling €3.6 million towards the operation of these schemes this year.

While Kildare County Council was not among those authorities, the issue of an additional allocation to the Council will be considered in the event of further funding becoming available. My Department has re-emphasised to local authorities the importance of prioritisation in assessing grant applications given the level of activity being experienced nationally.

Planning Issues.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

69 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to introduce new regulations for the advertising of planning applications to prevent the practice whereby, on sites where a planning application has been refused, the old planning notice is not removed for some months until it can be replaced by the notice of a new planning application in the same place, on the same colour paper, in order to confuse interested parties who may have objected to the previous planning application but do not know about the new planning application until the deadline to object has passed; the steps he will take to end this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35161/08]

The Planning Code provides for extensive public notification of proposed development. It is a general requirement that a valid application for planning permission must be advertised by site notice and a notice in an approved local or national newspaper. These notices must state, inter alia, that the planning application may be inspected or purchased at the offices of the planning authority, and that submissions or observations in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the five week period beginning on the date of the receipt by the planning authority of the application.

Article 19(4) of the 2001 Regulations provides that where a valid planning application is made in respect of any land or structure, and a subsequent application is made within six months from the date of making the first-mentioned application in respect of land substantially consisting of the site or part of the site to which the first-mentioned application related, the site notice for the subsequent application must be on a yellow background rather a white background. Accordingly an existing site notice could not be replaced by a notice of the same colour unless there was over six months between the two planning applications.

Article 20 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 was amended in 2006 to require a site notice to be removed by the applicant following the notification of the planning authority decision on a planning application.

Article 26 (5) of the 2001 Regulations also provides that the notification from a planning authority to an applicant that his/her planning application is invalid, must request the applicant to remove the site notice. I have no plans at this time to further amend the legislation in relation to site notices.

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

70 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the residential density guidelines will be updated; the strategies which will be implemented to increase the quality of new developments as discussed in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35170/08]

The reform agenda set out in the Government's housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities has been actively pursued since its publication in February 2007 and a number of initiatives have already been undertaken, including preparation of a suite of guidance on planning and design matters.

In March 2007, my Department published new design guidelines on housing delivery entitled Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities. As well as housing design issues, the guidelines address integrated approaches to the delivery of community facilities. Guidelines were also published in September 2007 on Design Standards for New Apartments which promote quality design and space standards.

Draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas issued for public consultation in February 2008, accompanied by an Urban Design Manual which sets out best practice in implementing the guidelines. These guidelines will promote high quality living standards in new residential developments, encourage higher density developments at appropriate locations such as those with access to public transport, emphasise that new residential development must be integrated with facilities and services for the new community and promote energy efficiency. Following consideration of the seventy detailed submissions received, I intend to issue finalised statutory guidelines by the end of this year which will replace the 1999 Residential Density Guidelines.

Stage Payments.

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

71 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the agreement between his Department and the Construction Industry Federation which would eliminate the practice of stage payments in house purchase contracts in regard to housing estates and which was addressed in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35171/08]

Shortly after the publication of my Department's housing policy statement, "Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities", an agreement was reached between my Department and the Irish Home Builders Association whereby the practice of stage payments that operated in a limited number of areas of the country would not apply after 30 June 2007.

This agreement was given effect by way of a new code of practice, operated by the Irish Home Builders Association, under the auspices of the Construction Industry Federation. While the code of practice is a voluntary one, it applies to approximately 80% of home builders.

Health Services.

Dan Neville

Question:

72 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will sanction the revenue funding to provide the residential places for residences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35177/08]

The allocation and payment of revenue funding to approved housing bodies in respect of the provision of care and related tenancy supports is a matter for the Health Service Executive.

EU Directives.

Tony Gregory

Question:

73 Deputy Tony Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the conservation status of the Irish hare is listed as poor or bad in the context of the EU habitats directive following a ruling of the European Court of Justice in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35185/08]

The Irish Hare is listed in Annex V of the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC).

Under Article 17 of the Directive member states are obliged to report to the European Commission on the status of listed habitats and species every six years. In December 2007, Ireland submitted the first baseline assessments of conservation status for all 59 habitats and some 100 species that occur in Ireland.

Each species was assessed according to its range across Ireland, the population, the quality of its habitat and its future prospects. The reporting template requires the results of the assessment to be expressed as good, inadequate or bad status.

The range and future prospects of the Hare were considered favourable. As the extent of population fluctuation between years is not yet understood, it was not possible to identify a specific favourable reference value for population, resulting in an "unknown" response to this assessment category.

The habitat was assessed as inadequate because there had been some loss due to urbanisation and agricultural intensification. Although only one assessment category reported an inadequate result the rules of the reporting methodology require that the overall summary position must then be described as inadequate.

I understand that the ruling of the European Court of Justice in 2007 concerned species in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive and therefore does not relate to the Irish Hare.

Departmental Bodies.

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

74 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will confirm that the functions of the Private Residential Tenancies Board is outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and the scope of the Office of the Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35191/08]

The functions of the Private Residential Tenancies Board are, at present, outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and the Ombudsman Act 1980.

The Board commenced operations in September 2004 and has made considerable progress since then. It is my intention that the Board, subject to exemptions that recognise its quasi-judicial functions, should come under the scope of the Freedom of Information Act. My Department is in discussions with the Department of Finance, which has responsibility for the extension of Freedom of Information to further bodies, regarding this.

I do not propose that the Board be brought within the ambit of the Ombudsman Act at present given the quasi-judicial nature of much of its work. However, this is a matter that I will keep under review.

Alternative Energy Projects.

Andrew Doyle

Question:

75 Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is support for the use of horticultural discards in the production of biofuels. [35089/08]

My Department does not provide support for the use of horticultural discards in the production of biofuels. My colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible for a number of measures to increase the share of bioenergy derived from the Agriculture and Forestry sector in form of the EU Energy Crops Scheme, the National Energy Crop Premium Scheme, the Bioenergy Scheme and the Research Stimulus Fund Programme.

The Government is committed to the development of an Irish biofuels industry and to the sustainable development and deployment of indigenous bioenergy resources. A public consultation document on the proposed biofuels obligation was published on 29 September 2008. The consultation process allows all interested stakeholders to submit their views on the proposal by the closing date of 24 November 2008. Specific details of the obligation will be developed as part of the consultation process.

The biofuels obligation will enable Ireland to move progressively towards meeting EU targets for biofuels penetration in a cost-effective way while taking full account of sustainability in line with EU developments.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

76 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35096/08]

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.

There are no records of any contracts having been awarded by my Department, to company specified by the Deputy, between 1 January 2006 and to date in 2008.

Contracts undertaken by bodies under the aegis of my Department are a day to day operational issue for those bodies and I have no function in relation to them.

Alternative Energy Projects.

Enda Kenny

Question:

77 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to a previous parliamentary question (details supplied); his views on whether the European Union, International Energy Agency and most experts see storage, particularly pumped storage, as being crucial to renewable electricity policy; if he or the agencies for which he has responsibility will carry out the cost and benefit analysis of additional pumped storage with a view to maximising the amount of renewable electricity generation that can be achieved here quickly and minimise the amount of fossil fuel used and associated emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35189/08]

The provision of back up capacity to underpin increasing volumes of undispatchable renewable energy technologies connected to the grid is provided from a number of sources including pumped storage technologies and interconnection as well as flexible power generation plants.

Energy storage, as appropriate and feasible, has been developed in Ireland and in that context it has made a useful contribution to balancing electricity supply and consumer demand. The ESB's pumped water power station at Turlough Hill is the prime example. New technology developments may well enhance the viability of additional storage options in the future. Developments are being kept under review by EirGrid and the Commission for Energy Regulation.

Andrew Doyle

Question:

78 Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the quantity of bio-fuel crops produced in 2007; the amount of the bio-fuel crop produced but not refined; the amount of this crop which still has refining potential; and the guidelines for producers of bio-fuel crops for 2009/2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35085/08]

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) has overall responsibility for energy policy and is the lead Department for the promotion and development of renewable energy, including biofuels. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food supports the supply side of the bio-fuel market by offering grants to farmers to grow energy crops as feedstock for domestic bio-fuel production. The introduction of these incentives contributed to the planting of some 9,000 hectares of energy crops in 2007.

The incentives introduced by my Department include a National Energy Crop Premium to supplement the EU premium available under the EU Energy Crops Scheme. A new Bioenergy Scheme was also launched providing establishment grants of €1,450 per hectare to farmers interested in planting willow and miscanthus. Areas planted with energy crops can also qualify for the Single Payment. The Department is also funding research projects that relate directly to biofuels and energy crops through the Department's Research Stimulus Fund Programme. The aim of this research is to identify and select plant varieties and crop production systems that are most suited to bio-fuel production in the Irish context.

The Department has published Best Practice guidelines for growing willow and miscanthus under the Bioenergy Scheme. Among other items, the guide provides advice to growers on planting and harvesting operations to maximise crop yield and improve the economic viability of the crop. Together with Teagasc and Sustainable Energy Ireland, the Department co-funded a new educational DVD entitled ‘Willow & Miscanthus — From Field To Furnace' to advise producers on the planting, crop management, harvesting and storage of these crops. Teagasc has also published a Farm Diversification Manual, which provides detailed technical advice to farmers on the cultivation of energy crops.

It is a requirement of the Bioenergy Scheme and the EU Energy Crops Scheme that applicants provide evidence of end use to ensure that the feedstock is destined for the bioenergy market. Such evidence may include a contract or letter of intent between the farmer and the end-user and refers to the delivery of oilseed rape for processing into liquid bio-fuel and willow/miscanthus for combustion in the heat and electricity market. My Department does not compile information on the amount rapeseed refined into bio-fuel.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

79 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35094/08]

My Department has had no dealings with the named company over the period specified.

Departmental Correspondence.

Michael Ring

Question:

80 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received an environmental impact statement (details supplied); if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of same; and when he received it. [35110/08]

An Environmental Impact Statement was not received by my Department from the Local Authority as the works in question involved the replacement of an existing structure. In these circumstances, an EIS is not required under the terms of the relevant legislation.

School Transport.

Dan Neville

Question:

81 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the case of a person (details supplied). [35062/08]

The Transport Liaison Officer for Co. Limerick has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details provided, has a morning pick up outside the house in question. The Transport Liaison Officer is liaising with Bus Éireann regarding the set down point on the return journey in the afternoon with a view to facilitating the pupil's transport requirements.

School Accommodation.

Enda Kenny

Question:

82 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding new accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35063/08]

An application for a new school has been received from the school authority referred to by the Deputy.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Decentralisation Programme.

Michael Ring

Question:

83 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation regarding the proposed decentralisation of his Department’s headquarters to Mullingar, County Westmeath; if he will confirm if a contract has been signed for this project; and when work will commence. [35070/08]

The Mullingar element of the decentralisation of my Department's Headquarters will take place when new permanent accommodation is ready for occupation.

Over 130 posts in Dublin are now held by officers who will relocate to Mullingar with their posts. Volunteers for decentralisation will be assigned to the remaining posts as the current post-holders transfer out under the Dublin Arrangements or to decentralise to other locations.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has procured a site in Mullingar for the development of the new headquarters of my Department. In December 2007, the OPW announced a preferred tenderer for a bundle of three Public Private Partnerships projects to include my Department's new headquarters in Mullingar. Full planning permission for this development was received in July 2008. The contract has yet to be signed and discussions are underway in this regard.

As the Deputy is aware, following a review of the Decentralisation Programme, the Government has given approval for this project to proceed.

Departmental Contracts.

Leo Varadkar

Question:

84 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education and Science if a company (details supplied) has been awarded contracts by his Department, or its agencies, since 2000 to date in 2008; the value and the length of any contract signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35099/08]

My Department has no record of awarding contracts to Kinetic Advertising Ltd since 2000. The awarding of contracts by agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the agencies themselves.

Institutes of Technology.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

85 Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will investigate a case in which incremental payments are not being granted to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [35116/08]

The Institutes of Technology are statutory bodies established under the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Under the terms of these Acts, the governance and day-to-day activities of the Institutes, including industrial relations issues, are matters for which the Management of the Institutes are responsible. It would, therefore, not be appropriate for me to intervene in this matter.

Schools Building Projects.

Darragh O'Brien

Question:

86 Deputy Darragh O’Brien asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made regarding the rebuilding of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and the status of the project. [35123/08]

The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Special Educational Needs.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Question:

87 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Science when a decision will be made on the application for home tuition in the 2008-2009 school year by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35137/08]

I can confirm that the application referred to by the Deputy is currently being considered by my Department and a decision will issue to the family shortly.

Chlár Tógala Scoile.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

88 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Brian O’Shea den Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta cén fáth a bhfuil neamhaird á déanamh ar iarratas ó Ghaelscoil (sonraí tugtha) ar fhoirgneamh buan; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [35141/08]

Tá iarratas ar fhoirgneamh úr déanta ag an scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta.

Machnófar ar bhonn leanúnach dul chun cinn gach uile tionscadal tógála ar scála mór, an tionscadal seo ina measc, ón túschéim dearaidh go dtí tairiscint agus tógáil, i gcomhthéacs Chlár Tógala agus Athnuachain Scoile Ilbhliantúil mo Roinnse.

School Transport.

Brian Hayes

Question:

89 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if a review of school transport catchment boundaries has commenced; when the review will be completed; the terms of reference of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35149/08]

My Department is finalising proposals for progressing the commitment given in the Programme for Government to review the school transport system including catchment boundaries.

Scoláireachta Gaeilge Tríú Leibhéal.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

90 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Brian O’Shea den Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta cad iad na moltaí atá aige chun déileáil leis na cúiseanna imní atá ag grúpa tuismitheoirí as Gaeltacht Chonamara faoi scéim scoláireachtaí do mhic léinn ón nGaeltacht (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [35151/08]

Tá sé i gceist athbhreithniú a dhéanamh i rith na bliana acadúla seo chugainn ar na trí scéimeanna scoláireachta Gaeilge tríú leibhéal atá ann faoi láthair, d'fhonn a n-éifeacht maidir le comhlíonadh a gcuspóirí a mheas. Machnófar raon ceisteanna, téarmaí agus coinníollacha na scéimeanna ina measc, i gcomhthéacs an athbhreithnithe seo.

School Staffing.

Enda Kenny

Question:

91 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the situation facing persons wishing to become a special needs assistant, who do not possess an educational qualification in Irish at junior certificate level, that some of these people may have received their primary level education outside the State and have not had the option of studying Irish and have since completed post-leaving certificate courses in order to qualify as a special needs assistant but remain ineligible; if an exemption will be granted to these people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35155/08]

The criteria for appointment of Special Needs Assistants specifies that the minimum requirement necessary for appointment is an award of Grade D (or pass) in Irish, English and Mathematics in the Intermediate Certificate/Junior Certificate or Day Vocational Certificate Examination or in an examination of equivalent standard. Boards of Management of schools are the employers of all staff, including SNAs, employed in schools. State funding of any SNA position is granted on the basis of agreed recruitment policies and guidelines being adhered to by Boards of Management and these being applied in a fair and consistent manner in all cases. The minimum educational standard required for these positions is based on the needs of the SNA post generally across all schools and it is not open to schools to deviate from this standard in individual cases.

With regard to the means by which a person may attain the necessary educational requirements, local education service providers (e.g. VEC) may be able to assist with access to an appropriate course or courses which will, on successful completion, lead to an award of the required standard.

School Accommodation.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

92 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the conditions at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 22; his views on whether it is acceptable that boys and girls in sixth class are forced to share a toilet; if he will ensure that funding is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35157/08]

The Department is keenly aware of the need to provide a permanent building for the school to which the Deputy refers. In this regard, agreement has been reached to provide permanent accommodation for the school on a V.E.C. owned site. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

93 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of an application for an extension by a school (details supplied) in County Cork; when a final decision will be made; when work will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35160/08]

The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Aitheantas Scoile.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

94 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta an bhfuil sé i gceist sa chinneadh nua a d’fhógair sé maidir le haitheantas a thabhairt do scoileanna úra, gur i gceantair fáis/forbartha amháin a bheidh siad, agus an dtuigeann sé go mbeadh a leithéid de pholasaí ag teacht salach ar an gcleachtas go dtí seo aitheantas a thabhairt do Ghaelscoileanna úra nuair atá an líon cuí daltaí acu, mar chuid de dhualgas an stáit i leith oideachais trí Ghaeilge a bheith ar fáil nuair atá éileamh air. [35173/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

95 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta cad iad na cúnaimh phraiticiúla nó mhaoine atá ar fáil óna Roinn do ghrúpaí, tuistí mar shampla, atá ag ullmhú chun Gaelscoil úr a bhunú. [35174/08]

Tógfaigh mé Ceisteanna 94 agus 95 le chéile.

Mar is eol don Teachta, d'fhógair mé le déanaí athbhreithniú ar na gnásanna do bhunú bunscoileanna úra faoin gCoimisiún um Chóiríochta Scoile. Tá sé i gceist agam Meitheal Oibre Teicniúil a bhunú faoin gCoimisiún chun athbhreithniú iomlán a dhéanamh ar na critéir agus ar na gnásanna d'aitheantas bunscoileanna úra. Tosóidh an Meitheal Oibre seo ag obair insna seachtainí romhainn agus táthar ag súil go mbeidh an t-athbhreithniú ar na gnásanna d'aitheantas bunscoileanna úra curtha i gcrích, agus socruithe athbhreithnithe ar bun, laistigh de fráma ama dhá bhliana.

San idirlinn níl sé i gceist aitheantas a thabhairt do bhunscoileanna úra ar bith, ach amháin i gceantair nach féidir fónamh iontu ar mhéaduithe i líon na ndaltaí, insna scoileanna mar atá siad, agus ina bhfuil gá le scoileanna úra a sholáthar. Is ionann sin agus a rá nach mbunófar scoileanna úra ar fháthanna nach mbaineann le fás deimeagrafach i gceantair ina bhfuil dóthain cóiríocht scoile cheana féin nó inar féidir fónamh ar mhéaduithe trí chur leis an gcóiríocht scoile atá ann faoi láthair.

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