Topical Issue Debate

Education and Training Provision

Deputy Gerald Nash

Like most Members, I welcomed the announcement last December of the new Momentum programme, which will provide 6,500 new education and training places for jobseekers. These places are correctly and specifically targeted at the long-term unemployed. Projects will be in the expanding employment areas of ICT, digital media, health care and social services, the green economy, food processing and sales and marketing. Moreover, I am pleased that a substantial number of these opportunities will be provided in my constituency of Louth. Importantly, these programmes are designed to match the needs of employers and provide those who have been out of work for a long time with a golden opportunity to optimise their chances of getting back into the workplace. As the Minister of State is aware, applicants must have been signing on for 12 months or longer and to be seeking employment actively. I have examined the eligibility criteria laid down by the Department because I recently was made aware of a case in which a man, whose mother passed away recently, was told he was ineligible to apply for a place on the Momentum programme because he had only been signing on for six months. Prior to that, he has spent two years acting as a carer to his mother and was recognised by the State by way of a carer's payment.

To date, all other labour activation schemes have allowed applicants to count time spent as a carer in lieu of time signing on in respect of the consideration for training. The Momentum programme is the first to break with this precedent. This appears to have been a policy decision taken within the Department that creates a highly dangerous and divisive principle. While there is much discussion and debate on the significant State support provided for carers, people do not appear to be overly concerned about what happens to carers when they are about to get back to the workforce when their caring duties come to an end, often in sad circumstances. No State jobs or training programme should be allowed to discriminate against a citizen who, through his or her family obligations and love for his or her family members, was obliged to take time out of the workforce to care for an unwell relative. It appears to be inherently unfair that someone should be penalised for leaving the workforce to care for a loved one and then be forced to sit on the live register for 12 months before being allowed access to the Momentum programme. I am anxious to establish whether the Minister for Social Protection will take steps to reverse this divisive and arguably discriminatory policy decision and bring the Momentum programme into line with other labour market activation schemes, which allow time spent in receipt of carer's allowance to count in respect of access to the suite of labour market activation and training measures provided by the Government.

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy John Perry)

In reply to Deputy Nash, an undertaking was given in the programme for Government to introduce a more focused approach to how the State engages with and supports the unemployed to get back into the workforce. Pathways to Work, the Government's policy statement on labour market activation, sets out how the Government intends to do this and is a key element of the Government's strategy to get Ireland working again. The Pathways to Work policy statement has five strands, namely, more regular and ongoing engagement with people who are unemployed, greater targeting of activation places and opportunities, incentivising the take-up of opportunities, incentivising employers to provide more jobs for people who are unemployed and reforming institutions to deliver better services to people who are unemployed. Implementation of these five strands will ensure that people who are unemployed will be given the opportunity to acquire suitable skills or qualifications or both. The second strand commits to greater targeting of activation places and opportunities. Given limited public resources, it is essential that activation measures are targeted. The long-term unemployed in particular must be a focus for interventions.

The Momentum initiative, to which the Deputy referred, provides free education and training projects for 6,500 long-term unemployed jobseekers. The programmes will include on-the-job training in the form of work experience modules, as well as the development of the workplace skills required to obtain and retain employment. The initiative is administered by FÁS and funded by the Department of Education and Skills through the European Social Fund-supported labour market education and training fund, LMETF. In line with the commitments given in the Pathways to Work policy statement, eligibility for the Momentum initiative is targeted at the long-term unemployed and a participant must meet the following criteria, namely, be unemployed and on the live register for 12 months, that is, 312 days, or longer and be in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or benefit from the Department of Social Protection or credited contributions for 12 months or longer and be actively seeking work. However, a person who was unemployed for 12 months in the previous 18 months may be considered eligible for the initiative. Therefore, a person who was engaged in temporary or seasonal work or who was temporarily in receipt of a carer's payment, but was otherwise on the live register during that 18-month period, may qualify. This may satisfy some of the Deputy's concerns. Periods spent on other activation schemes, such as, for example, the back to education allowance, community employment schemes or Tús may count towards meeting the eligibility requirements for the Momentum programme, provided the person has completed the scheme or programme and is on the live register.

Access to Momentum courses is strictly through referral from the Department. Case officers must determine suitability and agree the most suitable course for a person to progress him or her on his or her pathway to employment. While in general, receipt of a carer's allowance does not satisfy the criteria for this initiative, there is a wide range of other activation supports available to those in receipt of carer's payment. It should also be noted that the Momentum initiative only represents a small percentage of the more than 450,000 State-funded places provided in further education, higher education and training. These include 75,000 FÁS training places in 2012, 180,000 further education places and 162,000 full-time higher education places provided through universities and institutes of technology. In addition, the State provides more than 40,000 training places, including 8,000 for the unemployed, in partnership with private employers, as well as more than 6,000 Springboard places in 2012, comprising free part-time higher education, with additional places to be announced for this year.

In line with Pathways to Work commitments, the long-term unemployed are a particular focus for interventions and the Momentum initiative is, therefore, exclusively targeted at this cohort.

Deputy Gerald Nash

I am not necessarily consoled by the Minister of State's comments on the treatment of those who have had caring duties for a considerable period and who find they are not treated the same as other people who are technically long-term unemployed, at least in the context of the Momentum scheme. The scheme creates a gilt-edged opportunity for many long-term unemployed people to access the labour market and get genuine opportunities for jobs. It is important that we target such an approach.

The Minister of State is correct that it is only appropriate that the long-term unemployed are specifically targeted, which is the focus of Pathways to Work. Nevertheless, there is an imbalance, and I wish to point out the dangerous precedent inherent in this policy decision to exclude some people who have been in receipt of carer's allowance for a long period and not consider them as essentially being on the live register for 12 months. I accept there are complexities and I fear hundreds of people may be in the circumstances I describe. It is a point of principle from which we cannot move, and we should not put such a line in the sand with regard to treating carers differently to other social welfare recipients. The Government should be conscious of that.

We are all conscious that there are approximately 450,000 State-funded training places, with specific targeting of those who are long-term unemployed. We must examine the definition of "long-term unemployed" in the context of this programme and we should recognise the function which carers play in society. When that function comes to an end, often in tragic and difficult circumstances, carers should be fast-tracked into training schemes if they wish to partake, and they should be fast-tracked into employment to ensure we recognise the role played by carers in society. When caring duties end, these people should have optimum opportunities to train and access gainful employment. That is important, particularly for carers who may find it difficult to adapt when the caring role concludes and especially if those people have been out of the direct labour force for some time.

Deputy John Perry

I assure Deputy Nash that I will bring his concerns to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, as he has raised important points. Some flexibility already exists within the initiative whereby a person who was temporarily in receipt of a carer's payment but was otherwise on the live register during the previous 18 months may be considered for the Momentum initiative, and there is a certain discretion in that respect. The focus of the initiative must remain the long-term unemployed, regardless of the cost of extension to other groups. The initiative is specifically targeted at the long-term unemployed as committed in the Pathways to Work programme. Extension of the initiative to those who are not long-term unemployed would be counter to the objectives of the programme.

A carer's allowance is payable to customers who are caring for a person on a full-time basis: carers cannot be employed or self-employed outside the home for more than 15 hours per week. However, recipients of a carer's payment may participate in a range of part-time training or education programmes, provided it does not conflict with their commitment to their caring duties. For carers who wish to retrain in anticipation of seeking employment when their caring duties cease, there is a range of training and education places and supports available. The Department of Education and Skills provides 75,000 training places through FÁS, with delivery during the day, evening, on-line and blended in a fashion that combines on-line learning and workshops. Part-time courses are also available through the vocational education committees under the back to education initiative. Some of these courses would be available to carers while others are accessible for people previously engaged in caring. Carers are also eligible for grant-aided accredited training through the Department's technical employment support grant fund.

Social Welfare Rates

Deputy Dara Calleary

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue, about which we have all probably received representations since Christmas and particularly in the past week, as correspondence has arrived from Eircom and Electric Ireland in particular relating to another of the bombshells from the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton. It was sneakily announced in the budget but it is only having an impact on people now.

With the telephone allowance, there has been a 63% reduction in the contribution, meaning a figure that was €25.78 has been reduced to €9.50. For many older people this was a complete subsidy on line rental. The younger generation is moving away from landlines but that is not happening for the older generation. They need landlines for the traditional use of the phone and in many cases to allow use of monitored alarms and personal security. For many, this cut is forcing a reassessment of the need to have a landline and maintain security. The Minister of State knows there has been a surge of burglaries and robberies in my part of the country over the past three months, and this is replicated across the country. There is genuine fear and concern among people, and this cut will be felt by older people in particular.

There has been a complete change in the manner in which the electricity allowance works. It used to be a unit-based allowance that was directly related to usage but it is now an automatic payment of €35 per month. Such a payment is substantial but at this time of year - from January to March or winter in general - people and especially older people use much electricity for heat, light and a range of activities. I object to the manner in which the allowance is being changed from unit-based to a cash basis.

Was any consideration given to staging the change, allowing the biggest impact of the change to happen at a time when people could adjust electricity usage? We have just come through some cold days and one can imagine how bills will be increasing. The change comes at a time when electricity prices have increased by 15%, which is substantial, and this has come about because of oil price spikes. These increases are passed to the customer and we all see them in our bills, although it affects older people in particular. For some time the household benefits package has been a very important support for people over 70, providing security and assistance for necessary costs which rise as one gets older.

What consideration was given to staggering the introduction of the new system? Will the Minister, Deputy Burton, review the change and perhaps look to introduce most of the impact in April, particularly with regard to the electricity allowance? There are a number of issues that must be clarified. Many people may not have used all the units in their allowance, depending on the time of year, and they could carry forward those units. The Minister has indicated that negotiations were under way with Electric Ireland in that regard so is there an update?

How will the social welfare benefits package be affected with regard to Eircom? The company has advised that there will be further cuts in addition to those notified by the Minister because it is precluded from offering discounts to people by the telecoms regulator. Will there be further cuts to the telephone allowance? What advice is the Government giving to people and what communication has been issued to people about the cuts? The Minister is well able to talk and use volume when she wants to but is she bringing the power of her office to the negotiation with the various providers of energy and communications products to try to come up with better or more competitive packages for older people, reflecting their usage and need for these products?

Deputy John Perry

I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton. Any reduction in social welfare payments or benefits is difficult for those affected. The overall concern of the Government in budget 2013 was to protect the primary weekly social welfare rates. To allow us to protect the core payments people receive, including pensions, disability allowance and carer's allowance, the Department had to examine carefully other additional payments such as the household benefits package. This package comprises the electricity and gas allowance, telephone allowance and free television licence. The package is primarily available to older people, those with disabilities and carers.

Following budget 2013, the structure of the electricity and gas allowance has changed and is now aligned with the best average market rate currently available from energy suppliers for an unchanged 150 units per month. For customers who receive a bill, this amount will appear as a cash credit of €35 on their bill. Other customers will continue to receive a cash allowance.

Between 2005 and 2011 the number of people in receipt of the electricity and gas allowance increased by 20% to reach 405,000. The cost of the electricity and gas allowances has risen from €110 million in 2005 to an estimated outturn of €201 million in 2012, an increase of 83% in seven years. In the current economic climate these increases are unsustainable. The change to the electricity and gas elements of the household benefits package will bring significant savings, with estimated expenditure in 2013 of €176 million, while aiming to encourage customers to achieve better savings through greater mobility.

The affordable energy strategy drew attention to the fact that customers in receipt of household benefits were much less likely than other customers to switch energy supplier to obtain better value. Only 16% of social welfare customers have switched companies compared to 42% nationally. The Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, following discussions with officials from the Department, has been liaising with the National Consumer Agency with a view to ensuring that information is available for our customers to help with switching companies. In August 2011, the CER published a paper which set out a framework for accreditation for price comparison websites, CER/11/144, following which a website, www.bonkers.ie, a good name, was accredited. The website presents comparison data which can greatly assist those wishing to switch companies and achieve the best value.

The number of people in receipt of the telephone allowance has also increased significantly in recent years in line with increases in customers receiving qualifying payments, as well as the increases in those aged over 70 years. Demographics are such that this number will continue rising. In 2005, some 311,000 customers were in receipt of telephone allowance. This figure had increased to 397,000 in 2012, a rise of 28% over seven years. The allocation for the telephone allowance scheme has been reduced by €61 million in 2013. As a result, the monthly allowance has been reduced from €22.60 to €9.50. This is a cost saving measure.

In recent years, the nature of the telephone market has been transformed, with deregulation, mobile services and bundled services, including television, broadband and telephone. A wide variety of deals is available, for example, it is possible to purchase a standard pay-as-you-go brand name mobile telephone for as little as €19.99 in large retailers.

The Department is keenly aware of the impacts on customers. In this regard, it should be noted that Ireland's older population has the lowest rate of consistent poverty and, as a group compared to the rest of the population, is least likely to be at risk of poverty. This points to the adequacy and importance of the State pension. Between 2004 and 2010, consistent poverty for people aged over 65 years fell from 3.3% to 0.9% and the at risk of poverty rate for people in this age group fell from 27.1% to 9.6%. In addition, the fuel allowance scheme was protected in budget 2013 and recipients will continue to receive this payment of €20 per week as part of their weekly social welfare payment for the duration of the fuel season, which runs until April 2013.

If a customer of the Department is experiencing difficulty, an exceptional needs payment may be made to help meet an essential, once off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of his or her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by a community welfare officer based on the particular circumstances of the case.

Deputy Dara Calleary

The Minister of State is a businessman. If 405,000 customers were to contact him tomorrow seeking a deal, he would fall over himself to give them a discount. Some 405,000 people are in receipt of the energy allowance, with a further 397,000 in receipt of the telephone allowance. The Minister of State referred to the increase in the costs of these schemes, which is also a reflection of a substantial increase in profits for energy companies and those of the telecommunications companies that are well run. Surely it is within the capacity of the Department of Social Protection to seek a deal on behalf of almost 500,000 people.

As the Minister of State is aware, older people do not like change. Whereas he and I may change providers regularly, our older peers have more loyalty to their providers and will not change. Surely, given the numbers who receive these allowances, the Department should be able to negotiate better deals and improve its understanding of usage.

While I concur that demographics will dictate that the costs of these schemes will increase, choices were available to the Government. If it had taxed those earning higher incomes, specifically those with salaries of more than €100,000, those on the lowest incomes, including pensioners, would not have to take cuts in the household benefits package. While I am aware this matter does not come within the Minister of State's brief, I ask that the Minister revert to me on the position regarding discussions with Eircom and Electric Ireland on unused units and the social benefits package. I will resist the temptation to comment on the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, and bonkers.ie.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Bernard J. Durkan)

We will not go there.

Deputy John Perry

I will raise with the Minister the Deputy's point on carrying over units. On the issue of doing a deal, I am certain the Minister is very conscious of the need to obtain best value for money. The previous Administration worked with the providers of electricity, telephone services and so forth. Many people switch providers.

Deputy Dara Calleary

Older people do not switch.

Deputy John Perry

I disagree. There is no better example of a population that obtains value for money than the older generation. They did not get carried away in the silly season and have always kept their feet on the ground. While the Deputy makes a good point, the Minister is conscious of the position of those who are in need. An allowance is available in cases of inability to pay. The Minister is doing everything possible to retain the benefits provided to the elderly and needy to whom we owe a duty. I will raise the Deputy's concerns directly with the Minister.

Childhood Obesity

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue. This is not the first time I have raised obesity and related issues in the House, nor will it be the last. My reason for doing so is to try to increase awareness of the complexity of the issue of childhood obesity and ensure it continues to appear on the radar of the Departments of Health and Education and Skills, as well as other Departments that have an input in this area, which is the most important public health issue the country will face for a generation.

Deputies will be aware of the various diseases and illnesses which occur as a direct consequence of obesity, notably hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and obesity related cancers. If we fail to intervene with the younger generation, intervention at a later date will be much more difficult. I contrast the lack of action being taken on obesity with the action taken elsewhere in the education system, namely, the green flag initiative.

Childhood obesity is largely linked to behaviour and the earlier one intervenes to change behaviour, the better. Some form of rewards mechanism should be introduced and what better rewards mechanism is there than a whole school or whole community approach to address the problem of obesity. The Department of Education and Skills may well argue that such an initiative, the active school flag initiative, is already in place and while this is a good scheme, its primary focus is on persuading children to become more active. I am seeking a more holistic approach to addressing the obesity problem, one which encompasses the healthy eating policies in place in many schools, the social, personal and health education, SPHE, programme in place in all schools and the curriculum content of science and other subjects. Such an approach is needed to ensure children are encouraged to have healthy eating as one of their goals and objectives.

Schools cannot act as nannies and the Departments of Health and Education and Skills cannot take responsibility for what individuals consume.

However, we have a responsibility to make people aware of what they are consuming and how it affects their lives. When we undertake a public awareness campaign, we also have an obligation to show all of the community the merits.

Environmental benefits accrued through the national reduction in litter are due in no small way to the green flag initiative. Schools across the country have green committees that are led by pupils and engaged with by teachers, parents, school management and the wider community. As public representatives, we have all been invited to celebrations at which local personalities and sports people to whom children look up have hoisted green flags. The flag has an obvious benefit.

The Department of Health, the Department of Finance or someone else can tell people that the best way to tackle obesity is to put an extra 10 cent on a bottle of Coca-Cola. While such an increase may be part of the solution down the road, tackling our eating behaviours and levels of activity and exercise through public pronouncements by schools - it could also be through workplaces - is essential. We will lose a generation. In 1990, one in ten Irish men was classified as obese. Today, the figure is one in four. Will be it one in two or even worse in 20 years time?

Under a US initiative, the First Lady, Ms Michelle Obama, moved away from the food pyramid that is outlined in every classroom in this country to a food plate, a simple schematic that shows people how to lay out a plate. This is not just an issue of food intake. Rather, it is an issue of sending people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and income levels a simple message about the associated health dangers.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Sean Sherlock)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. From the preventative point of view, I wholeheartedly agree with his sentiments regarding the importance of raising awareness. If we can take preventative measures and utilise early intervention measures to tackle childhood obesity, it will have a positive effect downstream for the citizens themselves as well as for the Exchequer in terms of medical interventions and so forth.

The Department is committed to promoting healthy lifestyle choices among children and young people. This is reflected in the curriculum for primary and post-primary schools. The successful active school flag, ASF, programme also provides evidence to the effect that schools are keenly interested in ensuring that their students have positive attitudes to physical activities. However and as the Deputy articulated, there is only so much that schools can do. There is an onus on parents and the community to ensure that children are as active as possible outside of school.

The Department recognises the importance of cultivating healthy attitudes in children. This is reflected in the primary school curriculum for science, physical education and social, personal and health education, SPHE. Pupils are enabled to develop an understanding of food and nutrition, including the importance of food for energy and growth and the importance of a balanced and healthy diet along with being physically active.

In post-primary schools, the SPHE syllabus contains modules on healthy eating, and physical education promotes activity. The popular optional subject, home economics, also has a role to play. On 4 October 2012, my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, published a framework for the junior cycle. One of the principles of the framework is well-being. This principle will be underpinned by key statements of learning that require students to understand the importance of food and diet in making healthy lifestyle choices, to be confident and competent participants in physical activity, to be motivated to be physically active and to take action to safeguard and promote their well-being and that of others. A new short course in SPHE is being designed for 100 hours, some 30 hours longer than the current programme.

The Department seeks to recognise schools that strive to achieve a physically educated and active school community by awarding them the ASF. More than 1,000 primary and post-primary schools have registered for an ASF. To date, 156 flags have been awarded with the number expected to rise significantly during the coming year. Through the ASF process, schools have developed many innovative and exciting ways of encouraging their school communities to become more active.

In cultivating healthy eating attitudes in children, the 2009 life skills survey of primary and post-primary schools showed that 87% of the primary schools and 32% of the post-primary schools that took part in the survey operated a healthy eating policy. The life skills survey was repeated in 2012. It is hoped that the percentage of schools, particularly at post-primary level, with a healthy eating policy will have improved. The results will be published later this year.

The Department of Health and my Department collaborate and co-operate on a number of relevant areas, including healthy eating. The Department of Health has involved this Department and others in developing Healthy Ireland, a report that is to be published shortly. My Department is also a member of the Department of Health's special group on obesity, which is meeting today.

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I welcome the fact that so many schools are in the pipeline for ASF awards, but it is not just a question of activity levels. It is also a question of what we ingest. For example, while I was teaching, a colleague told me of how he found a packet of digestive biscuits and butter when the lunch box of a child in his classroom was opened. When he met the child's mother subsequently, it was through no fault of her own that she pointed out that she had not given her child chocolate digestives.

There is a significant awareness problem. There is also a generational problem. RTE's "The John Murray Show" and others are doing fantastic work, but this is January. Not too many people discuss "Operation Transformation" in June or July. The issue falls off the list of national priorities until we start discussing it again after Christmas. As I stated at the weekend, people will rush out to buy bicycles, runners and so on and will tear around the country for a couple of weeks before reverting to their old habits in February.

We need to change people's behaviour. We can only do so by making the appropriate intervention at a young age. In every house that is home to a child whose primary school is actively engaged with the green flag initiative, parents will have drummed into them the message of recycling, separating waste, composting, energy efficiency, water usage and a clatter of other issues. The same needs to apply in this case. We must make a more concerted intervention. It is already being done in schools, as the Minister of State outlined, but we need to pull it all together. We need to encourage people to recognise that what they are ingesting, combined with their physical output, will have a significant effect.

This problem costs the Exchequer €4 billion per year in the form of the HSE's budget for obesity related illnesses. The situation will only worsen at a time when we cannot even afford basic services. This intervention might cost a few euro, but whatever we can draw out of it and whatever behaviours we can change will bear fruit.

Deputy Sean Sherlock

I do not disagree with anything the Deputy has stated. He is spot on in trying to raise levels of consciousness around this issue. The Department of Education and Skills is part of the Department of Health's special group on obesity.

Deputy O'Donovan illustrated an example of a child with digestives.

The child did not pack the lunch box and neither did the teacher. It was the parent. Schools act in loco parentis and by their very nature will do so much. I refer, for example, to the activity around the active school flag for which 1,000 primary and post-primary schools have registered. A total of 156 flags have been awarded which shows that there is a rising consciousness on the issue. If the green flag initiative is anything to go by then I have no doubt that this will be just as successful in terms of raising awareness. However, there is a role for parents as well, and for community and teacher involvement.

Technology is one way of raising that kind of awareness. Deputy O’Donovan referred to the post-Christmas rush to purchase new gear and to get exercise. We all have post-Christmas guilt. I downloaded two applications, apps, one called "Run Keeper" and the other "Map my Fitness". Such apps will help to modify people’s behaviour.

I accept the Deputy’s point but I firmly believe there is a stronger role for parents, and we speak a little to common sense. I am happy to talk to the Deputy again on the matter to see whether we can progress the issue in the wider context of reducing the level of obesity. There must be a role for the Parliament through the committee system or intra-parliamentary group to examine the issue. That could be one way of seeking to tackle the issue.

Harbour Parking Charges

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

It is good to see Deputy Durkan in the Chair.

Residents and local business people in Howth were shocked before Christmas to learn of plans by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, to introduce car parking charges in Howth Harbour. Howth is one of the six national fishery harbours around the coastline and is also a most popular marine leisure and tourism resource for Dubliners and people of the entire north Leinster region. Local residents and business people, therefore, rightly fear that the introduction of car parking charges by the Minister could have a devastating effect on the vital marine and leisure tourism industries and the local economy in general.

I previously estimated that approximately 100,000 people come to Howth each year to walk the famous Howth tramline walkway alone. These walkers, and other tens of thousands of annual visitors, walk the pathways of the East and West Mountains or come into the harbour itself to walk. Many visit local restaurants or use the marine tourism and leisure facilities, including the world famous Howth Yacht Club and other boating and fishing services.

Local residents, of which I am one, and business people generally welcome the visitors as they are the lifeblood of the local Howth economy. Many residents have fought hard to protect the unique green and marine environment of Howth for residents and visitors alike. Given the ongoing economic difficulties, there are fears that the introduction of parking charges in Howth Harbour will deter many people from travelling to Howth especially if bringing equipment or gear for outdoor or leisure activities and must use their car. Residents and business people have rightly asked whether a full cost-benefit analysis has been carried out on the project and if the Minister has contacted other public stakeholders such as Fingal County Council or Irish Rail.

Mr. Paul Brady, president of Howth Sutton Baldoyle Chamber of Commerce reminded me that the introduction of paid parking has resulted in business closures at Dún Laoghaire Harbour. In response to my parliamentary question the Minister stated that the proposed charges are being introduced in the context of "traffic and parking management enhancements". He also stated that he is "convinced that the revenues generated by the introduction of such charges will provide the funds to develop [the harbour]".

There is no firm commitment in that regard. Restuarants, fish processors and fishmongers on the West Pier also rightly fear that once parking charges have been introduced they will be exponentially increased on an annual basis. The Minister also referred in his reply to health and safety fears for emergency vehicles on the West Pier. The local businesses regard that as a complete red herring because the problems could easily be dealt with through the use of designated spaces, for example. I have asked the Minister to undertake a full public consultation on the proposal, and to permit local residents and businesses to express their clear opposition to the proposed charges, which they have asked him to withdraw. This is important given that there appears to have been no consultation by the Minister with the local community or other public stakeholders.

I am sure, for example, that members of Fingal County Council and local councillors in the Howth-Malahide ward would be bitterly opposed to any measure which would increase the density of parking and traffic on the tight narrow streets of Howth and move traffic out of the harbour area. Local community leaders and groups including the Howth Sutton Community Council led by Ms Stephanie Davies, Mr. Charles Sargent, Mr. Des Gilroy and Mr. Raymond Sexton have been in touch on the proposed parking charges and have confirmed that there was no communication or consultation with the community council on the matter. Howth Sutton Community Council is an umbrella group for community, residents and business organisations across the Howth Sutton Peninsula and it has currently 40 member organisations, including the chamber of commerce led by president Mr. Paul Brady, Howth Yacht Club led by Mr. Pat Murphy, Howth Comhair Iascaire Teoranta, the fisheries co-operative, led by Captain Brian Doyle, all the churches, drug awareness groups, Beann Eadair GAA, Howth Celtic football club, Howth Golf Club, the Heritage Society, the tidy towns organisation, credit unions. Fingal County Council and An Garda Síochána are also represented. Given the range of community interests represented, it is astonishing that the Minister or the Department did not consult or communicate with this important body.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, for coming to respond to the debate. I am informed that there has been no local consultation and that the proposal is universally believed to be crazy. It would be bad for tourism in Howth and would deter valued visitors to the unique Howth Peninsula. It would be disastrous for the local economy. I urge the Minister to forget the proposal and to talk to the people of Howth.

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dinny McGinley)

I thank Deputy Broughan for raising the matter. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, conveys his regret at being unable to attend the House personally today, but he has a number of important issues to which he must attend.

Howth is one of six fishery harbour centres operated by the State, each of whose primary purpose is to provide facilities and services for the fishing industry and fisheries-related activities. The introduction of parking charges at Howth fishery harbour centre was originally examined some years ago in the context of a proposed Howth traffic and parking management plan, in conjunction with Fingal County Council. The project did not subsequently proceed. However, it is generally acknowledged that traffic and parking management within the fishery harbour centre itself needs to be addressed, particularly in the light of concerns raised about safety and emergency access by the Coast Guard, the lifeboat service, and An Garda Síochána. The introduction of pay parking is one of a number of measures being introduced to address those concerns.

Howth fishery harbour centre is first and foremost a working fishery harbour. As such, full access is required for commercial traffic servicing the fishing side and the various ancillary enterprises, with appropriate parking arrangements. Other harbour users such as the yacht club and other social users also require reasonable access to parking facilities. A significant number of parking spaces in the fishery harbour is currently being taken up by commuters using the DART service during the working week, when the DART station car park is full. It is essential that the needs of all users are accommodated in a safe and secure facility.

There has been significant capital investment in the fishery harbour centres in recent years. In parallel with fishing-related enhancements, there have been a number of developments at the fishery harbours that underpin their expanding use for leisure and marine tourism, as well as other maritime enterprises. Howth, in particular, has a long tradition in these areas as well as in commercial fishing.

As a consequence of the additional investment, the State is necessarily fully committed to maximising the return on its investment. Furthermore, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is required to ensure that the fishery harbour centres are run on a financially sound basis. It is in those contexts that it is proposed to make a charge for the use of parking facilities provided within Howth fishery harbour centre, in the same way that a charge is made for using any of its other facilities.

All income generated by the fishery harbour centres goes back into a ring-fenced fishery harbour centres fund that is used exclusively for the operating, management and development costs of the fishery harbours. At this point I will explain the background to the funding mechanism involved in the day to day management of the six fishery harbour centres for the information of the House.

The Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968, as amended, sets out the mechanism to be employed in funding the day to day operational costs of the six fishery harbour centres. All income received at each of the six fishery harbour centres is effectively lodged to what is known as the fishery harbour centres fund. All of the day-to-day running costs of each fishery harbour centre are financed from the fishery harbour centres fund and it is the only source of income available to fund the day to day operation and management of the fishery harbour centres. This expenditure includes, for example, harbour master and staff salaries, electricity and fuel costs, harbour cleaning, maintenance and so forth, without which the fishery harbour centres could not function and certainly could not provide a service to their customers, the harbour users and the visiting public. It is important to reiterate that all income lodged to the fishery harbour centres fund is invested directly back into the fishery harbour centres and is used for no other purpose.

The rates and charges order is the legal instrument that enables charges to be levied that provide the income necessary for the provision of the various services at the fishery harbours. It is important that the rates and charges are set at a level sufficient to provide adequately for the costs involved. At the same time, it is necessary to balance the need to finance the management of the harbours with the needs of the various harbour customers. The current rates and charges order, S.I. 214/2012, provides for a charge for parking but no set charge has yet been fixed for Howth. Given that there are approximately 500 parking spaces within the fishery harbour centre boundaries at present, it is clear that a significant source of revenue exists. It is illogical that harbour users would expect to continue to use such a facility free of charge given that the State is required to maintain that facility, and when only some users, that is other users of the harbour who are paying into the fishery harbour centres fund, are effectively paying for it. The Department is currently drafting a scheme for the new parking regime that will seek to be fair to all of the users of the harbour while at the same time ensuring that everybody pays their fair share. No details on timing or the level of charges have been determined at this stage.

The new parking arrangements will include pay and display parking for visitors and a permit management system for the harbour's business users. Regular harbour users will have noticed that all currently available parking spaces have been identified and marked recently. No additional spaces over and above those already available have been created, although it is expected that the addition of marked parking bays in some areas, where no spaces were marked up to now and parking was somewhat ad hoc, may lead to a small increase in the overall numbers of spaces available. The proposed new pay and display system will require the deployment of a number of pay machines at appropriate intervals around the harbour. The specification for those machines will of course address the potential environmental and visual impacts of the machines and of any associated directional signage. The Department has asked the planning department of Fingal County Council for guidance on its requirements in that regard and will be pleased to take account of any requirements and recommendations it may have.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan

I remember showing the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney's father, the late Hugh Coveney, around the port. I did so alone because the Fine Gael representative did not turn up. He spoke about the uniqueness of the peninsula and the fact that such a beautiful place was adjacent to a huge population of possible visitors. Fifteen or 16 years later that has not changed. I have not had the pleasure of meeting the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, in Howth but I hope that is something that might be remedied. The Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy John Perry, was with our chamber of commerce some months ago. However, I hope the Minister, Deputy Coveney, will visit.

It is extraordinary that the Minister has not consulted the key stakeholders - I hope the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, will convey that to him - particularly the Howth Sutton Community Council, which has existed for many decades, the chamber of commerce, which has a similarly lengthy history, and the world famous Howth Yacht Club. I ask him to have a full and detailed consultation on this matter. Bodies representing a gamut of commercial, sporting, cultural and marine organisations and businesses are bitterly opposed to the proposal.

The Minister referred to Fingal County Council. The county council scrapped this proposal following public uproar about a decade ago. It simply decided not to proceed with it due to the nature of the town, given the narrow streets of Howth, and because it would be disastrous for commercial business. The Minister did not respond to the point I made about Dún Laoghaire harbour. Our chamber of commerce believes Dún Laoghaire was seriously damaged by the introduction of charges in the harbour area.

Finally, we must have far more detailed information from the Minister as to what is being brought forward. He should talk to people. After doing so, he will, in justice, simply abandon this proposal, due to the uniqueness of Howth Port. There is a great port in the Minister's constituency of Donegal which I was pleased to visit on a number of occasions when I was spokesman on the marine for the Labour Party. Howth is geographically even more unique given that it is so close to 1.5 million people and is used by hundreds of thousands of them annually. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, take this on board, visit us in Howth and, hopefully, we will resolve this matter.

Deputy Dinny McGinley

I assure the Deputy that his comments will be conveyed to the Minister. No details on timing or the level of charges have been determined at this stage. I am sure the consultations proposed by the Deputy will be sympathetically considered by the Minister. I will tell him about the proposal and it is on the record of the House.

I agree that Howth is probably one of the iconic areas of this country. I recall as a young schoolboy reading about Fionn MacCumhaill looking out to the sea from Binn Éadair on a fine summer's evening. I do not know whether it was at Niamh Cinn Óir or not, but it is in Irish folklore and mythology. Like any other fishing port, there is something magical about Howth. However, there must be some regulation of traffic there. If this is implemented all funds collected will go into a central fund for the maintenance of these fishery harbours, and Howth will get its share as well. Hopefully, it will lead to the improvement of traffic regulation there. The Deputy's comments will be brought to the Minister's attention.

Dáil Éireann debate - Thursday, 24 Jan 2013