Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Sep 2015

Vol. 242 No. 1

Commencement Matters

Flood Prevention Measures

Senator Hildegarde Naughton

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, for coming to the Seanad this afternoon. As he will know, the long-range weather forecast has estimated there will be severe flooding in the west, particularly Galway city, in the coming days. Water heights are estimated to rise to 20 ft., which is much higher than the quay wall at the Spanish Arch in Galway city.

Such high tides will undoubtedly put at risk areas of the city in close proximity to the promenade in Salthill and the Claddagh. Businesses and locals are very concerned about the impact that this will have. As the Minister of State will recall, on the last occasion high tides caused enormous water damage in Galway. While it is good to see that Galway City Council has indicated that its new aquadam will be deployed at the Spanish Arch in order to alleviate matters, if bad weather accompanies the flooding, that might not be sufficient to prevent the repeat of previous flooding. In the light of this, I ask the Minister of State to outline where the national flood risk management programme now stands. I understand public meetings are taking place to develop a regional plan, but there is a great need for these plans to be finalised and the necessary funding put in place. I ask the Minister of State, on behalf of the Government, to commit to providing whatever funding would be required for remedial and repair work should the forecasted floods become a reality in Galway and the west.

Would it be possible to get a statement on the current state of affairs in regard to the River Clare in Claregalway? There was severe flooding there, as the Minister of State is aware, almost six years ago, on 21 November. Lawyers have been involved with regard to the progress of the works on the River Clare, but there are people there who cannot sell their homes or cannot get insurance because of the delays with the flood relief work. I ask the Minister of State to update the House on the state of these works.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Simon Harris)

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to address the Seanad on these matters.

The Office of Public Works has arrangements in place with consultants to provide a tidal and storm surge forecasting service for the coast of Ireland to local authorities and to other relevant stakeholders during the autumn and winter period. This service is now operating for the 2015 to 2016 autumn and winter period. This service is provided twice daily and results are presented via a project website, which is password restricted, in the form of a surge, astronomical tide and total water level time series prediction approximately 65 hours in advance. This provides advance information for local authorities. The service currently provides a low resolution storm surge forecast via website at 15 locations around the national coastline, together with a high resolution forecast in Dundalk Bay, Galway Bay, Wexford Harbour, Cork Harbour and the Shannon Estuary. High tide advisory notices are issued from time to time as deemed necessary by the OPW during periods of anticipated combined high tides and storm surge. The OPW is monitoring closely the current surge forecasts for the upcoming high astronomical tides expected between Saturday, 26 September, and Friday, 2 October, and will issue a high tide advisory notice if deemed necessary in the event of an anticipated coastal flood risk.

Following the severe weather from 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 which caused widespread damage across the southern and western seaboards, the Government decided on 11 February 2014 to make available up to €69.5 million based on estimates provided for repair works by local authorities for a programme of repair and remediation works to be carried out by those local authorities to roads, coastal protection and flood defences and other public infrastructure damaged in the storms. Of the total amount available, up to €19.6 million was made available through the Office of Public Works for the repair of damaged coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure. A further €48.7 million was made available through other Departments for restoration of damaged roads, local authority infrastructure, tourism, amenity and community infrastructure and piers and harbours, including those owned by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, and for other transport infrastructure, including Irish Rail, Shannon Airport and the Irish Coast Guard. A further €1.2 million was made available for repair to OPW's own infrastructure.

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government wrote to all affected local authorities indicating that, based on the estimates submitted by them to the Department, the amounts being made available to the councils to undertake the necessary repairs works, including the amounts available via the OPW in respect of the cost of repairs to damaged coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure in the country. Local authorities submitted programmes of works to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and other Departments and the OPW indicating how they proposed to spend the allocation made available to them. The OPW has also written to the local authorities indicating that in order to assist them in a practical way and to avoid any potential cash flow issues, it will consider requests for advance funding of up to 80% where a contract for works has been made.

Of the €19.6 million made available via the OPW, approximately €13.7 million was allocated to the local authorities in counties Clare, Galway and Mayo, reflecting the severe damage done in these counties. To date, the local authorities have drawn down over €8.6 million of the full allocation of €19.6 million available to them from the OPW. The allocation is expected to be fully drawn down by the end of 2015. A large number of the projects included in the programme of works submitted to the local authorities are now completed.

The Irish coastal protection strategy study has surveyed and assessed the coastal erosion and flood risk along the entire national coastline, and this information is available to all local authorities to enable them to develop appropriate plans and strategies for the sustainable management of the coastline in their counties, including the identification, prioritisation and, subject to the availability of resources, implementation of coastal protection works, both of a structural and non-structural nature. This office has provided funding for counties Clare, Galway, Louth, Sligo and Wexford for coastal risk management studies of main at-risk areas identified by these counties. It must be emphasised that the management of problems of coastal protection in any particular area is, first and foremost, a matter for the relevant local authority.

With regard to the question of upgrading existing built defences or constructing new defences, this would depend primarily on the council's assessment of the measures that would be appropriate at a particular location. Local authorities must assess the problem in the first instance and, if it is considered that specific measures and works are required, it is open to them to apply for funding to deal with coastal protection works under the Office of Public Works' minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme.

In addition to the storm damage repair funding which is a one-off measure to reinstate built coastal defences to their pre-storm condition, the OPW operates a capital works programme for the provision of flood defences nationally. In the six years from 2009 to 2014, the OPW has expended more than €250 million of taxpayers' money under the programme on the development and implementation of major flood relief schemes, the catchment flood risk assessment and management programme and the minor flood mitigation and coastal works programmes. In addition to the capital works programme, we also carry out a maintenance programme on all arterial drainage schemes. Included in the major flood relief schemes being advanced are coastal schemes at Skibbereen and Clonakilty.

The OPW is undertaking, as the Senator says, the national catchment flood risk assessment and management programme, CFRAM, which is the principal vehicle for implementing the EU floods directive and forms the strategic focus of national flood policy. Engineering consultants have been appointed to implement the programme through six regional studies. Local authorities and other stakeholders are also involved in partnership with the OPW on steering groups and progress groups across the six study areas. This programme which is vast and focusing on 300 areas for further assessment, including 90 coastal areas, involves the production of predictive flood risk and hazard mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans. Under the programme, the draft maps have been produced and are already online for all to see and were the subject of a programme of local public consultation which concluded in April 2015. The flood maps will be finalised following a national consultation scheduled for late 2015. A programme of local public consultation on the preliminary flood risk management options is under way. Further information is available on cfram.ie.

As part of CFRAM, a condition survey of flood defence assets is being undertaken for entry into a flood defence database. I also make the point that, in the context of capital, this will require significant investment of possibly up to €1 billion over ten years. As a country, we currently spend about €42 million a year on flood mitigation measures. In fairness to the last Government and this one, that is a level that has been maintained through difficult years. We now need to see that seriously increase in order that we can deliver the CFRAM programme. The programme is making significant progress and we expect by the spring of next year to be rolling out the solutions to those 300 areas, where there are possible solutions.

In terms of the events that may happen in Galway in relation to astronomical tides, we will continue to closely monitor them and keep in touch with the Senator on the matter. I will update her on the position in Claregalway in the next round.

Senator Hildegarde Naughton

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I look forward to the national flood risk management programme continuing its work, but we also need to have the long-term plan put in place. As the Minister of State states, this will take a multi-annual approach and continual investment in order that we can protect the coastline against events such as those that have happened in the past. Does the Minister of State have an update on the situation in respect of the Clare River? Many people living in the Claregalway area are at a loss to know when this is going to happen. They are looking for a date for when the works can proceed. Many of them cannot get insurance on their houses or sell them. I would appreciate an update in the House today.

Deputy Simon Harris

I agree with the Senator that we need a national plan. When the CFRAM programme is concluded, we will for the first time in the history of the State have a national flood mapping exercise. However, more than just mapping the problem, we will also have structural solutions to each of the problems. That will provide a roadmap for this and future Governments to deliver once and for all on the major infrastructural projects that need to be delivered in relation to flood mitigation.

The Senator also touched on the issue of flood insurance. There are a range of issues related to flooding that fall well outside the remit of the Office of Public Works. Flood forecasting falls within the remit of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Flood insurance and insurance policies are the responsibility of the Department of Finance. I have reconvened the interdepartmental group which brings together all the Departments with responsibility for various elements of what I call the whole-of-government approach that we need to take and that is due to report to the Cabinet early next year.

In relation to the position in Claregalway, I sense and share the frustration of residents in the Senator's part of the country. The OPW has committed to fully funding this scheme. That funding is available and our expenditure profile is up to 2017. As the Senator may be aware, under a different European directive, once we carry out an environmental income statement, and follow the other necessary statutory processes, it must be independently reviewed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. That is where it is at. I hope it does not take much longer. I expect that works can start at the end of this year or early next year. I am very much aware that residents want the work to start as quickly as possible, but from an OPW perspective, the funding is fully in place and in our profiles up to 2017.

Beef Data and Genomics Programme

Senator Marc MacSharry

I thank the Cathaoirleach, for accepting the matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris. My matter relates specifically to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and while I accept it is not within the Minister of State's area of responsibility, I appreciate him coming to give a response. The matter relates to the beef genomics scheme on which I have consulted suckler cow farmers throughout most of the north west of the country. The scheme is turning out to be totally unworkable and its implementation threatens the quality of weanling beef output in the north west. I can only provide examples from counties that are close to mine. In Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim some 12,800 farmers were eligible to apply for the scheme but fewer than 5,500 have applied.

The cost of the scheme is €52 million. It was designed to assist farmers, but, in effect, the science behind it will adversely impact on the type of weanling being produced by farmers throughout the north west. Times are very difficult for farmers in the north west. We have smaller holdings, longer winters and land that is of a lesser quality than that in other parts of the country but yet have been renowned for breeding the highest quality stock for export and processing for many years.

The Minister of State might be aware, but the Minister will certainly be aware, that in recent weeks farmers are being informed about the grading of the cows. They are finding that the cows that are producing the highest possible quality of weanling are being given a grading of two stars. If the scheme works in the way the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, the IFA at a senior level and the Department seem to want it to work, we are going to end up with a much more maternal-focused herd rather than a paternal one. We need a healthy mix. In the first instance, the scheme does not help the small farmers of the north west and the other parts of the country and does not serve to increase the quality of the type of output from the north west which is already renowned as producing the finest store cattle and replacement cattle in Ireland. Something must be done in that regard.

A total of €8 million of the €52 million will go not to farmers but to the genomics testing. One wonders what the ultimate contribution will be. The Minister of State may know but the Minister certainly knows that the money is derived from Pillar 2, in terms of funding under the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. There may have been a big uptake on the scheme generally as there are very large dairy and suckler farmers in the south of the country, but it is not working in the north west. It would be much better for the 12,800 eligible farmers in the north west where testing costs approximately €1,000, if that money were made available through the payment to areas of natural constraint, what is traditionally known as the disadvantaged area scheme payment, which was substantially reduced. It was originally introduced in the late 1970s and early 1980s to keep people on the land and to ensure the continuation of production. Production has been of the highest quality in the north west in terms of weanling production. Some 40% of the country’s entire output of young calves comes from the area and that is now under threat. The scheme is unworkable and costing money. It is not serving the purpose we need it to serve. I appeal to the Minister of State to impress on the Minister the need to undertake a full review of the scheme at least in the north west where it is not working.

While I appreciate that it is not the Minister of State's line and while I appreciate him being here on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, it would be remiss of me not to mention while he is here that the announced scheme for villages and towns is a very sad indictment of any Government, particularly this one. It is less than €190,000 per county, per year over six years. Every Government in the past 30 years has been guilty of not adequately resourcing our regions and rural areas to enable them to reach their potential. If any Government is committed to doing that, it needs to think in terms of billions over a six-year period to strategically target resources for the regions to empower them to reach their potential. I hope the Minister of State will take this on board.

First and foremost, it is necessary to review the beef genomics scheme. There is €52 million available that I do not believe is going to serve an adequate purpose. It should be diverted, as I have suggested, to the areas of natural constraint or what would have been known as the disadvantaged area payment.

Deputy Simon Harris

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am pleased to be here on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who regrets that he cannot be here.

The beef data and genomics programme, BDGP, was launched by the Minister on 5 May last. It is part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and involves funding of some €300 million in the next six years and builds on the State's investment in data recording and genomics in recent years. It aims to address widely acknowledged weaknesses in the maternal genetics of the Irish suckler cow herd, reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of Ireland's beef production and make a positive contribution to the future viability of suckler farmers and the national suckler cow herd.

Beef accounts for 35% of the gross output of the agriculture sector. It is probably the most important product at farm level in Ireland. Beef exports in 2014 amounted to 524,000 tonnes, worth €2.27 billion. The suckler cow herd is a critical component of this industry. It is beef from the suckler cow herd that has principally enabled us to succeed on international retail markets. It is important, therefore, that policy at EU and national level recognises the challenges and opportunities facing suckler beef farmers and provides the infrastructure to help it to respond and thrive.

The BDGP is a response to these challenges and opportunities and particularly challenges associated with improved breeding performance, including for maternal traits such as cow fertility, and the very onerous requirements to reduce the percentage of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions which comes from the agriculture sector. Improving the genetics of the suckler herd can make a positive contribution in both of these areas while also improving the economic viability of suckler farming. The BDGP provides targeted support for suckler cow farmers and builds on the success of the State's investment of over €9 million in the beef data programme in both 2013 and 2014 and on the success of the pilot beef genomics scheme, which involved investment of around €23 million last year.

Participants in the BDGP will receive a payment of €142.50 for the first 6.66 hectares and €120 for each hectare thereafter, up to a maximum payable hectarage. This is a strong commitment from the Government to the beef sector in Ireland in the next six years. In return for this payment, participants will be required to undertake six actions, some of which will be well known to suckler cow farmers through their participation in previous schemes. Participants will be required to complete surveys and submit information related to criteria such as milking ability, docility, size and animal vigour. Farmers will be very familiar with these surveys which were previously part of the beef data programme operated in recent years. Participants will be required to genotype animals on their farms which have been selected by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF. The number of animals to be genotyped each year will be equal to 60% of the number of calved suckler cows that the applicant had on his or her holding in 2014. These are known as the farmer's reference animals. I should add that the cost of the genotyping tag has been significantly reduced from the 2014 beef genomics scheme and now stands at €22 - a drop of over 26%.

The replacement strategy that farmers must undertake as part of the scheme requires them to ensure a certain percentage of the animals on their herd at particular deadlines are of four or five-star rating on the Euro star ratings system. It should be noted that most farmers are already well on the way to meeting the requirement for replacement animals on their herds with significant numbers of four and five-star animals already in scheme participants' herds.

In recent weeks the ICBF has issued every scheme applicant with detailed reports on the current status of animals in their herds. Participants will receive similar information on the scheme and their individual herd on an ongoing basis. This is in addition to a training programme which will be rolled out in the next 12 months.

Farmers will be required to complete a carbon navigator on their farm with an approved adviser. The carbon navigator will not cost anything for participants to complete and farmers will be paid €166 to attend the training course for their time and expense in doing so.

The Minister does not agree that this scheme poses any threat to the quality of weanling that will be produced in the north west, quite the opposite is true. The data from ICBF and all of the research to date clearly show that progeny, that is, the weanlings, from four and five-star cows perform significantly better than weanlings from one and two-star cows. These cows have more milk, more calves and shorter calving intervals. They produce heavier weanlings which are ultimately slaughtered earlier and with more weight. These are the animals which can add value to farms in the west and we should encourage their use as replacements.

In the context of reviewing the scheme with suckler farmers - the issue the Senator raised - the Minister has committed to establishing a group to monitor the operation of the beef data and genomics programme, BDGP, with a view to feeding into a mid-term review. Farm bodies and other stakeholders have already been invited to nominate representatives to this group and it is expected that a first meeting of the group will take place in the near future. This is in addition to the range of clarifications made by the Minister on the launch of the scheme. It is clear from the large number of applications received for the BDGP that farmers recognise the benefits this scheme can deliver locally and nationally. Just under 30,000 farmers applied to join the scheme and the small number that have since exited it, equivalent to approximately 2% of applicants, is in line with previous suckler-based schemes run by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

I reiterate, on behalf of the Minister, that the BDGP involves an investment of €300 million in addressing some of the key challenges facing the beef sector in Ireland. The BDGP is the first measure of its kind anywhere in the European Union and will place Ireland at the head of the international market place as a producer of high-quality, environmentally-sustainable beef. It will also boost promotional initiatives such as Origin Green, which has been a central part of Bord Bia's marketing and promotion strategy in international markets. This scheme is to be welcomed and I think the large number of applications received confirms this. The Minister now believes we need to move ahead with implementing it to ensure we gain the most possible for the large number of farm families concerned.

An Cathaoirleach

A brief question from Senator Marc MacSharry.

Senator Marc MacSharry

I thank the Minister of State for his response. Sadly, however, I disagree with most of what has been given to him to provide in his reply. I would like to bring some of the people from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, to a few marts, and perhaps Senator Michael Comiskey might come along with us, because what was said is not what is being borne out on the ground.

The other thing that fazes us in the north west is the risk of land abandonment. We need to keep these producers at work, so supports are required. The IFA is a great organisation and probably the best when it comes to lobbying. There are many IFA members in our part of the country, but their leadership - including Kevin Kinsella, the director of livestock, and others - have sold out the north west when it comes to the implementation of this scheme. He is admitting as much to people at the ploughing championships this week by saying, "Look, sure we can't change it now and that's it."

I appeal to the Minister of State that, rather than wasting this money, he should talk to small farmers in the north west who sometimes find themselves all too under-represented by the big farming organisations. He could thus see how best we can channel the necessary resources to them to increase their output at the appropriate quality. This scheme is threatening that quality. It is sadly proving to be extremely unworkable for farmers on the ground.

Deputy Simon Harris

It is appropriate that in the week of the ploughing championships we should have an opportunity to discuss agricultural matters in this House. I, therefore, thank the Senator for affording us that opportunity. I will certainly convey his views to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I reiterate that the RDP will be subject to a mid-term review. All schemes are subject to monitoring and are reviewed on an ongoing basis. This scheme will be no exception. As I said, stakeholders, including the relevant agencies and farm bodies, have been asked to nominate representatives to a group to monitor the operation of the BDGP.

Local Government Reform

An Cathaoirleach

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan.

Senator Paul Bradford

I thank the Cathaoirleach for giving me the opportunity to raise the important issue of the proposed merger of Cork City Council with Cork County Council. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, for being in attendance. I appreciate that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, who is responsible for the implementation or otherwise of this report, cannot be present. Presumably, however, the Minister of State will report back to him. With other colleagues, I hope we will be in a position to arrange a full Seanad debate on this matter in the very near future.

I come with no fixed agenda on this particular proposal of the review committee.

I served as a member of Cork County Council. I respect fully its history and its traditions and recall with fondness the people who served as very effective managers, engineers and county council colleagues. Overall, they did a very fine job in the management of County Cork. I think back to various chairpersons of the council whom I served with and those stretching back long before my time. They include significant dignitaries of State, such as former Deputy Martin Corry from the Fianna Fáil Party and William Broderick from east Cork, who chaired Cork County Council for over 30 years. We had people such as Philip Burton, Frank Crowley, Donal Creed and many others, who all ran a very effective local authority in conjunction with councillors and management. The interaction between councillors and the community was very much at the core of that success story. There was a feeling that local government was really local.

Likewise, Cork city, with its mayoral traditions stretching back generations, includes figures of significance in Nationalist history such as Tomás Mac Curtain and Terence MacSwiney, who served with distinction in the city hall as lord mayors of the city. In more recent years, Cork city was served with huge and effective distinction by a wide variety of figures, including the current Opposition leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, and I think, in particular, of the late Hugh Coveney, Jim Corr and many others whose leadership of their city council resulted in a huge dividend for the city. Again, there was a city lord mayor and a city council working closely with the people. I believe that concept of the people being close to local government - of local being local - made a very significant and positive difference.

One of the difficulties I have in understanding where the Minister is coming from is that, while this report is being considered and the Minister seems to have given it some degree of green light, at the same time, he has announced an operational review of the new local government arrangements under the Local Government Reform Act 2014. I am firm believer in local government reform. Having been a member of a local authority, I know much could be improved. However - I say this not in any way as part of a political point-scoring exercise - I believe the butchering of our local authorities and the decision in 2014 to rid our county of town councils will be shown to have been a grievous error. While some of the town councils could have been more effective, the baby was thrown out with the bath water. We now have local authority areas in our county that are 60 to 70 miles long. That is no longer local government. If this bare majority proposal by the review group goes ahead, we will not even have local government as planned in Cork; we will have an experiment in regional government.

I come to the debate as somebody who, when I looked at the concept of change in Cork initially, could see a purpose for a single authority. However, I was looking at it as a very different single authority. I was not looking at it as a chamber of 80 or 90 members, who would then be split into three parts and would probably be working against rather than for each other. I wanted a new form of local government. What has been proposed, sadly, may offer the worst of all worlds. It is not a strong combined unit and it certainly is not local. Before he makes any decision, I hope the Minister will sit down with all of the stakeholders - the councils and the communities - because this is a very major step. I believe it is an experiment in regional government at the expense of local government.

If we were starting from scratch and there had been no 2014 changes in local government, we would be talking about strengthening local government, strengthening communities and ensuring local government is real and is local. The Minister of State has travelled as much of the world as I, probably more. I believe one of the features of much of Europe and North America is the strength of local government. Every community has its council, its mayor or its representation. What is now being suggested will blow all of that apart.

I concede I do not have the answers.

I do not think any of us yet has the answers and the report does not provide sufficient answers. We must note the very strong minority report of two of the five members who put forward a very important view which will require deep consideration. I ask the Minister of State to advise the Minister to proceed with profound caution. Some have suggested the Minister would like this to be one of his legacies. However, it would be a dreadful legacy. I hope his legacy will be one of caution and a careful, inclusive response. I call on him to pause seriously and to think deeply before any further move is considered.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Jimmy Deenihan)

I thank the Senator for raising this issue because it gives me an opportunity to update the House on the matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

As members are aware, the Minister established the Cork local government committee on 15 January 2015 to carry out a review of local government arrangements in Cork city and county, including the boundary of Cork city, and to make recommendations with respect to whether the boundary of the city should be altered or whether Cork City Council and Cork County Council should be unified. Since receiving the report on 2 September 2015, the Minister has had an opportunity to consider it and on 8 September 2015 he signalled his agreement with its main recommendation to establish a new unified Cork local authority. The Minister is persuaded that a unified local authority for Cork has the potential to achieve important benefits, above all strengthening local government. Other anticipated advantages include eliminating administrative duplication, securing greater efficiency through economies of scale, promoting economic and social development and, ultimately, improving service delivery.

The case for unification rests primarily in stronger, more effective local government speaking with one voice that can deliver a much better future for the people of Cork in terms of social and economic progress and quality of life. However, it is important to stress that the model that is being proposed for Cork involves more than just a merger, as in the case of Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford. For example, the report points out that there would be a strong case for major devolution of powers to what would be by far the largest unit of local government within the State. Fragmentation and weak local government structures have inhibited devolution up to now; stronger more coherent local authorities can help to reverse this and reduce centralisation. The report also sees scope for stronger leadership of a new authority and a continued role is envisaged for the Lord Mayor of Cork in providing civic leadership and underlining the status, customs and traditions of the city.

Since publication, much has been made in public commentary of the fact that this is a majority report. However, this portrayal masks important aspects about which the committee was in full agreement, for example, the conclusion that retaining the status quo is not a realistic option and the need to acknowledge and develop Cork city as a driving force in economic and social development of the region.

The requirement for a new enlarged metropolitan area was also a matter of agreement but the committee differed on how best to achieve this. A boundary extension, while maintaining two authorities, would really mean the city taking a substantial share of the county's population and resources, with implications for the future viability of the county. Equally, the suggestion that Cork city would suffer economically or socially within a unified authority is not well founded. It is essential that there be a clear overall vision for Cork and an approach that will achieve added value and strengthen local government. Unification can achieve all of the benefits of addressing the boundary issue while avoiding the disadvantages and complexities which would arise for both authorities by extending the city boundary only. A unified authority, with improved strategic capacity, can act as a leader and facilitator of change to support and develop Cork and the wider region in social, economic and environmental terms and can facilitate the delivery of efficient and effective customer services through innovative local government.

I remind the House that, in signalling his agreement with the main recommendation to establish a unified authority rather than simply extending the city boundary, the Minister indicated that he would give further consideration to all of the details in the report. A considerable amount of work remains to be done to develop further the committee's high-level recommendation. The detail of what a unified system of local government in Cork would involve, including governance arrangements, functions, and arrangements to maintain the status of the city, must be fully developed, as must the issue of addressing, as necessary, issues raised in the minority report.

I understand the Minister will be making a submission to the Government on the approach to be followed in the light of this further consideration of the report.

Senator Paul Bradford

I appreciate that the Minister of State, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, is simply responding on behalf the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, and has no discretion in respect of his response. However, it is a matter of some concern and I ask the Minister of State if he would concur that the future governance of Ireland's largest county and second city appears to have been considered and decided upon within one week of the Minister receiving this report. A one-week consideration by the Minister who presumably had much more on his plate, is simply not sufficient. I ask the Minister of State to request that the Minister reflect further and deeper. As I said in my initial contribution, he has committed to the House and the Government to look at all of what has happened as a result of the local government reforms of 2014 and the amalgamations which happened then. I ask that this not be kicked into the distant future. It is much too important to every citizen of Cork city and county for such a report to be considered and decided within one week. I am sure I speak for many others in the House and beyond.

Deputy Jimmy Deenihan

The Senator must agree that publishing the report gave rise to a debate, which is part of what he is doing here today. I was in the Dáil last night when there was a similar debate by his colleagues in that House.

There is an ongoing public discussion and the Minister also said he would give further consideration to all of the details in the report. To repeat his statement, a considerable amount of work remains to be done to develop further the committee's high-level recommendation. The detail of what a unified system of local government in Cork would involve needs to be fully developed, including governance arrangements, functions, arrangements to maintain the status of the city and addressing as necessary issues raised in the minority report.

The Minister has left it open for discussion, no doubt, and further consideration. I am sure that both the city and county councillors will be providing their responses to the high-level recommendation. It will give rise to a major debate, obviously, and people will have to weigh up what is best for Cork overall.

As Cork is really the engine of the south-west region and has a huge impact in my own county, especially in the southern and eastern parts, it is very important that the right decision is made. A strong entity would be a counterbalance to Dublin which is experiencing one of the greatest booms in its history as we can see on the streets every day. I could see this strong counterbalance as one of the advantages for the whole island.

There are obviously pros and cons. I will not be making the decision, but as the Senator raised the question, I thought I would respond to some extent. I will be passing on what he has said and the various issues he has raised will be taken into consideration.

Hospital Services

Senator Terry Leyden

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar. I thank him for engaging in this Commencement debate on the future of the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon.

I wish to share my time with Senator John Kelly.

The Minister is probably aware of the situation regarding the HIQA report into the future of the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon. In the report of 2 March when an inspection took place, HIQA highlighted many issues the director of nursing, Ms Silke, was well aware of but for which no funding had been forthcoming from the HSE. I have a long association with the Sacred Heart Hospital, having been there at the opening of the new unit in the 1970s, as a former Minister of State in the Department of Health and as a Deputy and former chairman of the western health board. I have always fully supported this fabulous institution in Roscommon.

I was also anxious to have the facility called the Sacred Heart Hospital, as opposed to Sacred Heart home, because it carries out the work of a step-down hospital and is a tremendous support to the work of the acute county hospital in Roscommon with which it works closely. The Minister will be aware of the facilities there. The hospital cares for 95 residents and has 35 full-time nursing staff, 48 health care assistants, 11 interns, cooks, kitchen staff, laundry staff, clerical staff, maintenance staff and two physiotherapists. All of this is provided at the Sacred Heart Hospital. The overall medical care is under Dr. Gerry O'Meara, consultant geriatrician and registrar, and staff. All temporal and religious needs are cared for, with mass every day in the beautiful church on the site.

The immediate crisis is that from 7 September 2015, no new admissions are purported to be allowed. However, I got an update on the situation this morning and have been informed by the management of the hospital that there is no block on admissions and it is still admitting patients. The licence has not been renewed and they have been told it is in the process of being renewed. The immediate challenge is the provision of approximately €170,000 for remedial works - partitions, doors, toilets, etc. - which will ensure registration will continue, pending the allocation of a major capital injection from the Department.

I understand that in the past few days a proposal has been made to provide approximately €400 million in the next five years for the upgrade of State institutions like the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon. Knowing the background situation in Roscommon, the Minister is aware that his predecessor, Deputy James Reilly, gave a commitment to maintaining the 24-hour accident and emergency facility, but that was closed despite the commitments given by the Taoiseach and Deputy Eamon Gilmore. The people of Roscommon will not stand idly by and allow lightning strike twice. If the new 50-bed single occupancy rooms with full ancillary services and facilities are not provided, at an estimated cost of up to €13 million, the future of the Sacred Heart Hospital is in jeopardy.

The people of Roscommon have attended meetings in large numbers and have highlighted the issues on the Vincent Browne show. I am confident the money will be forthcoming. I have pressed my party's shadow spokepersons to ensure there is provision in the Fianna Fáil manifesto for major capital investment. This will be provided, but we must see this as an issue of putting people before politics. I ask the Minister for an indication of the allocation and ask him to approve that allocation in the budget to secure the future of the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon.

Senator John Kelly

I welcome the Minister. I support Senator Terry Leyden's matter.

Roscommon has the highest number of people over 65 years per capita in the country. We have an excellent facility. If funding is provided, the project is shovel ready and the HSE knows this. It does not need to acquire land to build these extra units. It is amazing that the project is under threat and that the hospital faces downsizing because of its four-bed units. There are four-bed units in every hospital in the country, but will the same apply to them down the road? If the investment is not put in place, there will be no more admissions which will eventually bring about the closure of the Sacred Heart Hospital.

No complaints were made by patients about the facility. On the contrary, patients were delighted to be in four-bed units where they could talk to one another. This is good for their mental health.

Now their proposals will isolate them, which will not be good for their mental health. As Senator Terry Leyden said, health services in County Roscommon have suffered in the past four years, particularly following the closure of the accident and emergency department in Roscommon County Hospital and because of the underfunding of mental health services, which are in crisis. We also have a problem with the ambulance service and cannot open the new ambulance centre in Loughglynn because we do not have the required staff. It would be an endorsement of the Government if it gave something back to the people of County Roscommon. Sadly, if it does not, it will be viewed as another means of privatising older people's services.

Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

I thank Senators Terry Leyden and John Kelly for raising this matter. I am taking the debate this on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is abroad on Government business.

The policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. If it becomes necessary for an older person to move to a nursing home, appropriate accommodation must be available that meets his or her care needs and matches his or her wishes and preferences.

The Health Service Executive, HSE, is responsible for the delivery of health and personal social services, including those at the Sacred Heart Hospital in County Roscommon.

The facility provides services for 80 residents in ongoing care. Many of the residents have complex and challenging conditions and almost half have had a diagnosis of dementia, psychiatric conditions or other complex medical needs. There are 15 beds used for rehabilitation, respite or palliative care. The rehabilitation service is led by a consultant. This service makes an important contribution to facilitating patients to move from acute hospitals to a more appropriate care centre when they no longer need acute care.

The Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, is the independent authority established under the Health Act 2007 to drive continuous improvement and monitor safety and quality in Ireland's health and personal social care services. Since 2009 all nursing homes - public, private and voluntary - have been registered and inspected by HIQA. The most recent HIQA report on the hospital was published last July. Inspectors found that the centre was well managed. Residents and family members told inspectors that they were very happy with the services provided. While HIQA praised the care provided, inspectors expressed concern about environmental standards and staffing levels at night. The issue of staffing levels has been addressed and is being progressed. During August the HSE received a notice of proposal from HIQA to restrict admissions. The HSE has responded to this notice and is in ongoing contact with HIQA regarding the registration. This, of course, is a process that inevitably ends up in court. It is not one in respect of which I can make any ministerial direction, nor do I have the power to do so.

As is in the case of the Sacred Heart Hospital, residents in public facilities and their families are generally very happy with the standard of care provided. They frequently choose such facilities, even when other alternatives are available. However, a number of buildings are very old and it can be difficult or very costly to fully adapt them in line with modern practice. Demands on public capital funding generally exceed what can realistically be provided. Only a finite amount of funding can be provided for public capital investment and there are many competing demands across government for the funds available. However, the Minister of State and I have made the strongest possible case for investment in community nursing units. My Department will work with the HSE to direct what does become available in the most effective way possible, with the safety and welfare of residents always being our top priority.

Senator Terry Leyden

I acknowledge that the Minister has acknowledged the excellent work of the staff at the Sacred Heart Hospital which is a very popular location for patients. I am concerned, however, that he has not confirmed that there is a capital allocation of over €400 million to be spread over the next five years. Obviously, it has not been signed off on yet. I note that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform provided €23 million for the accident and emergency department at Wexford General Hospital but closed the accident and emergency department in Roscommon. I understand the Taoiseach provided €10 million for a similar 50-bed unit in Castlebar. There should be fair play. I hope that, being very fair, the Minister will come to Roscommon to see the facility with Senator John Kelly, Deputy Frank Feighan and other colleagues and what is happening on the ground. The people feel badly let down. We provided two seats for Fine Gael in the last general election. It will be lucky to win one the next time, but we will see what happens.

Deputy Leo Varadkar

I wish to mention, in particular, that many of my party colleagues are very concerned about and have been in touch with me about this issue. Of course, Deputy Frank Feighan is the local Deputy. Others involved include councillors Maura Hopkins and Michael Creaton.

On foot of this, I spoke to the national director of social care in the HSE, Mr. Pat Healy, in the past couple of days. He has informed me that remedial works worth €170,000 would not be sufficient to satisfy the HIQA requirements and that what is required is either a total replacement of the facility or major refurbishment. I cannot give any commitment at this stage on that and I would not be honest if I did so. The simple reason for that is that I do not know what is available for health in the capital budget yet. That has not been signed off by the Government. It is intended that it will be signed off next week, at which stage I will know what capital is available for the health sector for the period between 2016 and 2021. I will have to sit down with Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, the HSE and everyone else to prioritise and decide what aspects might be addressed by direct Exchequer funding and what aspects could be addressed by public–private partnership. However, I am not willing to make a commitment I cannot stand over. I cannot make one at this stage.

Senator John Kelly mentioned that there are people in four-bed rooms. He asked whether this is happening throughout the country. It is. There are two facilities in my constituency in a similar position. Neither has funding to be replaced at this stage. Therefore, it is an issue that applies across the country. It is deemed no longer appropriate to have people in long-term care in four, six or 12-bed wards. People may have their own opinions on that but the general view is that it may be acceptable for somebody in hospital for a week or two but not for an individual for whom hospital has become home. In the latter case, the view is that one should have a private en suite room or certainly a room with no more than two beds. That is the current standard. However, as Senators will appreciate, many of these facilities date back hundreds of years. People have been in four-bed and six-bed units for-----

Senator Terry Leyden

There is confusion. This is a new unit that was built in 1973.

An Cathaoirleach

We are way over time.

Deputy Leo Varadkar

I said "many". The standards now are very high and it will not be possible to replace 200 years' worth of health infrastructure in the course of five or six years. However, we need a multi-annual programme that will allow us to make a good start on that. In the meantime, while we are doing that, admission should continue to those facilities that are a few decades old or much older.