Seanad Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2017

Vol. 253 No. 15

Commencement Matters

National Planning Framework

Senator Gerald Nash

I thank the Minister of State for coming into the Chamber this afternoon to respond to me on this important issue. It is not just an important issue for Drogheda but also for the entire north east region, the region that the Minister of State himself represents.

A month ago this week I sat down to pore over the draft of the national planning framework. This, as we are all aware, is the successor plan to the redundant and discredited national spatial strategy, which was published in the early 2000s. Across this glossy 150 page production from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, there is not one single mention of Drogheda, which is by far Ireland's largest town. It is a very considerable achievement to draft a high-level document which will dictate on a statutory basis where jobs will be, where public services investment will go and where infrastructural development will be directed - for an entire generation - and fail to acknowledge even once the scale, size, population and, importantly, the potential of what is Ireland's contiguous population centre.

The population of the Drogheda borough area itself has been confirmed by the Central Statistics Office in the last census in 2016 as being in excess of 43,000, and the extension of the borough boundary into County Meath, which I proposed, would include an additional 6,000 to 7,000 people at least. They are people who are living in housing estates in the area known as Drogheda, County Meath. In some cases, services are being delivered on one side of the road by Louth County Council and on the other by Meath County Council. That is an entirely inefficient way to do business. The agglomerated urban area of Drogheda is already larger than Waterford city, and it is important to point out that the population of the area now far exceeds the population of Galway when that city was given city status back in the 1980s. This draft plan represents a golden opportunity to do the right thing for once in this country, when it comes to policy development. It goes without saying that I love my hometown - I know the Minister of State loves his as well - and I want to see it reach its full potential.

Leaving those emotions aside just for a moment, I have always taken decisions based on robust evidence, as I hope my record in public life proves. All the available evidence allows us to present a very strong case for the town of Drogheda to be designated as a city. The way to advance this ambition is through the national planning framework process. Yet bizarrely, if the Government's proposals are adopted, the Drogheda area will now be lumped in with areas of a population size equivalent to Wicklow town - meaning no disrespect to Wicklow town - or Tramore, or the 40 other population centres in this country ranked in excess of 10,000.

I am not asking for a favour, or making a special plea, for my home town and the area I directly represent. I am asking the Government to show that it is serious about transparent policy-making and accepting the evidence before it. I am asking that Drogheda takes its rightful place among the hierarchy of first-tier population centres, and is enabled to be the city that it can and should be.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I thank the Senator, and call on the Minister, Deputy Damien English.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Deputy Damien English)

Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I thank Senator Gerald Nash for raising the issue. I wish to address it by taking two approaches, referring first to the local government legislation, and then to the final consultation of the national planning framework, which is at draft stage. I have read the Senator's submission to that consultation, as have many others. It is important to say that people can make submissions up to 3 November and involve themselves in the process, which the Senator and many others have done.

The Local Government Act 2001, as amended, currently provides for three city councils, in Cork, Dublin and Galway. If an additional city council were to be established in law, it would have significant implications for the county in which the area concerned is situated, in particular as regard the loss of functions of the relevant county council. If the Local Government Act was to be amended to designate Drogheda as a city, this would have wide-ranging legal, financial, organisational and electoral implications, not only for Louth County Council, but also for Meath County Council, as it would be difficult to consider establishing a city authority without incorporating the County Meath environment. I acknowledge that Senator Nash has referenced this.

Drogheda has developed significantly in recent years, with a population of almost 41,000 in the 2016 census. It is by no means clear that fragmentation of local government structures and resources in County Louth would be helpful to the continuation of that success. However, that is a decision under the Act that the Government looked at, and can be looked at again in the future.

I refer now to the national planning framework, NPF, and what we are trying to achieve there. The Government has published Ireland 2040 as a final public consultation draft national planning framework. Taking on board the submissions received, it is intended to finalise the national planning framework later this year, probably in December. The NPF will encourage large towns such as Drogheda, as well as Navan, Sligo, Dundalk, Wicklow and others, to grow more than the national average up to 2040, within the context of regional planning policies, to be expanded on through the regional spatial and economic strategy that is being prepared for each of the three regional assemblies and scheduled for completion by the end of 2018. I am meeting the regional assemblies on Friday to discuss this draft plan and to get their views. The regional strategy will be brought forward in 2018, which again is another place to have this conversation and this debate.

Key factors to be taken into account in framing these growth policies include the location of towns relative to city-region catchments; the scale of employment provision and net commuting flows; the accessibility of economic influence; the extent of local services, administration, education, particularly at third level, health, leisure and retail; the extent of the interdependencies or linkages between towns; and the commitment to, and the realisable prospects for, compact and sustainable growth. What we are trying to achieve here is to ensure regional balance.

I agree with the Senator that areas like Drogheda, Navan and Dundalk did not get just positioning in the 2002 spatial strategy and have not been developed in a proper way because of that. What we are trying to achieve with Ireland 2040 is to develop in a sustainable way to make sure that services, as well as the jobs and everything else, match the population of all our towns and villages.

As well as alignment with the ten-year national investment plan being prepared by the Department of the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, the national planning framework proposes an urban smart growth fund and new requirements for new urban area plans across administrative boundaries, as well as supporting the sustainable economic potential of the Dublin-Belfast corridor, of which Drogheda is a key urban component. I want to be very clear that we do focus in on those administrative boundary areas, such as the Meath-Drogheda boundary, and it is very complicated. The commission did recommend that we find new ways to be able to deliver services and to make decisions such as planning on those areas around those boundary areas as well. That is what we are trying to realise in the national planning framework: that we would have local authorities working together more closely around that process.

Taking all of the foregoing together, the policies and proposals contained in the draft national planning framework will support the development of Ireland's larger towns such as Drogheda, which has developed strongly in recent years within the existing local government structures and arrangements. The national planning framework is to help Drogheda realise its potential and not to restrict it in any way. I know the Senator has a concern that it is restrictive. It is not. Places such as Drogheda will flourish more under the new national planning framework. Again, it is only at draft stage. Final decisions have not been made and the closing date for submissions is 3 November, so I encourage all interested parties, including Members of this House, to share their views and comments by the closing date. I believe there will be a discussion in both Houses of the Oireachtas on the national planning framework. It is being discussed at the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government. Last week we had a frank discussion, and colleagues such as Deputy Fergus O'Dowd and others from my own area made the same arguments that Senator Nash is making about Drogheda. Again, this will be teased out over the next couple of months as well.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I thank the Minister of State. I call Senator Nash for a supplementary.

Senator Gerald Nash

I thank the Minister of State for his response. However, I do not agree with it. He has set out what he describes as many of the ways in which the development of the area can be assisted. I have been strongly of the view for a long time and am still firmly of the view that, given the Drogheda area in general has developed in spite of some of the legislative and administrative constraints around it, its location, and that much of the development area has been spread across the Louth and Meath administrative areas, on the basis of good planning and sustainable development, the Government should not reject the notion that the boundary of Drogheda would be extended.

The review was published a number of months ago, and I could not quite follow the logic. Looking at the entirety of the document, the logic should be that the borough boundary would be extended and the town would be of sufficient size then to enable it to be considered for city status in the context of the national planning framework. While one would understand and expect that from the logic of the document, bizarrely the executive summary concludes that the status quo should remain.

As far back as the 1960s, the Buchanan report proposed the idea that Drogheda would be considered as a counterbalancing population centre for Dublin. That can still be the case because the area has developed considerably in recent years. In fact, the agglomerated urban area, as it might be described, has grown by almost 80% in 20 years. That is notwithstanding the fact that it was a third tier population centre under the national spatial strategy. We should take the blinkers off and take a brave and courageous decision to ensure Drogheda can develop its potential properly by providing city status to an area where all the evidence suggests that should be the case.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I thank the Senator. I call the Minister of State for his response.

Deputy Damien English

I again take on board the views of Senator Nash. The national planning framework is still only at draft stage. We purposely stayed away from naming new cities or new large towns. This is about trying to plan this country in a sustainable way and to realise the potential of all these larger towns, be they Drogheda, Navan, Sligo, Athlone, Dundalk or Mullingar, by giving them the resources they need in a planned and sustainable way. Through the national planning framework, we will have to cater for an extra 1 million people living in this country and 8 million people living on the island as a whole. We have to cater for an extra 600,000 jobs and an extra 500,000 houses. The question is how we plan and grow that in the existing cities and large towns.

There is a lot of potential here for Drogheda and we want to realise that through the national planning framework and I hope that is what we can achieve as well.

Pensions Reform

Senator James Reilly

The issue I wish to raise here today is one I raised on the Order of Business last week and it was dealt with in the Lower House as well. It is an issue that is not going to go away, namely, the inequity in our pension situation whereby at least 23,000 women are being disadvantaged by the pensions system in a manner which was brought about and exacerbated by legislation passed in 2012. I sought that the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, would come into the House to tell us how she is going to address the issue. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, here today who is responding on behalf of the Minister.

The points I made last week are worth making again. We have a bad history in this country in terms of the manner in which we treat women. It is unjust to have a system in place that punishes women for their act of generosity. They took time out from work to rear children, who are the future of our nation, and to care for the elderly and the vulnerable. It is an injustice that cannot be allowed continue. I am acutely aware that this situation has been ongoing for some time and it will cost a considerable sum of money to correct. As far as I am concerned there are two phases to it. One is the ongoing injustice that comes every month with the pension and the injustice of back-payments that are due and should be paid. Many of those affected are citizens who have stood by this country in the worst of times and they are coming to the last quarter of their lives. Some of them may not have a huge amount of time left although we are all living longer, which is good news. However, it is not good news if we start treating a subsection of people in our elderly population differently. When we had very little money in this country in the heat of the crash we ensured that victims of symphisiotomy were compensated. I was there as Minister for Health to make it happen. We also addressed the Magdalen laundries issue and established a commission of inquiry into the mother and baby home in Tuam. Those were all issues that primarily affect women. Men are affected as well but not to the same extent.

I wish to highlight one statistic that has emerged, namely, that 2.9% of men over 65 are living in consistent poverty while just 2.6% of women in that age group were living in consistent poverty. The percentage of women in that age group is a greater absolute number than the number of men. Neither situation is something of which the Government is proud or that we should allow continue. Both situations must be addressed. It certainly does not indicate that women over the age of 65 are doing better than men in terms of their incomes. Acknowledging that there is a big job of work to be done, what I wish to ask the Minister today is how long the review will take and how long it will be before action will be taken. How long will it be before the correction of this injustice to pensioners is addressed? Thankfully, we know unemployment is reducing in this country and, therefore, the burden on the Exchequer from that point of view should be less. We know that the Government is taking in more revenue. The least these women can expect is that the current situation is corrected as quickly as possible and a pathway is developed to address the outstanding back-payments, which is a considerable sum of money.

A loud and clear message needs to go out from here today and I hope it is one the Minister agrees with. I know in my heart she does. We cannot allow the injustice to continue just because we have difficulty in affording it. People can put up with a lot of hardship, and we do, when we are all being treated equally but in this republic of equal opportunities, people are not being treated equally.

The individuals in question have done this country a great service and should not be punished any longer for doing so.

Deputy Damien English

I thank Senator James Reilly for raising this issue. The Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, could not make it here today and sends her apologies. She has asked me to reply.

The State contributory pension is primarily for people with sustained contributions towards the social insurance fund, which is financed by PRSI on a pay-as-you-go basis. It rewards such contributions with greater entitlements and coverage for a range of benefits, including contributory pension entitlements. Entitlement is calculated according to a yearly average, whereby the total contributions paid or credited is divided by the number of years of one's working life. Since the contributory pension was introduced in 1961, the yearly average contributions test has been used in calculating the level of pension entitlement. The total contributions paid or credited is divided by the number of years of the working life from a person's entry into insurable employment up to the year prior to his or her reaching State pension age.

Payment rates are banded. For example, someone with a yearly average of 48 contributions will qualify for a full pension, whereas someone with a yearly average of 20 will qualify for a pension at 85% of the full rate. The purpose of this is to give higher pension entitlements to those who have made more sustained contributions.

The current rate bands applying to the State contributory pension were introduced from September 2012, replacing previous rates introduced in 2000. These rate bands more accurately reflect the social insurance contributions history of a person. Before the introduction of the current rate bands, a person reaching retirement age, having paid a yearly average of 47 contributions out of a maximum of 52, only qualified for the same rate of payment as someone with a yearly average of 20 contributions, regardless of his or her much more significant PRSI contributions record. A person with a maximum of 52 contributions, paid every year of his or her working life, received a weekly State pension of only €4.50 more than someone with a yearly average of 20 PRSI contributions. This did not seem equitable, and the new bands were introduced to more closely reflect a person's contribution history. Reversing the rates of these bands to the same percentages as were in place between 2000 and 2012 would carry an estimated total cost of approximately €73 million extra in 2018, and this amount would increase by an additional €10 million to €12 million extra each year thereafter. This is a significant cost that, if provided for, would obviously impact on other areas or items of expenditure.

Even with the changes in 2012, the rate bands are still highly re-distributive. For example, someone with only a 40% social insurance record gets an entitlement at 85% of the maximum contributory rate. It is the experience of the system that where a person gets a reduced contributory pension, he or she may generally be paid a higher rate under another scheme unless he or she has significant personal means. For example, he or she may qualify for the non-contributory State pension at up to 95% of the maximum State contributory pension rate or may qualify for an increase for a qualified adult payment, which is up to 90% of the maximum contributory rate.

The term "marriage bar" describes a rule that existed in most of the public service and some private sector employments, whereby women were required to leave their employment upon marriage. This practice was abolished in 1973 when Ireland joined the EEC. It is worth remembering that most public servants recruited prior to 1995 paid a reduced PRSI rate and so they are not generally entitled to the State pension. In such cases, the marriage bar would not be expected to have impacted on State pension entitlement, as they would not have qualified for that payment had they remained in public sector employment. As the "marriage bar" was a rule rather than a legal prohibition, married women affected by it could take up other employment, and in that way could have qualified for a State pension had they wished.

It is expected that the total-contribution approach, TCA, will replace the yearly average approach for new pensioners from 2020. The aim of this approach is to make the rate of contributory pension more closely match contributions made by a person. An important element in the final design of the scheme will be the position of women who have gaps in their contribution records as a result of caring duties. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, intends to finalise a proposal on this before the end of the year and then engage in public consultation that will provide an opportunity for people to submit their views on it. The Minister understands the concerns of the Senator, and I am informed that she has asked her Department to prepare a report on the 2012 rate bands issue as soon as possible to determine what options may be available in dealing with the issues and the likely costs involved. The Minister will be bringing the report to the Government as soon as it is ready. I do not have any further news on the timeline for the Senator just yet.

Senator James Reilly

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I must emphasise that addressing this injustice - that is what it is - cannot be put on the long finger.

Women need a strong signal from the Government that this matter will be addressed. We are all realistic and understand there are limits with the public finances. It is intolerable for women, however, that every time they collect their pension, they continue to be discriminated against. This is the most urgent issue. Will the Minister of State give a timeline on when this will be addressed? Will he outline a pathway, which could cover several budgets but certainly not more than two, to address those who are due back-payments?

Deputy Damien English

I do not have timelines yet but when the memorandum goes to the Government it will outline timelines and pathways to resolving this issue. While the majority of those affected are women, it must be remembered it affected men's contributions too.

I will relay the urgency of the matter to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, as well as the Senator's concerns. It needs a speedy resolution.

Third Level Admissions Entry Requirements

Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile

I raised this Commencement matter because the issue in question is coming to the fore. Many students, educationalists and teachers in the North are noticing and falling foul of a particular anomaly where there is a difference in the recognition of the A-level grading system by institutions in the South. This has only been exacerbated by Brexit. Students are genuinely concerned about their ability to access courses in the South. Will the A-level grades they achieve in the North be treated with the limited degree of equality they have currently? Will they instead fall victim to Brexit and be put at a greater disadvantage?

Several teachers and academic institutions have raised another issue concerning the A-level PE subject in the North. It is not accepted by universities in the South for entry into courses at degree level, including, rather strangely, sports courses. That is a bit like A-level history not being accepted for a history degree course. Over the past several years, the top academic schools in the North have put a large emphasis on the importance of PE, not just in a young person's personal development but also as a significant science-based subject. A-level PE is recognised as a core subject by Queen's University Belfast and other major universities in the North for entry into a medical degree.

I am sure the Minister of State will appreciate that these anomalies are quite difficult and cause students problems. I look forward not only to hearing the Minister of State's response today but working with her, her Department and her officials in trying to rectify some of these issues.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht a cheist. Déanfaidh mé gach iarracht í a fhreagairt.

I thank Senator Ó Donnghaile for raising this issue of entry requirements for students from Northern Ireland wishing to study in one of our higher education institutions, HEIs. I may need extra time on the follow-up question, especially concerning the PE question the Senator asked.

In seeking entry to a higher education institution, a student must ensure that he or she meets the basic subject and level requirements for entry, first, to the institution and, second, to the course of study. It is only then that the points achieved through the Central Applications Office, CAO, are used to determine the allocation of places.

On the first part of the Senator's question, which focuses on the points system for applications through the CAO, the process for A-level students applying for entry to a HEI is similar to a candidate sitting the leaving certificate. A-level applicants are scored on the basis of their best four results. Up to 180 points are available for each of the first three results, with up to 60 additional points available for the fourth subject. For universities, those results must include four A-levels from a single sitting or three advanced GCEs A-level and an advanced subsidiary GCE AS-level in a different subject from the same or preceding year.

For institutes of technology, other than Dundalk IT, and other HEIs offering Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, higher education and training awards, applicants are scored on the basis of a maximum of four different subject results at A-level or AS-level in a single year or a combination of A-level results from a single year with the best AS results from the same or preceding year. Dundalk IT provides for the scoring of four subjects but offers a maximum of 175 points for each of the first three subjects, with a maximum of 75 points for the fourth subject.

The maximum number of points that can be achieved is 600. This is comparable to the maximum points achievable by a student undertaking six subjects in the leaving certificate. An additional 25 bonus points are available for both leaving certificate students and A-level students achieving certain minimum grades in mathematics subjects. This gives a maximum possible score of 625 for both A-level and leaving certificate candidates. Further information on the CAO process is available on the CAO website and in the CAO handbook.

On the second part of the Senator's question and the entry requirements set down by the HEls, for the four National University of Ireland, NUI, constituent universities, UCD, UCC, Maynooth University and NUI Galway, the Senate of the NUI determines basic matriculation requirements. Each university may also prescribe additional requirements, either generally or in respect of particular faculties.

Outside the NUl constituent universities, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Limerick and Dublin City University all require six distinct recognised subjects at GCSE or advanced GCE A-level. Generally, at least two of these must be at a GCE A-level C grade or above. Trinity College currently excludes the GCSE or advanced GCE A-level subjects of physical education, general studies and media studies from the subjects recognised for matriculation and eligibility for points accumulation under the CAO process.

While physical education is not currently an examination subject at leaving certificate level, the roll-out of an examinable version of the curriculum is under active consideration within the Department. Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies. Management of their academic affairs and issues relating to the delivery of courses, including entry requirements, are matters for individual institutions.

If the Senator wishes to ask me more about the PE questions, I am very willing to answer.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I may not be able to allow the Minister of State that time under Standing Orders but we will do our best.

Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile

I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Minister of State. I appreciate the forthright way in which the Minister of State gave me those details and I may write to her for further information. While appreciating that the institutions are autonomous bodies, it seems surreal that an A-level in PE is not recognised in applying for certain subjects, particularly when it is now much more science-based than what we would have understood it to be in the past. The Minister of State has provided useful information. We should look at this further and use the Minister's good offices to engage with the further education institutions about how they open their doors in a much more inclusive way across the Thirty-two Counties and beyond to ensure that more people can avail of their first-class education.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I suggest that the Senator has a meeting or engage in correspondence on the matter.

Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor

I am keen to answer the specific question regarding physical education. In assessing subjects from the GCE or GCSE UK qualifications for the purposes of NUI matriculation, PE is a recognised subject. However, it may not be combined with sports science for the purposes of matriculation. Trinity College Dublin has determined that the content of certain courses does not meet its requirement for entry. These are physical education, general studies and media studies. The recognition of subjects for matriculation purposes is reviewed regularly as changes are made to the A-level curriculum. From 2018, four new subjects will be added to the approved list for admissions to NUI constituent universities and Trinity College Dublin, namely, moving digital arts, digital technology, environmental technology, and software systems development. While the higher education institutions have ensured to the greatest extent possible that the points system provides a transparent basis for access through the CAO in terms of specific entry requirements, all students are advised to check the individual higher education institution and course requirements.

Ambulance Service Response Times

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath.

Senator Robbie Gallagher

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his visit to the Holy Family school in Cootehill yesterday, which went down very well. Everyone enjoyed the occasion and we look forward to a new facility there sooner rather than later.

I raise the issue of ambulance delays, particularly in rural Ireland. One might ask what chance ambulance crews have if they do not know where they are going. How can they quickly and efficiently find their way to patients in rural locations specifically? Does the national ambulance strategy have a protocol on the matter in place? A number of incidents over the years have led local communities, especially in rural Ireland, to wonder how the service is directing its ambulances and how the crews are assisted in reaching an emergency once it has been called to it.

Two incidents last July involving the same unfortunate family in County Monaghan illustrate this point in starkest detail. A 44 year old husband and father suffered a cardiac arrest on 9 July in Ballybay town, but he had to wait one hour and 15 minutes for an ambulance to arrive at the scene. 999 was immediately called and CPR was carried out. A defibrillator was immediately brought to the scene and telephone contact was maintained with the emergency services throughout. A full hour after the initial emergency call and the commencement of CPR, a strong pulse was identified, but a further 15 minutes elapsed before the ambulance arrived, having travelled from Navan via a diversion through Dunshaughlin in County Meath. Despite the best efforts of all involved, 15 minutes later the man was pronounced dead in an ambulance on Main Street, Ballybay, before he could be transferred to Cavan General Hospital.

On Tuesday, 18 July, the late man's father, who was in failing health, required an ambulance due to a dangerously high temperature. At 2.32 a.m., his wife telephoned the doctor on call and outlined her husband's condition. She was put through to ambulance control, which informed her that an ambulance was in Shercock approximately seven miles away. She gave directions, the location's Eircode and so on, but no ambulance arrived. A full hour later, their son drove towards Shercock to bring the ambulance to the house, but encountering no ambulance, he returned to the house. Following a series of phone calls to the doctor on call, they discovered that the ambulance was sitting outside a local shop and totally lost, with no satnav or contact telephone numbers for the patient, resident or family after having travelled from Monaghan town. One hour and 25 minutes later, the ambulance arrived to a traumatised household. The gentleman was transferred to Cavan General Hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia.

There have been numerous incidents throughout the country of delays of this nature, including one in Dundalk recently where a young man bled to death after waiting more than 40 minutes for an ambulance.

HIQA has advised that best practice is to have a dynamic deployment of ambulances rather than a strategic placement of vehicles and for the nearest vehicle to attend the scene, and that this is what we are moving towards. In many areas, however, people are left with little ambulance cover, including in counties Monaghan, Laois and Sligo, an entire county that is only covered by two vehicles.

This is a serious issue and it must be addressed. When accident and emergency units in local hospitals were closed, including in Monaghan, we were promised a beefed-up ambulance service. Unfortunately, that has not proven to be the case. Clearly, a lack of services and personnel is causing this problem. We cannot allow a situation like the one in Ballybay to happen again. We need clarity from the Department of Health on this point.

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Finian McGrath)

I thank the Senator for his initial comments. I was delighted to visit the Holy Family special school in Cootehill yesterday and to announce that, at long last, there will be funding for a new school. Planning and design is under way and I hope that building will start in early 2018. I wish the school well. As the Senator knows, the staff are fantastic and great people who have an amazing relationship with the young people with disabilities. I commend them on, and thank them for, their great work.

This Commencement matter is an important one. The two incidents the Senator mentioned were serious and I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the broader issue.

Ambulance response times in August for the north-east region were below target. However, I understand that the National Ambulance Service, NAS, is working to address the issue, including by working closely with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to improve response times for patients in Border counties. Ambulance response times are helpful for performance measurement, but it should be recognised that a sole reliance on response times does not provide a comprehensive picture of modern ambulance service performance. Response time performance is being globally reviewed in terms of whether it is the only appropriate measure of patient care.

While rapid deployment and timely arrival are accepted, patient outcome indicators are being viewed as a more appropriate measure of patient care and experience. A key performance indicator, KPI, group chaired by Dr. Philip Crowley, national director of quality improvement, has developed KPIs in line with patient experience and outcomes and these have been submitted for implementation. This is in keeping with current international trends. I have been advised by the NAS that it is improving regional coverage and deployment across rural areas. It is moving away from ambulance provision from fixed bases to dynamic deployment, as urgently needed in the two cases mentioned by the Senator. This means that resources can be used across a region in order that, if demand increases in one area, other resources can provide cover, as required.

With regard to locating addresses, the NAS computer-aided dispatch system identifies both the incident location and the nearest available resource. The system also utilises an automatic vehicle location system which enables the dispatcher from the National Emergency Operations Centre, NEOC, to direct the responding resources to the incident. The NAS is implementing a new vehicle system which will include a navigation tool. This will allow responding crews to view the same mapping system currently available to NEOC dispatchers to provide directions to incidents. This system will be rolled out during 2017 and 2018.

The capacity review published last year identifies particular difficulties in serving rural areas such as this region. The capacity review indicated that the only practical way to improve first response times in rural areas was through voluntary community first responders, CFR, schemes. The NAS continues to work with local CFR groups across the north-east region to enhance services. I am advised that, in August 2017, 25 CFR groups were operating across the north-east region.

The capacity review also examined overall ambulance resource levels and distribution against demand and activity. Implementation of the recommendations made in the capacity review will require a multi-annual programme of phased investment in ambulance manpower, vehicles and technology. An additional funding of €7.2 million was provided in 2016 for the NAS, including €2 million in development funding. In 2017 an additional sum of €3.6 million was made available which included €1 million to fund new developments. I can confirm today that additional funding will be made available for the continued development of the NAS in 2018 and that this will be set out in the national service plan 2018.

Senator Robbie Gallagher

Unfortunately, the experience of the family I described does not match the statement made by the Minister of State, but I hope the future will look much brighter for others. The family contacted the Minister for Health at the time through my office and sought a meeting with him. Unfortunately, he was not available but directed us to the National Ambulance Service with a view to arranging that meeting. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could use his office to assist us in that regard.

Deputy Finian McGrath

The Senator has raised a number of crucial issues. First, on the matter of services in rural Ireland, as far as I am concerned, people living in rural Ireland have the same rights to an ambulance service and good quality health services as people living in urban areas. This is a very important matter when it comes to discussing strategic health service plans the length and breadth of the country. Speaking as a Minister of State, what happened to the family in question was unacceptable and I know that the Senator is aware of other similar incidents. In answer to his question I can confirm that I will bring his concerns to the attention of the Minister for Health and make this a priority issue. I will also raise the other issues brought up by the Senator in this very important debate. We are talking about people's lives and have to make sure people living in rural Ireland, who are citizens of the State, are entitled to the same health service and have the same rights and protections as the rest of us.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I thank the Minister of State and the Senator.