Written Answers Nos. 217-224
217. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the statement by the Inland Fisheries Board of 29 November 2012, that development and operation, of fin fish farms, could impact on wild salmon and sea trout stocks and their habitat, has been taken into account in formulating his policy on salmon farms and aquaculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15895/13]
View answerBord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has submitted an application to my Department for an Aquaculture and a Foreshore Licence for the cultivation of Finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is currently being considered in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act as amended.
The legislation provides for extensive consultation with stakeholders, including Inland Fisheries Ireland, which has responsibility for wild salmon stocks.
All matters associated with the application including the impact, if any, on wild salmon stocks, will be given very careful consideration by my Department.
It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on this application which is under active consideration as part of a statutory process.
218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent, if any, to which cattle or pigs are imported into the EU from whatever location; if any such imports come from countries with a lesser level of awareness and restriction in respect of bovine or swine diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15925/13]
View answerAccording to the information available to my Department, imports of live cattle and pigs into the EU are negligible. Cattle are imported in very low numbers, with imports being mainly high value breeding lines such as prized bulls. Similarly, live pig imports into the EU are limited, with some very small numbers of breeding stock from countries such as Switzerland and Norway.
No bovines have been imported to Ireland from outside the EU during 2012 or 2013 to date. During this period, one consignment of 33 live pigs for breeding purposes was imported directly into Ireland from Canada.
The importation into the EU of bovine and porcine livestock is subject to strict health conditions as laid down in specific EU legislation. In addition, the exporting country must be approved by the EU for export. The legislation in place requires that animals being imported into the EU must undergo specific pre-export disease testing and adherence to specific conditions of preparation in the exporting country before being permitted to enter the Union. Such health entry requirements, which are generally equivalent to those applying to trade within the EU, must be detailed in documented health certification issued by the competent authority of the country of export. Furthermore, such importations may only enter the EU through officially approved EU Border Inspection posts.
219. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action taken by him to deal with the threat of ash die back disease that is threatening ash trees throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15972/13]
View answerIn October 2012, Ireland’s first finding of Ash Dieback disease, caused by the fungus Chalara fraxinea, was confirmed in Co. Leitrim at a site planted in 2009 with saplings from a consignment imported from continental Europe. The disease causes significant damage to ash trees and has spread rapidly in continental Europe, where it is now widespread in several countries.
Since October 2012, my Department has been carrying out a nationwide survey of ash forests which are known to have been planted with saplings imported from the continent in recent years. My Department has also extended the scope of the survey work to cover ash plantations established since 1992 and are surveying AEOS and REPS plantings.
In order to mitigate the risk of infected ash stock entering the country and causing further outbreaks of the disease, my Department introduced legislation on 26th October and 6th November 2012, under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts 1958 and 1991 (Chalara fraxinea) Order 2012 and Order no. 2, 2012. This legislation prohibits the importation of ash trees from areas known to be infected with the disease. Similar legislation has been introduced in Northern Ireland in order to implement an all-island approach to this problem.
This prohibition applies to all ash wood unless the wood is:
a) accompanied by a plant passport or equivalent documentation stating that it originates in an area known to be free from Chalara fraxinea , or
b) squared so as to remove entirely the rounded surface, or
c) bark-free, with a water content less than 20%, or
d) if sawn, kiln-dried to below 20% moisture content.
Before the above mentioned legislation was introduced, officials of my Department notified the European Commission and the other Member States of the first finding of Chalara fraxinea in Ireland. These parties were informed of the actions taken to destroy the material and of my Department’s intention to take emergency measures under the EU Plant Health Directive to prevent the further introduction of Chalara fraxinea.
The Department’s forestry officials continue to work with forestry contractors and the owners of affected plantations to remove the ash trees on all infected sites and replace the affected stock with an appropriate alternative species. A Reconstitution Scheme has been put in place in order to provide the supports necessary for the forestry sector to remove and replace diseased ash stock from the national forestry estate.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is doing everything it can to address the threat posed by Chalara fraxinea and in this regard, the Department is working closely with the authorities in Northern Ireland on an all island approach to the matter.
220. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update in relation to the ongoing HR and staffing issues at Trinity House; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15747/13]
View answer221. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the problems with staffing levels at Trinity House; if she has acted on reports she has received on this issue and to other HR related issues at the institution; if she is satisfied that the institution is fully in compliance with its health and safety responsibilities to its staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15746/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 221 together.
There are three children detention schools currently in operation, all located on the Oberstown campus at Lusk, Co. Dublin. These are Trinity House School, Oberstown Boys School and Oberstown Girls School. Under current arrangements, the children detention schools are authorised for detaining males under 17 years and females under 18 years of age.
In relation to staffing levels in the children detention schools, one of my priorities as Minister with responsibility for this area is the full implementation of the requirements of the Public Service Agreement on the Oberstown campus. A significant step forward was achieved in this regard on 25 February 2013, with the implementation of a campus – wide staffing roster agreement to apply in all three children detention schools. A key feature of this roster is the facility to deploy staff on a cross campus basis in any of the three children detention schools, on the basis of identified need. I understand that this aspect of the roster has been implemented and I welcome the cooperation of staff to date. One of the aims of this system is to ensure that adequate staffing levels are maintained, in that staff which may be surplus to requirements on a short term basis in any of the three children detention schools on the campus can be redeployed to one of the other sites where the requirement for staff may be more pressing. Such flexibility of operation is a key requirement of the Public Service Agreement.
I understand that notwithstanding the progress that has been made, there are some implementation difficulties which have been experienced recently on the campus with the new roster, including the need to address issues relating to rates of absenteeism and attendance management. These issues are being managed by the Board of Management of the Oberstown campus, working with the Directors of each children detention school and the Irish Youth Justice Service. However, I note that this is the first time that all three children detention schools have been placed on an identical rostering system and some difficulties are perhaps to be expected. I have been advised by the Chairman of the Board of Management and the Irish Youth Justice Service that these issues are being addressed as a matter of urgency.
The Oberstown Board and the Irish Youth Justice Service, with independent assistance in line with best practice, have recently arranged for an examination of a number of claims relating to safeguarding and general work practices in Trinity House School. This approach has been notified to HIQA and I expect that the Board will shortly be in a position to adopt a position on the matters raised, based on the need for fair procedures to be adhered to in all respects.
I am also advised that there are a number of individual employee grievance cases on the Oberstown campus which are currently before the Board and the Irish Youth Justice Service, and that these cases are being urgently assessed with a view to having a complete resolution of them at the earliest possible date.
The Directors on the Oberstown campus are responsible for the immediate control and supervision of each children detention school under the Children Act, 2001. This role includes responsibility for compliance with all relevant health and safety requirements, subject to any general guidance that may be required in this area by the Board of Management. I am not aware of any specific issue which would raise concerns in this area and would expect the children detention schools to operate in a manner compliant with health and safety law and practice. I note that the children detention schools are subject to inspection at any time by the Health and Safety Authority.
222. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the Children First legislation will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15775/13]
View answerThe Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which I published in 2011, provides clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations that care for or work with children should do to ensure they are safe whilst in the care of the organisation. The Government has committed, as a priority, to the introduction of legislation to underpin Children First.
The Deputy will be aware that I published the Heads of the Children First Bill in April 2012. The purpose of publishing the Heads was to allow for a full consultation at an early stage in the developing the Bill. I asked the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children to consider the Heads of the Children First Bill and make recommendations. I received their comprehensive Report in July 2012 and my Department has examined the broad range of submissions to, and recommendations of the Joint Committee. Among the many issues examined by the Committee were:
- The inclusion of emotional abuse;
- Inclusion of childminders as a named individual;
- Problems associated with appointment of a volunteer as a designated person including that it could deter people from volunteering;
- Concern about complexity and additional responsibilities placed on the Designated Officer;
- Issues surrounding identification of an 'organisational unit ' where the organisation is part of, or affiliated to, or federated to, a national organisation;
- Concern that legislation focused on reporting where this was not found to be the main problem in reviews of child abuse and child death cases;
- Capacity of HSE to implement legislation;
- Inclusion of reporting of retrospective abuse
Submissions were not all in agreement and many points emerging need to be considered and reconciled. This involves consideration of both policy and operational issues as well as the best legal approach to achieving Children First objectives. In the regard, my officials have consulted with a number of organisations and individuals and I met recently with a number of key stakeholders to discuss the complex issues that have arisen. These discussions will inform the preparation of enhanced policy proposals that is currently underway.
It is my intention to submit further proposals to Government as soon as possible with a view to the drafting of the Children First Bill as a priority.
223. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the legislation to establish the new Child and Family Support Agency will be published; if she intends to publish the heads of the Bill before that; when she expects that the new agency will be established and operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15776/13]
View answerThis legislation has been identified as a priority within my Department. My officials have been working closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Council to finalise the draft text of the Bill.
It is anticipated that my Department will be in a position to publish the Child and Family Support Agency Bill during the next session. It is not intended at this stage to publish the Heads of the Bill in advance of publication of the Bill proper. However, I will be consulting with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children and engaging broadly with stakeholders. It is difficult at this remove to estimate with any accuracy the operational date of the new Agency. Once the Bill has been published and operational planning is further advanced, I hope to be in a position to give a more precise estimate of the establishment date.
224. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the community run youth service for Cabra, Dublin, is being put at risk because her Department has not signed off on the funding allocation for 2013 and that independent auditors have advised the community board of management that they are unable to sign off on the youth service's accounts and budgets because her Department has not approved funding for 2013; when her Department will make a further decision on funding; the youth services in Dublin for which she has approved funding; the ones still pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15841/13]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drug Task Force Projects and certain other provisions including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, Youth Information Centres, the European Youth in Action Programme (administered by Léargas – the Exchange Bureau) and Gaisce – the President’s Award.
Funding of €53.173m has been provided to my Department for the provision of youth services in 2013. Of this total funding, €1.75 has been provided in a new capital funding programme for 2013.
Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure my Department has tried to ensure that, in the determination process for the allocations, the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people are protected as far as is possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding. The savings required under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in respect of 2013 amounted to €5.393m which equated to almost a 10% reduction on 2012 funding available for the provision of youth services.
My Department notified all grant administering agencies of the 2013 funding allocations on the 19th February last. However, in view of the reduction in funding in recent years due to the challenging fiscal situation, grant administering agencies/bodies, who administer the funding on behalf of my Department, were afforded the flexibility to make recommendations to my Department to reconfigure the allocations based on their local knowledge and expertise in relation to the projects in their respective areas. In the case of Cabra Youth Service the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB), which is the grant administering agency for the Dublin City area, made such recommendations to my Department. These recommendations were considered and approval was granted by my Department on the 21st March. I understand that letters in relation to the 2013 funding allocations have now been issued by CDYSB to the projects in the Dublin City area.
