Written Answers Nos. 154-160
154. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding Rehab received through sales of its lottery scratch card for the years 1997 to 2013, inclusive; the profit made on this aspect of Rehab business for those years; the amount of grant aid it received for these years based on such sales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4544/14]
View answerThe Charitable Lotteries Scheme was established in 1997 to provide assistance to the promoters of certain private charitable lotteries that have products similar to products sold by the National Lottery. From its establishment until 2011, the Charitable Lotteries Fund was administered by the Department of Finance. In mid 2011 responsibility for its administration was transferred to my Department and details of payments made to Rehab under the Charitable Lotteries Scheme for 2011, 2012 and 2013 are as follows:
Rehab sales and funding under the Charitable Lottery Scheme 2011 - 2013
|
2010 Gross Sales (scratch card and pull tab instant win lotteries) |
2010 Net Profit (scratch card and pull tab instant win lotteries) |
2011 Charitable Lotteries Scheme allocation |
|
€3,968,773 |
€9,452 |
€3,905,661 |
|
2011 Gross Sales (scratch card and pull tab instant win lotteries) |
2011 Net Profit (scratch card and pull tab instant win lotteries) |
2012 Charitable Lotteries Scheme allocation |
|
€3,814,081 |
Figure unavailable, see note below |
€3,923,659 |
|
2012 Gross Sales (scratch card and pull tab instant win lotteries) |
2012 Net Profit (scratch card and pull tab instant win lotteries) |
2013 Charitable Lotteries Scheme allocation |
|
€3,412,272 |
Figure unavailable, see note below |
€2,581,293 |
Note: The source of this information on gross sales and net profits is material provided by Rehab in support of its applications for funding in the years 2011, 2012, and 2013. A breakdown of net profit by lottery product type was not supplied in 2012 or 2013 so it is not possible to supply this information. Instead a combined net profit from lottery and bingo sales for the years 2011 and 2012 was provided. This was €590,779 in 2011 and €514,558 in 2012.
155. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) has waited since the first quarter of 2011 for his or her naturalisation to be processed and a decision made. [4550/14]
View answerOfficials in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question. However, in February, 2012, the person concerned submitted an application for leave to remain in the State based on the principles of the Zambrano Judgment. When consideration of this application has been completed, the person concerned will be notified in writing of the outcome.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
157. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Defence regarding the current capital building projects under the remit of his Department and the building programmes planned for 2014, if he will outline the impact the new building control regulations 2013, which will come into effect on 1 March, will have on the costs of each specific project; if he will list the projects under way; the additional costs that will be incurred on each due to increased professional fees generated by increased supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4363/14]
View answerExternal providers of design services are engaged for the major capital projects undertaken by the Department and full compliance with all building regulations is already an integral requirement of the work of each Design Team retained for Defence projects. Consequently, it is anticipated that there should be no additional cost to the Department as a result of the introduction of the new regulations.
The major capital projects for which design teams are currently engaged include: Cathal Brugha Barracks - Military Archives Facility; McKee Barracks - North Accommodation Block Re-roofing; Casement Aerodrome - Replacement for Hangar No 1; Casement Aerodrome- Refurbishment of Cookhouse/Dining Hall.
158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of Reserve Defence Force recorded, by brigade, on the PMS system as having attended unpaid training in 2013, showing separately those who completed less than 20 hours, 21 to 30 hours and more than 30 hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4451/14]
View answerIt was not possible to provide the detailed information sought by the Deputy in the time available. My Department is currently seeking to compile the relevant data and I will provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.
159. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence in view of the current re-organisation of the Defence Forces into a single force concept and the fact that it requires reserve members to give more of their time to the service of the State, if he will bring forward employment protection legislation to ensure that employers must give a certain amount of days a year to employees engaging in the reserve service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4466/14]
View answerA Value for Money (VFM) Review of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) was published in November 2012. It set out a number of recommendations aimed at improving the capacity of the RDF and ensuring its continued viability. These recommendations included the consolidation of a large number of under-strength Units into a smaller number of full strength Units. A major re-organisation of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) was implemented in 2013 and the RDF is now organised alongside the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) within a more efficient single force structure.
Separately, the VFM Review highlighted an inconsistency where a member of the Reserve could be classed as effective; yet fail to meet minimum training targets that had been set out in plans for the Reserve. The retention of personnel who do not meet minimum training requirements has a detrimental effect on the capacity and morale of the Reserve. In this context, the VFM Review recommended a review of the criteria for categorising Reservists as effective.
The military authorities have developed proposals in this regard and this is one of a range of measures aimed at reforming the RDF. I have received no recommendations relating to the introduction of employment protection legislation and I can see no basis for such a recommendation. The intention is that actual training requirements will be accurately reflected in regulations governing retention on the effective strength of the Reserve. In practice this will mean a requirement that Reservists meet training requirements that have been in place for many years rather than an increase in the level of training for the AR and NSR.
160. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason persons (details supplied) in County Cork have not received their disadvantaged area payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4346/14]
View answerAn application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2013, processing of which has recently been finalised. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on the 27 January 2014.
