Written Answers Nos. 203-220
203. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult for community employment schemes to recruit persons to participate in the scheme because of the manner in which the Tús scheme vacancies are being filled using social welfare records; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10941/14]
View answerThe Tús programme selects candidates from the long-term unemployed who are signing on a full-time basis on the Live Register for jobseeker's allowance and are in receipt of a payment. Candidates are selected using a randomised system and are referred to Local Development Companies who co-ordinate the allocation of places with the community and voluntary sector. Community and voluntary groups must agree to take on Tús participants and must also demonstrate that there is adequate and suitable work available. Participation on Tús is for the duration of one year.
Community Employment differs from Tús it that the CE Sponsoring Organisation selects applicants that are referred through the local INTREO Office and the duration on CE can vary from 1 year to 3 years on average, depending on the eligibility status of the applicant at entry level. During the period on CE, participants have the opportunity to access training and qualifications to prepare them to access employment on leaving the programme. Other cohorts are also eligible for CE outside of those on the Live Register e.g. One Parent Families, persons with a disability. These groups are not eligible for Tús.
There were 22,575 persons participating on CE last year, excluding CE supervisors. There were circa 180,000 people on the Live Register in excess of 1 year (long-term unemployed) at the end of 2013 which indicates that there is an ample client-base for both programmes.
In addition it should be noted that the Department facilitates persons who have completed their time on Tús and have a need for further development and training to take up a place on a CE
204. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10947/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15 October 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 29 January 2014 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
206. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will meet with the 1916 Rising relatives; when he envisages this meeting taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10459/14]
View answerIn July 2013 I made a determination under the National Monuments Acts on the consent application and related Environmental Impact Statement submitted by the owners in relation to their proposals for the Moore Street national monument. My decision provided, inter alia, for the full repair and restoration of Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street and the creation of a commemorative centre to honour the leaders of the 1916 Rising. My understanding is that the completed designs for the approved works will be submitted to me in the near future to verify that they are in compliance with the consent order. They will be assessed as quickly as possible on receipt to establish that they conform to the terms of my decision on the consent application. As you know, I have met with the 1916 Rising relatives and all other stakeholders on a number of occasions. As the Deputy is aware, I will consider the issue of any further meeting once I have received and considered the completed designs.
207. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the education programme for north midlands region National Park and Wildlife Service, Ballinafad, County Sligo is being terminated while there is a considerable waiting list of schools and other participants awaiting discovery primary science maths registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10256/14]
View answerThe level of funding available to my Department to engage temporary seasonal staff for National Parks, Nature Reserves, Visitor Centres and Education Services run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has been reducing over recent years. As such, it has been necessary to prioritise the placement of seasonal staff on an ongoing basis to meet areas of greatest need. A key priority for me is to keep National Parks and Nature Reserves open to the public, to provide quality visitor information and to maintain appropriate health and safety standards at these sites. This will necessitate some cutbacks in other areas this year but, looking to future years, my Department will explore the potential of alternative models to augment its visitor services and nature education services.
208. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is any source of funding available to Passion 2014 which is the re-enactment of the Passion of Our Lord which will be taking place in Pallasgreen, County Limerick on Holy Thursday night and Good Friday (details supplied); if an official from his Department will contact one of the organisers to discuss any possible funding initiatives; if his Department will help them in any way in view of the spin off for the community and the County of Limerick as a whole. [10395/14]
View answerNeither my Department or the agencies in its ambit have a dedicated budget or framework for projects of this nature.
209. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the National Parks and Wildlife Service will organise a meeting in west Clare at which officials can outline the emergency works that farmers and landowners of lands in SPAs and SACs can undertake without incurring penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10462/14]
View answerLand-owners may wish to undertake certain works within Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas to prevent or repair damage to their property or land. Depending on the nature of the proposed works, consent may be required from my Department, from the local authority or from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government if issues of foreshore licensing arise.
Landowners within SACs and SPAs have been notified that certain activities which might cause damage to the sites require my consent before proceeding. As the circumstances will differ greatly in individual cases, a single meeting for all landowners is unlikely to be the best use of people’s time. However, my officials will be happy to explain to individual farmers or landowners what works can be safely undertaken on their land and can provide the appropriate consents. In some cases, however, where there may be a risk to the site, it may be necessary for the matter to be considered further by the local authority, in keeping with the provisions of the Planning and Development Acts.
210. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding a berth in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10549/14]
View answerThe use of private boats in the area referred to by the Deputy is regulated by way of mooring discs or pegs. In a scheme introduced in 1991, following lengthy consultation with interested parties, mooring discs were issued to all boat owners having a recognised traditional mooring right, subject to an overall limit on the number of discs issued. It is considered that a limit is necessary so as to balance recreational use with the conservation imperative of flora and fauna of the area and also taking account of obligations under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. My Department does not permit the casual placing of boats on a daily basis, as boats and engines coming from outside carry the risk of spreading invasive alien species such as zebra mussels and various pond weeds. To facilitate others, persons applying for mooring pegs are placed on a waiting list and any pegs becoming available are allocated to those on the list. In order to facilitate the short-term accommodation of some of those on the waiting list, they are entered into a lottery each year for one of 20 temporary mooring pegs. The 2014 lottery took place on 20 February last under the supervision of Department officials and local angling club members. Offers of discs have since issued to those persons drawn from the lottery.
My Department receives numerous requests for mooring spaces but, unfortunately, the demand far exceeds the number of spaces available. My Department is currently in the process of reviewing all issues relating to the ongoing management of the site in question, including all boating activities, with a view to developing a more long-term and sustainable strategy.
211. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in regard to the proposed cultural and heritage centre for College Green, the person who will be responsible for operating the centre; the person who will be responsible for the provision of historical content; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10577/14]
View answer212. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in regard to the proposed cultural and heritage centre for College Green, if there will be any new positions created and will they be publicly advertised; the person who will be responsible for these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10578/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together.
As the Deputy is aware, following ongoing discussions between my Department and the Bank of Ireland, I recently announced a partnership between the Bank of Ireland and my Department to create a new Cultural and Heritage Centre at Parliament Buildings, College Green. The Bank of Ireland at College Green is one of the most iconic buildings in Dublin City. It was the first purpose-built Parliament in Europe, completed in 1739, and served as Ireland’s Parliament until the Act of Union in 1801.
The space for the Centre will be made available to the State for a ten year period, to run alongside the Decade of Centenaries. It is envisaged that exhibitions at the Centre will include a significant focus on key events in Irish history – up to the centenary of the Civil War – which led to the creation of modern Ireland, which also includes a strong cultural component.
Bank of Ireland will cover the costs of refurbishing the space and operating the Centre. My Department, in partnership with the Bank, will manage, operate and animate the Centre. I very much welcome Bank of Ireland's decision to make the space available and would like to thank it for strongly supporting this initiative.
I will shortly be establishing an expert committee drawn from the National Cultural Institutions and other city institutions to advise me on a suitable programme of exhibitions and events at the new Centre. This programme will have a significant focus on the social, economic and political events of the Decade of Centenaries.
As the matter is at an early stage of development, it would be premature to offer specifics about the programme of events or the operation of the Centre, in advance of the discussions of the expert committee. However, I believe the Centre will have a significant impact on enriching the cultural programme during the Decade of Centenaries over the next 10 years.
213. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 429 of 2 February 2014, the reason he decided to exclude the Irish Ship and Barge Fabrication company from the meeting of 18 February 2014 organised by his Department regarding the future of the Naomh Éanna; if he will reconsider his decision to destroy the ship, the last of its kind, and instead put any and all decisions on its future on hold for three months to enable the Irish Ship and Barge Fabrication company to prepare a business plan to restore the ship including private financing of the same. [10822/14]
View answerThe meeting referred to by the Deputy arose from a commitment given in Dáil Éireann on 13 February 2014 that the accountable bodies with an interest in this matter would meet to determine if anything could be done to avert the disposal of the Naomh Éanna. The Deputy will appreciate that a private company such as the Irish Ship and Barge Fabrication Company is not an accountable body in this matter so the issue of excluding it from the meeting did not arise. I also wish to point out that the decision to dispose of the Naomh Éanna was not taken by me but by its owners, the Irish Nautical Trust. The Naomh Éanna has been moored at Grand Canal Dock since 1989 when it was found to no longer meet health and safety requirements to operate as a passenger-carrying vessel. Unfortunately, the ship has deteriorated substantially in the past 20 years and presents a real risk in the Grand Canal Basin, in the heart of Dublin's Docklands. In April 2013, a report on the hull condition of the vessel, commissioned by its owners, highlighted serious safety concerns. Based on the report’s findings, the Irish Nautical Trust issued a ‘Notice to Vacate ’ to both of the businesses that had been operating from the vessel.
I am advised that very significant investment would be required to preserve the already unstable hull of the vessel and to bring the vessel to the point where it would be safe and insurable. I am further advised that the vessel's owners do not have the financial resources to deal with these issues. In the circumstances, Waterways Ireland offered to arrange for the removal and disposal of the ship on behalf of the Irish Nautical Trust. Waterways Ireland made this offer as the property owners of the Grand Canal Dock because of the continuing serious risk posed by the condition of the Naomh Éanna, the disruption and expense that would be involved were it to sink in the Grand Canal Dock and the absence of any firm indication that the very significant level finance required to make it safe and insurable was potentially available. The Irish Nautical Trust accepted the offer and confirmed its approval to Waterways Ireland to dispose of the vessel on its behalf.
In relation to the suggestion that decisions on the vessel's future be deferred for three months, the Deputy will be aware that I advised Seanad Éireann on 26 February that interested individuals or groups who wish to restore the vessel now have until 31 March to come up with a realistic proposal. Any such proposal would have to be based on a credible, definitive business plan with access to the required finance and, in that regard, I must re-iterate that there is no question of State funding being made available. In view of the serious safety issues posed by the Naomh Éanna, it will not be feasible to delay action to deal with those issues beyond that time frame.
214. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will list all research carried out by or on behalf of National Parks and Wildlife Service on the causes of the decline of the freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10839/14]
View answerThe freshwater pearl mussel is critically endangered in Ireland and across Europe. It is listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive and requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation for its protection. The factors contributing to its decline are well understood and as such did not require further research funded by my Department in the last 10 years. However my Department, and other Departments before it, have funded and/or contributed to surveys and reports on mussel populations in key rivers in order to gain a clear picture of the status of the mussel. There is grave concern about the lack of survival of juvenile mussels in most rivers, due to their particular sensitivity to pollution and siltation. A list is being forwarded directly to the Deputy of these studies which encompass (i) population monitoring required under Article 17 of the directive, (ii) river basin management planning and (iii) captive breeding trials (for the Nore mussel). These studies help to inform how best challenges might be addressed in collaboration with key stakeholders.
The species’ current poor conservation status and severe decline is considered to be due to activities in or adjacent to watercourses causing a quality of water that does not meet the exacting requirements of the species. The sediment and nutrients that enter mussel rivers and cause its decline can come from a combination and wide variety of sources (e.g. urban wastewater, development activities, farming and forestry), often quite removed from the location of the species or widespread in the catchment of the river. The species can also suffer direct impacts from in-stream works such as channelisation, bridge-construction and recreational fishery structures.
215. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the implications for agencies funded by his Department that fail to comply with consolidated public sector pay scales by continuing to make top-up payments to staff; when he expects this issue to be definitively resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10909/14]
View answerI am advised that no top-up payments are made to staff of the State bodies and agencies funded from my Department's Vote Group, which I have listed below. In addition, I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department has structures in place to monitor compliance with public sector pay policy as set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
|
Body |
Website Address |
|
An Coimisinéir Teanga |
www.coimisineir.ie |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
www.udaras.ie |
|
Arts Council |
www.artscouncil.ie |
|
National Archives |
www.nationalarchives.ie |
|
Irish Manuscripts Commission |
www.irishmanuscripts.ie |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
www.museum.ie |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) |
www.modernart.ie |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
www.nationalgallery.ie |
|
Crawford Gallery |
www.crawfordartgallery.com |
|
National Concert Hall |
www.nch.ie |
|
National Library of Ireland |
www.nli.ie |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
www.cbl.ie |
|
Irish Film Board |
www.irishfilmboard.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
www.heritagecouncil.ie |
Cross Border Implementation Bodies under the aegis of the Department:
|
Body |
Website Address |
|
Waterways Ireland |
www.waterwaysireland.org |
|
An Foras Teanga, which comprises: |
|
|
1. Foras na Gaeilge |
www.gaeilge.ie www.forasnagaeilge.ie |
|
2. Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch |
www.ulsterscotsagency.com |
216. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has any responsibility or role in the management of old native Irish forests. [10937/14]
View answerMany native woodlands around the country have been selected as European nature sites under the EU Habitats Directive, which provides them with legal protection. For such sites, conservation objectives are in place and certain activities may not be carried out without a legal consent or permit, which may be issued in cases where it has been determined that: the activity will not cause damage; or if there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest that require derogation from the legal protection of the woodlands, subject to compensatory measures being put in place.
Some of Ireland’s old native woodlands are within the State-owned National Parks and Nature Reserves and are managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department.
217. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will detail the findings of the corporate governance final reports undertaken in Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland to date, with specific reference to the independence of the board, conflicts of interest of board members and corporate governance execution by the board of SEAI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10362/14]
View answerThe Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI), was established under the Sustainable Energy Act 2002 and appointments to its Board are made in accordance with that Act. As a State body, SEAI must comply with the revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies published by the Department of Finance in 2009. On an annual basis, the Board reviews its compliance with the Code.
Arising from this, the SEAI board has developed its own Code of Governance Framework, which is available on its website. It addresses the governance requirements set out in the Code of Practice and also details the annual declarations of interests process and the procedures for dealing with conflicts of interest.
In the context of SEAI's most recent Annual Report 2012, the Chairman confirmed that SEAI's Code of Business Conduct for Board members is in place. This is circulated to all Board members upon appointment. Thereafter, all Board members are required to sign an annual Declaration of Understanding relating to disclosure of interests. The Chairman also confirmed that each Board member and person holding a designated position has complied with the requirements under the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act, 2001.
218. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the terms of reference for the expert panel to oversee the preparation of reports on Grid Link and Grid West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10363/14]
View answerOn 28 January last, in response to EirGrid’s recent public consultation process, I announced that I had appointed an Independent Panel of Experts, to be chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, to decide the terms of reference for, and to oversee the integrity of a process to be undertaken by EirGrid to report on, comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both the Grid Link and Grid West projects.
The outputs from those studies, which will be required to be complete, objective and comparable, will be published before proceeding to the next stage of public consultation on those two projects. The two studies will take account of environmental (including visual amenity) impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. The Panel will have power to commission its own work if there is any perceived deficiency in the studies presented.
The Panel has now commenced its deliberations including settling the terms of reference to oversee the integrity of the process now being put into place. The Panel’s terms of reference will be published by the Panel once they have been agreed. Similarly, the Panel's position regarding submissions of material to it, and third party requests to meet with it, will also be published once the Panel has finalised and agreed its position on these matters.
219. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a definitive commitment from Government to guarantee that the Grid West Link will be connected to the existing 110Kv electricity network from the very start of the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10366/14]
View answerThe €240m Grid West project, which is part of EirGrid’s Grid25 plan to upgrade the national transmission system between now and 2025, is a new high-capacity power line linking the Bellacorick area in County Mayo to a strong point on the transmission grid at Flagford in County Roscommon.
Grid West is needed to connect the electricity generated by the region’s huge renewable energy resources and also to facilitate significant job creation and investment as well as contributing to national recovery and growth.
The Government does not seek to direct EirGrid or other energy infrastructure developers to particular sites or routes or technologies. These are matters for the developers and for the forward planning process through regional and local development plans and at project level through the development management process. In this context, energy infrastructure developers are encouraged to work with the forward planning processes at regional and local level to set a clear context for assessment of individual applications for planning consent to facilitate as wide a degree of consensus as possible as to how (and where) to meet grid development needs.
The Government does expect the Companies in making their choices, of project specific technologies and routing as well as mitigation measures, to take account of all relevant national and international standards, to follow best practice and ensure value for money and be informed by detailed consultation at local level.
On 28 January last, in response to EirGrid’s recent public consultation process, I announced that I had appointed an Independent Panel of Experts, to be chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, to decide the terms of reference for, and to oversee the integrity of a process to be undertaken by EirGrid to report on, comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both the Grid Link and Grid West projects.
The outputs from those studies, which will be required to be complete, objective and comparable, will be published before proceeding to the next stage of public consultation on those two projects. The two studies will take account of environmental (including visual amenity) impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors.
220. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will seek the commissioning of an independent cost-benefit analysis on the proposed wind farm developments in the Midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10376/14]
View answerA full cost benefit analysis is on-going to determine if it is mutually beneficial for Ireland and the United Kingdom to enter an Inter-Governmental Agreement to facilitate trade in renewable energy. The amount of energy that might be procured by the UK and the mechanisms for sharing the resultant economic benefits, including an appropriate return to the Exchequer, are among the matters under consideration.
From an Irish perspective the potential benefits being examined include jobs created, community gain, interconnection benefits, corporation tax receipts and rates paid to local authorities.
The cost benefit analysis is being carried out by my Department with the assistance of New ERA, the ESRI and AECOM consultants.
