Written Answers Nos. 152-162
152. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding to complete the Dingle inner relief road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22023/14]
View answerI have no function in regard to this matter which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
155. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reopen the walks scheme to those on existing walking routes, who were not included in the original scheme, in the interest of equity and ensuring the full walks stay open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22041/14]
View answerDue to budgetary constraints it has not been possible to develop new walks under the existing Walks Scheme since December 2010. However there are now 39 trails covered by the Scheme. I appreciate there were a number of proposed routes at varying levels of completeness in late 2010 when the Walks Scheme was closed to new applications. Only those projects where contracts had been signed and the Scheme was operational could be allowed to progress.
In 2013 annual payments to participants who maintained sections of trail that traversed their lands exceeded €1.8m. The number of participants on the scheme currently stands at 1,814. It is intended that the scheme will continue with the current walks and participants subject to the availability of funding.
157. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the regulations in place, if any, in relation to the euthanising of dogs in local authority pounds; if his Department has received reports in relation to the euthanising of almost 100 animals in a dog pound (details supplied) recently, just prior to a ministerial visit, most of which were restricted breeds under the Control of Dogs Act 1998; if he will carry out any investigation into this alleged incident; if he has referred the matter to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22046/14]
View answerProvisions allowing for dogs to be put down in certain circumstances are contained in the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and, in relation to dogs and other animals, in the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
The operation of dog pounds is a matter for local authorities, whether the pounds are directly under the control of those authorities or whether the service is contracted by authorities, and my Department has no direct role in this. Neither I nor the Ministers of State in my Department have visited the pound referred to in the question.
158. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a percentage of the funding being made available for the development of water treatment facilities in Castlerea, County Roscommon, is being set aside for the arts (details supplied); if so, the process for disbursing any such funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22118/14]
View answerThe West Roscommon Regional Water Supply Scheme was included as a Water Treatment Plant Upgrade Contract at Granlahan to commence under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013. Under a review of the Programme, carried out in 2011, my Department approved the inclusion in the Programme, in respect of the West Roscommon Regional Water Supply Scheme of an advance networks upgrade contract – the Castlerea Urban and Regional Water Supply Improvement Works.
In April 2013 my Department approved the Supplementary Design Review Report for the West Roscommon Regional Water Supply Scheme, which included advance works to address water quality issues on the Castlerea Urban and Regional Water Supply Scheme, at a cost of €8.3 million. In mid-November 2013 a request was received in my Department from Roscommon County Council seeking approval of funding of almost €1.6 million for a Watermain Network Contract to interconnect the pipework on the Castlerea Urban & Regional Water Supply Scheme. However, it was not possible for my Department to finalise its examination of the Council's submission prior to the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure to Irish Water on 1 January 2014. Roscommon County Council has not submitted any proposals to my Department in relation to the Per Cent for Art for the Castlerea Urban & Regional Water Supply Scheme.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has recently published its Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016. The further progression of all water services capital projects is now a matter for Irish Water to consider. Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via an email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
159. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of defibrillators located in Government offices and buildings under the remit of his Department and those under his aegis throughout the country; if these are available in emergency cases outside of office hours to the community in the locations where they are based; the number and cost of same; if he will consider putting some arrangement in place, in the interest of health and safety, whereby these defibrillators can be located where the public can access them out of office hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22378/14]
View answerThere are a total of 7 defibrillators located in my Department's offices, as set out in the following table
|
Department office |
No. of Defibrillators |
|
Custom House |
3 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
|
Ballina |
1 |
|
Tubbercurry |
2 |
As the equipment was purchased at different times, costs varied, but the average cost of each defibrillator was €2,000.
The defibrillators are available for emergencies involving staff or visitors to my Department's offices during normal working hours. As the offices concerned are not open to the public outside those hours, access to the defibrillators is not available during these periods. In addition, the use of a defibrillator requires specialist training and its improper use would have public health and safety considerations as such use could result in serious injury or a fatality.
160. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 172 of 8 May 2014, if the information requested therein is now available. [21892/14]
View answerMy Department is currently seeking to compile an accurate reply to Parliamentary Question No. 172 of 8 May 2014, and I will provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.
161. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cosanta an bhfuil sé i gceist aige athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar chinneadh an iar-Aire Cosanta gan ainmneacha Gaeilge a thabhairt ar an dá bhád nua cabhlaigh atá á gceannach ag na Fórsaí Cosanta agus an bhfuil sé i gceist aige, ag cur na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge i gcuntas, beartas na Roinne i leith na ceiste seo a athrú ar ais go dtí an beartas a bhí ann roimhe seo maidir le báid chabhlaigh a ainmniú [22011/14]
View answerBa mhaith liom a dheimhniú don Teachta go ndéantar úsáid na Gaeilge ag an Roinn Cosanta agus ag Óglaigh na hÉireann a chothú i gcónaí.
Maidir le hainmniú an dá long nua ag an tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh, bhíothas den tuairim gurbh thráthúil athrú a dhéanamh maidir leis an gcur chuige traidisiúnta ionas go léireofaí Éire níos nua-aimseartha uilechuimsithí. Éascófar, le hainmniú na long as pearsaí litríochta de chuid na hÉireann a bhfuil iomrá orthu ar fud an domhain, d'aitheantas níos mó don tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh agus iad i mbun feidhme i gcúrsaí mara idirnáisiúnta agus ar cuairt i gcalafoirt thar lear.
162. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence the number of defibrillators located in Government offices and buildings under the remit of his Department and those under his aegis throughout the country; if these are available in emergency cases outside of office hours to the community in the locations where they are based; the number and cost of same; if he will consider putting some arrangement in place, in the interest of health and safety, whereby these defibrillators can be located where the public can access them out of office hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22376/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Location |
Number |
Cost |
|
Newbridge |
1 |
€2,335 (ex. VAT) |
|
Galway |
1 |
€2,335 (ex. VAT) |
|
Roscrea (Civil Defence) |
1 |
€2,335 (ex. VAT) |
|
Dublin (Civil Defence) |
1 |
€2,335 (ex. VAT) |
This information excludes the Defence Forces. The data relating to the Defence Forces is currently being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible. The defibrillators mentioned above are available for use by trained staff during office hours. My Department does not currently operate a scheme or programme that specifically provides access to communities for the use of defibrillators. The Department would, however, be prepared to consider proposals in relation to this issue.
