Written Answers Nos. 273-283
273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which deficiencies in the availability of motorway-standard regional roads have been identified, with particular reference to the economic needs of regions to be met by way of adequate road networks of international standard; the areas under consideration in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22092/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
Motorways are the highest category of carriageway in Ireland, forming part of our Major Inter-urban Routes Network. The purpose of these routes is to link major economic and population centres.
While the vast majority of the regional road network is made up of single-carriageway roads, some roads are in fact, dual-carriageway with higher capacity. This is in response to such factors as traffic volume, population centres along a particular route and economic activity. An example of such a dual-carriageway road is the R113 Belgard Road in Dublin.
Where a road improvement is under consideration, it is for the road authority concerned to assess the appropriate design capacity for the road taking into account cost and demand factors. Financial constraints mean that the focus at present is on the maintenance and repair of the regional road network rather than upgrades.
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which the hotel and catering sector continues to meet the requirements of hotel and catering accommodation in all areas throughout the country; if any particular deficiencies have been identified in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22093/14]
View answerComprehensive data on capacity across the spectrum of tourist accommodation is available in the Research section of the Fáilte Ireland website, http://www.failteireland.ie/Research-Insights/Accommodation-Statistics-and-Reports.aspx`.
Statistics for the period January to October 2013, also available on the website, show hotel occupancy rates of 64%, an increase of 1% on the same period in 2012. Hotel room capacity remained unchanged between 2012 and 2013. Occupation rates for other forms of accommodation are lower with the next highest being guesthouses at 53% in the period January to October 2013.
These statistics would indicate that the country as a whole has a sufficient stock of tourist accommodation to meet the needs of the industry.
That said, hotel room occupancy in Dublin has improved considerably over the last few years and the trade is optimistic that these occupancy levels can be further improved in 2014. While hotels in Dublin remain good value compared to other European City destinations, in order to maintain the competitiveness of the sector, there would appear to be scope for investment in hotels and other tourist accommodation in Dublin, particularly in the city centre where demand is highest.
278. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of defibrillators located in Government offices and buildings under the remit of his Department and 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 whereby these defibrillators can be located where the public can get access to them outside of office hours in the interest of health and safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22383/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The variance in the price of the equipment is explained by the Department availing of discounts and offers by suppliers The cost of the defibrillator in Loughrea will be forwarded to the Deputy at a later date. My Department's officials advise that they are not in a position to consider placing defibrillators in locations where they are available to the public outside of office hours, due to the risk of theft, tampering with, damage to and/or misuse of the defibrillator. In addition, misuse of the defibrillator by persons other than employees of the Department leading to the injury or death of an individual could result in the Department incurring liability for such an incident.
However, in the case of an emergency, and in non-typical circumstances where the relevant building is open beyond normal business hours, a member of the public may enter the reception area of that building and request the use of the defibrillator from an official of my Department. In that scenario, officials in my Department will endeavour to provide assistance, with the appropriate use of the defibrillator. To this end arrangements will be made to have signs displayed at the Department’s premises indicating that there is a defibrillator on the premises.
The arrangements for defibrillators in their premises is a matter for the agencies themselves. I have however forwarded your question to the agencies for direct reply to you. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.
|
Department Premises |
No. of defibrillators |
Cost (€) (excl. vat) |
Available to public outside office hours |
|
44 Kildare St |
1 |
1,375 |
No |
|
25 Clare St |
1 |
1,475 |
No |
|
Leeson Lane |
1 |
1,699 |
No |
|
Irish Coast Guard, Ballycoolin, Dublin 11 |
1 |
1,699 |
No |
|
Irish Coast Guard, Malin Head, Co. Donegal |
1 |
1,799 |
No |
|
Clonfert House, Loughrea, Co. Galway |
1 |
will be given at a later date |
No |
|
Shannon Town Centre, Co. Clare |
1 |
1,722 |
No |
|
Total |
7 |
|
|
279. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 679 of 30 April 2014, if he will clarify the figures regarding the number of places provided under the after school child care initiative wherein the figures provided to the office of this Deputy contained duplicate entries for County Donegal and Limerick city. [21920/14]
View answer280. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 679 of 30 April 2014, the total expenditure incurred to support the 42 child care places provided under the after school child care initiative. [21921/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together.
The total figure of 42 for the number of children availing of the After School Childcare (ASCC) programme provided to the Deputy in the Parliamentary Question reply on 30 April 2014 was correct. However, when the table was being compiled, two entries for Donegal, Wexford and Limerick City were inadvertently included. The total number of children availing of the programme in these areas was as follows: -
Donegal - 3, Wexford - 3, Limerick City - 5.
The total expenditure incurred to support the 42 child care places is currently €29,204 and this funding provides for the period from enrolment up until 27 June 2014. Each qualifying parent is entitled to support over a 52 week period and therefore further payments will be necessary in respect of these places.
281. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps being taken on the funding crisis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21954/14]
View answerIn 2013 the Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service Ltd. incurred expenditure of €2.022 million and had income amounting to €1.960 million resulting in a deficit of €62,000. The Centre employs approximately 100 staff, including Community Employment participants. I understand that the Centre has been experiencing cash flow difficulties over recent weeks and that this has given rise to concerns regarding its future operation. The Centre has been in discussions with the Child and Family Agency, as one of a number of state agencies which provides funding to support the provision of services at the Centre. In order to alleviate the immediate cash flow difficulty the Agency prepaid funding due to the Centre in May and June. I would expect that the Agency will be open to providing some further pre-payments to the Centre if this is of assistance.
Yesterday my officials met with the Child and Family Agency, Pobal (which administers a number of child care schemes on behalf of my Department) and Dublin City Childcare Committee to explore all possible solutions to the current difficulties. The meeting reviewed information available on the resources available to the Centre and the utilisation of these, as well as wider support for the provision of early years services in the area. I can assure the Deputy that this matter is being given priority attention.
282. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will introduce regulations to govern unregistered childminders. [21975/14]
View answerThe development of Ireland’s first Early Years Strategy for children aged from birth to 6 years, is being progressed in my Department. The objective is to create an innovative and dynamic blueprint for the future development of Ireland’s early years sector and a coherent approach to seeking to improve the lives of children from birth to 6 years. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is committed to ensuring high standards in early years service provision, both in terms of care and curriculum. The role of quality provision is critical in contributing to childhood development and this key objective will be reflected fully in the Early Years Strategy.
One of the specific issues of policy which has been identified for consideration in the preparation of the new Strategy is the future role and regulation of the childminding sector, which is already an important component of early childhood care and education. At present preschool services are subject to the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991.
Services providing care for children who have not yet commenced primary school are required to notify their service to the Early Years Inspectorate of the Child and Family Agency and are subject to inspection and report by the Inspectorate on a regular basis. Services covered by the Regulations include full-time, part-time and sessional services as well as childminders taking care of more than three preschool children from different families in the childminder’s home.
Childminders who are not subject to the requirement to notify are, however, encouraged to voluntarily notify their service to their local City or County Childcare Committee which provides a range of supports to enable them to improve the standards of their child care service. These supports include the Childminders Tax Exemption scheme which provides for a tax exemption for those childminders who have satisfactorily participated in the Voluntary Notification process and whose annual income from childminding does not exceed €15,000.
Some €10 million of funding, allied to these supports, was invested over a period of 10 years to encourage childminders to notify. This was seen as a potential first step to bringing all non-family childminders under the Regulations. This stepped approach has worked in some countries, such as Scotland. However, only 1250 childminders voluntarily notified here and a further 2,000 to 3,000 participate in training. It is clear that there are barriers specific to Ireland in bringing childminders under the regulatory framework. The Early Years Strategy will include consideration of how this complex issue might be addressed in the future.
283. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of defibrillators located in Government offices and buildings under the remit of his Department and 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 whereby these defibrillators can be located where the public can get access to them outside of office hours in the interest of health and safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22374/14]
View answerThe Department of Children and Youth Affairs is located in Mespil Road, Dublin 4. A number of staff have been trained and are qualified to operate the two defibrillators located in the building. Both defibrillators were acquired prior to the establishment of the Department in July 2011. The defibrillators are available during normal office hours only. The use of defibrillators in agencies under the remit of my Department is an operational matter. I have requested the agencies under the remit of my Department (Adoption Authority of Ireland, Child and Family Agency, the Ombudsman for Children's Office ) and the Children Detention Schools to reply directly to the Deputy on this matter.
