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Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Written Answers Nos. 68-86

Legislative Measures

Questions (68)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

68. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the emergency legislation, Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts, will be restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23450/14]

View answer

Written answers

I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 314 of 27 May 2014.

Semi-State Bodies

Questions (69)

Michael McGrath

Question:

69. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23519/14]

View answer

Written answers

In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are no commercial semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department.

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Questions (70)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

70. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a decision will issue on an application for funding submitted by North Tipperary County Council for the purpose of cleaning the River Suir between Templemore and Holycross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23526/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has no current application for funding from North Tipperary County Council for works at this location under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme.

Trade Agreements

Questions (71)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which Irish interests are likely to be observed in the context of European-US trade discussions; if it is expected that the agrifood industry will not be detrimentally affected in the course of such talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23497/14]

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Written answers

The EU Commission is responsible for negotiating a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on behalf of the EU, and it is doing so on the basis of a wide mandate from the EU Council of Ministers. That mandate includes Irish interests. Since negotiations began formally in July last year, there have been five formal negotiating rounds, the latest of which took place last week in the US.

This is a comprehensive yet complex negotiating project. Despite five Rounds of talks having taken place, discussions are still at a comparatively early stage. While all aspects of trade and investment will be covered, it is very early in the process to say specifically what might finally emerge from the talks and the related implications for Ireland. What we do know is that the negotiations with the United States are aimed at eliminating tariffs, solving existing regulatory barriers that increase business costs, working to avoid the imposition of unnecessary regulatory barriers in the future, and opening new market opportunities for exporters in both economies. I expect that any progress on these will be in Ireland's long term interests and Irish companies should have easier, wider and less costly access to the US market.

As most of the potential gains from TTIP will arise from regulatory convergence and mutual recognition of the regulatory regimes on both sides of the Atlantic, to the extent that it is possible, Irish business and especially SMEs should benefit from lower regulatory compliance costs. All of this will provide significant opportunities for Irish businesses to increase their U.S. sales or enter the American market for the first time, as well as reducing the cost of consumer or industrial goods that we import. I know from my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, that in addition to challenges, there is huge potential opportunity in TTIP for the agrifood sector. Right across the range of issues covered by TTIP, I will ensure we are best positioned to make the most from these and other trade and investment opportunities.

We are engaging in detailed analysis of specific opportunities and impacts for Ireland which informs our input to the ongoing negotiations. I will promote our objective for a comprehensive, balanced and extensive agreement that contributes strongly to economic growth, exports and job creation. The opportunities flowing from an historic trade and investment agreement with our largest bilateral trading partner are important for the long term development of our country.

Semi-State Bodies

Questions (72)

Michael McGrath

Question:

72. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23517/14]

View answer

Written answers

My Department does not have any commercial semi-State agencies under its aegis.

Question No. 73 withdrawn.

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Questions (74)

Willie Penrose

Question:

74. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23423/14]

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Written answers

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 27th March 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal 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.

Death Certificates

Questions (75)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

75. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has yet to be furnished with a death certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23444/14]

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Written answers

I have made enquiries in relation to this case with the General Register Office and have been informed that the death has not yet been registered. A death may only be registered in the Register of Deaths in Ireland on foot of a certificate from a registered medical practitioner or a Coroner's certificate.

Work Placement Programmes

Questions (76)

Denis Naughten

Question:

76. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the situation where persons who are unemployed but do not qualify for a qualifying payment cannot take up a position on JobBridge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23453/14]

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Written answers

JobBridge Internships are open to jobseekers who have been in receipt of an eligible Social Welfare payment (Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit, One Parent Family Payment, Disability Benefit) or signing for credits for 3 months (78 days) out of the previous 6 months. The scheme has been launched in this targeted way to allocate scarce exchequer resources to make maximum impact for those at risk of long term unemployment while ensuring that it does not replace or displace the normal operation of the labour market. The Department does not make exceptions to the qualifying criteria.

If the Deputy has a specific circumstance or individual in mind he can forward details to the Department, which will respond to his specific concerns directly.

Labour Activation Measures

Questions (77, 78)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

77. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to any inequality where a long-term unemployed person is prevented from engaging in labour market activation schemes as they are a qualified adult on another's social welfare claim; if she has noticed that this traditionally favours men over women; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23460/14]

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Catherine Murphy

Question:

78. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is an inequality of opportunity to prevent a long-term unemployed person from registering their interest in labour market activation schemes and willingness to engage in internships even though they are not officially recorded on the live register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23461/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together.

Given the scale of unemployment levels, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments. Accordingly the employment services and schemes provided by the Department are focused in the first instance on this cohort of people who are unemployed.

A range of services is available to persons who are unemployed but not in receipt of a social welfare payment. For example employment services, such as advice on job-search activities and the use of online job search tools, are available to people if they register with the Department's employment services offices, regardless of their social welfare status. Further, unemployed persons not in receipt of payments may also be eligible to avail of up-skilling opportunities, for example through ETB (formerly FÁS) training for unemployed people, but are not eligible to receive a training allowance while undertaking the course. The Work Placement Programme is also open to persons not in receipt of a social welfare payment, although the participant will not receive a payment while on the programme.

An unemployed person who does not qualify for a social welfare payment due to the assessment of their means may be eligible to sign for social insurance contribution credits. Persons who sign for credits for three months (78 days) of the last six months are eligible to participate in the JobBridge programme.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (79)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

79. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she considers women to be primarily home makers, in view of their status as qualified adults on their partners' jobseeker's allowance or benefit claims; if this complies with equality legislation; if she considers it an outdated practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23462/14]

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Written answers

The jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative employment. The revised estimates for the Department of Social Protection provide for expenditure of €3.3bn in 2014 in respect of the jobseeker's schemes.

Subject to scheme conditions, and as is the case in respect of a range of other schemes within the social welfare system, a primary claimant under the jobseeker's schemes may apply for payment of an increase for a qualified adult (IQA) for a dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, or a dependent person over 16 years of age who is caring for a qualified child of the claimant. There is no specific gender requirement for such an application and someone receiving an IQA can be either a man or a woman. Generally, persons in respect of whom IQA payments may be claimed are free to claim a social welfare payment in their own right. For example, where a person of working age is a qualified adult on their spouse's jobseeker's benefit or allowance claim that person may claim jobseeker's benefit or allowance in their own right. If the claim is successful, the increase for a qualified adult ceases to be payable to the spouse. In this way equality of access to the schemes is provided.

The payment of IQAs is a long standing feature of the welfare system. Such payments do not have regard to any status of the qualified adult other than the fact that they are a dependent of the claimant. However, it is true that despite changes in the role of women in society and in the labour market generally, most qualified adults are women. Issues in relation to qualified adult payment are part of the current considerations of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, in the context of their fourth report on working age payments, which is due to be completed in the coming months.

Questions Nos. 80 and 81 withdrawn.

Semi-State Bodies

Questions (82)

Michael McGrath

Question:

82. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23520/14]

View answer

Written answers

There are no commercial semi-State organisations operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection.

Semi-State Bodies

Questions (83)

Michael McGrath

Question:

83. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23508/14]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department.

National Parks Projects

Questions (84)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

84. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to a report compiled by a group of volunteers (details supplied) regarding rhododendrons in Killarney National Park oakwood areas; the actions that will be taken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to address the increased flowering and seeding of rhododendrons in oakwood areas of the park, which had previously been cleared by groups of volunteers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23530/14]

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Written answers

My Department carries out an annual targeted programme in Ireland's National Parks to manage the invasive species referred to, which, in some areas, has replaced native shrub and grows in dense thickets, thereby excluding native vegetation and limiting natural tree regeneration. The extent of the problem varies from property to property and, having regard to the very dynamic nature of this invasive species, my Department's targeted management programme is routinely monitored and adjusted with a view to ensuring optimum efficacy. The work involved is carried out by outside specialist companies, staff of my Department and, in some cases, by volunteer groups under staff direction and supervision.

My Department will continue to invest in this important programme of work with a view to creating conditions in our National Parks that are conducive to the protection and re-establishment of native species and, particularly, our native woodlands. To this end, my Department is reviewing current practice to ensure the most effective use of the available resources.

Broadband Service Provision

Questions (85)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Question:

85. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if broadband will be rolled out to the areas of Leamore, Leabeg and Boora in County Offaly as part of the new broadband initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23478/14]

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Written answers

The Government's National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and a State-led intervention for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.

Since the publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway and in some instances have been accelerated in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. Commercial operators combined have either invested, or committed to invest, over €2 billion in their Irish networks, delivering high speed broadband to homes and businesses. For example:

- Eircom is rolling out a €400m investment in a Next Generation Access Fibre Network that offers speeds of up to 100Mbps. Service is already available to over 800,000 addresses, with planned coverage to reach 1.4m addresses by 2016. #

- UPC has invested over €500m in upgrading its cable network. Over 700,000 homes can already access minimum broadband speeds of 120Mbps and up to 200Mbps. Businesses can access speeds of 500Mbps.

- ESB is engaged in a new project allowing a fibre network to be rolled-out on its existing electricity infrastructure. It is understood that discussions between ESB and Vodafone to form a new Joint Venture Company are at an advanced stage. The company has initial plans to construct a fibre network directly to 450,000 premises outside of Dublin and it is expected that details will be announced over the coming weeks.

- Mobile operators have launched 4G high speed mobile broadband services following ComReg's multiband spectrum auction. There has also been continued investment by all operators in enhancing and broadening 3G services and network improvements.

- Fixed wireless operators are continuing to invest in high speed point-to-point wireless broadband.

- The broadcaster Sky has entered the broadband market, increasing choice for consumers.

Of the estimated 2.3m premises in Ireland, approximately 1.4m are expected to be served by these commercial next generation broadband services over the coming years. This accelerated roll out of high speed services by the commercial sector means that the addressable area required by the State intervention has been reduced by 30% since the National Broadband Plan was launched. While the commercial developments are welcome the acceleration of investment is largely contained to cities and towns. The speeds that are available in these areas are demonstrably better than those that are available in more rural areas.

On 25 April, I signalled the Government's commitment to a major telecommunications network build-out to rural Ireland, with fibre as the foundation of its investment under the National Broadband Plan. This commitment is a clear expression of Government's determination to address the connectivity challenge in rural Ireland in a meaningful and sustainable way. Central to the strategy will be a fibre build-out to locations in every county in the State identified as having no existing or planned enabling fibre network. It is intended that the fibre will be delivered directly to access points for homes and businesses, where service providers can utilise the fibre to provide high speed services to end users. The fibre build-out will also ensure that fibre is deployed to strategic locations on each route such as schools, business hubs and health facilities. The fibre build out will be part of an end-to-end strategy that will address all parts of Ireland that cannot access commercial high speed broadband services.

I have published a county-by-county list of towns and villages which have already been identified for a fibre build-out. This is an indicative list and is subject to the completion of the comprehensive mapping process currently underway. Further locations may be identified as this process continues. Similarly, it may be determined that some locations on the list will be addressed by the commercial sector and will therefore not require State intervention. Currently I envisage that a total of 28 areas in County Offaly will be included in the proposed fibre build-out. The list is available on my Department's website www.dcenr.gov.ie. In tandem with the fibre build-out, the Strategy will include measures to respond to aggregated community demand for services, and the provision of access services in the most remote areas where fibre rollout may be insufficient to stimulate commercial investment or may be cost-prohibitive.

Intensive design work is ongoing in the Department with a view to publishing an end-to-end implementation strategy later this year, together with the outcome of the mapping exercise which will identify the areas that require intervention. A full public consultation will take place once the strategy is published and EU State Aids clearance will be required for the intervention strategy once finalised. It is expected that the detailed procurement process will take place in 2015 with a view to commencing construction of the fibre network and provision of services in the areas that require intervention as quickly as possible.

I fully share the concerns of local representatives about the quality of broadband in rural areas. I intend to ensure that rural Ireland enjoys similar opportunities to urban areas by ensuring an end-to end market intervention with fibre as a core component. In committing to a fibre build-out at the heart of this strategy, the Government is acknowledging that broadband is the key infrastructure of the 21st century.

Semi-State Bodies

Questions (86)

Michael McGrath

Question:

86. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23510/14]

View answer

Written answers

There are 7 Commercial Semi State Companies under the aegis of my Department - An Post, Bord Gáis Éireann, Bord na Móna, Eirgrid, ESB, RTE and TG4. The information sought regarding the current credit rating of all Commercial Semi States operating under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Company. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested, where it exists, in respect of their organisation.

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