Finian McGrath
Question:251. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the pension of an aircraft maintenance firm in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [25150/14]
View answerIrish Airlines Superannuation Scheme
Questions (251)
Written answers
Resolution of the funding difficulties in the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS), where there is a deficit of over €760m, is a matter for the Trustees, the companies participating in the Scheme, the members and the Pensions Authority. The deficit in the scheme has arisen over the years as the companies and the members did not put enough into the scheme to match the benefits that were expected. Resolution of the issues will involve contributions from all the parties involved.
The Trustees of the IASS announced in February that they had decided in principle on a number of changes to address the funding difficulties of the scheme. The Trustees, who are central to any solution to the funding difficulties, are required by law to act in the best interests of all members: active, deferred or pensioner. It is not clear whether the Deputy's question is referring to a deferred or pensioner member of the scheme.
The 2013 legislation referred to is the Social Welfare and Pensions (No.2) Act 2013, under which the Trustees may reduce pensions in the course of payment under a Section 50 Order made by the Pensions Board, subject to various conditions. Queries regarding future payments under the scheme and the spouses and children scheme are best put directly to the Trustees by members.
Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme
Questions (252)
Finian McGrath
Question:252. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the legislation regarding Irish airlines superannuation scheme pension is constitutional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25152/14]
View answerWritten answers
The State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014 which is currently before the Oireachtas includes proposals for amendments to existing statutory provisions governing superannuation schemes in the State airport authorities including amendments to facilitate changes, by the trustees, to the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme.
This Bill is currently at Report Stage in the Seanad. If the Bill passes Report Stage in the Seanad, it will proceed to debate in the Dáil. The enactment of the Bill or otherwise is a matter for the Oireachtas. The Government is confident of the constitutionality of the Bill. However. the ultimate arbiter of the constitutionality of any piece of legislation is the Supreme Court.
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Questions (253)
Tom Fleming
Question:253. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a sports capital grant application in respect of a club (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25160/14]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that an application has been submitted by this club under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support is noted.
I hope to announce allocations later this year.
Preschool Services
Questions (254)
Thomas Pringle
Question:254. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to increase the capitation to child care providers for the free preschool year; the effect an increase of €10 per child would have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25010/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for one free pre-school year for all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. The Government has made a very significant commitment in maintaining the pre-school year on a universal and free basis despite the current budgetary situation.
The free pre-school provision represents an annual investment in the region of €175 million. Almost every pre-school service (more than 4,300) in the State is participating in the programme with approximately 68,000 children availing of free pre-school provision each year. The standard capitation currently provided is €62.50 per week for each eligible child enrolled with a capitation of €73 per week provided where services have staff who hold higher qualifications. An increase in the standard capitation rate of €10 per week for each eligible child would result in an additional cost of over €25 million each year.
More than €260 million is allocated each year to support the childcare programmes implemented by my Department. These programmes support in the region of 100,000 children and the challenge is to maintain these programme in the current budgetary climate. There is no further funding currently available to my Department that would allow me to increase the capitation payments to services participating in the ECCE programme.
Child and Family Agency Expenditure
Questions (255)
Robert Troy
Question:255. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount each person who attends the Health Service Executive child conferences claim in expenses for attending same. [25011/14]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Child and Family Agency that all expense claims with respect to staff attendance at Child Conference are in line with the National Financial Regulations, which are available at http://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/Resources/Financial%20Regulations/NFRSubsistence.PDF.
Child Care Qualifications
Questions (256)
Noel Coonan
Question:256. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the vocational training a person must undertake in to qualify for the child care employment and training support scheme, in particular the reasons a person completing a Tús placement cannot avail of the scheme while a person doing a community employment scheme can avail of the subsidised child care; the reason for the disparity in qualifying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25027/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Childcare Education and Training support (CETS) programme, which is one of a number of childcare support programmes implemented by my Department, provides funding to support parents who are participating in Solas and the Education Training Boards training and education courses with the cost of childcare. Eligibility for this strand is determined by the Department of Education and Skills.
I would like also to advise the Deputy that further strands of childcare support under the CETS programme have been introduced including an after-school programme which provides support to social welfare recipients returning to employment and a strand which provides support to parents participating in Community Employment schemes. Eligibility for these strands are determined by the Department of Social Protection.
The function of my Department is to monitor the take-up of childcare places available to those parents approved for support and to administer the relevant funding. Determining which courses will enable parents to qualify for support under the CETS programme is therefore a matter for the Departments of Social Protection and the Department of Education and Skills.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (257)
Michael McGrath
Question:257. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a detailed list in tabular form of all staff vacancies, within his Department and in each agency under his Department's remit, at principal officer grade or above, including the title of the vacant post and the functional area to which it belongs; the time the post has been vacant; the salary attached to the post in question; in respect of agencies where Civil Service grades do not apply, if he will include vacancies where the post attracts a salary equivalent to or greater than a principal officer grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25117/14]
View answerWritten answers
In accordance with the moratorium on Recruitment and Promotions in the Public Service introduced on 27th March 2009, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has the authority for the filling of some vacancies in the Public Service in exceptional circumstances. Accordingly, posts are only classified as a vacancy when sanction has been received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The position in relation to sanctioned vacancies at Principal Officer grade or above or where the post attracts a salary equivalent to or greater than a Principal Officer grade in the Department and agencies/bodies under the remit of the Department is set out in tabular form, as requested, below:
|
Department/ Agencies/bodies under the remit of Department |
Title of vacancy for which sanction has been received from Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
Functional area of vacancy |
Length of time the post has been vacant |
Salary attached to vacancy |
|
Department |
None |
- |
- |
- |
|
TUSLA (Child and Family Agency) |
Head of Education Head of Quality and Risk |
Educational Welfare Services Tusla Headquarters, Dublin |
position currently filled on an interim basis pending recruitment. 1st November 2013. Recruitment process ongoing. |
€89,212 - €108,332 €89,212 - €108,332 |
|
Children Detention Schools |
None |
- |
- |
- |
|
Ombudsman for Chlidren's Office |
None |
- |
- |
- |
|
Adoption Authority of Ireland |
CEO |
Adoption Authority of Ireland |
filled in an acting position since 7th October 2013 - offer has issued to the successful candidate of a recently held competition for the position. |
€96,726 - €115,576 (PPC) €92,100 - €100,014 (non-PPC) |
Child Abuse
Questions (258)
Dara Calleary
Question:258. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the procedures the Health Service Executive should follow when a complaint of suspected abuse within a family is made by a minor; the timelines that should be followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25133/14]
View answerWritten answers
Since 1st January 2014, statutory responsibility for the delivery of child welfare and protection services rests with the Child and Family Agency. Where a person has reasonable grounds for concern that a child is being or at risk of being abused or neglected or where a child has a complaint that he/she has been harmed, this should be referred to the local social work department of the Agency. Such referrals can either relate to a child's welfare or where there is a concern of child abuse, that is, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect. Where a referral indicates that there is an immediate risk to the safety of a child, it is the practice of the Agency to respond immediately.
The Agency has advised that all referrals receive an initial assessment to determine what further action is required in accordance with Children First Guidance (2011). Any immediate protective action which may be required is taken in accordance with the Agency's statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991. Intervention is provided as appropriate ensuring at all times that it is proportionate and in accordance with an assessment of the child's needs. Where it is not possible to deal immediately with a referral of abuse, those which are assessed as highest priority are dealt with in the first instance by social work teams. All referrals received are reviewed and responses monitored.