Mary Lou McDonald
Question:86. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the asylum application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22. [37267/14]
View answerAsylum Applications
Questions (86)
Written answers
If the person whose details were supplied has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the position is that it is not the practice to comment on such applications for so long as they remain in the protection process. The position in this regard is in accordance with Section 19 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) which provides for the protection of the identity of asylum applicants.
Citizenship Applications
Questions (87)
Joe Costello
Question:87. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that all persons who have received a certificate of naturalisation from her Department are registered in Iris Oifigiúil in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37269/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that a notice of issue of a certificate of naturalisation shall be published in the prescribed manner in Iris Oifigiúil. Following the publication of the notice of persons naturalised between January 2009 and June 2009 in 2011, a review was commenced after a number of persons who were naturalised expressed concern about the publication of personal details. As part of this review new arrangements were put in place with the Office of Public Works, who are responsible for Iris Óifigiúil, that ensure continued compliance with the law.
As the Deputy may be aware, publication was resumed in September this year in respect of persons naturalised from July 2009 to December 2009. It is intended to publish the notice of persons granted a certificate of naturalisation in 2010 and 2011 by the end of the year, with 2012 and 2013 grants being published during 2015.
Departmental Budgets
Questions (88)
Lucinda Creighton
Question:88. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total allocated budget for her Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the actual outturns in each of her Department subheads at the end of 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37287/14]
View answerWritten answers
The budgets and expenditure at subhead level for the Department's Vote for each of the years 2011 to 2013 are published in the annual appropriation accounts which are available on the Comptroller and Auditor General website at the following hyper links:
http://www.audgen.gov.ie/documents/annualreports/2011/appaccs/eng/Vote19.pdf
http://www.audgen.gov.ie/documents/annualreports/2012/appacs/en/Vote24.pdf
http://www.audgen.gov.ie/documents/annualreports/2013/appacc/en/Vote24.pdf
The total net budget for the Department's Vote in 2014 is €324.596 million and the net expenditure to the end of August 2014 is €183.4 million. The full details of the Department's expenditure at subhead level will be published in the 2014 Appropriation Account.
European Council Meetings
Questions (89)
Brendan Smith
Question:89. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and dates of meetings of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union attended by her and-or by officials in her Department since the start of 2014; the number and dates of DAPIX meetings attended by officials in her Department since the start of 2014 where there were discussions on the proposed EU general data protection regulation; the progress that has been made in finalising the regulation since the last Irish EU Presidency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37338/14]
View answerWritten answers
Since the start of 2014 there have been four meetings of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. This includes two 'informal' meetings of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs.
My predecessor, Mr Alan Shatter T.D., was represented at the 'informal' meeting on 23-24 January by senior officials of the Department of Justice and Equality. He attended the formal Council meeting of 3-4 March. Since my appointment as Minister on 8 May 2014 there has been one formal JHA Council meeting on 5-6 June which I attended. I was represented by senior officials of my Department at the 'informal' Council meeting of 8-9 July.
As regards attendance at meetings of the Council's Dapix working group, the position is that officials of my Department have attended 12 meetings since 1 January 2014 (8-10 January; 20-21 January; 18-20 February; 12-13 March; 31 March-1 April; 10-11 April; 7-8 May; 14-15 May; 12 June; 10-11 July; 11-12 September; 30 September). As regards progress made in finalising the Regulation since the end of the Irish Presidency, the position is that while many of the Regulation's chapters have been discussed in detail, limited progress has been made towards achieving a general approach which would permit the opening of formal trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament.
At the June 2014 JHA Council meeting, the Hellenic Presidency achieved broad agreement on the contents of Chapter 5 of the Regulation, i.e. provisions concerning the transfer of personal data to third countries and international organisations. However this agreement was reached on the understanding that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed". It does not therefore provide a basis for engaging in trilogue discussions with the European Parliament because further adjustments may be required in order to take account of agreements reached at a later stage on other chapters. The current Italian Presidency is hopeful that a similar level of agreement can be reached at next week's JHA Council meeting in relation to Chapter 4 of the Regulation which determines the compliance obligations on companies and other bodies which process personal data. While discussions at official level in relation to Chapter 4 are continuing, I am hopeful that Justice Ministers will be in a position to reach broad agreement on the contents of Chapter 4 at next week's meeting.
Court Procedures
Questions (90)
Alan Farrell
Question:90. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the number of court summonses issued since 2011; the area in which they were issued; if she will provide the common obstacles encountered in the serving of court summonses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37363/14]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise that I have requested the detailed information sought by the Deputy from the Courts Service and the Garda authorities and I will write to the Deputy directly as soon as it is to hand.
Prisoner Data
Questions (91)
Brian Stanley
Question:91. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners from other jurisdictions currently held in Irish prisons that have served prison sentences in other countries, or have outstanding charges against them in other jurisdictions. [37411/14]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy regarding the numbers of persons detained from another jurisdiction who have served a sentence in another country or who have outstanding charges against them is not available to the Irish Prison Service.
International Agreements
Questions (92)
Mattie McGrath
Question:92. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the propriety of signing and ratifying the 3rd Optional Protocol of the UNCRC without the approval of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37254/14]
View answerWritten answers
Article 29.5.1o of the Constitution provides that every international agreement to which the State becomes a party shall be laid before Dáil Éireann. Article 29.5.2o provides that the State shall not be bound by any international agreement involving a charge upon public funds, unless the terms of the agreement shall have been approved by Dáil Éireann. As the terms of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child do not involve a charge upon public funds, the applicable Constitutional requirement is that of Article 29.5.1o to the effect that the agreement shall be laid before Dáil Éireann.
Departmental Budgets
Questions (93)
Lucinda Creighton
Question:93. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total allocated budget for his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the actual outturns in each of his Department subheads at the end of 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37278/14]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy on the budget provisions for my Department since its establishment in 2011, including the respective outturns for each of the Subheads to date, is set out in the following tables.
Year 2011 Department of Children and Youth Affairs – Vote 43
|
2011 - Estimate Allocation - €000 |
- |
2011 - Outturn - €000 |
|
Total |
Subhead |
Total |
|
7,415 |
A. Administration |
6,824 |
|
1,000 |
B.1 Early Childcare Payment |
1,000 |
|
29,254 |
B.2 National Childcare Investment Programme |
28,754 |
|
3,625 |
B.3 Early Intervention Programme for Children (part funded by Dormant Accounts) |
3,625 |
|
80,080 |
B.4 ECCE Pre-School Year programme |
77,110 |
|
18,091 |
C. National Children's Strategy |
14,948 |
|
23,795 |
D. Youth Services |
23,790 |
|
30,256 |
E. School Completion Programme |
28,951 |
|
207 |
F. Visiting Teacher Service for Travellers |
199 |
|
500 |
G. Grants to community organisations (part funded by the National Lottery) |
500 |
|
1,000 |
H.. Statutory and non-statutory inquiries and miscellaneous fees and settlements |
255 |
|
31,468 |
I. Developmental, consultative, supervisory, regulatory and advisory bodies |
28,366 |
|
3,000 |
J. Cost in connection with the holding of a Constitutional Referendum on Children's Rights |
0 |
|
229,691 |
GROSS TOTAL |
214,322 |
|
7,828 |
K. Less Appropriations - in-Aid |
4,254 |
|
221,863 |
NET TOTAL |
210,068 |
Year 2012 Department of Children and Youth Affairs Vote 40
|
2012 - Estimate Allocation - €000 |
- |
2012 - Outturn - €000 |
|
Total |
Subhead |
Total |
|
9.804 |
A.1/.2, B.1/.2, C.1/.2 Administration |
9.074 |
|
26.465 9.622 28.256 2.200 17.195 |
A.3 Family Support Agency A.4 National Education Welfare Board A.5 School Completion Programme A.6 Child and Family Support Agency A.7 Youth Justice – Children’s Detention Schools |
25.966 8.253 26.892 0.449 17.254 |
|
175.800 80.998 58.306 1.600 0.602 |
B.3 ECCE Pre-School Year Programme B.4 Childcare Programmes B.5 Youth Organisations and Services B.6 Early Intervention Programme B.7 Early Childcare Payment |
175.768 85.682 57.030 1.945 0.175 |
|
0.650 4.031 2.539 0.500 3.300 2.112 3.000 |
C.3 Miscellaneous Legal Fees and Settlements C.4 National Longitudinal Study C.5 National Children’s Strategy and other Programmes C.6 Grants to Organisations (Lottery) C.7 Adoption Authority of Ireland C.8 Office of the Ombudsman for Children C.9 Constitutional Referendum on Children’s Rights |
0.186 4.020 1.970 0.500 2.265 2.000 2.937 |
|
426.980 |
GROSS TOTAL |
422.366 |
|
12.223 |
D. Appropriations-in-Aid |
12.387 |
|
414.757 |
NET TOTAL |
409.979 |
Year 2013 Department of Children and Youth Affairs Vote 40
|
2013 - Estimate Allocation - €000 |
- |
2013 - Outturn - €000 |
|
Total |
Subhead |
Total |
|
9.937 |
A.1/.2, B.1/.2, C.1/.2 Administration |
9.331 |
|
24.294 8.753 26.456 4.160 36.336 |
A.3 Family Support Agency A.4 National Education Welfare Board A.5 School Completion Programme A.6 Child and Family Support Programme A.7 Youth Justice – Children’s Detention Schools |
24.152 8.753 26.443 0.640 19.293 |
|
175.000 74.098 11.500 53.498 0.800 2.500 0.200 |
B.3 ECCE Pre-School Year Programme B.4 Childcare Programmes B.5 School Age Childcare Initiative B.6 Youth Organisations and Services B.7 Early Intervention Programme B.8 Child Poverty Initiative B.9 Early Childcare Payment |
174.112 76.121 0.018 53.895 0.800 2.500 0.200 |
|
0.848 4.031 2.175 0.500 2.648 1.888 |
C.3 Miscellaneous Legal Fees and Settlements C.4 National Longitudinal Study C.5 National Children’s Strategy and other Programmes C.6 Grants to Organisations (Lottery) C.7 Adoption Authority of Ireland C.8 Office of the Ombudsman for Children |
0.220 3.434 1.965 0.500 2.895 1.888 |
|
439.106 |
GROSS TOTAL |
407.160 |
|
5.034 |
D. Appropriations-in-Aid |
5.351 |
|
434.072 |
NET TOTAL |
401.809 |
Year 2014 Department of Children and Youth Affairs Vote 40
|
2014 - Estimate Allocation - €000 |
- |
2014 - Outturn position end September - €000 |
|
Total |
Subhead |
Total |
|
9.857 |
A.1/.2, B.1/.2, C.1/.2 Administration |
7.075 |
|
24.294 48.794 |
A.3 Child and Family Sevices A.4 Youth Justice – Children’s Detention Schools |
464.253 34.742 |
|
175.000 79.129 11.500 50.530 4.000 |
B.3 ECCE Pre-School Year Programme B.4 Childcare Programmes B.5 Childcare Initiatives B.6 Youth Organisations and Services B.7 Area Based Childhood Programme |
127.847 73.149 1.500 41.064 4.000 |
|
0.848 1.472 3.508 0.910 2.594 1.888 |
C.3 Miscellaneous Legal Fees and Settlements C.4 National Longitudinal Study C.5 Children and Young Peoples Policy Framework and other Programmes C.6 Grants to Organisations (Lottery) C.7 Adoption Authority of Ireland C.8 Office of the Ombudsman for Children |
0.123 0.173 1.038 0 2.452 1.519 |
|
997.154 |
GROSS TOTAL |
758.935 |
|
22.887 |
D. Appropriations-in-Aid |
14.727 |
|
974.267 |
NET TOTAL |
744.208 |
Local Drugs Task Forces
Questions (94)
Lucinda Creighton
Question:94. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of allocated staff from his Department or the Child and Family Agency who sit on local drugs task forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37295/14]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has no staff representation on Local Drugs Task Forces.
I am advised by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) that Tusla Dublin Mid Leinster currently has one staff member who sits on the Local Drugs Task Force.
Tusla South does not have any staff members who sit on the Local Drugs Task Force. However the Task Force projects do have a number of advisory groups and Tusla staff in Kerry are involved.
Tusla West and Dublin North East do not have any staff members participating.
Since its establishment it has been necessary for the Child & Family Agency (Tusla) to establish and enhance its participation where this was formerly undertaken by the Health Service Executive and any Local Drugs Task Force without Tusla membership is invited to write to their local Service Director to request such participation.
Home Help Service Provision
Questions (95)
Brian Walsh
Question:95. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason home help hours were reduced in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if the hours lost will be restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37225/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration
Questions (96, 97, 98)
Billy Kelleher
Question:96. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for processing fair deal applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37233/14]
View answerBilly Kelleher
Question:97. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the timeframe to release the money awarded under the fair deal scheme once it has been approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37234/14]
View answerBilly Kelleher
Question:98. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount of a shortfall there is to cover the fair deal scheme to the end of the year; the reason this shortfall occurred; if he will be allocating further money in 2014 to allow the scheme to operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37235/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 to 98, inclusive, together.
The needs of our older people are, and will remain, a very high priority for me and for the Government, and the resources that are available will be applied to provide the best possible mix of supports and services in a way that most effectively matches the needs and preferences of older people themselves, with a particular focus on enabling people to live as independently as possible in the community.
The total budget for long-term residential care is €939m in 2014. A number of people covered by funding arrangements which preceded the Scheme are also covered by this funding. However, €23m has been transferred from the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to provide additional community services, with a view to allowing more older people to be supported in their own homes and communities for longer. This reorientation is in line with both Government policy and with the expressed wishes of older people. The target in the HSE's Service Plan 2014 is for 22,061 persons to be in receipt of financial support for long-term nursing home care by year end.
The HSE operates a national placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to enable it to operate within budget. All applicants who are approved for funding are put on the placement list in chronological order by the date of determination of their application, and funding issues to applicants in this chronological order to ensure equity nationally. Funding is released by the HSE on a weekly basis to ensure those on the placement list receive it as soon as possible. Currently, the average waiting time on the placement list following funding approval is 15 weeks. As of the 24th September there are 2,007 on the placement list awaiting funding release.
Funding for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme will be considered in the context of the Estimates Process 2015, which is currently underway. The funding that becomes available must be balanced across all of the various service areas in a way that achieves the best possible outcomes for the greatest number of service users and prioritises areas of greatest need as far as possible.
Hospital Appointment Status
Questions (99)
Dara Calleary
Question:99. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a dietician appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo [37238/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Ambulance Service Staff
Questions (100)
John McGuinness
Question:100. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if Health Service Executive South ambulance management is being investigated by the Health Information and Quality Authority; the number of cases of bullying being taken by staff in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37242/14]
View answerWritten answers
The question raised by the Deputy is a matter for the HSE and I have requested that they respond directly to you.
HSE Legal Cases
Questions (101)
John McGuinness
Question:101. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of claims made by patients and others against the Health Service Executive where settlements have had to be agreed or settled in court over the past ten years for each year; the total amount paid out in each of the ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37243/14]
View answerWritten answers
The query raised by the Deputy is a matter for the HSE. Accordingly, I have asked the HSE to collate this information and respond directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (102)
John McGuinness
Question:102. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a bed will be provided at the rehabilitation unit, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will expedite the matter. [37247/14]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration
Questions (103)
Brendan Smith
Question:103. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of fair deal applications awaiting approval in Counties Cavan-Monaghan; the number processed but awaiting final approval pending allocation of funding; if additional funding will be provided to the Health Service Executive for this scheme for Cavan-Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37249/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (104)
Billy Timmins
Question:104. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the ambulance service in Counties Wicklow and Carlow; if he will provide details of the service available in County Wicklow; if changes to same are being examined; if he will provide details of the service available in County Carlow; if changes to same are being examined; the way the service caters for the black spot area of Carnew-Tinahely in south County Wicklow; the position regarding a call (details supplied) made to the service on 25 August 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37261/14]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the detailed query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
Medical Card Reviews
Questions (105)
Róisín Shortall
Question:105. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the renewal of a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37265/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas Members.