Written Answers Nos. 497-514
497. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all external public relations firms hired by his Department and associated costs incurred from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4544/15]
View answerA table containing the information is set out as follows. It is important to note that the expenditure in question was for the management of specific projects and events under Ireland’s overseas development programme. It was not for general public relations services. In 2007, following a competitive tendering process, a contract valued at just over €5,000 was awarded to a firm to support the work of the Government’s Hunger Task Force. The Task Force comprised 14 Irish and international experts who examined the particular contribution that Ireland could make to tackling the root causes of hunger. The Hunger Task Force Report was published in 2008 and continues to guide Ireland’s approach to this priority global issue. The firm concerned assisted the Hunger Task Force in engaging with the public and media on Ireland’s role in tackling hunger in the developing world.
Between 2008 and 2010, following a competitive tendering process, the Department engaged a firm with a public relations background to provide professional services including project management, logistics and event management for the national Africa Day celebrations, which were hosted by the Department in Dublin Castle in 2008 and in Iveagh Gardens in 2009 and 2010. In partnership with a number of local authorities, the firm also administered a small grants scheme for community and other groups to participate in regional Africa Day events. A small public awareness-raising dimension was involved in this work on Africa Day events and was conducted in close cooperation with the Department’s press office.
Following a competitive tender process, the same firm was engaged in 2010 to manage and administer the Department’s Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF), which provides small grants to journalists to facilitate coverage of the developing world and raise awareness of development issues in Ireland.
The contract involved the management of three funding rounds each year, entailing:
Processing grant payments and keeping detailed administrative and financial records;
Convening national and regional information workshops;
Managing and administering the application process;
Organising the process of judging of applications by an independent panel;
Providing detailed feedback to all applicants;
Maintaining and updating the SCMF website
Expenditure, 2007 - 2010
|
Receipt and Project/Event |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Bannon & Bannon – Support to the Hunger Task Force |
€5,082 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
DHR Communications – Simon Cumbers Media Fund |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€31,363 |
|
DHR Communications – Africa Day |
Nil |
€34,485 |
€63,058 |
€56,023 |
|
Total |
€5,082 |
€34,485 |
€63,058 |
€87,386 |
498. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to invite his Spanish counterpart to Dublin to discuss strengthening ties between the two countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4558/15]
View answerIreland and Spain enjoy excellent bilateral relations and maintain frequent contact at the highest levels, especially as partners in the European Union. The President and the Taoiseach have both made official visits to Spain in recent years while Prime Minister Rajoy visited Dublin in March of last year. Government Ministers maintain direct contacts with their Spanish counterparts. Most recently Minister Coveney visited Madrid on 29 January for discussions with his Spanish counterpart, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Environment Isabel García Tejerina. I meet regularly with my Spanish counterpart, José Manuel García-Margallo, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council where we can discuss bilateral issues informally, in addition to the EU agenda. At last week’s Council meeting, I conveyed the sympathy of the Irish people to Minister García-Margallo on the death of a Spanish UN peacekeeper with UNIFIL in Lebanon where an Irish contingent also serves. I would be most happy to receive Minister García-Margallo if an occasion arises on which he would wish to visit Ireland.
500. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 618 of 27 January 2015, if he is responsible for authorising the transiting of foreign military personnel through Irish territory on civil aircraft, and, if so, under what legislation. [4844/15]
View answerPrimary responsibility for the regulation of foreign aircraft depends on whether such aircraft are designated as civilian or military. The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. The regulation of civilian aircraft is governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention) which came into force on 4 April 1947. Ireland’s rights and obligations under the Convention have been incorporated into Irish law through the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1946, as amended. The legislation provides that the Minister for Transport has primary responsibility for the regulation of civilian aircraft.
Where it is proposed that military personnel travelling on civilian aircraft should be accompanied by personal weapons, an exemption must be sought from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. In considering these requests, the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport seeks the advice of relevant Government Departments and agencies, including my Department.
My Department also deals with requests to permit the wearing of foreign uniforms which is governed by the Defence Act 1954.
501. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the arrangements his Department has in place to identify Irish citizens living in Taiwan should the circumstances arise; the arrangements in place for the same citizens to renew their Irish passports or to obtain Irish passports for their children within Taiwan; the contact details for officials within Taiwan dealing with these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4918/15]
View answerIreland adheres to the One China policy and does not recognise Taiwan as a State. As a result, Ireland does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and does not have an Embassy in Taipei. Irish citizens travelling to, or resident in, Taiwan can register their details on the Citizens’ Registration facility on the Department’s website at www.dfa.ie. The Citizen’s Registration service is a voluntary service which encourages Irish citizens travelling or living overseas to register their contact details with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This means that in the event of an unforeseen crisis such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, the Department can proactively contact the citizen, ensure they are safe, keep them informed of any evacuation plans and provide assistance where necessary. Citizens resident in Taiwan are advised to submit their passport applications through the Irish Embassy in Beijing. The turnaround time averages about 4-6 weeks which is the equivalent turnaround time for citizens resident in the UK. Additionally, citizens requiring passport information may also contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin on +353 (0) 1 408 2000.
If Irish citizens are in difficulty in Taiwan and require Consular Assistance, they can call our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin on +353 (0) 1 408 2000. They can also email the Department using the ‘Travel Advice’, ‘Consular Assistance’ or ‘Passport Office’ options in the dropdown menu of the contact details page of the Department’s website.
502. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if prior recognition is accepted by Bord Fáilte for chefs with apprenticeships combined with continual service and references, in place of certificates in hotel operations or certificates through culinary institutions or through FETAC qualifications for chefs who served apprenticeships before certification was available or widely in use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4424/15]
View answerFáilte Ireland no longer operates as a training provider itself, therefore responsibility for the recognition of prior learning or experience in the hospitality and culinary sector rests with the training provider or institution offering the programme of interest.
Individuals can approach Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) directly to enquire about recognition of prior learning opportunities and to seek information on gaining certification for existing knowledge, skill or competence. It is a matter for QQI to decide how this prior learning and prior experience can be assessed and QQI advise that they may look for help and advice from relevant providers of education and training in making this assessment.
503. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the reinstatement of the training allowance paid to persons in SOLAS-funded training programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4436/15]
View answerThe payment of an additional training allowance of €31.80 per week for the long term unemployed was introduced during a period of high employment levels as an incentive for the long term unemployed to participate in FÁS (now Education and Training Board) training courses. The former FÁS training provision was transferred from SOLAS to the Education and Training Boards during 2014. The payment was reduced from €31.80 per week to €20 per week as part of Budget 2011. In the present economic situation this incentive is no longer considered appropriate and as part of Budget 2014 it was decided to cease this payment for all Education and Training Board participants commencing courses after 1st January 2014. Travel supports continue to be available to these Education and Training Board participants where appropriate.
This is a decision taken in the context of the overall savings this Department had to find for 2014 and future years. It was taken against a difficult budgetary background and there is no scope to re-visit it.
504. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to continue the overseas graduate programme which was operated by FÁS; if any analysis of the programme was undertaken; if so, if the outcomes were published; if graduates who availed of the scheme have been contacted to assess their view of value to them of the scheme; the reason it was discontinued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4951/15]
View answerThe FÁS Overseas Graduate Programme (OGP), which began in 1983, placed newly qualifying graduates with honours degrees in Business, Engineering or the Sciences, into full-time employment with companies in Japan and China. The overarching aim of the Programme was to increase the number of Irish qualifying graduates with top quality international experience in their chosen discipline, thereby enhancing the capability of Ireland to trade internationally.
Officials in the then Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment carried out a review of the programme in early 2010. At that time, the core remit of FÁS was to focus its training and employment programmes on those cohorts who were most likely to remain unemployed. Following the review it was decided that this programme did not fit with that core remit and it would be inappropriate for FÁS to retain responsibility for its management and the programme was closed down.
At that time Enterprise Ireland managed a comparable overseas programme, aimed at graduates in almost identical disciplines. The overarching objective of the Enterprise Ireland's International Graduate Programme is the provision of in-depth international marketing experience to graduates to ensure that they can contribute to the success of emerging Irish companies in rapidly changing international business environments. I understand that this programme is still being managed by Enterprise Ireland.
505. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the situation facing education and training boards, following the 2014 local elections, who have not reconstituted their school boards of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4381/15]
View answerBoards of management of schools and other centres of education operated by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are sub-committees of an ETB.
At the request of Education and Training Boards Ireland, Minister Quinn agreed to extend the term of office of boards of management of school and other education centres to the 31st December 2014. I subsequently provided for a further extension to a date not later than the 31st March 2015.
Education and Training Boards have been requested to constitute new boards of management, and these new boards of management will take up office not later than the 1st April 2015.
506. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be provided for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4401/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application for additional accommodation to my Department. The application will be assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities as soon as this process has been completed.
507. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person in receipt of the back to education allowance will qualify for a Student Universal Support Ireland grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4405/15]
View answerThe main financial support available to students attending further and higher education courses is my Department's Student Grant Scheme. Under the student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
Since September 2010, all new applicants in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, are no longer eligible for maintenance support under the student grant scheme. However, students who qualify for the BTEA may be considered for support for the student contribution under the student grant scheme provided they satisfy the conditions of the relevant Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations including those relating to residence, nationality, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.
508. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to replace the 30-year temporary accommodation for a special national school (details supplied) in County Dublin with a new building; if she will confirm its new location in addition to when the building works will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4448/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that a major capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been included in my Department's 5 Year Plan.
In line with the Memorandum of Understanding which formalises the local authorities' part in securing sites for educational use, my Department has sought the assistance of, and is working closely with, the relevant Local Authority in relation to identifying and acquiring a suitable site for the school concerned. However due to the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
When a site has been acquired by the Department, the project will be progressed into the architectural planning process and on to construction as soon as the architectural planning process is completed.
509. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department plans to defund the education of any children whose parents object to their information going on the primary online database, POD; if so, the statutory basis for that action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4471/15]
View answerFrom the 2016/2017 academic year, it is intended that teacher allocations and capitation grants will be made on the basis of POD data, and the previous basis for allocations, the National Annual School Census will cease operation from that point. There is no mechanism for separate payment and allocation to schools for pupils that are not on POD, and from a practical point of view it is difficult to see how such a system could work in practice.
Under Section 12 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister of Education shall determine and publish the criteria in each school year by which funding shall be provided to schools in the following academic year. Over 3 billion euro of taxpayers money is spent annually on funding our primary school system. The vast majority of this funding is allocated to schools on the basis of reported pupil numbers. It is more than prudent from an audit and financial accountability point of view that we validate the data underlying these payments and ensure that payment is made only once in relation to each pupil.
510. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the primary online database and the Data Protection Commissioner, following her statement that the Data Protection Commissioner had approved retaining children's data until they were at least 30 years, and following the Data Protection Commissioner’s statement that it seems to be the case that there is an inadequate explanation of the reasons it needs this data or needs to hold it for as long as it is being held; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4472/15]
View answerMy Department is in ongoing contact with the Data Protection Commissioners Office in relation to the retention period for POD data. The Department has previously received advice from the Data Protection Commissioners Office in this regard and will continue to closely consult with and seek the advice of the Commissioners office while reviewing the retention policy for POD data.
I understand that there are concerns from a data protection and privacy point of view around the retention period for the data. The Department is considering these concerns, and also needs to consider the fact that in the future POD will serve as the official record of primary school enrolment for everybody, and as such it forms part of an individual's personal history. While some people might prefer their record to be deleted as soon as possible, others may prefer to have their record accessible should they want or need to get it in the future. The Department will review its retention policy bearing in mind these issues, as well as all the legal obligations on us in the areas of data protection and records management. Individuals also have the right under data protection legislation to request in writing to any public body that their records held by that body be removed or amended and their reasons for the request, and the public body must consider and respond to such requests within 40 days.
511. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the Data Protection Commissioner's statement on the primary online database that there is an inadequate explanation as to why it needs it and why it needs to hold it for as long as it is holding it, if she or her Department alerted schools that compliance with the POD database plan may be a breach of their duties as data controllers under the Data Protection Acts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4473/15]
View answerMy Department is in ongoing contact with the Data Protection Commissioners Office in relation to the retention period for POD data. The Department has previously met with and received advice from the Data Protection Commissioners Office in this regard and no issues of concern were raised at that time. My Department will continue to closely consult with and seek the advice of the Commissioners office while reviewing the retention policy for POD data.
The Department understands that there are concerns from a data protection and privacy point of view. The Department is exploring these concerns but also needs to consider the fact that in the future POD will serve as the official record of primary school enrolment for everybody, and as such it forms part of an individual's personal history. While some people might prefer their record to be deleted as soon as possible, others may prefer to have their record accessible should they want or need to get it in the future. The Department will consider its retention policy bearing in mind these issues, as well as all the legal obligations on us both in the areas of data protection and records management, in concert with the Data Protection Commissioners Office.
512. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount that has been spent on the primary online database project since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4474/15]
View answerThe software development costs of the POD project to date are approximately €230K. A POD Implementation Grant was issued to every primary school in December 2014. The total cost of the grant was €830,518.
513. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department hired or engaged any external expertise to advise on data protection or data governance in relation to the primary online database; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4475/15]
View answerMy Department has consulted and is in continued contact with the Data Protection Commissioner's Office in relation to data protection and security matters for the primary online database (POD). My Department did not hire any additional external or private expertise to advise on data governance matters for POD.
514. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff in her Department who have been designated with administrator rights in the primary online database; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4476/15]
View answerFour members of staff in my Department have administrator rights on the primary online database.
