Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Written Answers Nos. 454 - 470

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Questions (454)

Tom Fleming

Question:

454. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine a single payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has been excessively and unfairly penalised, including with retrospective penalties; if he will review these and the anomalies in his Department's evaluation of the commonage ground that the person and other farmers have been maintaining, as this is an essential component of their farming land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20855/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department is currently finalising the review of the lands in question and an official from my Department has contacted the person named to advise him accordingly. The official has undertaken to further contact the person named with the final outcome of the review once it has been completed.

Beef Data Programme

Questions (455)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

455. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the carbon navigator requirements of the new beef data genomics programme, the estimated costs to complete a carbon navigator with an approved adviser; if a farmer can complete this requirement without an approved adviser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20866/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

There will be no cost to the farmer to complete the Carbon Navigator with an approved advisor. The Department will pay for this element of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme.

The Carbon Navigator is a software tool developed by Teagasc and Bord Bia to help farmers engage with practical measures that can improve on farm profitability while at the same time enhancing environmental performance. Producing more from fewer inputs is central to global sustainability initiatives and the Origin Green Programme.

The Carbon Navigator, which is available via Teagasc and private farm advisors, looks at six practical measures that farmers will be considering as they run their enterprise:

- The length of the grazing season

- Age at first calving

- Calving rate

- Daily live-weight gain

- Fertiliser usage, and

- Slurry management.

The Carbon Navigator tool is a discussion facilitator to help farmers examine current practices and identify any areas for potential improvement. One of the main reasons the Department has required that the navigator is completed with an approved advisor is that by discussion with the advisor, realistic targets can be set and more importantly a clear outline of what needs to be done to achieve these targets can be agreed. By having an advisor involved it helps ensure that the targets set are appropriate for the farm.

The advisor will be available throughout the programme to help the farmer with any challenges they encounter in achieving their targets.

Farmers who complete the Navigator can see profitability gains from each element that the tool records:

- A 10 day increase in grazing season reduces costs by €25 per cow

- Reducing age at first calving from 29 months to 28 months improves returns by €50 per cow

- Improving calving rate from 80% to 85% lifts returns by around €45 per cow

- Increasing lifetime average daily gain from 900g to 1,000g lifts returns by around €63 per head

- Reduction in Nitrogen fertiliser use by 10kg per Ha reduces costs by €10 per hectare.

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Questions (456)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

456. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of public and civil servants who were recruited under the aegis of his Department in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21101/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

During 2014, my Department recruited 17 new staff. Information in respect of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Bodies themselves.

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Questions (457)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

457. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of public and civil servants under the aegis of his Department who were seconded abroad or to another Department in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21116/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

During 2014, 59 staff members from my Department were seconded abroad or to another Department.

Departmental Staff Retirements

Questions (458)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

458. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of public servants under the aegis of his Department who retired in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21137/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

All civil service pensions are paid by the Paymaster General's Office and the Minister for Public Expenditure is providing the details of retirements for my Department in 2014. The parallel information in respect of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the bodies themselves.

Naval Service Operations

Questions (459)

Seán Crowe

Question:

459. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence the mission of the LÉ Eithne which has been sent to serve in the Mediterranean; if it will take part in the EUNAVFOR Mediterranean military mission; if members of the Irish Defence Forces will be involved in any aspect of the EUNAVFOR Mediterranean mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20327/15]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Following the announcement made by An Taoiseach at the meeting on 23 April, and Government approval and agreement with the Italian authorities, L.É. EITHNE, with a crew of sixty-eight (68) personnel of the Permanent Defence Force, departed the Naval Base in Haulbowline on Saturday, 16 May 2015, to assist the Italian authorities in humanitarian search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. The despatch of an Irish naval vessel represents a tangible and valuable Irish national contribution to assisting the Italian authorities in the humanitarian search and rescue operation and highlights our commitment to assist with efforts to prevent further tragedy and loss of life at sea.

At the formal Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council with Ministers of Defence in Brussels on 18 May, a Council Decision to establish a European Union military operation, EUNAVFOR Med, was adopted as part of a comprehensive approach to addressing the migration crisis in the South Central Mediterranean.  The Mission's mandate will be implemented in sequential phases. The first phase of the operation will support the detection and monitoring of migration networks through information gathering and patrolling in accordance with international law. A second phase, which involves the targeting, seizure and possible destruction of the vessels and assets of human traffickers, and the third phase, which is an operational/disruption phase, shall commence in accordance with any applicable UN Security Council Resolution or the consent of the coastal State concerned.

Consideration of participation by the Irish Defence Forces will only occur if there is a UN Security Council Resolution and the applicable National statutory requirements are met.

Defence Forces Reorganisation

Questions (460)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

460. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the estimated annual saving that has resulted from discontinuing the three brigade structure in the Defence Forces. [20486/15]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

A range of savings measures that were introduced in the years immediately following the onset of the economic downturn in 2008 led to a reduction in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force. Following a comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 9,500 personnel.

At this strength level, the then organisational structures were no longer viable and a major reorganisation of the Defence Forces was initiated. This reorganisation was implemented in order to ensure that the Defence Forces could operate efficiently and effectively within the revised strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel and was not focused on achieving savings.

I am confident that the current structures optimise the capacity of the Permanent Defence Force to deliver the required operational outputs, within the available resources.

Defence Forces Reserve Strength

Questions (461)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

461. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence the current size of the Reserve Defence Force, including the Naval Reserve; his future plans for the reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20528/15]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

In line with one of the recommendations of the VFM Review which provided for retention of a reorganised Reserve with a strength of approximately 4,000 personnel, the establishment of the Army and Naval Service Reserve is 4,069, comprising of 3,869 Army Reservists and 200 Naval Service Reservists. There is no specified strength level for the First Line Reserve.

The effective strength of the Army and Naval Service Reserve as at 31 March, 2015 was 2,115 personnel comprising of 1,989 Army Reservists and 126 Naval Service Reservists. The First Line Reserve comprised of a total of 241 personnel as at 31 March, 2015.

Implementation of the VFM Review recommendations is ongoing and progress is being kept under review. Future requirements for the Reserve are being considered in the context of the development of the new White Paper on Defence.

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Questions (462)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

462. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Defence the number of public and civil servants who were recruited under the aegis of his Department in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21105/15]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Defence Organisation includes civil servants, military personnel, and civilian employees attached to military installations.

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is an independent body established under the Public Service Management Act 2004 for the purpose of providing recruitment, assessment and selection services for the Civil Service. My Department did not recruit any civil servants through PAS in 2014.

My Department has recruited 13 State Industrial Employees, attached to military installations in 2014. These positions were filled following an open competitive recruitment process.

The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. Targeted recruitment, which was undertaken by the Permanent Defence Force in 2014, resulted in the recruitment of 505 personnel in that year.

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Questions (463)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

463. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Defence the number of public and civil servants under the aegis of his Department who were seconded abroad or to another Department in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21120/15]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

It has not been possible to compile the necessary information requested by the Deputy. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Departmental Staff Retirements

Questions (464)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

464. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Defence the number of public servants under the aegis of his Department who retired in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21141/15]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Defence Organisation includes civil servants, military personnel, and civilian employees attached to military installations.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is providing the data on numbers of civil servants who retired in 2014, as sought by the Deputy.  In relation to former civilian employees attached to military installations and former members of the Permanent Defence Force, the data in question is shown in tabular form as follows:

-	Number
Civilian Employees attached to Military Installations	26
Permanent Defence Force	482

Personnel leave the Defence Forces on a voluntary basis for a variety of reasons including having completed the requisite years service or having reached the maximum age limit. In addition, there are occasions when personnel are compelled to retire due to medical or disciplinary issues.

National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan

Questions (465)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

465. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the proposed implementation of the national disability strategy; when this implementation will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20297/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

The Programme for Government committed to publishing, "following wide consultation, a realistic implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy, including sectoral plans with achievable time scales and targets within available resources and ensuring whole-of-government involvement and monitoring of the Strategy, in partnership with the disability sector".

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan was submitted to Government on 23 July 2013 and was published following Government Decision of that date. Considerable discussion was undertaken between the disability stakeholders and Government Departments to reach agreement on the suite of actions contained in the Plan. The Plan sets out the practical measures across all relevant Government Departments to be taken to advance the National Disability Strategy over the period 2013 to 2015 and ensures that available resources are used to best effect to meet the needs of all people with disabilities. The Implementation Plan covers the period up to end-2015 and my Department will shortly commence a consultation process with all relevant stakeholders with a view to putting a revised Disability Inclusion Strategy Implementation Plan in place as from January 2016.

The focus in the new Strategy will be on the key themes that impact on the lives of people with disabilities, on identifying agreed objectives within each theme and on developing specific actions to be undertaken to achieve each of the agreed objectives, together with timelines and key performance indicators.

The National Disability Strategy Implementation Group, which I chair, and which comprises representatives from across Government Departments, representatives from the City and County Managers Association, the National Disability Authority, a broad range of disability organisations, and a number of individuals appointed in their personal capacity to bring their lived experience to the table, will have a central role in shaping the new Disability Inclusion Strategy.

EU Issues

Questions (466)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

466. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason Ireland has not yet signed the declaration of the European Parliament on the rights of deaf-blind persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20315/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

The Declaration to which the Deputy refers is a Declaration of the European Parliament rather than an instrument which requires signature or other approval by Member States.

Internationalisation Register

Questions (467)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

467. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a college (details supplied) in Dublin 1 has been struck off the internationalisation register list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20367/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am informed by my officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the college referred to by the Deputy has ceased operations and, in consequence, INIS has instructed that the college be removed from the Internationalisation Register.

It should be noted that prior to its closure the college in question had been under investigation by the immigration authorities based on serious concerns regarding its operation. The Deputy will be aware the Government has approved the implementation of a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education, in response to concerning practices within certain parts of the sector and a number of English language college closures. The reforms are designed to drive real, lasting change in the sector and will tackle abuse of the immigration regime and labour market, improve the overall quality of offering to international students, and improve protection for learners, whilst safeguarding the strong international reputation of high-quality Irish education providers in line with the goals of Ireland’s International Education Strategy. The new regulations and the schedule for implementation are set out in the Policy Statement “Reform of the International Education Sector and Student Immigration System”.

Garda Deployment

Questions (468)

Clare Daly

Question:

468. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason Ireland withdrew from the Santa Marta project, which was attempting to play a leading role in an offensive against slavery on fishing and merchant vessels operating in the north Atlantic. [20559/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have requested information on the matter raised by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I will contact the Deputy when this information is to hand.

International Education

Questions (469, 521)

Robert Dowds

Question:

469. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the changes she is proposing to the working holiday arrangements of international students while they are studying English; her views that reducing such working holiday arrangements would aversely affect the competitive advantage enjoyed by these schools when attracting international students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20614/15]

Finian McGrath

Question:

521. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the situation of language schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20629/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 521 together.

Based on proposals I brought forward in tandem with my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills the Government has approved the implementation of a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education, in response to concerning practices within certain parts of the sector and a number of English language college closures. The reforms are designed to drive real, lasting change in the sector and will tackle abuse of the immigration regime and labour market, improve the overall quality of offering to international students, and improve protection for learners, whilst safeguarding the strong international reputation of high-quality Irish education providers in line with the goals of Ireland’s International Education Strategy.

The adjustment to the working hours arrangements of international students is an integral part of the overall reform of this sector which balances the interests of legitimate operators with necessary protection of students and of Ireland's international reputation.

The key reforms include:

- In relation to higher education programmes, only programmes which are accredited by Irish awarding bodies, or those accredited by universities in the EU that meet quality assurance standards comparable to those of Irish accredited programmes, will be permitted to recruit international students, with a few specific exceptions.

- With regard to English language programmes, only those providers who can demonstrate that they have reached an acceptable quality standard will be permitted to appear on the list from 1 October 2015. They are being given an opportunity to do that.

- The standard 12 months immigration permission for the purposes of attending a 25 week English language programme is being reduced to 8 months with effect from 1 October 2015. Students will still be permitted 3 such permissions and there will be no reduction in overall tuition.

- All institutions will have to comply with new requirements including a clear declaration of ownership, shadow directors, physical infrastructure and teaching capacity.

- A number of measures designed to protect students are being introduced including compulsory learner protection arrangements and a separate account facility to safeguard student advance payments.

As part of this reform process the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration of my Department and the Garda National Immigration Bureau are working closely together to further enhance the inspection regime in respect of colleges seeking to recruit non-EEA students.

Public Sector Staff Training

Questions (470)

Finian McGrath

Question:

470. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position in relation to disability training provision (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20810/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

The National Disability Authority (NDA) is the independent state body providing expert advice on disability policy and practice to the government and the public sector. The Authority has developed an on-line training module for public sector staff to help them deal with customers with disabilities effectively. While this module is aimed at public sector staff it is available to any service provider who may wish to use it. However, I should clarify that the Authority and my Department have no role in the provision of training services for the private sector.