Thursday, 2 Jul 2015

Written Answers Nos. 209-219

Childhood Obesity

Questions (209)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding childhood obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26832/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The issue of promoting healthy eating is addressed in schools through subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), and Home Economics as well as in Physical Education. With such skills and knowledge, it is hoped that our young people will make appropriate choices so that this informed approach will help to reduce the incidence of obesity in our young people.

My Department is currently finalising guidance for schools about measures to promote healthy lifestyles. This guidance encompasses measures to promote healthy eating, healthy vending, as well as the promotion of P.E. and Physical Activity. The guidance has been drafted in consultation with the Department of Health and the HSE.

In co-operation with schools, my Department is also promoting physical activity through the P.E. curriculum and is supporting extra-curricular physical activities through initiatives such as the Active Schools Flag.

This emphasis on physical activity is an important complement to the measures in place to promote healthy eating among our students.

But I must state that schools can only do some much. Their efforts and policies for healthy eating need to be complemented by the students' families and the community.

School Transport Provision

Questions (210)

Willie Penrose

Question:

210. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure those eligible will have an opportunity to submit applications to avail of the school transport service for a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath which has been threatened with discontinuance due to the number of eligible applications received to date being below the minimum number of ten, as most persons who utilise the service will apply in July and August 2015 for the opportunity to avail of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26888/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme a minimum of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

While the closing date for school transport applications was the last Friday in April, Bus Éireann is continuing to process late applications.

In this regard, parents should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office in Athlone at 090 6473277.

School Staff

Questions (211)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

211. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding secondary school teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26889/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. At post primary level and in accordance with existing arrangements, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short-term support i.e., curricular concessions. The allocation process also includes an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The appeal procedures are set out in the published staffing arrangements. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

We have a growing population of young people in this country and despite the difficult financial circumstances we face as a country, we prioritised education so that the number of teachers we have in the system has also grown in order to protect pupil teacher ratios. Between this year and last year this has involved an increase of around 2,300 teachers in our primary and post-primary schools. This is a very significant investment at a time of scarce resources.

While there has been a moratorium on recruitment across other sectors in the public service, this did not apply to teaching and shows the commitment this Government has to educating our future generations.

Ministerial Expenditure

Questions (212)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

212. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the expenses incurred by her from 2011 to date in 2015, including the date, expense type, description and amount; if each expense was vouched; her plans to introduce changes to the expenses system to ensure all expenses are fully vouched for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26994/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information that the Deputy has requested regarding Ministerial expenses incurred from 2011 to present is outlined in the following tables. The expenses claimed are in accordance with the conditions for payment as set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, under which all expenses are vouched. In the event there are any amendments made to these conditions I will adhere to such changes.

Site Name	Invoice Date	Description	Payment Method	Minister's Total
Minister Ruairi Quinn
	28-May-11	I x overnight for Minister on official business in Tullamore	Electronic	67.07
CREDIT CARDS	28-May-11	1 x overnight in Brussels for Minister €145, 1 x overnight Minister in Tullamore 67.07	Electronic	212.07
CREDIT CARDS	17-Oct-11	Train ticket for Minister on official business from Killarney to Dublin	Electronic	40
CREDIT CARDS	28-Feb-12	Education Council Meeting - 1 overnight for Minister in Brussels €99	Electronic	99
CREDIT CARDS	28-Mar-12	Train ticket for Minister on official business from Killarney to Dublin	Electronic	40
CREDIT CARDS	28-Apr-12	Overnight Minister Kerry Teacher Conferences - €85, Overnight Minister Wexford Teacher Conferences - €105	Electronic	190
CREDIT CARDS	28-Apr-12	Overnight Minister Official Conference in Bucharest - €104.13	Electronic	104.13
CREDIT CARDS	28-May-12	Overnight for Minister on official business in Donegal - €84	Electronic	84
CREDIT CARDS	28-May-12	2 nights accommodation for Minister Bologna Conference, Bucharest - €237, 1 overnight for Minister Education Council Meeting Brussels - €145	Electronic	382
CREDIT CARDS	28-Nov-12	2 nights accommodation for Minister in Brussels (€195 on 7.11.2012 - IIEA Conference and €140 on 25.11.2012 - EU Presidency )	Electronic	335
CREDIT CARDS	28-Feb-13	1 overnight for Minister in Brussels - €145	Electronic	145
CREDIT CARDS	28-Mar-13	Accommodation costs for Minister travelling to Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Dubai St. Patrick's Day (08.03.2013-19.03.2013)	Electronic	1726
CREDIT CARDS	28-Mar-13	1 overnight for Minister in Brussels - €155	Electronic	155
CREDIT CARDS	28-Apr-13	1 overnight for Minister in Cork - Teacher Conferences - €99	Electronic	99
CREDIT CARDS	28-May-13	2 overnights for Minister in Brussels - €310	Electronic	310
CREDIT CARDS	28-May-13	1 overnight for Minister on official business in Limerick - €61.50	Electronic	61.5
CREDIT CARDS	28-Oct-13	1 overnight for Minister on official business in Sligo - €72	Electronic	72
CREDIT CARDS	28-Nov-13	1 overnight for Minister on official business in Cork - €123.60	Electronic	123.6
CREDIT CARDS	28-Nov-13	1 overnight for Minister in Brussels - €155	Electronic	155
CREDIT CARDS	28-Apr-14	1 overnight for Minister Teacher Conferences Kilkenny - €65, 1 overnight for Minister Teacher Conferences Carlow - €89	Electronic	154
CREDIT CARDS	28-May-14	1 overnight for Minister on official business in Kerry - €85	Electronic	85
CREDIT CARDS	28-May-14	Train ticket for Minister on official business from Tralee to Dublin	Electronic	55.99
			Total	4628.29

Site Name	Invoice Date	Description	Payment Method	Minister Total
Minister Jan O'Sullivan
CREDIT CARDS	28-Sep-14	Toll charges Ministerial Car	Electronic	40
CREDIT CARDS	28-Oct-14	Minister hosted business dinner Beijing	Electronic	337.27
CREDIT CARDS	28-Oct-14	Toll charges Ministerial Car	Electronic	40
CREDIT CARDS	28-Nov-14	1 overnight for Minister on official business in Waterford - €69	Electronic	69
CREDIT CARDS	28-Nov-14	1 overnight for Minister on official business in Shanghai - €154.8	Electronic	154.8
CREDIT CARDS	28-Nov-14	Toll charges Ministerial Car - November and December	Electronic	80
CREDIT CARDS	28-Dec-14	1 overnight for Minister on official business in Brussels - €155	Electronic	155
CREDIT CARDS	28-Dec-14	Toll charges Ministerial Car	Electronic	40
CREDIT CARDS	28-Feb-15	Toll charges Ministerial Car	Electronic	40
CREDIT CARDS	28-Mar-15	Toll charges Ministerial Car	Electronic	40
CREDIT CARDS	28-Apr-15	Toll charges Ministerial Car	Electronic	40
CREDIT CARDS	28-May-15	1 overnight for Minister on official business in Cork - €89	Electronic	89
			Total	1125.07

Foreign Travel

Minister	Year	Total Flight costs DES	Total Transport - car hire/train	Total Hotel/Accommodation	Total Subsistence Costs	Incidental/Misc Expenses including IT and business centre costs	Overall Totals
O'SULLIVAN JAN	2014	112.00		0.00	554.75	0.00	666.75
	2015	2,883.19		0.00	791.10	0.00	3,674.29
					0.00
QUINN, RUAIRI	2011	3,887.85	255.00	191.00	1,340.37	39.98	5,714.20
	2012	1,299.26		0.00	617.91	0	1,917.17
	2013	4,183.81	1421.04	0.00	1,766.29	0	7,371.14
	2014	2,565.29		161.38	0.00	0.00	2,726.67
TOTALS		14,931.40	1676.04	352.38	5,070.42	39.98	22,070.22

Mobile Phones
User	Number/ Location	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015 to date
Minister O'Sullivan	XXXXXX		€0.00	€0.00	€123.50	€162.20
Minister Quinn	XXXXXX	€426.67	€604.13	€1,674.07	€1,489.28
Annual Total			€604.13	€1,674.07	€1,612.78	€162.20
Landline
User	Number/ Location	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015 to date
Minister O'Sullivan	Hartstonge St, Limerick		€0.00	€0.00	€722.78	€1,386.99
Minister Quinn	Strand Rd. Dublin		€0.00	€492.00	€455.43
Annual Total			€0.00	€492.00	€1,178.21	€1,386.99
Overall total		€426.67	€604.13	€2,166.07	€2,790.99	€1,549.19

Ruairi Quinn	KMs	Amount Paid	Date Paid	Subsistence	Date Paid	Taxi	Date paid	Train	Date Paid	Insurance	Date paid
T&S 03/05/11-31/05/11	4650	2746.76	30.06.2011	170	29.06.2011	24.3	18.11.2011	68.5	30.06.2011	187.5	29.09.2011
T&S 01/06/11-30/06/11	4250	1756.55	09.08.2011	33.61	20.10.2011
T&S 01/07/11-31/07/11	5100	1451.46	09.09.2011
T&S 01/08/11-31/08/11	2800	796.88	30.09.2011
T&S 01/10/11-31/10/11	5100	1451.46	06.12.2011
T&S 01/11/11-30/11/11	4950	1408.77	16.12.2011
	26850	9611.88		203.61
T&S 01/12/11-31/12/11	4100	1166.86	26.01.2012
T&S 01/01/12-29/02/12	6501	3820.55	28.03.2012
T&S 01/03/12-31/03/12	3822	1087.74	16.04.2012
T&S 11/05/12-17/07/12	11763	3347.75	26.07.2012
T&S 01/04/12-30/06/12	43	12.24	08.08.2012
T&S 01/07/12-01/10/12	9452	2690.04	06.11.2012
	35681	12125.18
T&S 01/10/12-01/01/13	9490	2700.85	23.01.2013
T&S 01/01/13-31/03/13	9392	4643.33	24.04.2013
T&S 01/04/13-30/06/13	12047	3428.58	26.07.2013
T&S 01/07/13-30/09/13	16336	4649.23	07.11.2013
T&S 01/10/13-31/10/13	3690	1050.17	28.11.2013
T&S 01/11/13-30/11/13	5044	1435.52	12.12.2013
	55999	17907.68
T&S 01-/12/13-31/12/13	3672	1045.05	23.01.2014
T&S 01/01/14-31/03/14	13733	5878.78	17.04.2014
T&S 01/04/14-30/06/14	13264	3774.93	15.07.2014
T&S 01/07/14-11/07/14	1600	455.36	06.08.2014
	32269	11154.12
TOLLS- 03/10/11-02/02/13		910.03	12.04.2013
TOLLS- 04/04/13-01/10/13		403.51	07.11.2013
TOLLS - 2014		389.75	06.08.2014
		1703.29

Domestic Travel and Subsistence

Jan O'Sullivan	KMs	Amount Paid	Date Paid	Subsistence	Date Paid
T&S 11/07/14-30/09/14	7556	2150.44	21.11.2014	323.07*	15.05.2015
T&S 01/10/14-31/10/14	5221	1485.9	27.11.2014	86.5**	18.05.2015
T&S 01/11/14-30/11/14	3957	1126.16	12.01.2015
T&S 01/12/14-31/12/14	1276	363.15	20.01.2015
T&S 01/01/15-31/03/15	8739	4457.49	24.04.2015
	26749	9583.14		409.57

*Accommodation for Teacher Conferences (06.04.2015-09.04.2015)

**Accommodation (€79) and parking (€7.50) for Minister on official business Cork (11.02.2015)

Private Rented Accommodation Standards

Questions (213)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

213. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will set up a housing standards test, similar to the national car test model for cars, to combat the extremely high level of substandard housing being rented on the private market in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26688/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. The Regulations specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and safety of gas and electrical supply. With very limited exemptions, these regulations apply to local authority and voluntary housing units as well as private rented residential accommodation.

All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations and responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations rests with the relevant local authority supported by a dedicated stream of funding provided from part of the proceeds of tenancy registration fees collected by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).

Since the establishment of the PRTB, over €30 million has been paid to local authorities to assist them in the performance of their functions under the Housing Acts, including the inspection of rented accommodation. Over 167,000 inspections have been carried out in this period. Following the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, local authorities have a strengthened legislative framework available to them which provides for the issuing of Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices where landlords are in breach of their obligations. Fines for non-compliance with the regulations were also increased; the maximum fine increased from €3,000 to €5,000 and the fine for each day of a continuing offence increased from €250 to €400.

In relation to the level of sub-standard housing being rented on the private market in Dublin, the high rate of non-compliance found as a result of inspections by Dublin City Council and reported on recently, reflects the fact that the inspection effort is targeted at the very properties most likely to be in breach of the standards. A Red C survey undertaken last year as part of the DKM report for the PRTB found that less than 10% of tenants surveyed were dissatisfied with the condition of the property.

The idea of certification has been proposed before and there is merit in the proposal. A 2014 report from DKM Economic Consultants, ‘The Future of the Private Rented Sector’ (commissioned by the PRTB), put forward a number of options in relation to improving the quality of the rental stock. These include:

- improving the enforcement of standards by local authorities by prioritising those properties more likely to be in breach of the required standards, and

- in time, moving to a model where there would be a responsibility on the landlord to produce a certificate of compliance every three years.

In the short term it is my intention to promote best practice in implementing the regulations across the local authorities. The possibility of shared services across local authority areas is also to be explored. The regulations will be reviewed this year and the potential role of certification will be considered as part of the review.

Redundancy Payments

Questions (214)

Michael Ring

Question:

214. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding enhanced redundancy for persons (details supplied) in County Mayo following discussions on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26711/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department has no role in the internal operations of any private organisations and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to staff or employment matters, which are for the Board of the company, as the employer, to manage. In relation to the details supplied, discussions between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are ongoing. There is also ongoing engagement with the Attorney General’s Office in relation to the legal issues arising. Consideration of the matter will be finalised in light of the outcome of these consultations.

Rental Accommodation Scheme Administration

Questions (215)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

215. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that persons can transfer from the rental accommodation scheme in one local authority to the scheme in another local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26663/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Local authorities can facilitate inter-county transfers for those in the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). A tenant could transfer from one authority to another within RAS, by agreement with both of the relevant local authorities. However, it is dependent on what provision is made for transfers generally in a local authority’s own Allocations Scheme.  It is entirely a matter for the authorities concerned to consider applications for transfer.

Social and Affordable Housing Maintenance

Questions (216)

Robert Dowds

Question:

216. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent of progress in making housing voids habitable again in each of the four local authorities in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26677/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Funding provided by my Department to support local authorities in returning vacant social housing units to productive use supported works on 729 such units across the four Dublin local authorities in 2014. This comprised 467 units returned by Dublin City Council, 165 by Fingal County Council, 92 by South Dublin County Council and 5 by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. For 2015, there are 344 such units across the four Dublin authorities targeted from a national total of 1,119 for return to productive use. This comprises 234 units to be returned by Dublin City Council, 6 8 by Fingal County Council, 3 9 by South Dublin County Council and 3 by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

It should be noted that these are solely the units that are being returned via funding provided by my Department and is separate from any other renovation works that local authorities may undertake from their own resources.

Waste Management

Questions (217)

Michael McCarthy

Question:

217. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to an application for a waste facility permit, the typical waiting times from when the application is submitted to the final decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26680/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Application for waste facility permits are processed by individual local authorities. The information sought in relation to processing times is not held by my Department.

Waste Management Regulations

Questions (218)

Seán Kenny

Question:

218. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way the waste regulator operates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26681/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My role as Minister is to develop and maintain the policy and regulatory framework within which the relevant regulatory authorities, i.e. the Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities, the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the National Transfrontier Shipments Office, discharge their respective regulatory and enforcement functions under the Waste Management Acts.

There is no single waste regulator and I have no plans to establish such an office.

Ministerial Meetings

Questions (219)

Micheál Martin

Question:

219. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of requests for meetings he has received from private, external and non-State-funded lobby groups; the number of meetings he has held with these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26699/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

As the Deputy will appreciate, given the scope of my remit as Minister, I receive representations, including requests for meetings, from a wide range of parties, including public representatives, local and voluntary groups and private individuals and Organisations. While my Office does not maintain a register of all such requests for meetings or invitations received, I will endeavour to collate information to the extent possible and will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as possible.