Tuesday, 29 Sep 2015

Written Answers Nos. 478-496

Ambulance Service Provision

Questions (478, 483)

Gerry Adams

Question:

478. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of ambulances under the control of national ambulance service, by ambulance region. [33403/15]

Gerry Adams

Question:

483. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the current population ratio to available ambulances, by ambulance region; the way this compares to the population ratios in the North of Ireland and Scotland. [33408/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 483 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Ambulance Service Provision

Questions (479, 481)

Gerry Adams

Question:

479. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances consistently off the road owing to breakdowns, maintenance issues and accidents; and if he will provide a breakdown of same, by ambulance region. [33404/15]

Gerry Adams

Question:

481. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown, by ambulance region, of the number of ambulances that have lost wheels for the years 2010 to 2015. [33406/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 481 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Ambulance Service Provision

Questions (480, 482)

Gerry Adams

Question:

480. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of Mercedes Sprinter 515 model ambulances currently in use; and the percentage of the ambulance fleet that this amounts to. [33405/15]

Gerry Adams

Question:

482. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the investigations that have been undertaken by the Health Service Executive following the recent ambulance wheel loss incident; and if there is any correlation between this issue and the Mercedes Sprinter 515 model. [33407/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 482 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Question No. 481 answered with Question No. 479

Question No. 482 answered with Question No. 480

Question No. 483 answered with Question No. 478

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (484)

Jack Wall

Question:

484. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment for a medical condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33422/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Residential Institutions

Questions (485)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

485. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1018 of 22 September 2015, if he will confirm when the new investigation team will be put in place to deal with reports of abuse of residents and clients in Health Service Executive homes by members of staff, so that all incidents are investigated in a timely manner; if he will acknowledge that these delays are causing extreme stress to staff members, who are fully vindicated afterwards, and who are suspended with pay while awaiting the outcomes of investigation of allegations against them (details supplied). [33423/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE

Medical Card Applications

Questions (486)

Arthur Spring

Question:

486. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card by persons (details supplied) in County Kerry. [33448/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Northern Ireland Issues

Questions (487)

Clare Daly

Question:

487. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had regarding the manner in which proposals to deal with the past as part of the Stormont House Agreement are being discussed, in relation particularly to the concerns highlighted by a number of non-governmental organisations and related victims, whereby the lack of consultation regarding the process, and serious concerns in terms of whether the investigation unit will be sufficiently independent to deal with issues of State collusion have been raised; the steps he has taken to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32762/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Agreement of the Stormont House Agreement on 23 December 2014 marked a watershed moment for dealing with the legacy of the past. The new institutions as agreed by the Stormont House Agreement provide for different ways of dealing with the past.

The new Historical Investigations Unit provides for police investigation and, where there is an evidential basis, the prospect of justice. The Stormont House Agreement makes clear that this will be an independent body.

The Independent Commission for Information Retrieval, to be established by the two Governments, is intended to allow individuals to seek information about troubles related deaths where there is no realistic prospect of prosecution; information provided to the Commission for this purpose would not be admissible in court.

In addition, an Oral History Archive will be established. These bodies will be overseen by an Implementation and Reconciliation Group, with a mandate to promote reconciliation, a better understanding of the past and to reduce sectarianism.

I believe that taken together these four mechanisms provide an opportunity to deal with the legacy of the Troubles in a way which upholds the rule of law and facilitates justice, acknowledges and addresses the needs of victims and survivors, is human rights compliant, and above all promotes reconciliation.

It is now crucial that the work started by the Stormont House Agreement on establishing these institutions is completed and this is one of the central objectives of the current round table talks involving the five main Northern Ireland parties and the British and Irish Governments.

For these institutions to function effectively, it is vitally important that they have public trust and confidence. This is why I have placed the principle of independence at the centre of the Government’s approach to the establishment of the institutions. I agree that public consultation on the establishment of the institutions is also important in this regard.

The majority of the commitments in the Stormont House Agreement, including those related to the past, pertain to matters within the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. However, in order to expedite the establishment of the legacy institutions, the British Government has agreed to bring forward the required legislation in Westminster. It is therefore the responsibility of the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to consider the question of a public consultation within its jurisdiction.

In regard to legislating within this jurisdiction to fulfil the commitments of the Irish Government under the Stormont House Agreement, the normal parliamentary process and scrutiny will of course apply. I and my colleagues in Government have a very open dialogue with families and victims and survivors groups. Issues relating to the new legacy institutions have been discussed with them on a number of occasions and this has helped guide the Government’s approach. We will of course continue this active engagement in the context of bringing forward the required domestic legislation to establish and cooperate with the new legacy institutions.

Visa Applications

Questions (488)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

488. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of an application for an extension to a working visa for a person (details supplied). [32820/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Australian citizens do not require a visa to enter Ireland. The working holiday arrangement is not based on a visa, but on a Working Holiday Authorisation.

The current Working Holiday Authorisation is activated by arrival of the holder in Ireland. The holder is subject to normal border immigration controls upon arrival. Applicants must have sufficient funds to support themselves for at least the initial part of the holiday or in the event of failing to secure employment. Immigration officials may request evidence of sufficient funds at the point of entry to Ireland.

The Authorisation is valid for a period not exceeding 12 months after entry into Ireland. It is not possible to extend the period of validity of Working Holiday Authorisations, or to accept a second application from someone who has already been granted an Authorisation (whether or not they availed of it).

Should the person wish to remain in the State after the validity of the Working Holiday Authorisation, then they should explore the immigration options available to remain legally in the State with the Department of Justice and Equality.

Military Aircraft

Questions (489)

Clare Daly

Question:

489. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the basis for permission being granted to a United States of America military surveillance aircraft which spent hours over Ireland on 15 September 2015, and was permitted to make 13 overflights in August 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32982/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

This overflight took place under blanket permission which is granted for overflights by unarmed US military aircraft. The US Embassy provides my Department with post hoc monthly statistical returns on the total number of overflights by unarmed military aircraft. The figure of 13 relates to the total number of overflights by transport, passenger and refuelling aircraft and not to the aircraft specified by the Deputy.

Syrian Conflict

Questions (490)

Brendan Smith

Question:

490. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on recent comments by a chemical weapons monitor for Syria regarding the urgent need to implement a no-fly zone (details supplied) in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33379/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Any decision on the possible establishment of a no-fly zone in Syria is a matter which falls to the UN Security Council. Ireland has consistently supported greater engagement by the Security Council on tackling the crisis in Syria and co-sponsored a recent resolution on referral of the Syrian conflict to the International Criminal Court earlier this year.

Regrettably, the Security Council has in recent years repeatedly failed to agree on effective measures to tackle the political and security situation in Syria, with the repeated vetoes on proposed action by permanent members of the Council. There is little prospect that any proposal for such a resolution will be approved by the Council at this time. I have expressed on many occasions my deep concerns and frustration at the blockages in the Security Council. I am actively supporting efforts to reform the Council to improve its effectiveness. In the meantime, I am backing, as a step in the right direction, a French initiative for a code of conduct which would suspend the use of the veto in situations of mass atrocities.

English Language Training Organisations

Questions (491)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

491. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements in place for teaching English to refugees currently residing here; where these jobs are advertised; her plans for the teaching of English to refugees who will be entering Ireland in the next six to 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32977/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

English language teaching is provided by Education and Training Boards through the funding they receive from SOLAS. This model will also be used to address the needs of new programme refugees and arrangements are being made by the relevant ETBs in co-ordination with other services in the areas where programme refugees are being located.

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Questions (492)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

492. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the implications of any increase to the Christmas bonus for Student Universal Support Ireland applicants. [33219/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Government has not made a decision on the Christmas Bonus for this year. However, I can confirm that if a bonus was to be paid then it would not negatively impact on current Student Universal Support Ireland applicants who at present meet the relevant criteria for grant purposes such as nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

School Curriculum

Questions (493)

Anne Ferris

Question:

493. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to preserve Hiberno-English through its use in schoolbooks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32737/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) briefs publishers three or four times a year on curriculum developments that they may wish, as companies operating in a free market in publishing, to respond to. Textbooks produced by the educational publishers are generally aligned to standard English, and the question of Hiberno-English has never been raised in the course of these meetings. There are no specific guidelines in this regard set out for publishers.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (494)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

494. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce a postgraduate grant in budget 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32751/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

In the context of the necessary but difficult expenditure reduction measures announced in Budget 2012, new students entering postgraduate courses from the 2012/13 academic year onwards are not entitled to maintenance payments under the Student Grant Scheme. Those who do meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. Alternatively, a postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the cost of their fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2015/16 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents. Tax relief is also available on postgraduate tuition fees. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners (www.revenue.ie). In addition to this, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (495)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

495. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare was informed that he was ineligible for school transport having been initially notified that he was entitled to it upon paying a deposit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32759/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann has confirmed that when the application was made in late August, this child was originally deemed eligible in error. However, as the child in question is not attending his nearest education centre he is not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme.

Teacher Secondment

Questions (496)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

496. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is no derogation for Gaeilge at primary school level in relation to the professional development service for teachers secondees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32775/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Professional development courses for teachers are designed and delivered by teachers who are seconded to a number of support services in accordance with published policies and procedures. A limited alleviation of the application of the five year limit has been agreed to allow secondees to serve for a further limited period in my Department's support services. It is Department policy to apply alleviations to meet the business needs of each of the services, for example, to provide for continuity in management, planning and leadership and retention of expertise. Alleviations only arise where the business needs of the service require it and this position is reviewed annually. My Department's support services have engaged in succession planning as a key strategy in ensuring continued support for teachers and school leaders in implementing national education policy priorities and continuing professional development. The implementation of this policy is a matter for the services concerned and the relevant section of my Department.