Written Answers Nos. 98-103
98. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence further to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 118 of 2 July 2015, wherein he states that he will write to the Deputy when the information is to hand, the reason this information has not been received to date. [39671/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that my Department has reconvened the Malaria Chemoprophylaxis Working Group in August this year. As part of its remit the Group is reviewing the use of the Primaquine drug in the Defence Forces and the overall medical treatment process for those deployed to malarious areas. The Group will report back to me with its findings. The reason the Deputy has not received the information sought to date is that matters are still being examined by the Group. However without pre-empting the outcome of the review, I can inform the Deputy that I am advised that Primaquine is not used as an anti-malarial medication by Defence Forces personnel while in a mission area. Primaquine is prescribed to Defence Forces personnel for two weeks when they return from deployment to a “malarious” area regardless of the malaria chemoprophylaxis they had been taking during their deployment.
I am further advised that Primaquine is prescribed in order to kill the dormant “hypnozoite” phase of malaria parasite which, if not killed, would have the potential weeks, months or years after returning home to give rise to a full-blown attack of malaria. The Director of the Medical Branch of the Defence Forces has indicated that Primaquine is unique in its action in that regard.
99. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if his Department is availing of the JobsBridge scheme; if so, the number of personnel recruited; the type of duties being undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39682/15]
View answerThe JobBridge National Internship Scheme is a key part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative and has been set up with a view to giving job seekers the opportunity to take part in a quality internship with a host organisation.
Since the launch of the National Internship Scheme in 2011 the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have worked to identify and progress a number of internship opportunities. In the period since 2011 the Defence Forces have provided forty-seven internships which included opportunities for internships as Curators, Archivists, Engineers, Physical Training Instructors and Aeronautical Engineers. In the same period the Department of Defence provided four internships, three of which involved administrative duties and one as a Health and Safety Administrator/Facilitator.
100. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of applications received by his Department for recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force in 2015; the number of recruits who were offered membership; the reason others were unsuccessful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39684/15]
View answerI am informed by the military authorities that to date in 2015 the Defence Forces have completed, or are in the process of completing, the processing of 4,098 applications for the Reserve Defence Force. This figure includes 1,374 applications from the recruitment competition that commenced on 7 of September, 2015 and the remaining applications are from previous competitions. The 4,098 applications are broken down as follows:
- 1,899 applications have been unsuccessful due to ineligible applications, withdrawal of applications or failure to turn up at the medical/fitness or interview stage,
- 384 applications have been unsuccessful at the fitness, medical, interview or security clearance stages,
- 344 people have been attested, and
- 1,471 applications are in various stages of the recruitment process.
I believe that the Reserve Defence Force is an important asset to the State. I value the contribution of all of its members who volunteer their time and service so willingly and I am fully committed to its ongoing and future development in line with the developmental path set out in the White Paper.
101. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence given the low levels of participation in the Reserve Defence Force, if he will instigate a national recruitment drive; if he will use national and social media in this campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39685/15]
View answerI am informed by the military authorities that the 2015 recruitment competition for the Reserve Defence Force commenced on 7 of September, 2015. This competition remains open to applicants and there is no fixed closing date. According to the military authorities, there have been 1,374 applications received so far.
I am further informed by the military authorities that advertisements announcing the opening of this competition were placed in a large number of regional newspapers and that notification of the competition remains on the Defence Forces’ website and the Defence Forces’ FaceBook page.
102. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the lands immediately contiguous to Magee Terrace in Kildare town, this area being separate from Magee Barracks lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39688/15]
View answerThe properties in Magee Terrace are former Married Quarters at Magee Barracks and were sold to the occupants some years ago. The roads and the open spaces surrounding these properties will remain the responsibility of my Department until the estate is taken in charge by Kildare County Council and will not be included in the sale of the Magee Barracks site.
103. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the value of capital investment projects and grants under way or approved for funding by her Department, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39660/15]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the following tables contain details of capital investment projects currently underway or approved for funding by my Department. In the case of the Garda Stations these projects are undertaken jointly with the Office of Public Works. Project values are provided where tenders have been issued/received and contracts signed. In other cases, where procurement or contracts are not finalised, it is too early to provide such valuations.
Department of Justice and Equality
|
Project |
Value |
County |
|
State Pathology |
€2.6m |
Dublin |
|
Forensic Science Laboratory |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Dublin |
Courts Service
|
Project |
Value |
County |
|
PPP Bundle (Various Locations) |
The value of the overall bundle is €135m (ex VAT) |
Cork |
|
- |
- |
Donegal |
|
- |
- |
Limerick |
|
- |
- |
Louth |
|
- |
- |
Waterford |
|
- |
- |
Westmeath |
|
- |
Wexford |
|
|
Children and Family Law Courts Complex, Hammond Lane |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Dublin |
Irish Prison Service
|
Project |
Value |
County |
|
Cloverhill Prison - Upgrade/replacement of fire safety systems. |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Dublin |
|
Mountjoy Prison - Construction of a new workshop building. |
€4m |
Dublin |
|
Castlerea Prison - Development |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Roscommon |
|
Cork Prison - Construction of new Prison. |
€38.17m |
Cork |
|
Limerick Prison - New car park, trades staff workshops and demolition of old wings. |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Limerick |
|
Limerick Prison - Development of a 150 new cell wing and new women's prison. |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Limerick |
|
Portlaoise Prison - Development of Military Compound. |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Laois |
|
Portlaoise Prison - Development of E Wing. |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Laois |
Garda Síochána
|
Project |
Value |
County |
|
Kevin Street HQ |
€31m |
Dublin |
|
Galway HQ |
€28.5m |
Galway |
|
Wexford HQ |
€25.2m |
Wexford |
|
Development of New Garda Stations |
||
|
Macroom |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Cork |
|
Clonmel |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Tipperary |
|
Sligo Town |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Sligo |
|
Glanmire |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Cork |
|
Bailieborough |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Cavan |
|
Property & Exhibit Management Stores |
||
|
Ennis |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Clare |
|
Castlebar |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Mayo |
|
Santry |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Dublin |
|
Longford Town |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Longford |
|
Portlaoise |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Laois |
|
Collon |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Louth |
|
Naas |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Kildare |
|
Major Refurbishment Projects |
||
|
Donegal Town |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Donegal |
|
Newcastlewest |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Limerick |
|
Portlaoise |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Laois |
|
Athlone |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Westmeath |
|
Bridewell (including custody facilities) |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Dublin |
|
Anglesea Street (including custody facilities) |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Cork |
|
Greystones |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Wicklow |
|
Dundrum, Dublin |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Dublin |
|
Wicklow Town |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Wicklow |
|
Other Remedial/Refurbishment Work |
||
|
Tralee |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Kerry |
|
Mullingar |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Westmeath |
|
Henry Street |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Limerick |
|
Ballinasloe |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Galway |
|
Drogheda |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Louth |
|
Longford Town |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Longford |
|
Navan |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Meath |
|
Carlow Town |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Carlow |
|
Garda College, Templemore |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Tipperary |
|
Henry Street, Limerick |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Limerick |
|
Technical Bureau, Garda HQ, Dublin |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Dublin |
|
Specialist Facilities |
||
|
Stradone, Co. Cavan (special victim's interview suite) |
||
|
GNIB, Dublin Airport ( custody facilities) |
||
|
Water Unit, Garrycastle, Athlone |
Value subject to procurement and contract |
Westmeath |
