Written Answers Nos. 24 - 43
24. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance what exactly the Revenue Commissioners mean when they refer to the estimated value of contract and to the degree should this be accurate as to the actual amount earned by the person to whom that contract refers. [7961/16]
View answerI am informed by Revenue that when a principal contractor enters into a relevant contract with a subcontractor, they are obliged to provide to Revenue through a contract notification process that is part of the electronic Relevant Contracts Tax (eRCT) system, details, inter alia, of the estimated value of the contract. The estimated value of the contract is the value that the principal contractor, to the best of their knowledge, has placed on the contract. I am advised by Revenue in recognition of the fact that circumstances and contract specifications may change, a facility is provided to principal contractors whereby, if necessary, the contract details, including the estimated value of the contract, may be amended.
Revenue has advised me that the information provided in the contract notification process is not the sole source of details of amounts paid to subcontractors. The key figure is obtained by means of the payment notification process whereby, a principal contractor is obliged to give to Revenue, immediately before any payment is made to a subcontractor, details of the actual amounts that will be paid to the subcontractor.
Apart from the payment notification process, the aggregate of all amounts set out on payment notifications can be cross checked by Revenue against the estimated amounts on related contract notifications. Variations are risk profiled and may give rise to a compliance intervention by Revenue.
Details of the number and value of contract and payment notifications advised through the eRCT system during 2014, as published by Revenue in its Annual Report, are set out in the table. I am advised that 2015 data is due to be published shortly.
Contracts/Payments Notified to Revenue in 2014
|
|
Number |
Value |
|
Contracts |
319,114 |
€28.7bn |
|
Payments |
804,165 |
€10.1bn |
The Deputy will appreciate that through the contract and payment notification processes in the eRCT system, Revenue has access to significant amounts of realtime data covering activity in the construction, forestry and meat processing sectors. I am assured by Revenue that this data is used to target compliance interventions as part of its ongoing programme of compliance checks in those sectors.
25. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the number of acres of residential land and the number of residential units the National Asset Management Agency owns or controls, directly or indirectly, through loans owed to it, in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7983/16]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question 72 of 14th April 2016 which enumerates NAMA's indirect exposure through its loans to residential development land by county. This response is available on the Oireachtas website at http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail2016041400047?opendocument#WRD01900.
I am advised by NAMA that, through its loans, it has an exposure to 137 residential properties in County Kildare. I am further advised that the overwhelming majority of these properties, 127 or 92%, are currently tenanted. The remaining 10 properties are currently on the market for sale in accordance with NAMA's requirements that debtors and receivers openly market the sale of all properties through professionally accredited selling agents. As I advised in last week's response to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 14th April 2016, 88% of all NAMA-related residential property sales in Ireland have been in the form of individual sales to individual house buyers.
The Deputy may also wish to note that, under an initiative that has seen NAMA facilitate, on a commercial basis, the delivery of over 2,100 social housing units nationally since 2012, NAMA made 298 residential properties available for social housing in Kildare. The Housing Agency, which works with the relevant local authority, confirmed demand for 122 of these properties and 113 have already been delivered.
A good example of this initiative is the delivery of 35 new two- and three-bed houses at Coneyboro, Athy, County Kildare, for social housing. I am advised that these units were provided by NAMA through the Clùid Housing Association. The houses were made available to families from the Athy Town Council's housing waiting list. The beneficiaries extended beyond these new residents as the 35 units were part of a larger, 400-unit development, which, prior to NAMA's involvement, had been in an unfinished estate. In addition to making these units available for social housing, NAMA provided funding to complete works throughout the estate, including internal roads and green areas.
26. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a project (details supplied) in County Cork will be completed. [7908/16]
View answerLocal flooding issues are, in the first instance, a matter for each local authority to investigate and address. They may carry out flood alleviation works from their own resources or apply to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.
The scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria, which comprise economic, social and environmental criteria including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.
No applications for funding from Cork County Council are currently to hand in the OPW, concerning the works referenced.
The core strategy for addressing areas of potentially significant flood risk nationally is the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. Youghal is one of 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) nationwide that are being assessed. The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW, working in partnership with the local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans.
Under the South West CFRAM Study, draft predictive flood maps for Youghal AFA have been produced and were the subject of a Public Consultation Day in Youghal on 14 January, 2015. The draft maps are now being finalised following the conclusion of the national statutory public consultation process on 23 December, 2015. A further Public Consultation Day was held in Youghal on 10 March, 2016 to present and discuss preliminary options to manage the significant flood risks identified. Following finalisation of the flood mapping and the identification of preliminary flood risk management options, the final output from this important project will be integrated Flood Risk Management Plans containing specific measures to address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risks identified. The Plans, which are scheduled for completion by the end of 2016, will include a prioritised list of measures, both structural and non-structural, to address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner. Further information on the Programme is available on www.cfram.ie.
The Government recently announced increased levels of investment in the area of flood relief as part of the overall Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021 and this investment programme will allow for consideration of measures arising from the Flood Risk Management Plans.
27. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to provide a pension scheme for community employment scheme supervisors. [7974/16]
View answerUnions representing CE Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors have sought the provision of Exchequer funding to implement a Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme dating back to 2008. In this regard the position has remained that it is not possible for the State to provide funding for such a scheme to employees of private companies even if those companies are or were reliant on State funding.
Notwithstanding this the matter has remained under review and I held a constructive meeting with SIPTU and IMPACT trade unions in relation to this matter. Having listened to their respective positions I reconvened the Community Sector High Level Forum which ceased operation some years ago in order that this matter is fully examined, having regard to costs and precedent.
The Forum commenced its work on 27 November 2015 and a further meeting of the Forum took place on 11 April 2016.
28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts made to date and being undertaken to attract an industry or manufacturing facility to a location (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7866/16]
View answerCounty Cavan is marketed together with Louth and Monaghan as part of IDA Ireland’s North East Region. There are 33 multinational companies based in the North East, employing 4,556 people across the Region (Annual Employment Survey 2015). Seven of these multinationals are located in Cavan, employing 1,165 staff. County Cavan also has a strong indigenous industry base across a wide range of sectors. There were 4,222 people employed in Enterprise Ireland-assisted companies in the county in 2015 (Annual Employment Survey 2015). This is a gain of 190 on the previous year.
IDA Ireland currently positions the North East as having strong clusters in international business services (eBay, PayPal, Liberty Mutual) and manufacturing (Becton Dickinson, Wellman, Abbott). The presence of these international brands is an attraction when companies are considering locating to the North East. IDA Ireland will continue to market Cavan to relevant FDI opportunities, enquiries and potential investors through the IDA network.
The IDA Ireland lands in Killygarry consist of a c.17 hectare business and technology park. There are currently c.11 hectares of serviced marketable land available on the park, which are currently zoned as ‘industrial and employment’. The main tenant is ATA Group, which is an Enterprise Ireland client.
Regional development is fundamental to IDA Ireland’s five-year strategy entitled ‘Winning – Foreign Direct Investment 2015-2019’, which targets a minimum 30% to 40% increase in the number of investments for every region.
This Government, through the development of the Action Plan for Jobs – Regional, has placed an increased emphasis on supporting business development and job growth in all regions. Published last November, the Action Plan for Jobs for the North East/North West covers counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. The Plan aims to develop the full potential of the region by building on its strengths and supporting new and established businesses in order to stimulate and grow exports.
29. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware of the urgent need to provide much needed additional job opportunities throughout County Cavan; the proposals, if any, his Department and the State's industrial promotion agencies have to assist in job creation and the maintenance of existing employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7867/16]
View answer30. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware of the urgent need to provide much needed additional job opportunities throughout County Monaghan; the proposals his Department and the State's industrial promotion agencies have to assist in job creation and the maintenance of existing employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7868/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.
Supporting enterprise development in all regions of the country in order to support job creation is a key objective of the Government, with initiatives such as the regional Action Plans for Jobs seeking to build on the capabilities and strengths of each region to maximise enterprise growth and job creation.
The North East/North West Action Plan, launched on 30 November last, aims to deliver 28,000 extra jobs in the counties of Cavan, Monaghan, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and Louth by 2020. Key targets in service of this overall goal are to achieve an increase of at least 25% in the number of start-ups in the region; a 25% improvement in the survival rate of new businesses; an increase in the number of IDA investments in the region by 30-40% up to 2019; and an increase of 300 to 500 in the numbers of Údarás na Gaeltachta supported jobs in the North West.
Sectors targeted as part of the plan include traditionally strong sectors for the region like agri-food, manufacturing/engineering and tourism, including active promotion of the tourism potential of the Lakelands Region, which includes Cavan and Monaghan.
Areas targeted for future growth include digital payments, cleantech and creative services.
Since the Plan was launched, focus has moved to putting in place a comprehensive implementation structure. A Regional Implementation Committee has been established, composed of key stakeholders in the region who will work in concert with Enterprise Champions - nominated senior private sector representatives - to oversee and monitor progress. The Implementation Committee will meet on 25 April to review progress on the delivery of the Plan’s actions. The first Progress Report on the implementation of the NE/NW Action Plan, covering the period to end-June 2016, will be completed and published in Q3 2016.
Key actions in the plan to be delivered over the period 2015-2017 include the establishment of a North West Regional Skills Forum to ensure the flow of critical skills to enterprises in the region; collaboration between the Enterprise Agencies, the Education and Training Boards and Institutes of Technology to develop a marketing proposition around the Insurance and Technical Services cluster in the North West; and a Regional Innovation Forum for the North East/North West region to help support more companies to innovate and engage in R&D.
All regional Action Plans will be supported by investment of up to €250 million over the next five years, including €150 million for a property investment programme by IDA Ireland. A further sum of up to €100 million will be made available over the next five years through three competitive calls to be administered by Enterprise Ireland. These competitive calls are being targeted at innovative and collaborative approaches to support job creation across the regions.
On 22 January, a €3m Regional Accelerator Scheme was launched, which aims ultimately to create more accelerator spaces in the regions where start-ups can locate their businesses and access supports. It is targeted that a further €3m will be leveraged with additional private sector investment to support this entrepreneurship initiative. This Regional Accelerator Scheme was the first competitive initiative to be launched under the €40m competitive regional jobs fund announced by the Government on 15 January.
Other elements of this fund to be rolled out over the coming months include:
- Opportunities to drive greater company/sector collaboration/clustering in the regions
- Driving procurement opportunities for start-ups and established small businesses
- Strengthening Third-level as a driver of regional enterprise
- Strengthening the start-up ecosystem locally.
31. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if financial assistance is available to develop enterprise centres; if so, the level of funding provided in 2014 and 2015 towards such developments in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7869/16]
View answer32. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if funding is provided to local enterprise offices or to community groups for the development of enterprise centres; if so, the programmes of assistance available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7870/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 32 together.
Enterprise Ireland, the agency under my aegis, is tasked with the management of the Community Enterprise Centre Scheme. Since the launch of the first Community Enterprise Centre (CEC) scheme in 1989, €64 million has been approved for the development of CECs across the country. Supported by four CEC schemes (operated in 1989, 2000, 2006 and 2008) 157 centres have been approved for financial support - of which 117 have been completed. These centres collectively employ 6,051 people across 1,214 companies. In 2012 a €2m programme was launched for the Community Enterprise Centre Business Development Function/Manager by Enterprise Ireland. 46 business development managers were funded by Enterprise Ireland (37 in 2012 with a further 9 in 2013).
Last year, I announced details of the 5-year, €250 million Regional Action Plan for Jobs, aimed at accelerating the jobs recovery in every part of the country. Under the Regional Plan, Enterprise Ireland launched a competitive call, the Community Enterprise Initiatives Fund, with a budget of €5 million over two years, which focused on community-driven enterprise initiatives and how all the local players, public and private, can work together to maximise job creation. The Fund was open to existing Community Enterprise Centres (CECs) and also to any other organisation or groups of organisations with innovative ideas to create jobs, promote entrepreneurship, boost innovation or enhance exports.
The results of the competitive Community Enterprise Initiative Scheme will be announced shortly.
33. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the current position of an application under the community enterprise initiative for part-funding towards the appointment of a manager in a centre (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7973/16]
View answerLast year, I announced details of the 5-year, €250 million Regional Action Plan for Jobs, aimed at accelerating the jobs recovery in every part of the country. Under the Regional Plan, Enterprise Ireland launched a competitive call, the Community Enterprise Initiatives Fund, with a budget of €5 million over two years, which focused on community-driven enterprise initiatives and how all the local players, public and private, can work together to maximise job creation. The Fund was open to existing Community Enterprise Centres (CECs) and also to any other organisation or groups of organisations with innovative ideas to create jobs, promote entrepreneurship, boost innovation or enhance exports.
The results of the competitive Community Enterprise Initiative Scheme will be announced shortly.
34. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the significant number of food sector companies in Naas and surrounding areas in County Kildare, the policies his Department is pursing to sustain and grow the numbers of persons employed in this sector in County Kildare; if his Department has considered making Naas and the surrounding area a designated location or hub for the food sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7984/16]
View answerI am aware of the important role that Naas and County Kildare play in the Irish agri-food sector and the contribution to growth and employment made by companies based there in relation to prepared consumer foods, meat, dairy, bakery and confectionery, as well as the investment by an Irish food multinational in a Global Technology and Innovation Centre in Naas.
Food Wise 2025 which was launched in July last year sets out a ten year plan for the agri-food sector with a target of food and drink exports of €19 billion by 2025 and of 23,000 new jobs created in the sector. Its Local Roots, Global Reach vision underlines the sector’s unique regional position in the Irish economy, identifies smarter and greener ways to deliver sustainable growth and recommends actions to support economic development. The Mid- East Region Action Plan for Jobs 2015-2017 also has a specific focus on the importance of the agri-food sector in the region.
State agencies, in particular Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia, have been active in supporting agri-food companies in and close to Naas, and this has contributed to six consecutive years of national growth in Irish food and drink exports to reach €10.8 billion in 2015, that is 52% higher and €3.7 billion more than in 2009.
Enterprise Ireland provides important programmes right through a company’s development at start-up, scaling and growth stages. These include lean competitiveness programmes funded by my Department. In addition, FoodWorks, which was developed by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc provides intensive support for food and drink entrepreneurs.
A range of initiatives and supports including Bord Bia Quality Assurance Schemes, Origin Green, strong market intelligence and insight support for companies, trade shows especially Marketplace, and support for building brands with impact, are strengthening companies’ own development and growth plans.
Other innovative programmes such as Food Academy have provided an impetus to small companies and entrepreneurs. Food Academy is run by Bord Bia, Supervalu and the Local Enterprise Offices with the specific objective of supporting small food producers at a local level by providing training and support. Participating companies are provided with the necessary business, marketing skills and retailer knowledge to help them gain access to the Food Academy fixture in local Supervalu stores and selected participants may then work on an Advance programme, taking them from local to regional and national supplier status.
35. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to undertake a review of the seafarer's allowance scheme with a view to broadening its reach, in particular to seafarers aboard fishing vessels (details supplied). [7832/16]
View answerIn Budget 2014, the Government announced that in conjunction with the Inter Departmental Marine Co-ordination Group, a review of the financial and taxation supports available to the Marine Sector would be carried out, to examine strategic measures which could be introduced to help Ireland as an island nation to fulfil its potential in the marine area.
Phase 1 of this review involved an examination of the taxation supports available for certain subsectors of marine, namely fishing, ports and shipping. The overall objective of this review was to ensure that there is a supportive financial environment underpinning the marine sector. Following a tender process, Indecon International Economic Consultants were engaged to carry out the review, under the aegis of a steering group, comprising representatives from the Department of Finance, Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
This review was published in October 2015 (on Budget Day) and officials of the Department of Finance are currently working with the relevant Departments to consider options arising from the Marine Tax Review. One of the options which is being considered is a tax relief for fishermen similar to the seafarer's allowance. The outcome of this work is expected to be discussed in advance of the Finance Bill later this year, and will be a matter for consideration by the next Government.
36. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments under the beef scheme for 2014 will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [7835/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application to join the 2014 Beef Genomics Scheme (BGS) on the 20 March 2014 and registered fifty nine calves under the Scheme. Eligibility has been established for fifty six of these animals.
The other three animals are not eligible for payment. Payment is only made in respect of one of each set of twins and as two sets of twins were born in the herd that year two of these animals are not eligible for payment. The third ineligible animal was not registered within the legislative timeframe.
As there had also been an outstanding issue in relation to compliance with Bovine Viral Diarrhoea regulations, payment had not issued on the eligible animals to this point. This matter has now been resolved and payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named in respect of the fifty six eligible animals.
37. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a company (details supplied) seeking greyhounds from here, in view of the decision by the Australian Government to ban animal transports to this company; and if he will ban the transport of greyhounds from this country to that racing track, where they are open to abuse and exploitation. [7838/16]
View answerI am aware of the reports. Once appropriate animal health and welfare certification requirements are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be exported internationally, including to China. Exporters are required to comply with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport. My Department understands that Bord na gCon is making enquiries to determine if a Racing Code of Conduct offence has been committed or if an offence under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 has been committed in this instance.
38. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue for Scottish derogation to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7841/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for allocation of entitlements under the ‘Scottish Derogation’ measure of the Basic Payment Scheme. Under EU Regulations governing the Basic Payment scheme, processing of applications involves administrative and on farm checks and verification of land details submitted. The checks are now complete and the application has now been finalised. A letter will issue to the applicant in the coming days to advise him of the outcome of his application.
39. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of basic farm payments for 2015 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7871/16]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes was received from the person named on 13 May 2015. Processing of the Areas of Natural Constraint application has recently been finalised and payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
No valid Single Payment Scheme or Basic Payment Scheme entitlements have been held by the person named since 2008. Therefore no payment is due under either scheme.
40. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason rent allowance has been removed from young gardaí; if she will consider reinstating this allowance to help new members of the force; the amount it costs to operate this allowance; the amount that has been saved by cutting this allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7846/16]
View answer41. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will restore pay for gardaí and end the two-tier pay system, where new members of the force are paid on a different scale to other members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7847/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together.
The Deputy will be aware that following a review of all allowances in the public service during 2011 and 2012, the Government decided on 18 September 2012 that rent allowance for all new public servants including Gardaí, Prison Officers and Fire Officers should be abolished. The rent allowance costs €4,600 per officer per annum (inclusive of Employer's PRSI).
The Garda Commissioner who is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote has informed me that the annual cost to the Garda Vote, of reinstating the rent allowance for all recently attested Garda members would amount to €1.8 million. In addition, the annual costs of granting the rent allowance to existing student Gardaí upon attestation would be a further €1.4 million, giving a total for those recruited since recruitment recommenced in 2014 of €3.2 million. Obviously, that cost would increase by €4,600 for every Garda recruited into the future.
In December 2010 the then Government approved the reduction by 10% of the incremental salary scale for new entrants to traditional recruitment grades in the public service, including An Garda Síochána, to achieve a structural reduction in the cost of the public service. Under the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement para. 2.31, the imbalance between those who entered the public service since 2011 and those who entered before that date was required to be addressed by the preparation of revised incremental salary scales for new entrants. The pay scales now converge. Accordingly, the current position in relation to pay for new recruits is that trainee Gardaí are supported while completing their 2 year BA in Applied Policing. For the 32 week duration of phase 1 of their training they receive a basic weekly allowance of €184 and full board in the Garda College. After 32 weeks they are fully attested and move onto the first point of the Garda incremental pay scale of €23,750. The incremental scale rises to €42,138 per annum after 8 years with two further increments after 13 and 19 years' service which bring the maximum of the pay scale to €45,793 per annum after 19 years. It is important to recall that the Garda pay scale does not represent the full earnings of a Garda as it does not include any allowances. Gardaí assigned to frontline duties work the Garda Roster which attracts unsocial hours payments. Such payments amount to between 25% and 30% of their earnings. Even at the entry level of €23,750 and the lower end of unsocial hours scale, this will add almost €6,000 to the salary. Other allowances may also be payable, as may overtime.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Lansdowne Road Agreement represents the agreed structure for industrial relations and pay within the public service until 2018. It provides for the gradual unwinding of the pay reduction measures imposed on public servants at a cost of €844m over three years. It is underpinned by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015 (FEMPI). All public servants, including members of An Garda Síochána, have started to receive the benefits of that Agreement in the form of reductions in the rate of Pension Related Deduction (PRD) payable. For the majority of public servants, in addition to the PRD benefits, there is a significant reduction, weighted in favour of the lower paid, of the pay reductions suffered under the 2009 FEMPI legislation. These come in the form of increases in gross pay and are incorporated in the pay scale referred to above.
I recognise that public servants, including members of An Garda Síochána, played a significant part in stabilising the public finances and bringing about the economic recovery and I understand their frustrations at the pace of pay restoration. It is, however, essential that a prudent and sustainable approach is adopted given the current resources available and fiscal restraints on spending.
42. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a criminal investigation into allegations (details supplied) has been instigated by An Garda Síochána; if the Garda has taken possession of these files; if not, the reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7886/16]
View answer43. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the Tuam, County Galway, site has not been cordoned off as a crime scene in view of the information in an article (details supplied). [7888/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the instigation and management of any criminal investigation is a matter for the Garda authorities, as are any operational steps which might be taken in relation to the gathering and preservation of evidence. I hope the Deputy will appreciate that I have no role in this regard.
The Deputy will also recall that in February 2015 the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs established a Commission of Investigation which has been tasked with thoroughly examining the experience of vulnerable mothers and children resident in Mother and Baby Homes during the period 1922 to 1998, including the arrangements for the placement of children, whether in Ireland or abroad. The work of this Commission is ongoing and the Commission has the necessary powers to comprehensively examine the broad range of public concerns that have been expressed in relation to Mother and Baby homes.
