Written Answers Nos. 1202-1221
1202. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the counselling services available for persons seeking support as survivors of sexual abuse in counties Louth and Meath; if there is a waiting time involved for such services; and her views that such services are sufficient to meet the needs of persons in Counties Louth and Meath. [9742/16]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency provides funding to Rape Crisis North East for provision of counselling and support services for victims and survivors of sexual violence in the north eastern part of the country.
Additionally, the 24 Hour sexual violence national helpline, operated by Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is accessible 24/7 for individuals from any part of the country who have experienced sexual violence. The helpline is also available to family and friends.
Tusla, along with other agencies, provides counselling and support to children who have been sexually abused and their families. If a child is taken into care as a result of sexual abuse, the allocated social worker in Tusla will provide counselling and support.
Rape Crisis North East operates a comprehensive suite of support services which includes telephone support, accompaniment (e.g. Garda, Court) and counselling services for women, men and older children who have experienced sexual violence.
In addition to services at the organisation’s offices in Dundalk, Co. Louth, outreach counselling is provided in Drogheda, County Louth and Castleblayney, County Monaghan to facilitate greater access to services across the North East region.
Tusla has advised that it is aware that there are some waiting times for access to counselling services at a number of Rape Crisis/Sexual Violence services. However, those on waiting lists are provided with an initial assessment and support services. Waiting lists are actively monitored so that those in greatest need are prioritised appropriately.
Tusla has been assured by Rape Crisis North East and other organisations providing services to victims of sexual violence, that individuals in a crisis situation are prioritised and seen immediately or as soon as operationally possible.
As part of commissioning developments, the Tusla domestic, sexual and gender based violence services programme is seeking to assure that services are matched to identified needs. Tusla is actively engaged with Rape Crisis North East and other stakeholders to determine how to address gaps in services. Additional funding is being made available for outreach services this year.
1203. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the Government policy and process relative to Irish citizens wishing to adopt a child from Bulgaria; the regulated structures that are in place to enable such adoptions to be arranged; the international agreements that Ireland has signed up to relative to foreign adoption arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9745/16]
View answerIreland ratified the Hague Convention on the protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption on 1 November 2010. The Adoption Act 2010 provides for intercountry adoption between countries that have ratified the Hague Convention such as Bulgaria, or between countries with whom Ireland has a bilateral agreement under Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010. The Act, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, provides a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child. Any adoption from a Hague country must comply with the Adoption Act, 2010 and the Hague Convention.
Applicants for intercountry adoption must apply to Tusla the Child and Family Agency in the first instance and then undergo a detailed assessment process. This assessment is undertaken by professional Social Workers, and must be approved by the Adoption Authority of Ireland before a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to Adopt can be issued by the Authority. Adoptions are currently ongoing from Vietnam, the USA, China, Thailand, the Philippines, and Bulgaria.
Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency is accredited by the Adoption Authority of Ireland to facilitate inter country adoptions from Bulgaria.
1204. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding avenues available to a child care facilities to upgrade and renovate their premises; if there is any emergency funding that may be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9774/16]
View answerCapital funding of more than €420 million was provided by the State to support the development of childcare infrastructure in the period up until 2008. Since the economic downturn the limited funding available to this Department has been targeted to support the refurbishment and maintenance of childcare facilities in which there has already been considerable investment.
The Department announced earlier this year the introduction of an Early Years Capital Programme 2016 with total funding of €4 million available. This funding is targeted at early years pre-school providers that are making alterations to their services to accommodate the increased numbers of children eligible for the free pre-school provision following my decision to expand the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The number of children availing of the programme will increase from approximately 67,000 per year to 127,000 per year following the full roll out of the expanded pre-school provision.
Last year, the Department established the Inter-Departmental Group to consider options for future investment in early years and after-school childcare and to set out a range of options for future investment which would enhance affordability, increase the accessibility and improve the quality of early years and after-school childcare.
Several recommendations of the Group, including a number which relate to after-school childcare, were considered as part of the Estimates process for the Budget and will also be funded in 2016. These include a €3 million capital fund, which will be provided to enable both community/not-for-profit and private providers to develop after-school childcare services using existing school and other accessible community facilities. The terms and conditions for this €3 million capital fund are currently being drafted.
A number of support programmes are implemented by this Department to support parents to access quality after-school childcare services. These include:
- The After-School Childcare (ASCC) programme that provides after-school care for primary school children of eligible parents for a period of 52 weeks. Eligibility for the programme is determined by the Department of Social Protection. The programme contributes €40 per week for an after-school place or €80 per week in situations where the childcare service provides a pick-up service that collects the child from school. The programme also provides a full day care rate of €105 per week, for a maximum of 10 weeks, to cater for school holiday periods. In all cases, the maximum fee payable by parents is €15 per week per child.
- The Community Employment Childcare (CEC) programme, which is targeted specifically at participants in the Community Employment (CE) schemes operated by the Department of Social Protection. Under this programme, €80 per week is provided for pre-school places for children up to the age of 5 and €40 per week for after-school places for primary school children up to the age of 13, with a set charge of €15 per week to the parent in either case. The programme also provides a part time day care rate of €80 per week, for a maximum of 10 weeks, to cater for school holiday periods. Places are approved for 50 weeks. Eligibility for the CEC programme is determined by the Department of Social Protection.
- The Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme, which provides childcare places, including part-time and after-school places, to qualifying Solas or Education and Training Boards (ETB) trainees or students for the duration of their courses. Eligibility for the CETS programme is determined by the Department of Education and Skills.
- The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to childcare services to enable them to provide quality childcare, including after-school care, at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income working parents.
There is no funding available other than the programme funding outlined above, however, it should be noted that if a service is facing a crisis they should engage with this Department and their local County Childcare Committee (CCC) to see what assistance can be made available to them. The Department will consider any subsequent future capital programmes subject to budget discussions.
1205. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is the same access and level of services available to children with special needs who are either fostered or adopted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9919/16]
View answerI should inform the Deputy at the outset that responsibility for disability services rests with the Minister for Health. The statutory duty of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. There are many reasons for children coming into Tusla's care including abuse and neglect but disability alone, whether intellectual or physical, is not one.
Tusla provides child welfare and protection services to all children, including those with special needs. I am advised by Tusla that children in care who have been diagnosed by a clinical specialist as having a moderate or severe disability avail of disability services operated by the HSE. In some cases, this includes residential care provided by Disability Services.
It is Tusla’s responsibility to respond to any concern or report of abuse or risk of abuse to any child, irrespective of a disability or whether they are at home, already in care or living in a HSE residential centre provided by Disability Services. In such circumstances, Tusla will assess the child's situation. Decisions by Tusla to apply for a care order with respect to a child with a moderate or severe disability are made at a multidisciplinary case conference where the views of professionals who have long established knowledge of the child and family are heard.
Placement is based on assessed need. A child with a disability may be placed with a Tusla foster care family or residential unit and receive disability services. Of the 6,398 children in care at the end of February 2016, 93% were in foster care. Where a child is already attending a disability service it may be in the child's best interests to be placed in the disability service's residential care to allow for continuation of relationships, care planning and to avoid a disruption in placement when the child reaches the age of 18 and is discharged from Tusla's care. Tusla and the HSE have a joint protocol for inter-agency collaboration which underpins service provision for children whose needs span health and child protection.
When a child is adopted he/she is considered a child of the adopter(s) and may access the full range of services which are currently available to all Irish children. These include specialist psychiatric and psychological services, health services and speech and language services. Barnardos also provides professional supports to children adopted from abroad and their families who are living in the Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow area on a range of post adoption issues. In other areas, Tusla Adoption services provide information on the availability of local services, access to the social work duty system and facilitate peer support groups for parents of adopted children.
1206. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to allow children whose birthdays fall a matter of days outside the limits to be accepted for the second free preschool year on a discretionary basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10183/16]
View answerIn Budget 2016 it was announced that, from September 2016, children will be eligible to start free pre-school when they reach the age of 3, and can continue in free pre-school until they start primary school (once the child is not older than 5½ years at the end of the pre-school year i.e. end June). The age range for eligibility for children enrolling for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in September 2016 is 1 January 2012 to the 31 August 2013.
The eligibility criteria for national schemes must be strictly adhered to. Exceptions to these criteria can only currently be made in the event that a child has been diagnosed as having a special/additional need. Any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility criteria must be supported by a medical assessment report from the HSE/medical specialist, specifying the child's special need and diagnosis. In such a case, an application should be made to the Early Years Policies and Programmes Unit of my Department, attaching a supporting medical report.
1207. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 485 of 16 June 2015, if the indicated additional two liaison officers to work with residents and the Reception and Integration Agency have been appointed; the additional training these officers have received; the additional training social workers have received to improve cultural competency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10389/16]
View answer1208. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 486 of 16 June 2015, if funding has been accessed by social workers working with families in Mosney direct provision centre for translation services during the past ten months. [10390/16]
View answer1209. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 488 of 16 June 2015, if she will confirm that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has translated relevant information leaflets into French and Swahili for families in the Mosney direct provision centre. [10391/16]
View answer1210. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of live child protection cases at Mosney direct provision centre. [10392/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1207 to 1210, inclusive, together.
I have referred the Deputy's questions to the Child and Family Agency, Tusla for a response, and will revert when this is to hand.
1211. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of providing an extra 1,500 extra places on the community child care subvention programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10435/16]
View answerThe Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme provides funding to community/ not-for-profit services to enable them to provide quality childcare at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low-income working parents. Parents qualify as disadvantaged or low income on the basis of means-tested entitlements.
As part of Budget 2016, the Department announced an expansion of the CCS programme. This expansion provided for a further 3,200 (full-time equivalent) childcare places on the programme, or approximately 8,000 children based on average uptake. The expansion also saw the inclusion of private childcare providers in the CCS Programme for the first time. The Community Childcare Subvention Private (CCSP) Programme launched in March 2016.
The cost of the programme is €95 per week over a 52 week period. This gives an annual cost of €4,940 per full day care place for the full academic year (September - August). Therefore, the cost of providing an extra 1,500 extra places on the Programme would be €7,410,000.
1212. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to reply to correspondence (details supplied) regarding an old military vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9483/16]
View answerI can confirm that the correspondence referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 29 April 2016. Military vehicles undergo regular maintenance and overhauls to ensure that they are roadworthy. It is not the practice to retain a vehicle in service if it is not considered roadworthy. When, having regard to age, condition and mileage, vehicles are considered by military transport personnel to have reached the end of their economic life, the vehicle is withdrawn from operational service and proposed for disposal. Military vehicles are normally disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the ‘End of life Vehicle Regulations’.
I note that the organisation in question is seeking a vehicle to make regular road journeys. While wishing to be of assistance to the requestor, it is not appropriate to transfer ownership of a vehicle, which is deemed not to be roadworthy, for the purpose of being driven on public roads.
As the military vehicles are not suitable for the use intended by the group referred to in your question, I regret that the request cannot be acceded to.
1213. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the options open to persons (details supplied) who wish to leave the Defence Forces to pursue an alternative career. [9475/16]
View answerDefence Forces Regulation (DFR) A10, Paragraph 8, 58 & 61, an Air Corps Apprentice, enlisted in accordance with DFR A10 Para 8. (1) (e.) (ii), provides that where technical training has not been completed personnel may apply for a discharge by purchase at a cost which is dependent on the number of years service at that point. Specifically, the costs are as follows:
- 3 months service or more but not exceeding 1 years service: €1,265
- More than one year’s service but not exceeding 2 years service: €2,535
- More than 2 year’s service but not exceeding 3 years service: €3,805
- More than 3 year’s service but not exceeding 4 years service: €5,075
An Air Corps Apprentice, enlisted in accordance with DFR A10 Para 8. (1) (e.) (ii), who has completed his/her technical training may apply for a discharge by purchase at a cost of €6,345.
Where an Air Corps Apprentice has completed not less than half the period of their original enlistment (12 years), the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) or the Director, Personnel Section may, where it is considered that there is sufficient cause shown, reduce the amount payable under by one-twentieth for each year of service up to a maximum reduction of fifty (50) per cent.
1214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the adequacy of the Defence Forces in meeting emergencies in a security or natural disaster situation; if he continues to develop the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps in line with requirements to meet such contingencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9765/16]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible.
The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. However, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is to provide Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.
In these circumstances a wide variety of military training activities are specifically designed to counter or respond to possible security emergencies and the Defence Forces hold regular coordination and liaison meetings with An Garda Síochána in relation to ATCP issues.
In relation to non-security related emergencies, whilst the Defence Forces are not a Principal Response Agency as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) role.
At National level, representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, by both my Department and the Defence Forces, ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation in the event of an emergency and that the command structure within the Defence Forces is compatible with the requirements in this area.
The Defence Forces are also represented on the eight Regional Working Groups that have been established under the Framework and, on an ongoing basis, designated members of the Defence Forces, based around the country, act as Liaison Officers to Local Authorities.
The full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel and equipment, commensurate with operational requirements, is available for deployments in response to emergencies and natural disasters. In this regard, the Defence Forces hold a wide range of engineering and transport plant and equipment for military purposes. All such plant and equipment suitable for use in emergency situations is made available as the need arises.
In relation to the Naval Service, all vessels are multi-tasked in the sense that, in addition to their fishery protection role, they also undertake general surveillance, security, pollution monitoring, and Search and Rescue in support to the Irish Coast Guard, amongst other duties while on patrol. These activities assist in detecting and preventing emergency situations throughout Ireland’s maritime jurisdiction.
The role of the Air Corps includes the provision of an emergency inter-hospital Air Ambulance service in support of the HSE. It is also supporting the HSE in an emergency aeromedical support service operating primarily in the West of Ireland. The Air Corps also has a maritime surveillance function undertaken by its maritime patrol aircraft and both it and the Naval Service provide support to the Irish Coast Guard in maritime Search and Rescue operations.
I am satisfied that the Defence Forces continue to be developed in line with requirements needed to fulfil all roles that are assigned to them by Government in any emergency situations that may arise.
1215. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the degree to which the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps will continue to participate in overseas missions in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9766/16]
View answerAs of 1 May 2016, Ireland is contributing 471 Defence Forces personnel to 11 overseas missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement attached.
The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 194 personnel, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 138 personnel and the Naval Service humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean with 58 personnel.
Irish soldiers deployed to UNIFIL serve alongside Finnish Armed Forces as part of a joint Battalion which is currently under Finnish command. Ireland takes over command of the Battalion from Finland in November 2016 at which time an additional Company of some 150 personnel will be deployed to UNIFIL bringing Ireland’s contribution to this mission to 340 personnel approximately,
The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. With regard to any future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. When considering any particular request, the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate, which has the potential to contribute to a political solution, consideration of how the mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy and the degree of risk involved are amongst the factors considered.
The Government’s White Paper on Defence includes a commitment to review Ireland's declared contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS) (formerly UNSAS) and the EU Headline Goal; to include consideration of the potential deployability of the full range of Defence Forces' capabilities including Army, Air Corps and Naval Service capabilities and assets on peace support and crisis management operations. This review will commence in 2017.
The current contribution of some 470 Defence Forces personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security.
Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas As of 1 May 2016
1. UN MISSIONS
(i) UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ 9
UNIFIL 51st Infantry Group 181
UNIFIL Sector West HQ 4
(ii) UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria 12
(iii) MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) 3
(iv) MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic 4
Republic of the Congo)
(v) UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) 2
(vi) UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ, 8
Golan Heights, Syria
UNDOF 48th Infantry Group 130
TOTAL 353
UN MANDATED MISSIONS
(vii) EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) 7
(viii) EUTM Mali (EU-Led Training Mission) 10
(ix) KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo ) HQ 12
2. OTHER DEPLOYMENTS
Naval Service Humanitarian Mission in Mediterranean L.É. Róisín 58
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSION 440
3. ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)
(i) OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina 1
(ii) Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH OSCE 2
4. EU MILITARY STAFF
Brussels 4
5. EU BATTLE GROUP
German-led Battle Group 2016 HQ Strasbourg 10
UK-LED Battle Group 2016, UK 5
6. MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF
(i) Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York 1
(ii) Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna 1
(iii) Military Representative to EU (Brussels) 4
(iv) Liaison Officer of Ireland, NATO /PfP (Brussels) 2
(v) EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium 1
(vi) Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS 471
1216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will make available the actuarial assessment used to calculate annuity value in the case of reduced payment of disability pension to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10079/16]
View answerThe actuarial assessment in this case was received in February 1987 from the Actuary in the then Department of the Public Service.
The assessment stated that the annuity value of £2,873/€3,648 was based on the conversion of a capital sum of £29,500/€37,457 for a 24 year male, a 10% interest rate and the AP (90) standard mortality table. It stated that no account was taken of taxation.
As outlined previously to the Deputy, Section 13(2) of the Army Pension Act 1923 provides that any compensation received may be taken into consideration in fixing the amount of any pension, allowance or gratuity awarded under the provisions of the Army Pensions Acts. The underlying objective is to take into consideration awards made ‘on the double’ for the same disablement.
1217. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current plans for recruitment to the Army; the number expected to be recruited in 2016 and in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10293/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services, the establishment of the Permanent Defence Force and available resources. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force targeted recruitment takes place so as to maintain personnel numbers at or near the agreed strength levels as set out above in accordance with available training capacity.
This approach is underlined by the recently announced General Service recruitment campaign, which was launched on 13 April 2016 with a closing date of 22 May 2016, and envisages an intake of 600 general services recruits in 2016 and a further 850 in 2017. This recruitment will be phased over the 2016 and 2017 period in a manner designed to restore the established strength and plans are being put in place to this end. Most of the new recruits this year will be drawn from the existing General Service panel. A new panel will be established from the current competition. Recruitment from this new panel is expected to commence towards the end of 2016 and will continue through 2017.
With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, it is intended to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.
1218. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to address a matter raised in correspondence from a person (details supplied). [10414/16]
View answerThe matter referred to concerns a request for an increase in the pensions paid to retired members of the Defence Forces.
I am advised that up until September 2008, public service pensions, including military pensions, were generally increased in line with relevant pay increases applied to serving personnel and staff. This was commonly known as ‘pay parity’. Such pension increases normally required the prior approval of the Minister for Finance / Public Expenditure and Reform.
Since then, there have been effectively no public service pay increases and, as a consequence, no pension increases either. Rather, due to the fiscal crisis faced by the country, significant cuts to both public service pay and pensions were applied by way of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009-2013 (the FEMPI Acts).
In respect of pensioners, including Defence Forces pensioners, the key FEMPI retrenchment measure has been the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR). Introduced in January 2011, with deeper cuts to higher pensions applied from July 2013, the PSPR’s progressive design provides that it has never applied to annual pensions below €12,000, and at present no pension below €18,700 is affected by PSPR. By contrast, those employed as public servants all experienced pay cuts in 2010 regardless of salary level, together with a Pension Related Deduction (PRD – ‘pension levy’) applied since 2009 to earnings above €15,000.
In tandem with gradual pay restoration under the ‘Lansdowne Road Agreement’, and as legislated in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015, a multi-stage part-restoration of the PSPR cuts to pensions is now in progress. The initial focus is on the people in receipt of relatively low pensions who are impacted by PSPR. This provides for a restoration of pension income affected by the PSPR on a phased basis over three years to most PSPR-impacted pensioners as follows:
- From 1st January 2016 – return of €400 per year
- From 1st January 2017 – return of €500 per year
- From 1st January 2018 – return of €780 per year.
It remains the position of Government that, in still-constrained fiscal conditions, pay and pension assistance measures for public servants and retired public servants should focus on the roll-back (part-reversal) of earlier FEMPI-delivered reductions (pay cuts, PRD, PSPR).
In the 2015 White Paper on Defence (Section 7.7) particular emphasis is given to a Veterans Policy. This gives special acknowledgement to the service and contribution of our veterans and their continued active support of the Defence Forces. It references the supports in place, and being developed, for former servicemen and servicewomen of the Defence Forces.
1219. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason an application for the Naval Service was refused for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10486/16]
View answerIn order to be enlisted as a General Service Recruit, applicants are required to pass all stages of the recruitment process. This includes Physical Fitness Test, Psychometric Test, Interview, Medical Examination and Security Clearance.
In relation to this particular case, the Military Authorities have advised that the individual referred to did not satisfy the requirements for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force.
I am unable to comment any further on this matter, as it is the policy of the Department of Defence to treat all applications for enlistment in the Defence Forces as strictly private and confidential. However, the individual concerned may apply for feedback.
1220. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of a pending report on the circumstances surrounding an incident on the LÉ Cliona in May 1962; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10510/16]
View answerIn light of a number of representations and parliamentary questions received in relation to the incident on board the LÉ Cliona on 29 May 1962, my predecessor, Minister Coveney requested that the Chief of Staff have the circumstances surrounding the incident reviewed. A Board was duly convened by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) on 13 October 2015.
The Board’s report recommended that Lieutenant O'Mahony, Able Stoker Mynes and two others, Chief E.R.A. Egan and Chief Stoker O’Callaghan, be presented with a letter/scroll of Commendation (posthumously in the case of Chief Stoker O’Callaghan) for their brave and decisive actions in bringing the fire on board the LÉ Cliona under control. The report also recommended that the ship’s company should be publically acknowledged particularly for the team effort made in ensuring the safe return of the ship to port, once the fire had been brought under control.
Following consideration of the report, Minister Coveney accepted the report’s recommendations and, to this end, it is intended to hold a ceremony in Haulbowline Naval Base at which the scrolls of commendation will be presented and a plaque will be unveiled in acknowledgment of the team effort of the ship’s company in relation to the incident.
1221. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the pay of rank and file soldiers and to report on engagement with the representative organisations of soldiers in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10658/16]
View answerRates of remuneration and conditions of employment in the Irish public sector have traditionally been set by reference to relative levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public sector. In this regard, the level of remuneration in the Defence sector has maintained relativity with the levels available in other related public sector employments. The Deputy will be aware that the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009-2015 and the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (Lansdowne Road Agreement) define current pay policy.
A scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for members of the PDF provides a formal mechanism for the PDF Representative Associations, RACO and PDFORRA, to engage with the Official side. The purpose of the scheme is to provide a means for the determination of claims and proposals from the Associations relating to remuneration and conditions of service. Since 1993, there have been significant developments and improvements in the pay and conditions of military personnel. The Representative Associations have been to the fore in advancing the interests of their members in this regard, bringing them in line generally with the pay and conditions available in other public service employments.
