Written Answers Nos. 171-180
171. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her actions to stop digging for bait on Bull Island in County Dublin, a practice naturalists describe as inconsistent with the nature reserve status of the island and one which is having a negative impact on birds on the mudflats. [12241/16]
View answerThe Bull Island is a hugely important resource for nature and for the people of Dublin and visitors to the city. It is of very high nature value and also has many other traditional uses that can co-exist with nature, if carried out on a sustainable use basis. The Bull Island is surveyed annually as part of the Irish Wetland Birds Survey, which collects data on the number of wintering birds at sites around the country. My Department reviewed the data for the Bull Island from 2001 to 2014 and has concluded that there is no evidence of any decline of the bird groups such as waterfowl and waders that use and feed on the mudflats.
My Department will continue to review data from the Bull Island and can take action if it is considered necessary.
172. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the new responsibilities being assigned to her Department; the responsibilities it is intended to assign to the two Ministers of State under delegated sanction; the Exchequer funding to be transferred to her Department from other Departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12286/16]
View answerDetails of the reassignment of responsibilities among Government Departments, including my own, were outlined by the Taoiseach in his statement to Dáil Éireann of 6th May last. Officials of my Department are currently engaging with their counterparts in the relevant Departments to establish the details of the functions that will now come under the remit of my Department and to identify the associated personnel and other resources to be transferred. I anticipate that this process will be brought to a conclusion shortly, following which the issue of delegations to the newly appointed Ministers of State in my Department will be addressed, as appropriate. At that stage, I will be happy to furnish the Deputy with the relevant information.
173. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aici an tairiscint don Aersheirbhís go dtí oileáin Árann a tharraingt siar agus a athfhógairt de bharr mhíshásamh phobal na n-oileán faoi ghnéithe den cháipéis tairisceana agus na táillí a bheidh ar oileánaigh san áireamh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [12287/16]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, tá próiseas tairisceana ar siúl maidir leis an tseirbhís aeir d’Oileáin Árann le spriocdháta 17 Meitheamh 2016 chun tairiscintí bheith faighte. San idirlinn, tá gnéithe uile an cháis á scrúdú agam, ar a n-áirítear na cúinsí dlíthiúla agus soláthar.
174. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad é líon na státseirbhíseach atá lonnaithe in oifig na Roinne sna Forbacha i láthair na huaire; cad é an líon státseirbhíseach a bhí lonnaithe ann i mí Eanáir 2011; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [12288/16]
View answerTuigim go bhfuil 41 státseirbhíseach lonnaithe sna Forbacha i láthair na huaire. Bunaíodh an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ar an 2 Meitheamh 2011 agus bhí 44 ball foirne lonnaithe sna Forbacha ag an am sin. Déantar athbhreithniú rialta ar an líon foirne i bhfianaise riachtanais ghnó a thagann chun cinn, mar a léirítear i bpróiseas pleanála mo Roinne don fhórsa oibre.
175. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad é líon na bpleananna teanga ar tugadh faomhadh ina leith gach bliain ó tháinig an tAcht Teanga i bhfeidhm; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [12289/16]
View answerTá eolas maidir leis an líon scéimeanna teanga a daingníodh gach bliain ó tháinig Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 i bhfeidhm tugtha sa tábla thíos:
|
Bliain |
Líon scéimeanna |
|
2004 |
1 |
|
2005 |
22 |
|
2006 |
18 |
|
2007 |
29 |
|
2008 |
15 |
|
2009 |
22 |
|
2010 |
16 |
|
2011 |
1 |
|
2012 |
9 |
|
2013 |
16 |
|
2014 |
21 |
|
2015 |
21 |
|
2016 go dáta |
7 |
|
Iomlán |
198 |
Tugadh faomhadh i leith 198 scéim teanga ó tháinig an tAcht Teanga i bhfeidhm, idir chéad, dhara agus thríú scéimeanna. Mar is eol don Teachta, faoi réir alt 14(3) d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, fanann scéim i bhfeidhm ar feadh tréimhse trí bliana ón dáta a ndaingnítear í nó go dtí go mbíonn scéim nua daingnithe, cibé acu is déanaí.
Is mian liom a mheabhrú don Teachta fosta go bhfuil sonraí maidir leis na scéimeanna uilig atá daingnithe go dáta, mar aon leis na scéimeanna atá a n-ullmhú faoi láthair, ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga www.coimisineir.ie.
176. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the support she is providing for the national famine memorial day commemoration in 2016. [12389/16]
View answerThe annual National Famine Commemoration events, held at home and abroad, are overseen by the National Famine Commemoration Committee, of which I am chairperson. My Department works with other Government Departments and with a wide range of stakeholders to put in place appropriate annual commemorations of the Great Famine. The 2015 National Famine Commemoration was held in Newry last September, while the 2015 International Famine Commemoration was held in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, in October. Both events were very successful and generated significant support and appreciation among the host communities.
Preparations are under way for the 2016 national and international commemorative ceremonies, which will take place later this year. Details in relation to both events will be announced shortly.
Further information regarding the National Famine Commemoration is available on the website http://www.irishfamine.ie/.
177. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of houses Waterways Ireland has in its possession and the number of these that are derelict or vacant, by county. [12414/16]
View answerWaterways Ireland currently has 67 houses in its possession, of which twenty-one are derelict and twelve are vacant. The properties by county are set out in the following table.
|
Number of Houses in Waterways Ireland's Possession |
||||
|
County |
Occupied |
Vacant |
Derelict |
Total |
|
Antrim |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Carlow |
2 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
|
Dublin |
6 |
2 |
5 |
13 |
|
Fermanagh |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Galway |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Kildare |
7 |
5 |
4 |
16 |
|
Derry |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Limerick |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Longford |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Meath |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
9 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
|
Roscommon |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
|
Total |
34 |
12 |
21 |
67 |
178. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to introduce a wage requirement payable to student physiotherapists partaking in work placement in line with the payment student nurses receive for work placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12406/16]
View answerIt is not policy to provide financial payments to students who are undertaking training placements in physiotherapy. The situation differs for nursing students. The student nurses undertake a number of unpaid supernumerary work experience placements during the first three years of their degree programme. In the fourth year they undertake a 36 week clinical placement during which they replace staff nurses on a 2:1 ratio. During this placement they experience the full range of nursing duties and requirements, including week-end and night duty rosters.
179. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding employees in the Central Remedial Clinic. [12442/16]
View answerThe Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is funded by the Health Service Executive under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004 and employs in the region of 287 employees. It is understood that 47 employees are members of the funded pension scheme in question.
Following receipt of information from the CRC in relation to the wind-up of the scheme the CRC was requested, as a matter of urgency, to seek a viable alternative proposal in conjunction with the HSE. This proposal will then be submitted for approval to my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The latter is responsible for Government policy in relation to public service pensions. Pension schemes and pension terms for public servants generally require the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Health Service Executive is expected to meet with the CRC this week to discuss the current situation and explore options in relation to the employees concerned.
While it has been suggested that the employees concerned could be granted access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (SPSPS) unfortunately this is not possible based on the rules of the SPSPS which are set out in legislation; the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.
180. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if and why the Health Service Executive has suspended the recruitment of doctors, nurses and midwives in hospitals; the consideration the agency gave to this decision; to reverse this decision to ensure the provision of health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12242/16]
View answerThere is no recruitment embargo in place in the HSE. Arising from Budget 2015, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced an easing of restrictions on the employment of additional staff. Submission of a Pay and Numbers Strategy, outlining planned staffing levels and pay/pensions expenditure, was required to obtain sanction for the lifting of the moratorium and Employment Control Framework arrangements.
The HSE is currently working with my Department on the preparation of its 2016 Pay and Numbers Strategy. This has involved the development of ‘bottom up’ workforce plans at hospital and community service level. While these plans are being developed, interim recruitment measures have been put in place by the HSE, which require that pay budgets are complied with.
These measures do not impact on a hospital’s ability to recruit where funding exists to facilitate that recruitment; for example, in the case of replacement posts or where funding has been allocated for particular roles under the HSE service plan. Recruitment can also take place in areas of critical care and emergency services.
There is a real focus by the HSE on recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives. It is recognised that recruitment and retention of both must be prioritised to support service delivery.
The HSE has continuously increased staffing levels since the beginning of 2015. During the 15 month period from January 2015 to March 2016, nursing figures rose by over 1,700 WTEs or 5%.
The Government's intention is to grow the health budget as the economy improves, to improve working conditions for front line staff and deliver the level of service that we all want to see provided to patients.
