Written Answers Nos. 610-631
610. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to pursue more applications for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation world heritage status for more of Ireland's national landmarks (details supplied). [13598/16]
View answerIreland’s current World Heritage Tentative List has come about from a very comprehensive, thorough and inclusive process undertaken by a panel of Irish and international heritage experts specifically appointed for that purpose. The process included full public consultation and an indepth review of all proposed candidate sites.
In the meantime, my Department has engaged with local authorities and local groups from the areas with proposals on the Tentative List to gauge the extent of the support available to advance the proposals and to clarify the work and resources required for that purpose. The fundamental requirement is that each site must be capable of demonstrating Outstanding Universal Value to UNESCO.
Technical evaluations have been produced for each of the six sites forming part of the Royal Sites serial nomination which are currently being reviewed by experts. My Department is examining a draft of the Burren evaluation document which will be completed as quickly as possible to allow the evaluation itself to proceed. In the case of the Historic City of Dublin proposal, this is being advanced by Dublin City Council and my Department is represented on the Steering Committee.
The next steps will involve developing Management Plans for each site (a UNESCO requirement) and the designation of core and buffer zones in each case. At each stage local consultation is required. This process will also have to take into account the fact that some sites will be managed by the Office of Public Works, others by local authorities and that two monuments on the Royal Sites list are privately owned. Another - Eamhain Macha in Armagh - is in Northern Ireland. The culmination of these steps will be the creation of the full nomination documents for each site for submission to UNESCO.
I am committed to supporting the current proposals in every way that I can but the process is a lengthy one and all of the work at every stage must be supported and developed from the local level up with stakeholder buy-in and commitment at each and every stage. While this adds to the timescale, it is infinitely preferable than a top down approach that fails to engage with local communities. It also ensures a far better chance of best care and support for the protection and preservation of these sites into the future.
611. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht how she will work with the Minister for Education and Skills to ensure that parents can access second-level education through Irish, especially in areas with proven demand for Gaelscoileanna. [13599/16]
View answerAt the outset, I wish to inform the Deputy that the question of access to second level education through Irish is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.
In the context of its responsibility for coordinating the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, however, my Department works in close cooperation with a number of key stakeholders, including the Department of Education and Skills. In that regard, my Department maintains regular contact with these stakeholders with regard to progressing the implementation of a number of important measures, including educational measures, under the Strategy.
Given the critical role of education in achieving the objectives detailed in the 20-Year Strategy, I can assure the Deputy that this close co-operation will continue to be a priority and I look forward to engaging with my colleague, Richard Bruton, TD, Minister for Education and Skills, in relation to these matters.
612. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide extra funding to Irish-speaking Gaeltacht areas to encourage greater use of the language and better economic prospects for those living in Gaeltacht areas. [13600/16]
View answerBy way of supporting the maintenance and development of the Irish language as a community and household language in the Gaeltacht, the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 is recognised as a key priority in the Programme for a Partnership Government. Other measures outlined in the Programme include:
- A focus on job creation in the Gaeltacht, through Údarás na Gaeltachta;
- Encouraging the attendance by children in Irish-medium pre-schools or naíonraí in Gaeltacht areas;
- Recognising the importance of the status of Irish as a full working language of the EU institutions and working towards ending the derogation, as circumstances allow; and
- Increasing the investment in the Irish language.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department, together with Údarás na Gaeltachta, administers a wide range of schemes, programmes and initiatives targeting language and economic development in Gaeltacht areas. Further details are available on the Department’s website at www.ahg.gov.ie and on the Údarás na Gaeltachta website at www.udaras.ie.
The Deputy may also be aware that in order to further underpin the implementation of the Strategy and the language planning process, as set out in Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, a specific allocation of €1m has also been provided in the current year. This allocation will further enable my Department, acting in concert with Údarás na Gaeltachta and relevant stakeholders at community level, to implement a range of specific and practical measures aimed at both supporting the implementation of the Strategy, as well as the language planning process in Gaeltacht areas.
In relation to the economic development of the Gaeltacht, as Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, I very much appreciate the importance of job creation in helping to retain sustainable communities in Gaeltacht areas. In that context, I wish to acknowledge the very important enterprise and employment function of Údarás na Gaeltachta as the regional economic agency for the Gaeltacht. In its regional enterprise role in the Gaeltacht, Údarás na Gaeltachta, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, will continue to work towards attracting investment to the Gaeltacht, in addition to supporting micro-enterprises and developing the skills base in the Gaeltacht. In order to enable Údarás na Gaeltachta to fulfil its job creation and job retention role in the Gaeltacht, capital funding of €6.687m has been provided by the Exchequer to Údarás in 2016, in addition to its own resources from the sale of assets and investments.
The issue of funding in respect of 2017 will be addressed in due course in the context of the estimates and budgetary processes.
613. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht how she will ensure that arts funding is used in order that minority and new Irish voices are heard as part of our cultural output. [13601/16]
View answer621. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to liaise with the Minister for Health to develop and roll out an arts and health strategy across acute and children’s hospitals and across the community health sector and the other innovative approaches being considered to use the arts as a means to promote well-being across society. [13611/16]
View answer626. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has had any engagement with organisations such as Fighting Words which are working on developing and nurturing creative writing and literacy skills outside of the mainstream education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13635/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 613, 621 and 626 together.
Under the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the main channel of the State's current expenditure on the arts and will receive over €60 million in 2016.
The Arts Council’s ten-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025) set outs how it will lead the development of all aspects of the arts in Ireland over the next decade. Making Great Art Work places specific emphasis on the need to plan and provide for children and young people. The five high level values of the Strategy include a comment to excellence as well as respect for diversity of artistic practice, of public engagement, and of social and cultural traditions. The strategy also commits to working to achieve full implementation of the Arts in Education Charter.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the publication of Culture 2025 as a priority and I intend to submit the draft policy to Government for consideration in the coming weeks. This first such policy will be a living document and will form the basis of an on-going dialogue with all who are interested in cultural policy. Both the new Arts Council Strategy and the evolving Culture 2025 policy provide platforms to deepen engagement across all the sectors referred to in the questions.
614. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to support the development of the creative industries sector; if she has reviewed the report from the previous Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on the hearings relating to examining the potential for job creation, innovation and balanced economic development in the creative economy; and if she will implement the recommendations of the report in tandem with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. [13602/16]
View answerThe Government appreciates the importance of the cultural and creative industries to Ireland, including the music industry. My Department provides significant support for the arts and film through its funding of the Arts Council and the Film Board while my Department provides capital supports for the development of arts and cultural infrastructure.
Other financial and policy supports are also provided, for example, through the taxation system. I was particularly pleased that the Government introduced a 25% increase in the income ceiling for the artists' tax exemption for 2015. This important measure recognises the invaluable contribution which artists, including songwriters and composers, make to society and to the music industry.
I am keenly aware of the potential of the creative sector to contribute to sustainable jobs growth and my Department continues to work with other Departments, in particular with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation across a range of areas as set out in the Action Plan for Jobs.
My Department - through Culture Ireland – also plays a major part in promoting Irish arts and music on the world stage.
Issues in relation to the creative industries are also of relevance in the development of Ireland's first national cultural policy, Culture 2025, which I intend to finalise shortly. The issue of reviewing the structures which support the cultural sector will be considered in the context of any next steps arising from the publication of Culture 2025.
Regarding the report referred to, my Department will consider the relevant recommendations in the context of the policy work being undertaken by my Department as set out above.
615. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has engaged with stakeholders in the music industry in terms of the establishment of a music industry task force with wide representation, which would examine a range of issues, including the impact of intellectual property and copyright legislation and enforcement in both the music and technology industries, supports for the business of music education and a dedicated office similar to the Irish Film Board for the music sector. [13603/16]
View answerUnder the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the main channel of State current expenditure on the arts and will receive over €60 million in 2016. The Arts Council's strategy statement, Making Great Art Work, sets out the Arts Council plans to lead the development of the arts in the decade to 2025 and prioritises two policy areas, the artist and public engagement.
The IMRO report, entitled The Socio-Economic Contribution of Music to the Irish Economy, highlights the impressive contribution the music industry makes to the Irish economy. The report contains a broad range of recommendations for which several Ministers have responsibility.
In this context, the issues of supporting musicians and artists was raised in the discussion during the public consultation phases held as part of developing the proposed new national cultural policy. My commitment to deliver Ireland's first national cultural policy Culture 2025 offers an opportunity to consider how arts and culture can be embedded right across Government.
Copyright law is a matter for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
616. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has liaised with the Minister for Education and Skills on the development of contemporary art education at primary and secondary level in Irish schools. [13605/16]
View answerWhile the provision for arts in the education system is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills, I am firmly committed to continuing the work of the ongoing partnership between that Department, my own Department and the Arts Council, in line with the Arts in Education Charter. In this regard, I am pleased that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the continued implementation of the Arts in Education Charter.
The work of the two Departments and the Arts Council in implementing the Charter is achieved largely through existing structures, such as education centres and Education and Training Boards. My Department provides a small amount of funding under the Charter to assist with its implementation, for example, in relation to the funding of artists to assist in the Teacher Artist Partnership Initiative. In 2015, the Arts in Education Portal was launched and this now serves as an effective key communications and information channel for both education and arts sectors.
As recently as last April, a very successful inaugural National Arts in Education Day was held in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, with over 200 attendees from both education and artistic fields.
In terms of direct support for the arts, this is primarily a matter for the Arts Council operating under the provisions of the Arts Act 2003. The Arts Council’s ten-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025) places specific emphasis on the need to plan and provide for children and young people. The strategy also commits to working to achieve full implementation of the Arts in Education Charter.
The Arts Council contributes funding to a number of organisations to assist in the delivery of Arts in Education projects in schools. These include Poetry Ireland's Writers in Schools Scheme, where writers and storytellers visit primary and post-primary schools, as well as the Bringing to Book Artist-in-Residence Scheme, a Children's Books Ireland project.
617. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to develop a national cultural strategy up to 2025. [13606/16]
View answerSignificant progress has been made in drafting the first National Cultural Policy - Culture 2025. This followed a major public consultation process in 2015, including a national cultural workshop held in October at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
Work by my Department, the expert steering group and a wider expert committee continued on the document in early 2016 and is currently ongoing.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the publication of Culture 2025 as a priority and I intend to submit the draft policy to Government for consideration in the coming weeks. As I have stated previously, this first such policy will be a living document and will form the basis of an on-going dialogue with all who are interested in cultural policy.
618. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to develop musical education and instruments available to young persons and the general population through facilitating schools, youth groups and libraries in enhancing their music resources and the provision of access to musical training and instruments for the benefit of local communities. [13607/16]
View answerUnder the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the main channel of the State's current expenditure on the arts and will receive over €60 million in 2016. The Arts Council’s ten-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025) set outs how it will lead the development of the arts in Ireland over the next decade. Making Great Art Work places specific emphasis on the need to plan and provide for children and young people. The strategy also commits to working to achieve full implementation of the Arts in Education Charter.
I am firmly committed to continuing the work of the on-going partnership between my Department, the Department of Education and Skills and the Arts Council, in line with the Arts in Education Charter. In this regard, the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the continued implementation of the Arts in Education Charter.
My Department provides funding to Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann (CCE) for their work in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture. This year, funding of €1,448,000 will be provided to Comhaltas by my Department. CCE provide weekly classes in a variety of traditional instruments, singing, and dance through its network of centres and branches all over the country as well as summer schools. CCE maintains a full schedule of educational events, such as lectures, exhibitions, workshops and concerts, sometimes in conjunction with the Fleadhanna Cheoil.
The Music Capital Scheme is funded by my Department and managed by Music Network. Under the scheme, grants are made available to groups and talented individuals to support the purchase of musical instruments. Further details are available on the website of Music network at www.musicnetwork.ie.
619. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has examined any proposals to facilitate, on a national basis, the use of vacant retail premises by exhibiting artists based on successful schemes such as Space Invaders in County Galway which uses empty retail units to support local artists. [13608/16]
View answerI am aware and supportive of the use of vacant premises by artists and arts organisation and I understand that a number of such buildings are currently being utilised by arts organisation across the country. No particular proposals for a nationwide approach have been put to my Department and, in general, I would consider that local approaches driven by artists, local arts officers and the owners of vacant buildings are best suited to respond to the specific local circumstances involved.
620. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will examine a nationwide plan for the development of village design statements that would ensure all future planning and development takes full cognisance of the historic character and protect the character and heritage of villages. [13609/16]
View answerThe Heritage Council, in collaboration with my Department, has led the development of a best practice approach to the development of Community-Led Village Design Statements (VDS). It, in tandem with a number of local authorities and village communities, prepared a toolkit which was launched in October 2012 at the inaugural community-led VDS workshop. The toolkit sets out a step-by-step guide to undertaking a community-led VDS in Ireland, using a collaborative and participative process, and has been developed in accordance with the UNECE Aarhus Convention and the European Landscape Convention (ELC). The Heritage Council, in collaboration with a number of local authorities, has since been proactive in helping interested communities to develop VDS. In many ways, the approach followed is similar to the Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) framework, also developed by my Department in collaboration with the Heritage Council, Fáilte Ireland and relevant local authorities, although it is focussed on smaller communities.
Given the limited scope for funding, my preference is for the continued fostering of a community-led approach rather than the development of a nationwide plan, while considering the possibility of a prioritised targeted approach to towns and villages with a view to not only protecting their character and heritage, but also contributing to regional development through encouraging economic growth and employment.
However, all approaches are still under consideration as I seek to further strengthen the protection of our built heritage, which I recognise cannot be achieved without the full engagement of the respective local authorities, local communities and interested organisations.
622. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action she is taking with her Government colleagues to systematically address social, geographic and economic barriers to full participation in the artistic and cultural life of the country, particularly for children and young persons. [13612/16]
View answerUnder the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the main channel of the State's current expenditure on the arts and will receive over €60 million in 2016.
The Arts Council’s ten-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025) set outs how it will lead the development of the arts in Ireland over the next decade. Making Great Art Work places specific emphasis on the need to plan and provide for children and young people. The strategy also commits to working to achieve full implementation of the Arts in Education Charter
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the publication of Culture 2025 as a priority and I intend to submit the draft policy to Government for consideration in the coming weeks. This first such policy will be a living document and will form the basis of an on-going dialogue with all who are interested in cultural policy.
623. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to ensure the better integration of the arts into education and broadening the focus on science, technology, engineering and maths, STEM, into science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, STEAM; and to expand the ambition and resourcing of the Arts in Education Charter and to continue to work with the Department of Education and Skills to further enhance the position of arts subjects within the curriculum at primary and secondary level. [13613/16]
View answerWhile the provision for arts in the education system and the content of the school curriculum is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills, I am firmly committed to continuing the work of the ongoing partnership between that Department, my own Department and the Arts Council, in line with the Arts in Education Charter. In this regard, I am pleased that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the continued implementation of the Arts in Education Charter.
The development of Ireland’s first national culture policy - Culture 2025 - will also be relevant in terms of acknowledging the importance of supporting cultural engagement across wider policy areas. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the publication of Culture 2025 as a priority and I intend to submit the draft policy to Government for consideration in the coming weeks. As I have stated previously, this first such policy will be a living document and will form the basis of an on-going dialogue with all relevant sectors, including the education sector.
624. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will urgently begin preparation of a global arts forum for Ireland, similar to the structure of the Global Irish Economic Forum, which would highlight our indigenous talent and map a strong and healthy future for arts and culture at home and abroad. [13614/16]
View answerMy Department through Culture Ireland supports Irish artists to present their work worldwide. This serves to raise the global awareness of the strong reputation of the Irish arts sector, generate new career opportunities for Irish artists and develop new audiences abroad for Irish artists.
My Department continues to work with the Global Irish Network which has to date made many significant achievements in relation to highlighting Ireland's creativity on the world stage. I consider that this is the most appropriate vehicle in which to highlight the achievement of Irish creativity – as part of a wider cross sectoral partnership. Most notable in terms of this collaborative approach have been Irish Design 2015, with which my Department had a significant engagement in relation to the international programme, and the Imagine Ireland programme in 2011.
Imagine Ireland, launched following the strategic focus on culture at the first Global Forum in 2009, was a special year-long initiative by Culture Ireland, showcasing Irish arts and culture in the US throughout 2011. Its objectives to help rebuild Ireland’s reputation, renew the unique cultural relationship between Ireland and America, showcase a new generation of contemporary Irish creative talent, build long-term US market share and opportunities for the Irish cultural sector and creative industries, expand the reach of Irish culture to new US audiences and provide a strategic platform to promote Irish tourism, trade, investment and innovation were largely achieved.
This model of supporting major arts initiatives internationally continues this year with the I am Ireland programme – the international arts element of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme which includes over 550 separate performances and exhibitions with a special focus in key territories - United States, Great Britain, Canada and Australia. This programme reflects that interest in Irish artistic excellence continues to grow internationally and recognises that this centenary year offers a unique opportunity to build on Ireland's cultural connections and share the talents of Irish artists through many special and diverse events around the world.
I am satisfied that following the success of these initiatives that a global forum for the arts is best achieved through the broad based Global Irish Network.
625. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 853 of 6 April 2016, if she will reconsider the introduction of the Bóthar Aise scheme, even on a pilot basis, in County Kerry to help address the appalling state of some roads in the Gaeltacht which are a necessary part of our infrastructure and vital to help keep the Irish language alive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13634/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Programme for a Partnership Government states that the Government needs to systematically implement the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language, increase the number of people using Irish in their daily lives and ensure that Irish becomes a more visible language in today’s society. The Strategy is an ambitious plan that sets out nine areas for action, including education, the Gaeltacht, the family, public services, the media, the economy, legislation and cross-cutting initiatives.
The Gaeltacht Act 2012 gives statutory effect to the language planning process in the Gaeltacht under which language plans will be prepared at community level in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. Supporting Gaeltacht communities is, of course, central to my Department’s objective of nurturing and strengthening Irish as a community language that will be passed on from generation to generation. Accordingly, there is a strong emphasis on formal language planning processes being put in place as part of the 20-Year Strategy. Communities, in preparing language plans, will identify local requirements and my Department, in cooperation with Údarás na Gaeltachta, will support these efforts in every way possible. It is in this context that any reintroduction of Gaeltacht schemes will be examined.
627. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated full-year savings for 2017 by reducing spending on professional fees by 10% in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14105/16]
View answerMy Department seeks to keep the cost of services that are subject to Professional Services Withholding Tax to a minimum. Expenditure on these services varies over time as various projects commence and others are completed.
I am advised that if spending by my Department on such services were maintained at the level observed in 2015, then a 10% reduction in the associated fees would result in a reduction in expenditure of the order of €350,000 per annum.
628. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health to examine the decision by the Central Remedial Clinic to close an employee pension fund; to address the concerns raised by staff; to examine if the affected workers can be transferred into a public sector scheme similar to the majority of other workers in the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12541/16]
View answer630. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a number of employees of the Central Remedial Clinic were informed that their pension plan was dissolved as of 18 May 2016 and that this was only communicated to the affected employees after the pension was dissolved; his plans to address the concerns of the affected employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12613/16]
View answer633. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to retrospectively transfer staff at the Central Remedial Clinic, whose pension plan has been dissolved, into the standard public service pension given that they are de facto State employees and given the fact that as it currently stands, staff will lose their pensions if the State does not step in. [13376/16]
View answer635. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a decision by the Central Remedial Clinic to close a staff pension fund, affecting many workers and pensioners; if he will ensure that those workers and pensioners will not lose their long-standing pension entitlements; the recourse open to these workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13537/16]
View answer680. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he or the Health Service Executive are aware that 50 staff members with long service in the Central Remedial Clinic have been informed that their pension plan liabilities have exceeded its assets and management have decided unilaterally to wind up the scheme, which will result in undue hardship to these staff with long service who have made contributions to the scheme for many decades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12800/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 628, 630, 633, 635 and 680 together.
The 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 CRC has indicated that it will submit detailed proposals to the HSE shortly in relation to this matter.
629. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the support he provides for the replacement of prosthetic limbs which have a price tag of €11,000 for those in full-time work with an average annual salary of €30,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12603/16]
View answer647. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the support he provides for the replacement of prosthetic limbs which have a price tag of €11,000 for those in full-time work with an average annual salary of €30,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12604/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 629 and 647 together.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
631. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing a full child and adult mental health services programme and team for each county. [12954/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
