Written Answers Nos. 526-542
526. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to set out the total amount of current and capital expenditure allocated to the town and village renewal scheme over the 2015-21 period; the total budget allocation for this scheme in 2015 and 2016; the amount expended to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26763/16]
View answer527. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to set out in tabular form the total amount of current and capital expenditure allocated to the town and village renewal scheme in 2015 and 2016 on a county basis; the amount of this budget that was spent in 2015 and to date in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26764/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 527 together.
In September 2015, the then Government announced plans for a fund of €30 million over a six year period for a Town and Village Renewal scheme. While no expenditure was incurred on the scheme in 2015, the current Government has included a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to support the development of rural towns and villages as one way to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland.
On 9th August this year, I launched the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of the Government’s programme to support rural development. I have allocated €10 million in capital funding for the scheme this year. A sum of €380,000 has been made available to each of the 26 counties, as part of this initial phase of this scheme. Local Authorities, in conjunction with local communities and businesses, have been invited to submit proposals to my Department by the end of September for approval.
The Town and Village Renewal scheme is just one of a range of measures in the Programme for a Partnership Government which will support rural development. Some of the other initiatives which have been announced by my Department recently include:
- the new 2014-2020 LEADER programme which has a budgetary allocation of €250 million over the lifetime of the programme,
- a new round of Rural Recreation project funding, with total approvals of €4.5 million to 75 projects across the country,
- the establishment of a National Taskforce to identify practical measures which can be taken in the short-term to improve Broadband and Mobile Phone Coverage in rural areas,
- the establishment of two Regional Broadband Action Groups, involving all of the Local Authorities in the country, to prepare for the roll-out of broadband under the National Broadband Plan once contracts are awarded in 2017,
- the launch of a new round of the REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zone) initiative with €5 million in funding for this year.
While these initiatives will individually make a contribution to rural development, it is their combined impact, along with other initiatives across Government, which will make a real and sustainable difference to rural Ireland. To ensure a more integrated approach to rural development across Government, my Department has commenced work on the development of an Action Plan for Rural Development. The Action Plan will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government to support economic and social progress in rural Ireland. The Action Plan will be published before the end of the year.
528. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to set out in tabular form the total travel expenses reimbursement costs incurred by her Department per annum from 2011 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26855/16]
View answerThe total travel and subsistence costs incurred by my Department per annum from the establishment of my Department in June 2011 to 2016 to date is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Travel & Subsistence Costs incurred |
|
02 June to 31 December 2011 |
€484,546.73 |
|
2012 |
€1,305,124.83 |
|
2013 |
€1,139,962.60 |
|
2014 |
€1,066,966.07 |
|
2015 |
€1,108,682.76 |
|
01 January to 20 September 2016 |
€810,305.30 |
All such expenditure relates exclusively to official business on behalf of my Department or the Government, and has been incurred in full conformity with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidance on such matters.
529. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her Department has a specific data protection officer in place; if that position is exclusive or if the position holder has other duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26871/16]
View answerResponsibility for the management of data protection policies and ensuring compliance with legislation in my Department is currently assigned to the Corporate Governance Unit. The officer responsible for data protection matters also performs other duties in this unit.
My Department will be engaging in a review of its arrangements in light of the requirements of the new EU General Data Protection Regulation, which is due to come into force in May 2018. The appointment of an officer to the role of Data Protection Officer, as provided for under the Regulation, and the nature of the duties to be associated with the role, will be considered in due course within the context of that review.
530. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 171 and 172 of 13 July 2016 (details supplied), if she will name the competent authority in matters of public health involved in making decisions on which bird species should come under a derogation from the birds directive. [27028/16]
View answer531. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to outline the research which has been conducted by her Department into methods of control used elsewhere in Europe to deal with seagulls in urban settings; and her plans to deal with the issue. [27041/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 531 together.
Applications for derogation licences are considered on a case by case basis. Derogations may be granted only on specific grounds, including in the interests of public health. As outlined in my previous reply, an applicant would be required to show that a demonstrable risk to public health tied to a specific problem exists. My Department would then consider such a case and, as necessary, consult with competent authorities in relation to public health, such as the Department of Health, for example, or other public health experts.
One of the primary roles of my Department is the conservation of habitats and species and implementation of EU law in Ireland in respect of nature conservation, including in particular the EU Birds Directive, under which seagulls are afforded protection. My Department does not undertake control programmes such as culls in relation to bird species protected under the Directive and therefore such control methods are not subject to active research by my Department.
532. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to set out the cost of introducing a minimum wage of €12, €13, €14 or €15 an hour for all employees under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27776/16]
View answerSalaries are paid to my Department’s staff, and to staff of bodies operating under its aegis, in line with policies and pay scales set by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. The estimated additional annualised costs of introducing the hourly salary rates specified by the Deputy are listed in the following table. These estimates are based on current staffing and pay levels.
Cost of introducing a minimum wage of €12, €13, €14, €15 an hour for all employees of the Department Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Bodies operating its aegis, as of the 26th of September 2016:
|
Body |
€12 PER HOUR |
€13 PER HOUR |
€14 PER HOUR |
€15 PER HOUR |
|
DAHRRGA |
€208,822 |
€316,278 |
€448,959 |
€620,642 |
|
Arts Council * |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Irish Film Board * |
||||
|
Chester Beatty Library |
€14,559 |
€36,282 |
€66,275 |
€97,870 |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
€0 |
€0 |
€37 |
€324 |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
€10,640 |
€19,887 |
€36,046 |
€53,579 |
|
Heritage Council |
€2,185 |
€4,924 |
€9,435 |
€15,723 |
|
IMMA |
€0 |
€4628 |
€11,362 |
€20,241 |
|
National Concert Hall |
€6,305 |
€51,503 |
€111,308 |
€171,113 |
|
National Library of Ireland |
€8,144 |
€37,563 |
€87,142 |
€146,985 |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
€15,543 |
€33,448 |
€53692 |
€98,971 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
€0 |
€0 |
€345 |
€2,275 |
|
Waterways Ireland |
€2,738 |
€7,435 |
€20,141 |
€79,100 |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€1,760 |
|
Western Development Commission |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Total |
€268,936 |
€511,948 |
€844,742 |
€1,308,583 |
*The data relating to the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
533. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to outline the cost of introducing a minimum weekly gross wage of €480, €500, €520, €560 or €600 for all full-time employees under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27785/16]
View answerSalaries are paid to my Department’s staff, and to staff of bodies operating under its aegis, in line with policies and pay scales set by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. The estimated additional annualised costs of introducing the salary levels specified by the Deputy are listed in the following table. These estimates are based on current staffing and pay levels and include the cost of paying equivalent increases on a pro-rata basis to part-time employees.
Cost of introducing a minimum weekly gross wage of €480, €500, €520, €560 and €600 for all employees of the Department Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Bodies operating its aegis, as of the 26th September 2016
|
Body |
ANNUALISED COSTS OF INTRODUCING MINIMUM WEEKLY GROSS WAGE OF €480 |
ANNUALISED COSTS OF INTRODUCING MINIMUM WEEKLY GROSS WAGE OF €500 |
ANNUALISED COSTS OF INTRODUCING MINIMUM WEEKLY GROSS WAGE OF €520 |
ANNUALISED COSTS OF INTRODUCING MINIMUM WEEKLY GROSS WAGE OF €560 |
ANNUALISED COSTS OF INTRODUCING MINIMUM WEEKLY GROSS WAGE OF €600 |
|
DAHRRGA |
€162,882 |
€213,650 |
€260,992 |
€369,007 |
€496,616 |
|
Arts Council* |
|||||
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Irish Film Board* |
|||||
|
Chester Beatty Library |
€6,998 |
€10,129 |
€14,873 |
€34,991 |
€62,257 |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
€10,640 |
€14,002 |
€19,887 |
€36,046 |
€53,579 |
|
Heritage Council |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€620 |
|
IMMA |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€1,935 |
|
National Concert Hall |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
National Library of Ireland |
€1,897 |
€5,028 |
€8,340 |
€34,686 |
€75,539 |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
€30,252 |
€41,210 |
€53,194 |
€97,958 |
€204,338 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
€0 |
€0 |
€449 |
€2,536 |
€4,623 |
|
Waterways Ireland |
€5,677 |
€8,037 |
€12,680 |
€38,416 |
€155,948 |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
€3,264 |
€6,077 |
€10,253 |
€27,755 |
€54,886 |
|
Western Development Commission |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Total |
€221,610 |
€298,133 |
€380,668 |
€641,395 |
€1,110,341 |
*The data relating to the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
534. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to set out the status of implementation of the regulations that are to accompany the enacted Misuse of Drugs Act 2016 before the Act can be properly enforced; the timeframe for the competed regulation process, with particular mention made to the drug Zopiclone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27238/16]
View answerThe Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2016 was passed by the Oireachtas on the 21st July 2016. The primary purpose of the Act is to protect public health by bringing certain substances which are open to misuse and known to be traded on the illicit market under the scope of the Misuse of Drugs legislation, thereby aiding the law enforcement activities of An Garda Síochána. These include so-called z-drugs - zopiclone and zaleplon.
The Act also controls the benzodiazepine phenazepam and a number of new psychoactive substances which Ireland is required to control under our EU and UN obligations, as well as two substances found in the headshop drug ‘Clockwork Orange’.
Controlling the substances in the Act was part one of a two-step process. Regulations and various Orders are also required to allow legitimate users (e.g. patients with a prescription, health professionals) to possess the substances. Work on drafting the regulations is at an advanced stage. Various sections of the Act will be commenced when the associated regulations are ready but this should happen within the coming weeks.
535. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health when the provisions of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 dealing with donor-assisted human reproduction will commence; the timeframe envisaged until these provisions are operational; his views on whether the non-commencement of this section is a matter of serious concern to many same-sex couples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27526/16]
View answerThe purpose of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 is to reform and update family law to address the needs of children living in diverse family types. The provisions in Parts 2 and 3 of the Act dealing with donor-assisted human reproduction apply to heterosexual couples, same sex female couples and single women who undertake such procedures.
As outlined in my answer to the Deputy’s previous question on this matter, Parliamentary Question Number 992 of 16 September 2016, it was agreed that a transition period would be required between the enactment of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 and the commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of that Act. This transition period will help to facilitate the switch to the new regulatory framework, which involves non-anonymous gamete and embryo donation. In particular it provides time for officials in my Department to conduct the necessary preparatory work required to enable these provisions (including provisions relating to the National Donor-Conceived Person Register) to enter into force.
536. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26438/16]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
537. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health to set out the status of the case of a person (details supplied) including when the person will expect an appointment. [26439/16]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
538. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will consider sanctioning a specific professional to assist a person (details supplied). [26448/16]
View answerThe 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.
539. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) was placed on a waiting list for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26449/16]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
540. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health to outline the position regarding the evaluation of pembrolizumab; when he will make a decision on the introduction of this drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26454/16]
View answerPembrolizumab is currently available for reimbursement for the treatment of melanoma through the National Cancer Control Programme's Oncology Hospital Drugs Management System. Details of the protocol for eligibility and treatment are available at http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/cancer/profinfo/chemoprotocols/melanoma/347.pdf.
The HSE has also received an application for reimbursement of pembrolizumab for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics recently completed a rapid review of pembrolizumab for this indication, and has recommended a full health technology assessment of the drug.
541. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health to outline the action being taken by his Department to ensure that recommendations of the 2015 report on improvements to the direct provision system are implemented in respect of those falling under the remit of the HSE; the reason the progress report at part 5.100 lists the recommendation as being implemented by the HSE despite the absence of new protocols and enhanced services; the engagement the HSE has on this; if there has been a follow-up on this; the action that will be taken to ensure new protocols and enhanced services are actually developed; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26456/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
542. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of home help hours provided by the Health Service Executive, HSE, annually since 2008; the total budget allocated by the HSE for home help hours since 2008; and the number of home help hours provided by private health companies and paid for by the HSE or his Department since 2008. [26458/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
