Tuesday, 11 Oct 2016

Written Answers Nos. 1 - 20

Employment Data

Questions (1, 2, 3)

David Cullinane

Question:

1. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach the way in which his Department characterises the south-east region in terms of geography and population mass. [29488/16]

David Cullinane

Question:

2. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach the number of persons in the south east unemployed in actual numbers and in percentage terms, broken down by county, in tabular form. [29489/16]

David Cullinane

Question:

3. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach the number of persons in the south east in employment in actual numbers and in percentage terms, broken down by county, in tabular form. [29490/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

Regional population statistics and estimates of employment and unemployment are produced by NUTS Regions. These regional classifications are based on the NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units) classification used by Eurostat. The NUTS3 regions correspond to the eight Regional Authorities established under the Local Government Act, 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order, 1993, which came into operation on 1 January 1994. The NUTS2 regions, which were proposed by Government and agreed by Eurostat in 1999, are groupings of the NUTS3 regions. The NUTS 3 South-East region includes counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford City and County and Wexford. Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable county estimates.

Regional population statistics are included in the CSO's annual Population and Migration Estimates release. The latest release was published in August 2016 and includes data for the years ending April 2011 – April 2016 inclusive. In April 2016, the population of the South-East region was estimated to be 510,100.

The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment and unemployment (ILO) in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q2 2016.

Table 1 shows the number of unemployed persons aged 15-74 years and the unemployment rate classified by NUTS3 South-East region in Q2 2016.

Table 2 shows the number of persons aged 15-64 years in employment and the employment rate classified by NUTS3 South-East region in Q2 2016.

Table 1 Unemployed persons aged 15-74 years and unemployment (ILO) rate classified by NUTS3 South-East region, Q2 2016

	'000	%
Unemployed	Q2 16	Q2 16
All persons	25.9	10.9

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q2 = April-June

Table 2 Persons aged 15-64 years in employment (ILO) and employment rate (ILO) classified by NUTS3 South-East region, Q2 2016

	'000	%
In Employment	Q2 16	Q2 16
All persons	204.9	62.8

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: Q2 = April-June.

Departmental Agencies Funding

Questions (4)

Jim Daly

Question:

4. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Taoiseach if a use it or lose it by year end rule is or has been in operation within his Department when devolving funding to agencies under his remit on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29207/16]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only body under the aegis of my Department and is funded by a grant allocation. Standard Government accounting procedures apply and NESDO submit regular draw-down requests throughout the year supported by financial statements. If any portion of the NESDO grant allocation is unspent at the year end, it is returned to the exchequer.

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Questions (5)

Joan Burton

Question:

5. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub-committee on Brexit met; when it will meet again; the members of same; and the persons entitled to attend. [29298/16]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I chaired the first meeting of a new Cabinet Committee on Brexit on 8 September. The Committee will oversee the overall Government response, including both the economic impact and the negotiations at EU level and with the administrations in London and Belfast. The Cabinet Committee on Brexit is scheduled to meet again on 19 October.

Brexit has been a matter of regular and detailed consideration by Government for some time, both in advance of the UK EU Referendum and since. There have been 7 Memoranda submitted to Government on the matter since 23rd June.

Most recently, Government discussed the action taken to date to prepare for Brexit, including in particular on priority concerns for this country: the economy and trade, the peace process and Northern Ireland; the Common Travel Area and the future of the EU itself. Government also approved a range of further actions to ensure that Ireland is fully prepared for the difficult negotiations ahead.

Membership of Cabinet Committee on Brexit is as follows:

Taoiseach (chair)

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

Minister for Finance

Minister for Social Protection

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Minister of State for European Affairs, Data Protection and the EU Single Digital Market

Minister of State for Financial Services, eGovernment and Public Procurement.

Ministerial Staff

Questions (6)

Joan Burton

Question:

6. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the staff and advisers employed by him in his Department, listing name, title, salary and terms of employment; the functions carried out by staff members, including his personal office and his constituency office; and the location of same. [29301/16]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The following table details the political staff (including Special Advisers) employed in my private and constituency offices.

Name	Title / Function	Salary / Terms of Employment	Location
Mark Kennelly	Chief of Staff	€156,380 / Contract	Dublin
Angela Flanagan	Special Adviser	€87,258 / Contract	Dublin
Paul O'Brien	Special Adviser	€87,258 / Contract	Dublin
Sarah Moran	Personal Assistant	€77,275 / Contract	Dublin
Miriam O'Callaghan	Personal Assistant	€72,546 / Contract	Dublin
Gerard Deere	Personal Assistant	€68,293 / Contract	Castlebar
Teresa Diskin	Personal Assistant	€68,293 / Contract	Castlebar
Marian Irwin	Personal Assistant	€65,000 / Contract	Castlebar
John Lohan	Personal Assistant	€55,415 / Contract	Dublin
AnnMarie Durcan	Personal Secretary	€46,315 / Contract	Dublin
Tommy English	Personal Secretary	€37,588 / Contract	Dublin

Ministerial Staff

Questions (7)

Joan Burton

Question:

7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the number of civil servants and the rank of same who work directly with him in his Department, including in his private office; and the location of each person. [29302/16]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The following table provides details of the civil servants working in my private and constituency offices.

Grade	Headcount	Location
Assistant Principal Officer	2	Dublin
Higher Executive Officer	1	Dublin
Executive Officer	2	Dublin
Clerical Officer	7	Dublin

Programme for Government Implementation

Questions (8)

Joan Burton

Question:

8. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the way in which staff, civil servants and political advisers are retained to manage relationships with Members of Dáil groups, including groups and parties involved with Government; and the location of each. [29303/16]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

A Parliamentary Liaison Unit was established in my Department following the formation of Government on 6th May 2016. The Parliamentary Liaison Unit facilitates an enhanced relationship between the Government and the Oireachtas with a view to ensuring the timely implementation of the Government’s legislative programme, working in close collaboration with the Office of the Chief Whip and my Department's Programme for Government Office. There are currently 3 civil servants (2.8 whole time equivalents) assigned to the Parliamentary Liaison Unit.

My Department also employs five Special Advisers (three who advise me and two who advise the Government Chief Whip) and the Chief Strategist to the Independent Alliance.

All of the aforementioned staff are based in Government Buildings.

Citizens Assembly

Questions (9)

Joan Burton

Question:

9. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the timetable for the Citizens' Assembly and referendum concerning the eighth amendment of the Constitution. [29304/16]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Resolution approving establishment of the Citizens' Assembly sets a time limit of one year from the date of its first meeting for completion of the Assembly's work.

The Assembly's inaugural meeting will be held in Dublin Castle this Saturday, 15 October. The Assembly will meet again in late November, at which time it will commence its consideration of the first item referred to it by the Resolution: the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.

The Resolution provides that the Assembly's report on the Eighth Amendment, when completed, will be sent to the Houses of the Oireachtas, which on receipt will refer the report for consideration to a Committee of both Houses, which in turn will bring its conclusions to the Houses for debate.

Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge

Questions (10)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

10. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Taoiseach cá mhéad uair a tháinig an fochoiste Rialtais ar an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge le chéile ó bunaíodh é. [29315/16]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

Bhí dhá chruinniú dhéag ag Choiste Aireachta na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta le linn tréimhse an Rialtais dheireanaigh. Cruinneoidh Coiste Rialtais faoi na hEalaíona, faoin nGaeilge agus faoin nGaeltacht le chéile don chéad uair ar an nDéardaoin, 13 Deireadh Fómhair.

Census of Population Data

Questions (11)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

11. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Taoiseach the population serviced by each local authority, in tabular form. [29173/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

According to the most recent preliminary Census of Population (2016) figures, the population of each local authority is contained in the following table.

County & City Councils	2016 Preliminary Population
State	4,757,976
Carlow County Council	56,875
Dublin City Council	553,165
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council	217,274
Fingal County Council	296,214
South Dublin County Council	278,749
Kildare County Council	222,130
Kilkenny County Council	99,118
Laois County Council	84,732
Longford County Council	40,810
Louth County Council	128,375
Meath County Council	194,942
Offaly County Council	78,003
Westmeath County Council	88,396
Wexford County Council	149,605
Wicklow County Council	142,332
Clare County Council	118,627
Cork City Council	125,622
Cork County Council	416,574
Kerry County Council	147,554
Limerick City and County Council	195,175
Tipperary County Council	160,441
Waterford City and County Council	116,401
Galway City Council	79,504
Galway County Council	179,048
Leitrim County Council	31,972
Mayo County Council	130,425
Roscommon County Council	64,436
Sligo County Council	65,357
Cavan County Council	76,092
Donegal County Council	158,755
Monaghan County Council	61,273

Wards of Court

Questions (12)

David Cullinane

Question:

12. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the implementation of the Committee of Public Accounts recommendations relating to wards of courts' funds that were lost in the crash. [29377/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy may be aware, jurisdiction in Wards of Court matters is vested in the High Court. Section 4(3) of the Courts Service Act 1998 provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, including the management of the Courts. Court funds which are held for the benefit of Wards of Court are private funds under the control of the Courts Service which, through its offices in the High, Circuit and District Courts, has responsibility for the management and investment of funds in court.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that arrangements have been made to carry out an independent review as requested in the Public Accounts Committee in its Report on Wards of Court Funds in July 2015 and the Courts Service has advised that this review will be completed shortly.

The Courts Service has also advised that individual statements on the performance of court funds will be issued but that it is important to ensure that the data held on each case, such as names and addresses of persons to whom sensitive information is issued, is accurate and up to date. Work has commenced to update and verify the information held on the Courts Service tracking systems and this will be completed by the end of 2016, at which time individual statements will issue.

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Questions (13)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

13. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when commitments will be honoured to increase Ireland's intake of refugees fleeing the crisis in Syria as part of a wider European response; and her views regarding the refugee crisis. [29387/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Under this programme, the Government has pledged to accept a total of 4,000 persons into the State by the end of 2017, through a combination of the EU relocation mechanism established by two EU Council Decisions in 2015 to assist Italy and Greece, and the UNHCR-led refugee resettlement programme currently focused on resettling refugees from camps in Lebanon.

Under the resettlement part of the Programme, 520 refugees are to be resettled in Ireland by the end of 2016. To date, 486 refugees have been admitted to the State and a further 14 are scheduled to arrive today. Sufficient cases were selected during a mission to Lebanon earlier this year to ensure that the full quota of 520 will be taken in during 2016, ahead of schedule. In addition, the Government recently announced that it is extending the resettlement programme to take in a further 260 refugees from Lebanon in 2017.

Under relocation, Ireland has to date taken in 69 Syrians from Greece, mostly families, and a further 40 people are scheduled to arrive this month. A further 63 people have been assessed and cleared for arrival and arrangements for their travel to the State are currently being made. Last week, IRPP officials interviewed a group of 71 people in Athens who, once cleared for travel, are expected to arrive in November. Further missions are scheduled for November and December and by the end of 2016 it is expected that Ireland will have accepted up to 400 people through the relocation pledge system. The intention is to sustain the pace of intakes throughout 2017 at the levels required to allow Ireland to meets its commitments within the timeframe envisaged by the Programme.

Disability Support Services

Questions (14)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

14. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to re-establish the group People with Disabilities in Ireland, PWDI, or a similar county by county service users organisation to ensure that local consultation is facilitated at all times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29409/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

In considering the question of whether the State should take a lead role in the creation of an umbrella organisation in the Disability Sector, it is worth bearing in mind how diverse the Sector is, and how many individual civil society organisations operate within it. It is my view that the possible re-establishment of any new body with an overarching or coordination role is a matter in the first instance for the Sector to consider. As Minister for Disabilities I would, of course, be happy to hear any views which such a proposed organisation may have following its consultative process.

Visa Applications

Questions (15)

Noel Rock

Question:

15. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality regarding the need for biometric information to be submitted in advance of getting a tourist visa for Ireland in certain nations and her plans to make it easier to access, if she is aware that currently it is the case that a person travelling from southern India needs to travel ten or more hours to Mumbai to have their fingerprint and digital photo taken in advance of a visit here. [29417/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

India is one of two countries that benefit from the British Irish Visa Scheme which enables short-stay visitors to move freely within the Common Travel Area on a single visa granted by either Ireland or the UK depending on the first port of arrival. This involves certain procedures and processes being carried out including biometric checks for all visa applicants. To facilitate this and to enable visa applicants to lodge their application forms and documents, a total of 12 Visa Application Centres are established across India where applications for both Irish and UK visas can be made and where initial processing of documentation is carried out. I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there are six such centres in southern India: Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa and Cochin in addition to Mumbai further to the north.

Wards of Court

Questions (16, 18)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Question:

16. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the budget which has been allocated by her Department for the effective implementation of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act; if resources will be made available for the recruitment of the director of the decision support service to fulfil its functions in raising public awareness, promoting public confidence and supervising decision making supports and investigations to the fullest; and if any lessons will be learned from the experience in England and Wales where the Mental Capacity Act is failing due to lack of awareness and poor implementation. [29461/16]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

18. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the budget which has been allocated for the effective implementation of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act; if resources will be made available for the recruitment of the director of the decision support service to fulfil its functions in raising public awareness, promoting public confidence and supervising decision making supports and investigations to the fullest; if lessons will be learned from the experience in England and Wales where the Mental Capacity Act is failing due to lack of awareness and poor implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29913/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 18 together.

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was signed into law by the President on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been commenced. The Act provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties.

Once the relevant provisions of the Act have been commenced, each ward of court who is an adult will be reviewed by the wardship court in accordance with the new system. A ward who is found to have capacity will be discharged from wardship. A ward who continues to have capacity needs will be discharged from wardship and offered the decision-making support option most appropriate to his or her needs.

Commencement of the Act will begin as soon as possible on a phased basis before the end of the year. My Department has policy responsibility for the implementation of the Act. Careful planning and groundwork, and not just funding, has to be put in place to ensure that the commencement of the Act is correctly, appropriately and effectively handled. My Department is working carefully on this at present in consultation with the Department of Health and the Mental Health Commission.

The Act provides for the setting up of the Decision Support Service within the Mental Health Commission. The Mental Health Commission is an agency under the Department of Health and it falls within the remit of the Minister for Health. My Department is liaising closely with the Department of Health in establishing the Decision Support Service within the Mental Health Commission, including in respect of the financial implications. A high-level Steering Group comprised of senior officials from my Department, the Department of Health and the Mental Health Commission is overseeing the establishment and commissioning of the Decision Support Service.

The budget for the Decision Support Service and the mechanism through which its funding will be supplied is being dealt with as part of the 2017 Estimates process.

A business case requesting sanction for the appointment of the Director of the Decision Support Service was prepared by my Department and recently submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform by the Department of Health. It is my intention to shortly commence certain provisions of the 2015 Act that allow for the recruitment of the Director. It is intended that the Mental Health Commission will commence the process of recruiting a Director as quickly as possible.

The experience of England and Wales in implementing the Mental Capacity Act 2004 will be considered in relation to the rollout and management of an effective Decision Support Service in Ireland. As the Deputy will be aware, the statutory functions of the Director of the Decision Support Service include promoting public awareness of the Act and providing information on the various decision-making support options under the Act and providing guidance and information to persons who have been appointed to assist in decision-making.

Probate Applications

Questions (17)

Robert Troy

Question:

17. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason there is no probate officer for County Westmeath; as a consequence the lack of a probate officer is causing a delay in the courts service. [29673/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

There are 14 District Probate Registries located outside Dublin which are attached to Circuit Court Offices under the control of County Registrars who also carry out the function of District Probate Registrar. As the Deputy will be aware, the County Registrar for County Westmeath retired in April 2016 and since then I have approved a proposal to fill the County Registrar vacancy. Sanction to proceed with this appointment has recently been received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the necessary preparations are being made in regard to the recruitment process which will be conducted by the Public Appointments Service in the near future.

The Courts Service has informed me that, since the retirement of the County Registrar for Westmeath, the duties have been exercised by the County Registrar for Cavan with assistance from other County Registrars and that there are no delays at present in regard to the District Probate Registry in County Westmeath.

Question No. 18 answered with Question No. 16.

Immigrant Investor Programme Administration

Questions (19, 20)

Jim Daly

Question:

19. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a company can receive formal written pre-approval that it does qualify as an enterprise here, for the purposes of the immigrant investor programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29236/16]

Jim Daly

Question:

20. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are any further benefits within the immigrant investor programme for investors of higher amounts of up to €5 million which exceed the current threshold of €500,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29238/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.

I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the applications for the Immigrant Investor Programme are evaluated by an Independent Evaluation Committee, with experts from Government Departments and relevant State Agencies. To issue a formal pre-approval without the application having been considered by this committee would undermine the independence of the Evaluation Committee.

On approval of an application, the Immigrant Investor Programme provides for the granting of an Immigration Permission on Stamp 4 conditions to the investor and their family members for an initial two-year period. This permission is renewable, subject to certain conditions being met, for a further three years and thereafter for five year periods.

The threshold of €500,000 is the minimum amount that an investor can make when submitting an application for the Immigrant Investor Programme and any investment in excess of this minimum threshold, while welcome, does not confer any additional immigration benefits.