Written Answers Nos. 201 - 223
201. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of an application to the SEAI for a grant by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36451/16]
View answerThe Better Energy Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Building Energy Rating (BER).
I have no function in relation to individual grant applications. Queries in relation to individual grant applications are an operational matter for the SEAI. A dedicated hotline to deal with questions about applications is available at 1800 250 204. In addition, the SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members: oireachtas@seai.ie. Such queries will be dealt with promptly.
202. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the date for the roll out of high speed broadband for Dripsey, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36376/16]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated.
The High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the extent of the State Intervention area:
- The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering or have previously indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The areas marked AMBER on the High Speed Broadband Map represent the target areas for the State Intervention, which are the subject of the current procurement process. It is intended that premises within this area will have access to services of at least 30Mbps when the procurement process is completed and the network rolled out.
The map provides information on a county by county basis with a breakdown of coverage across the townlands in every county including County Cork.
The village of Dripsey predominantly falls within a BLUE area and will be covered by commercial operators. Individuals can check whether their premise is in a BLUE or an AMBER area by accessing the High Speed Broadband Map and entering their Eircode.
While I cannot compel any operator to provide services to a particular premises, the NBP aims to ensure that all premises can access high speed broadband. I would encourage consumers in Dripsey who cannot access high speed broadband services to contact my Department directly at broadband@dccae.gov.ie, quoting their address and Eircode, and giving details of providers they have contacted with a view to obtaining services. My Department needs this information to keep track of progress in those areas so that high speed broadband solutions can be found in parallel with the State Intervention high speed broadband network roll-out.
The Department is now in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the State Intervention Area comprising over 750,000 premises including 85,000 premises in Co Cork, covering 100,000km of road network and 96% of the land area of Ireland.
Intensive dialogue with bidders is continuing and the three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. Householders and businesses may get speeds not just of 30 megabits per second but potentially up to 1000 megabits per second with businesses potentially availing of symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Earlier this year, before I came into office, the Department announced that it would be June 2017 before contract(s) were awarded under the NBP. The bidders in the process have recently indicated that they may need more time to conclude the procurement process. The timing of each stage of the procurement continues to be dependent on a range of factors including the complexities that may be encountered by the procurement team and bidders, during the procurement process. Bidders need adequate time to prepare detailed proposals and their final formal bids. In addition, bidders need adequate time to get the relevant shareholder and funding approvals at key stages of the process. It is also important to ensure that risks in this multi-million euro procurement are carefully managed. I do not propose to comment any further on timelines at this juncture, given that discussions are on-going in the procurement process. I can assure the Deputy, however, that the procurement process is being intensively managed, to ensure an outcome that delivers a future-proofed network that serves homes and businesses across Ireland, for at least 25 years. The Government considers the NBP to be one of the most significant investments in rural Ireland for decades, and one which will transform society, akin to rural electrification in the last century.
During the Department's extensive stakeholder consultations in 2015, telecommunications service providers indicated a 3-5 year timeline to rollout a network of the scale envisaged under the NBP. As part of the competitive process, the Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best rollout strategy, in order to target areas of particularly poor service, business needs and/or high demand. This will need to be balanced with the most efficient network rollout plan. A prioritisation programme will be put in place in this regard, in consultation with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. A detailed rollout plan for the network will be published once contract(s) are in place.
The Programme for Government also commits to measures to assist in the rollout of the network once a contract is awarded. In this regard, Minister Humphreys is leading on the establishment of two regional action groups, working with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices and other relevant agencies to help accelerate the broadband network build in rural Ireland, once a contract(s) has been awarded.
In a further positive initiative, last July, I established a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce with my colleague Minister Humphreys to address immediate issues in relation to the quality of mobile phone and broadband coverage. I expect the Taskforce to report by end 2016.
I recently signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with an early 2017 auction of the 3.6GHz radio spectrum band, to provide an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services. I have also secured €8m for RTE which will allow it to free up the 700MHz spectrum band, to provide enhanced mobile services.
In the meantime, my Department continues to liaise closely with industry and relevant other Departments and agencies to assist in the commercial deployment of telecommunications networks. The commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2bn in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband and mobile telecoms services.
These investments will further improve the coverage and quality of broadband and mobile voice and data services throughout the country, including County Cork.
203. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to conduct a national countrywide audit of mobile telephone coverage to identify black spots and other signal issues; the measures his Department is engaged in to improve mobile telephone coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36466/16]
View answerThe provision of mobile telephony services is subject to a requirement to secure access to the required radio spectrum by way of licence. The management of radio spectrum is a statutory function of the independent regulator of the telecommunications sector, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). I understand that licences issued by ComReg impose terms and conditions on mobile network operators – including minimum population coverage obligations. ComReg monitors compliance in this regard by means of biannual drive tests. However, given ComReg’s independence, I have no statutory function in the matter of auditing mobile coverage.
I am critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced across Ireland, where mobile networks are not always delivering the services people expect. Mobile operators have invested significantly in rolling out improved services, following ComReg's multi-band spectrum auction. At least one operator now has in excess of 90% 4G population coverage. The rate of demand for data services has however increased by 500% in the last four years and this presents a continuing challenge for mobile operators, regulators and policy makers both in Ireland and internationally.
Recognising this challenge, I specifically included in the Programme for Government, a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. In July, I established the Taskforce, together with Minister Humphreys, which aims to unlock barriers to investment in mobile and broadband services. The Terms of Reference of the Taskforce state that it will identify and recommend practical actions that can be taken to improve mobile reception and broadband access. The Taskforce has already met sixteen times, with a number of helpful initiatives emerging in the areas of planning, local authority engagement, and consumer information and engagement.
The Taskforce involves Government Departments and agencies, as well as engagement with ComReg and telecoms operators. I anticipate that we will bring a report to Government next month, on foot of its work. This report will set out proposed timelines for the prompt delivery of the recommendations and actions.
Under the Programme for Government, Minister Humphreys has also established two regional action groups to work with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Offices, LEADER Groups and other relevant agencies in helping accelerate the rollout of broadband and mobile services at local level.
In addition, I recently signed Regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with an early 2017 auction of the 3.6GHz radio spectrum band, to provide an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services.
In my Department's estimates for 2017 I have secured an €8m provision for RTÉ to allow it to free up the 700MHz spectrum band. ComReg in turn will make plans to auction this spectrum, to provide for significantly enhanced mobile coverage. The 700 MHz band is particularly suited to rural environments where the signal can travel long distances.
These initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services across Ireland, and particularly in rural Ireland.
In parallel, the National Broadband Plan aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland, through private investment and a State intervention in areas where commercial investment have not been fully demonstrated.
The procurement process is underway and the three bidders in the process have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution for rural Ireland. Intensive dialogue with bidders is ongoing, with a view to putting in place contract(s) that will deliver the NBP network and put Ireland to the forefront internationally in terms of connectivity.
204. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department, or a body under its aegis, has considered any proposals for improving pricing transparency in the domestic waste collection sector; and his views on whether the opacity of pricing in the sector has a negative impact on the competition between providers and cost of waste collection for households. [36501/16]
View answerThe charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.
A mandatory pay-by-weight charging structure for household waste collection was due to be introduced in mid-2016. However, on 30 June 2016, regulations were signed to remove the requirement for a mandatory pay-by-weight charging structure. Notwithstanding the above, as previously stated, a review of the pricing structures that households are charged for the collection of waste, with a focus on encouraging households to prevent, separate and recycle waste and to reduce residual waste going to landfills, is due to be completed by July next year. The issue raised by the Deputy will be considered as part of the wider review of the operation and potential introduction of pay by weight.
205. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will expand the application criteria for the 2017 sports capital programme to include sporting organisations and clubs that previously were unable to apply, such as golf clubs. [36377/16]
View answerThe Sports Capital Programme provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Under previous rounds of the Programme, grants have been provided to sports clubs, voluntary and community groups, national governing bodies of sport and local authorities. Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and schools could also apply for funding jointly with sports clubs or organisations. It should be noted that golf clubs were also eligible and many made successful applications under previous rounds of the programme.
Following the conclusion of the 2017 Estimates discussions, a total of €52m has been provided for sports capital projects. This will meet all existing commitments under previous rounds of the Sports Capital and Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, and also allow for a new round of the of the Sports Capital Programme. The new round will be open for applications by January at the latest and we will be announcing more comprehensive details including eligibility criteria shortly.
206. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps undertaken by his Department to examine the impact of the operation of a company (details supplied) on wages and conditions of airline staff in view of the fact that it is operating a number of its new flights from Europe to Las Vegas, for example, with entirely Asian crews thereby undercutting existing wage agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36399/16]
View answerThe Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has not undertaken an examination of the specific employment practices/labour models of any Irish airline. All matters related to employment contracts are an operational matter for the airlines and not under my remit as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, I would like to state that Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation, which offers extensive protections to employees.
The Norwegian Air group's Irish airline is called Norwegian Air International (NAI). NAI applied for a foreign air carrier permit to fly routes to the United States nearly three years ago. The US Department of transportation has yet to approve this application and the delay by the US authorities is now the subject of a dispute under the EU/US Open Skies Agreement.
I wrote to my US counterpart in support of NAI's application in August this year. Without such a permit NAI is unable to operate flights to the US, including Las Vegas. I understand that such flights are operated by other airlines within the Norwegian Group as distinct from the subsidiary operating from Ireland.
207. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date for the opening of the Kishogue train station on the Kildare line in view of the recent opening of the Phoenix Park tunnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36429/16]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
The NTA has informed me that the current position with regard to the opening of Kishogue Station will be reviewed after a period of operation of services through the Phoenix Park Tunnel when revised travel patterns have been established.
As the Deputy will be aware, Phoenix Park Tunnel services commenced this week.
208. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a company (details supplied) has received any State grants or funding in the past five years. [36458/16]
View answerThe company referred to by the Deputy has not received any funding or grants from my Department in the past five years.
209. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to change the regulation of car sharing enterprises that would permit drivers without taxi licences to operate within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36459/16]
View answerThe regulatory framework governing the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and Regulations made under the Act by the National Transport Authority as regulator for the sector.
Under that regulatory framework the core requirement, with a small number of limited exemptions, is that the carriage of passengers for reward in a public place in any mechanically propelled vehicle with nine or less seats (including the driver's seat) is permitted only in a licensed vehicle driven by a licensed driver.
The underlying policy which governs this is a concern for passenger safety and a concern for passenger protection in relation to pricing. The rationale for taxi regulation is to ensure that passengers have a safe vehicle for their journey, with appropriate insurance in place, driven by a driver who has been vetted by An Garda Síochána and, in the case of taxis, with a pre-established and verified charging system.
At present ridesharing services would not comply with the primary legislation governing small public service vehicles.
210. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress of the commencement of all sections of the Vehicle Clamping Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36470/16]
View answerThe Vehicle Clamping Act was enacted in May 2015 and conferred the responsibilities of regulating vehicle clamping upon the National Transport Authority (NTA).
This conferral of additional responsibilities resulted in a requirement for allocation of additional resources to the NTA in order to allow it carry out its new functions in this area. In addition the NTA also required a period to make and prepare the necessary regulations provided for under the Act as well as ensure appropriate training and administrative supports are in place to allow for commencement of regulatory activities.
This preparatory work has now been completed; however, in recent weeks an issue arose in how the Act deals with the required consultation process in relation to draft Regulations prior to their finalisation. This issue needs to be addressed so as to ensure that the NTA can proceed with the publication of said draft Regulations.
I am dealing with this issue through making a technical amendment to the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 which will be introduced by means of an amendment to the Road Traffic Bill 2016 which is currently at Dáil Committee Stage.
Once amended, the Vehicle Clamping Act will be commenced and the NTA will then proceed with the consultation process in relation to the draft Regulations prior to their finalisation.
211. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the proposed redevelopment of Dalymount Park in Phibsborough, Dublin 7; if he has considered the feasibility study and costs that were submitted by Dublin City Council for the redevelopment; the support, financial or other, his Department will provide for the re-development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36481/16]
View answerThe previous Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport indicated the Government's commitment to support Dublin City Council in the proposed redevelopment of Dalymount Park. I understand that Dublin City Council is currently finalising a proposal in this regard. While no financial allocation has been made to date, any future application for funding received from Dublin City Council would be fully considered. My Department is available to Dublin City Council in this regard.
212. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of times he has met with the EU Commissioner for Transport since their appointment; and the level of engagement regarding potential EU funding for infrastructural developments. [36514/16]
View answerI met with the EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc when in Luxembourg for a Transport Council meeting in June 2016. In relation to EU funding for infrastrutural projects, my officials have attended committees chaired by the European Commission and are proactively engaged with the European Commission and other stakeholders concerning the Connecting Europe Facility for Transport which comes under the remit of my Department.
My officials are also in contact with officials in other Departments and agencies concerning other EU co-funding programs such as Interreg and Horizon 2020 which come under the remit of my colleagues in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation and in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
213. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the plans being drawn up, and the resources allocated, to ensure that children coming from Calais are properly cared for when they arrive here, including but not limited to extra resources being allocated to Tusla. [36488/16]
View answerUnder the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) the responsibilities of the State are set out in relation to the care needs of separated children who seek asylum in the State. Where separated children are identified by An Garda Síochána, at the point of entry, their circumstances are investigated and the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991, apply, i.e. the child is placed into the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
Separated Children Seeking Asylum (SCSA) are defined as “children under eighteen years of age who are outside their country of origin, who have applied for asylum and are separated from their parents or their legal/customary care giver”. These children are a vulnerable cohort and the State is duty bound by international and domestic law to protect and provide for separated children in the same way as children normally resident in the State.
I have asked Tusla to review its ability to provide for additional numbers of separated children, and this includes the assessment of the resources that may be needed. Any decisions regarding resources will be made in this context.
214. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if contact has been made with the relevant volunteer organisations working on the ground in Calais, including the Refugee Youth Service; and if the Irish authorities are currently working with them in monitoring the welfare of the children, assessing the best interests of the children and helping to identify those children who have expressed a wish to come here in order that their transition here can be actioned forthwith. [36489/16]
View answerThe All Party Dáil motion, approved by Government on 10 November last, called on the Government to work with the French authorities, to identify up to 200 unaccompanied minors previously living in the unofficial migrant camp in Calais, and who have expressed a desire to come and stay in Ireland. The motion further states that any requests from France for assistance in this regard must be considered in accordance with national and international law.
In order to implement the motion a number of Departments are required to work together and to coordinate their efforts.
I understand that the Department of Justice and Equality has sought the advice of the Attorney General's Office in relation to this matter. In addition, the State is seeking to ascertain the identity of those unaccompanied minors formerly in Calais who had expressed a wish to relocate to Ireland.
I am sure that the Deputy appreciates that the unaccompanied minors concerned are now dispersed in numerous centres throughout France. It is understood that there are ongoing contacts between the French and UK authorities in relation to the unaccompanied minors who may be accepted by the UK. The situation that now presents itself is an extremely complex one with many actors, both State and non-State, involved. We are attempting to work through the issues concerned as expeditiously as possible having regard to the resource limitations which currently exist.
215. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the introduction of the new affordable child care scheme will necessitate any changes to legislation; and if an amendment will be required to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to add her Department or another body to Schedule 5. [36479/16]
View answerI am very pleased that from September 2017, a new Affordable Childcare Scheme will be introduced to provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare.
The scheme will be set out in primary legislation, encompassing:
- clear and detailed rules for the assessment of income and the provision of subsidies;
- clearly prescribed authority in relation to the sharing of data across public bodies and administrators; and
- comprehensive provisions in relation to the powers and obligations of the scheme administrator.
The primary legislation will take account of all necessary amendments to existing legislation, including any changes which may be required to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2015.
216. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way the proposed system of administering the new affordable child care scheme will determine eligibility via the online system for persons that do not opt for joint assessment of income; her views on whether persons, for example, unmarried and-or cohabiting that have not opted for joint assessment of income could be considered eligible if they input the PPSN of one partner earning below €47,000, even if both their collective incomes taken together would be above the threshold; and her further views on whether the system proposed to determine automatic eligibility could be discriminatory against persons that have opted for joint assessment of income. [36480/16]
View answerFrom September 2017 a new Affordable Childcare scheme will be introduced which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare. This new scheme will replace the existing targeted childcare programmes with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme and is intended to provide “wraparound care for pre-school and school-age children.
Parents will be able to apply for a subsidy via an online application system. In order to support a user-friendly process, this online system will involve linkages to Revenue and Department of Social Protection IT databases which should enable automated verification of income data and automated approval of applications in a large number of cases. To facilitate this approach, the income assessment will be based on the most recent available tax year, while the applicant’s ‘work/ study’ status will be determined by way of self-declaration. This approach will be balanced by a strong system of audit and inbuilt checks.
Applicants will be required to renew their application for a childcare subsidy annually and to notify Pobal where there is a material change in their means or circumstances. Similarly, childcare providers will have a duty to notify Pobal where there is a change in the level of childcare provided to a scheme beneficiary. In all cases, applicants will enjoy a right of review and appeal in relation to decisions reached.
The scheme aims to provide progressive financial support towards the cost of childcare. It is proposed that it should be the income of the immediate household with legal responsibility for the child that is taken into account. This means that it is the income of the parent or guardian (applicant) and his or her spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, as appropriate, that will be taken into account in calculating assessable income and eligibility for a subsidy. It is intended that the scheme will treat all couples on the same basis, regardless of whether the couple has opted for separate or joint assessment of income for tax purposes.
217. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will investigate the alteration of records in 2002 relating to vaccine trials carried out at Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in 1960-1961; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36491/16]
View answerIn policy terms, matters in relation to vaccine trials are an issue for my colleague the Minister for Health within his responsibility for clinical trials involving medicinal products. However, as the Deputy will be aware the former Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Cork is one of the fourteen named institutions currently being examined by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters.
This Commission of Investigation was established by Government (S.I. No. 57 of 2015) in response to significant public concerns relating to the care and welfare of the women and children who were residents of theses institutions. The scope of the Commission’s remit ensures it can provide a full account of what happened to women and children in these homes during the period 1922 to 1998.
On the question of vaccine trials, it is notable that Article 1(v) of the Commission's terms of reference requires the Commission to examine compliance with relevant regulatory and ethical standards in relation to systemic vaccine trials identified by the Commission as being conducted on children in these homes. As the Deputy will be aware these historical vaccine trials have been the subject of debate and inquiry on a number of occasions over recent decades. These inquiries were summarised in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Mother and Baby Homes as published by my predecessor in July 2014.
I am satisfied that the present Commission has sufficient legal powers to compel witnesses to disclose documents and to provide answers on all related matters. I have no plans to separately investigate these matters. In my view the public interest is best served by allowing the Commission to progress its investigations and to establish the facts of what happened in these homes and to make any recommendations it considers appropriate. This work is due to be completed by February 2018.
218. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will order a full audit of the files in the possession of Tusla in view of recent revelations that the HSE had access to a report prepared for the Magdalene/McAleese inquiry in 2012, which warned that death certificates may have been falsified at Bessborough and Tuam mother and baby homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36492/16]
View answer219. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the persons or bodies that had access to the internal report prepared for the Magdalen-McAleese inquiry in 2012 into the falsification of infant mortality rates at both Bessborough and Tuam mother and baby homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36493/16]
View answer220. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the recent revelation by a person (details supplied) that they notified statutory authorities in 2012 of the high rate of infant deaths in mother and baby homes and the possibility of forced adoption of children from within the State. [36494/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 218 to 220, inclusive, together.
Documentation from the former Bessborough and Tuam Mother and Baby Homes was examined by the HSE as part of its response to the Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalene Laundries.
In the course of this work the HSE provided a draft report to the Committee secretariat and to the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. This draft report highlighted concerns in relation to infant mortality and the arrangements for the placement of children during the period when these homes were in operation. The speculative nature of any conclusions that were being drawn from this initial review was recognised by the author‘s acknowledgment that the report’s findings remained a matter of conjecture until such time as a more forensic examination of the home’s records could be undertaken by the HSE.
As these matters were outside the direct remit of the Magdalene Laundries Committee, the HSE advised that these wider concerns would be examined separately by the HSE. At that time my Department advised the HSE that any findings of concern from this separate process should be appropriately communicated by the HSE. My Department is not aware of any subsequent reports supplied by the HSE in this regard.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs became actively involved in responding to the concerns relating to Mother and Baby Homes following the publication of information on the former Bon Secours Home in Tuam around mid-2014. The then Minister was subsequently tasked by Government with leading its response to these significant matters of public concern and an Inter Departmental Review Group was set up to assist deliberations on the terms of reference of a Commission of Investigation.
The Inter Departmental Group Report on Mother and Baby Homes, published in July 2014, cites a number of reports from relevant authorities which expressed concerns with undesirably high death rates during the times these institutions were in operation. It also references academic literature which clearly indicates that the role and purpose of these institutions was the subject of attention, report and debate since the early years of the State. So it is important to avoid suggestions that concerns in relation to mother and baby homes were unknown, or ignored, prior to or since 2012.
This work culminated in the establishment of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters in February 2015. The Commission’s terms of reference include specific matters related to infant mortality rates, the reporting and recording of deaths, and arrangements for placing children – whether in Ireland or abroad. Importantly, the Commission will examine exit pathways – including any illegal practices – that may have formed part of the system of ad hoc arrangements in place prior to the introduction of the 1952 Adoption Act.
The more extensive process of assembling and investigating all relevant records now forms a very significant part of the Commission’s work. I am aware that TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency, is assisting the Commission in its task to assemble and examine the particular records in question.
I understand that my predecessor, Minister Reilly, previously outlined this information to the Deputy more than a year ago. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I am concerned by the indications from reports based on these records and I want to see these matters fully investigated. It is essential that we establish the full facts of what happened to vulnerable mothers and their children in these institutions.
I am satisfied that the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, together with the terms of reference set out in S.I. No. 57 of 2015, provide this Commission with the legal powers necessary to conduct a full and transparent inquiry into the broad range of concerns in relation to mother and baby homes. In my view the public interest is best served by supporting the Commission to progress its investigations and to establish the facts of what happened in these homes and to make any recommendations it considers appropriate. This work is due to be completed by February 2018 and its findings will be published.
221. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department, or a body under its aegis, has considered any proposals for improving pricing transparency for child care fees in centre based child care providers; and her views on whether the opacity of pricing in the sector has a negative impact on the cost of child care for parents. [36499/16]
View answerAll providers participating in the various DCYA Programmes are required to clearly publish their fees so that parents can compare providers and, where applicable, can see what their co-payment would be after taking account of any State subsidy.
222. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on a matter regarding a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36509/16]
View answerThe matter raised by the Deputy refers to the relationship between a school and their patron organisation and hence not relevant to my Department.
223. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the short to medium term plans for the Gormanstown Army camp and its surrounding grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36527/16]
View answerGormanston Camp is, and will continue to be, an important operational military installation, and there are no plans to change this.
My Department has invested considerably in facilities and infrastructure at Gormanston Camp. Since 2010, just over €688,000 has been spent on a range of capital and non-capital developments and improvements. This is in addition to routine ongoing investment in repair and maintenance of the facility.
In addition, in implementing the White Paper on Defence 2015, a number of projects have been identified that will address infrastructure requirements across the Defence Forces. In this regard, a rolling five year infrastructure development plan will be produced based on an assessment of needs for all individual barracks. In addition, a review will be carried out of training facilities, which includes Gormanston Camp, in order to ensure that they are developed in accordance with the needs of the Defence Forces. At present, the Camp is also used for RDF training and is the only site in the Defence property portfolio that is used for Air Defence training and Air Corps firing.
