Written Answers Nos. 310-331
310. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the total annual Irish language funding in the 2010 to 2016 period, in tabular form; and the amount that has been located in 2017. [40815/16]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that the details sought by him are extensive and, accordingly, it has not been possible to collate the requested information in the time available. I can assure the Deputy that the relevant data will be forwarded to him shortly, within the timeframe set down in Standing Orders.
311. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the total spending to date under the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2016; the remaining funds that are currently in the fund in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40816/16]
View answer312. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the total spending to date under the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2016, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40817/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 311 and 312 together.
The Dormant Accounts Act 2001, together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Acts 2005-2012, provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings.
The legislation introduced a scheme for the disbursement of funds that are unlikely to be reclaimed, but only for the purposes of programmes or projects to assist the personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged, the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged, or persons with a disability. These programmes and projects are implemented by a range of Government Departments and agencies.
My Department has an oversight role in the relation to the allocation and disbursement of Dormant Accounts funding and also provides funding for a number of measures. Details of the monies disbursed from my own Department's Vote to date in 2016 ,by measure and by county, are set out on the table below.
Full summary details of the Dormant Accounts Fund are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/app/uploads/2016/10/dormantaccounts-30-09-2016.pdf.
The net value of uncommitted Dormant Account funds stood at €139.94 million at the end of September 2016.
|
Dormant Accounts Measure |
County |
Expenditure € |
|
Round 4 - RAPID |
Dublin Fingal |
23,777.00 |
|
Round 4 - RAPID |
Wexford |
499.50 |
|
Round 4 - 5 New RAPID Towns |
Limerick County |
3,950.00 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Clare |
60,000.00 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Cork County |
212,470.80 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Dublin County |
43,632.00 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Dublin Fingal |
131,982.48 |
|
Social Enterprise |
South Dublin County |
22,356.00 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Galway City |
55,390.50 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Kerry |
135,120.00 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Kilkenny |
90,000.00 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Limerick City |
22,000.00 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Mayo |
40,847.00 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Meath |
34,560.00 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Roscommon |
39,217.50 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Wexford |
21,555.00 |
|
Social Enterprise |
Wicklow |
42,702.30 |
|
|
Total |
980,060.08 |
313. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress on the programme for Government commitment to increasing funding for the LEADER programme; the total annual amount of LEADER funding allocated in 2016; the total amount drawn down to date in 2016; and the allocation for 2017 LEADER funding. [40818/16]
View answer314. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the total annual amount of LEADER funding allocated in 2016 by county, in tabular form; the total amount drawn down to date in each county; and the allocation by county for 2017 LEADER funding. [40819/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together.
The LEADER programme plays a central role in the rejuvenation of rural communities throughout Ireland. The 2014-2020 LEADER programme has become operational this year, with Funding Agreements signed for the delivery of 28 Local Development Strategies.
Funding under the 2014-2020 LEADER programme is allocated on the basis of sub-regional areas, rather than on a county administrative basis. Table 1 below shows details of the allocations for the sub-regional areas that were made in 2016 to cover the full duration of the programme. These allocations are not annualised to allow greater flexibility over the course of the programming period to the Local Action Groups which manage the programme in each area. In addition to the €220 million in allocations detailed on the table, a further €30 million in competitive funding is available over the lifetime of the programme for Cooperation projects, Artisan Food projects and Rural Economic Development Zones. An initial call for Cooperation projects was announced on 23rd November 2016.
The total amount of funding paid out by my Department this year related to LEADER, as of 30th November 2016, was approximately €8.6 million. This figure, which is provisional, includes payments made in respect of the 2007-2013 LEADER programme as well as the 2014-2020 programme. Further payments were processed in December and the final expenditure figure for 2016 will be published in 2017 as part of my Department's Appropriation Account.
Expenditure under LEADER is expected to increase in 2017 as the programme becomes fully operational. A sum of €40 million has been allocated for LEADER payments in 2017 as part of the Estimates process. The Government is committed to ensuring that there is appropriate funding available to the LEADER programme over its lifetime and funding requirements will be reviewed on a year-by-year basis as part of the annual Estimates process.
Table 1: Disbursements for LEADER 2014-2020 allocations by sub-regional area
|
Sub- Regional Area |
Programme Allocation |
|
Rural Dublin |
€6,370,438.43 |
|
Kildare |
€5,261,600.01 |
|
Meath |
€6,903,123.57 |
|
Wicklow |
€6,336,549.00 |
|
Carlow |
€6,416,803.43 |
|
Kilkenny |
€7,791,572.91 |
|
Wexford |
€9,840,140.56 |
|
Tipperary |
€10,103,443.28 |
|
County Waterford |
€7,522,796.18 |
|
County Cork |
€13,938,823.22 |
|
Kerry |
€10,219,868.29 |
|
Clare |
€8,920,224.65 |
|
County Limerick |
€9,276,593.96 |
|
County Galway |
€12,195,883.61 |
|
Mayo |
€11,121,431.88 |
|
Roscommon |
€8,852,659.22 |
|
Louth |
€6,101,862.01 |
|
Leitrim |
€5,998,474.74 |
|
Sligo |
€7,655,647.81 |
|
Cavan |
€8,522,285.84 |
|
Donegal |
€12,913,877.86 |
|
Monaghan |
€7,592,719.51 |
|
Laois |
€7,124,586.86 |
|
Longford |
€7,597,623.07 |
|
Offaly |
€8,036,763.90 |
|
Westmeath |
€7,384,206.22 |
|
Total |
€220,000,000.00 |
315. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the commitment that a wide-ranging rural development policy framework will be developed by the end of 2016 and will feed into the development of the national planning framework due to be completed by the end of 2016 following the publication of the rural charter in January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40821/16]
View answerThe Charter for Rural Ireland was published in January 2016 and contained a number of commitments to support the economic, social and cultural development of rural areas. The Charter included a commitment to develop a policy framework which would feed in to the new National Planning Framework (NPF) which is currently being developed by the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. The NPF will be finalised in 2017, and will be a strategy for the place-based development of Ireland over the period to 2040.
As the Deputy will be aware, I am currently finalising an Action Plan for Rural Development which goes further than the commitment in the Charter for Rural Ireland to deliver a rural development policy framework. The Action Plan will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives right across Government which will benefit rural Ireland.
My officials are liaising with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to ensure that the Action Plan for Rural Development feeds into the development of the NPF and helps to shape the ambitions for rural Ireland.
316. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the commitment that a national rural development forum will be held in early 2016 following the publication of the rural charter in January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40822/16]
View answerThe Charter for Rural Ireland was published in January 2016 and contained a number of commitments to support the economic, social and cultural development of rural areas. The aim of the National Rural Development Forum which is referenced in the Charter was to ensure that rural stakeholders could contribute to the development of rural development policies and to highlight key issues that needed to be addressed.
The Action Plan for Rural Development which my Department is currently finalising builds on the commitment in the Charter for Rural Ireland. The Action Plan will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government which will benefit rural Ireland.
As part of the process of developing the Action Plan, my Department held a series of structured workshops across the country, seeking inputs to the Plan. The workshops included representatives from LEADER Groups, community organisations, the farming community, Local Authorities, Local Employment Offices, and the Public Participation Network. I, and my officials, have also met a number of key rural stakeholder groups and invited submissions from them. I also provided a briefing on the Action Plan to members of the Oireachtas and invited them to input to the process. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was also invited to make a submission.
The level of consultation which has been undertaken on the Action Plan exceeds the single Forum event envisaged under the Charter for Rural Ireland. I will be publishing the Action Plan for Rural Development shortly and it is my intention that it will be a living document which will allow additional actions to be added on a regular basis and with continuing engagement with key rural stakeholders.
317. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will give further consideration to the extension of the Erne navigation from Belturbet to Killykeen and Killeshandra; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40985/16]
View answerWaterways Ireland manages and maintains the navigation on the River Erne in County Cavan as part of the Shannon – Erne Waterway. Waterways Ireland public jetties are provided in both Belturbet and Kilconny and the navigation channel is provided with navigation markers and signage as and where required. The upper limit of the managed navigation on the River Erne is just below Erne Bridge between Belturbet and Kilconny.
I have been informed by Waterways Ireland that a number of studies have been undertaken since the late 1980’s to examine the feasibility of extending the navigation upstream from Belturbet to Lough Oughter and Killeshandra. Based on the findings of these studies and the environmental information obtained from the process, Waterways Ireland considers that the environmental of this lake complex make the feasibility of the proposed navigation extension unviable and there are no plans for a navigation extension scheme.
I am working with Waterways Ireland on the waters upstream from Belturbet/ Kilconny, the River Erne and Lough Oughter/Killeshandra area, which may have potential for being promoted as a distinct Blueway.
318. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if consideration has been given to a possible extension to the blueway scheme to areas such as Killeshandra which are adjacent to the Erne-Shannon navigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40986/16]
View answerWaterways Ireland manages and maintains the navigation on the River Erne up to Belturbet/ Kilconny in County Cavan as part of the Shannon – Erne Waterway. The upper limit of the managed navigation on the River Erne is just below Erne Bridge between Belturbet and Kilconny.
I am working with Waterways Ireland on the waters upstream from Belturbet/Kilconny, the River Erne and Lough Oughter/Killeshandra area, which may have potential for being promoted as a distinct Blueway.
319. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the freestyle libre glucose monitoring system under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40486/16]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal devices under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. I understand the manufacturer has not yet made a completed application to the HSE for reimbursement of the device under the Community Drugs Schemes. A health technology assessment may then be required to assess its clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness.
The HSE are due to meet the manufacturer shortly.
320. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists by location for orthodontic and maxillofacial facial surgery; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40491/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
321. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the extent of the waiting list for orthodontic assessment; the post-assessment waiting list by category and by location for treatment; if there are vacancies in posts for this category of health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40492/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
322. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to date in 2016 for the development of early intervention and prevention counselling services by mental health and primary care, specifically for young persons under 18 years of age. [40508/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
323. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to date in 2016 for the enhanced provision of Jigsaw services nationally. [40509/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
324. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to date in 2016 for specific services to enhance responses to those persons who are homeless and mentally ill. [40510/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
325. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to date in 2016 for improved provision of psychotherapeutic interventions for adults and children with mental illness. [40511/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
326. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to date in 2016 to address the current service gap for low secure acute care and rehabilitation services for mental health service users with complex needs. [40512/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
327. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to date in 2016 for continued investment in the CAMHS eating disorder service. [40513/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
328. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to date in 2016 for the opening of new acute and high-observation units. [40514/16]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
329. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the expenditure incurred in agency fees to date in 2016 by the HSE in the provision of mental health services. [40515/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
330. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the details of approved centres that are yet to comply with the Mental Health Commission, in tabular form. [40516/16]
View answerThe Office of the Inspector of Mental Health Services is made up of the Inspector of Mental Health Services and a multi-disciplinary team of Assistant Inspectors. As required by the Mental Health Act, 2001, the Inspector is a Consultant Psychiatrist.
The functions of the Inspector include the inspection of every approved centre at least once in each year. In 2015, a total of 61 approved centres were inspected by the Inspector of Mental Health Services and inspection team. Of these, six were compliant with all applicable regulations and rules. Each of the other centres were non-compliant in at least one area, these non-compliances ranging from low-risk to critical-risk, with very few in the latter category. A copy of each inspection report is available on the website of the Mental Health Commission, with details of the relevant non-compliances, where applicable.
In each case of non-compliance, the approved centre was requested to produce a schedule of Corrective and Preventative Actions to deal with the existing non-compliance and to ensure that it did not recur. Each centre produced such a schedule. The Mental Health Commission monitors enforcement actions and with cases of critical-or high-risk non-compliance, the Inspector may conduct a report inspection or a Focused Inspection to ensure that the corrective action has taken place.
331. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if anti-ligature measures have been introduced in all settings; and if not, the details of settings where they have yet to be introduced in tabular form. [40517/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
