Written Answers Nos 213-221
213. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any of the companies verified by IDA Ireland as creating 527 jobs under the Succeed in Ireland initiative have received any other support from IDA Ireland or other State agency; and if so, the details of such support. [14733/17]
View answer214. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any of the companies verified by IDA Ireland as creating 527 jobs under the Succeed in Ireland initiative are or have been client companies of IDA Ireland or Enterprise Ireland or any other State agency; and if so, the details of any supports provided by these agencies to these companies. [14734/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.
I understand, from IDA Ireland, that the Succeed-in-Ireland initiative has created 535 jobs on the ground to date. These verified jobs are associated with 85 projects, 25 of which are being delivered by client companies of other State Agencies. Of these 25 companies, 18 are IDA Ireland clients, six are Enterprise Ireland clients and one is a client of Údarás na Gaeltachta.
IDA Ireland does not disclose information on grant approvals, as this is commercially sensitive information.
215. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to extend the early child care scheme for families than cannot find a place in their local school and require an extra year for a place to become available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14710/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware an expansion of ECCE, the free pre-school programme, took place following Budget 2016. This expansion was given significant consideration by the Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Childcare which reported in July 2015. Senior officials from the Department of Education and Skills contributed to the discussions on an upper age limit for the scheme, taking a child centred approach and considering the delivery of better outcomes for all children. As with any scheme, there must be entry and cut off points. Prior to Budget 2016 the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme had one entry point (September) from when children could begin pre-school, and children had to be aged between 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months by the September to avail of the free pre-school year (i.e. 38 weeks). The programme was then expanded by reducing the age of eligibility to 3 years and by increasing the number of entry points to three throughout the programme year (September, January and April). This means that children can begin to avail of their free place on the pre-school programme as soon as possible after they reach the age of 3 and participate in the programme once they will not be older than 5 years and 6 months by the end of the programme year (i.e. end of June). These rules for ECCE reflect evidence based policy and are necessary from an administrative and budgetary management perspective. Regrettably, it is the nature of such rules that they benefit some more than others and it will therefore not be possible to provide an extension of ECCE in circumstances where a family may be unable to find a place for a child in their local school.
The Department of Education and Skills main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. In a circumstance where a child has been refused a place by a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, a parent or guardian can choose to take an appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance. Further information on the Section 29 appeals process is available on the Department of Education and Skills website www.education.ie.
The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory agency which can assist some parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718500. The Deputy will be aware that, in legislation, the legal school starting age is 6. Prior to a child reaching the age of 6, the Educational Welfare Services of Tusla cannot do anything in terms of representing/advocating for parents to access school places. However, after the age of 6, Tusla's Educational Welfare Service would engage with, advise and support parents in accessing school places, including advising on the writing of appeals, with the Educational Welfare Officers acting as advocates at appeal hearings.
I would also note to the Deputy that plans are currently in train to provide for a new national scheme of financial support for parents towards the cost of their childcare entitled the Affordable Childcare Scheme, which will replace the existing targeted childcare subsidisation schemes with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme. This scheme may be of benefit to some families in the circumstances outlined. Further information on the scheme will be available from my Department shortly
216. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of any payments made by her Department, its agencies or any bodies under her aegis to any broadcasters here in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016; the broadcaster to which the funds were provided; the reason for the payments; and if there are any reasons for payments to broadcasters in 2017. [14718/17]
View answerI assume that the Deputy is referring to payments to organisations, networks or stations involved in the broadcast of radio and television programmes. In this regard the Deputy might note that my Department, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Túsla, the Child and Family Agency did not incur any such payments and that the Office of the Ombudsman for Children will respond directly to him in the matter.
Particulars relating to payments made by the Oberstown Children Detention Campus are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Payment to |
Amount of payment |
Reason for Payment |
|
2014 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2015 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2016 |
BEAT 102-103 |
€615 |
Ad campaign for staff recruitment |
|
2017 |
BEAT 102-103 |
€399.75 |
Ad campaign for staff recruitment |
|
2017 |
RTE |
€7,749 |
Ad campaign for staff recruitment |
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
217. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the Air Corps could not provide top cover for the Coast Guard in north County Mayo on 15 March 2017 but was able to provide two helicopters covering a large cash in transit on the M50 towards the mint in Sandyford two days later. [14628/17]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that the operational details in relation to any aspect of cash movement missions cannot be disclosed for security reasons. However, in general terms, specific requests for Air Corps involvement in operations results in differing responses depending on the type of operation, the availability of aircraft, the availability of aircrew, weather conditions etc.
On the night of the tragic incident, it was not possible to undertake the Coast Guard request for the Air Corps to provide ‘Top Cover’ because the Air Corps is not providing fixed wing aircraft for routine operations, on an ongoing basis, outside normal hours due to the loss of experienced personnel.
218. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the civilian staff positions he expects to become available within the service in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14580/17]
View answerMy Department has in place an ongoing recruitment programme to fill civilian vacancies at various military installations. These vacancies have been identified by military management as key to providing continuing support for the upkeep and maintenance of military infrastructure and equipment. It is expected that as resources permit a wide range of posts will be filled in 2017 including those of Quantity Surveyor, General Operative, Craftsworker as well as a number of internal supervisory posts.
The recruitment of civilian staff is kept under ongoing review based on the requirements of the Defence Forces and taking into account natural wastage.
219. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the Air Corps was unable to respond to a request to provide top cover for Rescue 116; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14647/17]
View answer223. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that the Air Corps current staffing level is sufficient to meet the needs in terms of defence, rescue services and security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14651/17]
View answer230. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on reports that the Air Corps were initially called to provide cover for the medical evacuation off the Mayo coast, that resulted in the loss of Coast Guard personnel crewing Rescue 116, but were unable to do so due to a loss of experienced personnel. [14771/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 219, 223 and 230 together.
While there are some restrictions on their availability, the Air Corps continues to provide a broad range of services on a daily basis for a diverse series of activities such as Army and Naval Service support, the Emergency Aeromedical Service, maritime patrols and fishery protection, the Ministerial Air Transport Service, inter-hospital transfers and Aid to the Civil Power duties including the Garda Air Support Unit and cash escorts.
Having regard to the Irish Coast Guard, the Coast Guard provides a nationwide maritime emergency organisation as well as a variety of services to shipping and other government agencies. The Coast Guard helicopters contribute across the roles of the Coast Guard, including the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region.
In the past, the Air Corps provided search and rescue services but was withdrawn from this role in 2004 following a handover to CHC Ireland, a private operator. This decision was taken on account of what has always been the overriding concern of the Government: the safety of mariners and indeed anyone who gets into difficulty where Search and Rescue can respond.
The Irish Coast Guard search and rescue services can draw on the support of the Air Corps on an ‘as available’ basis under a Service Level Agreement between the Department of Defence and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the most recent of which has been in place since 2013.
If requested, and if available, the Air Corps provide “top-cover” for the Coast Guard using a CASA fixed-wing maritime patrol aircraft. Coast Guard helicopters also provide their own “top-cover” during Search and Rescue missions.
On the night of the tragic incident, the Coast Guard requested the assistance of the Air Corps to provide "top cover". It was not possible to undertake this task. The Air Corps is not providing fixed wing aircraft for routine operations, on an ongoing basis, outside normal hours. This is because of a loss of experienced personnel both Air Crew and Air Traffic Control. All agencies for which the Air Corps provides support in accordance with their Service Level Agreements were notified of this reduced availability last summer. However, it is normal practice for agencies to check for Air Corps availability as relevant missions arise. In exceptional circumstances outside of normal hours the Air Corps can recall personnel, as happened when Rescue 116 went missing.
I want to assure the Deputy that, while there has been a loss of experienced personnel in the Air Corps, there is significant work under way in the Defence Organisation, both civil and military, aimed at improving the capacity of the Air Corps.
220. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of soldiers currently serving in the Air Corps; and the rank or position they hold. [14648/17]
View answerThe following table shows the numbers of Defence Forces personnel at all ranks serving with the Air Corps as at 28 February 2017, the latest date for which figures are available:
|
RANK |
No. PERSONNEL |
|
Brigadier General |
1 |
|
Colonel |
3 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
12 |
|
Commandant |
33 |
|
Captain |
48 |
|
Lieutenant |
22 |
|
Regimental Sergeant Major |
7 |
|
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant |
3 |
|
Flight Sergeant |
55 |
|
Flight Quartermaster Sergeant |
11 |
|
Sergeant |
109 |
|
Corporal |
152 |
|
Private |
220 |
|
Cadet |
28 |
|
TOTAL |
704 |
221. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of vacancies currently in the Air Corps; and the length of time these positions have been vacant, in tabular form. [14649/17]
View answerThe following table shows the distribution of personnel across all ranks of the Air Corps compared with the “Establishment” strength figure for equivalent ranks and the resulting numbers of vacancies per rank as at 28 February 2017, the latest date for which figures are available:
|
RANK |
ESTABLISHMENT FIGURE |
Number of PERSONNEL |
Vacancies |
|
Brigadier General |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Colonel |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
14 |
12 |
2 |
|
Commandant |
36 |
33 |
3 |
|
Captain |
65 |
48 |
17 |
|
Lieutenant |
48 |
22 |
26 |
|
Regimental Sergeant Major |
8 |
7 |
1 |
|
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant |
4 |
3 |
1 |
|
Flight Sergeant |
56 |
55 |
1 |
|
Flight Quartermaster Sergeant |
14 |
11 |
3 |
|
Sergeant |
131 |
109 |
22 |
|
Corporal |
183 |
152 |
31 |
|
Private |
324 |
220 |
104 |
|
TOTAL |
887 |
676 |
211 |
Following agreement with PDFORRA, a competition was recently launched for promotions for enlisted personnel across all ranks and vacancies will be filed from panels established following completion of these competitions.
The Military Personnel Management system does not record the length of time any particular position has been vacant. Due to the complexity of the task and the resources required, it is not possible to provide a complete breakdown of vacancies for all roles in the Air Corps for a specific given period of time.
