Written Answers Nos. 763-779
763. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of heritage projects identified as being important in rural areas with particular reference to the need to encourage investment throughout the regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20810/17]
View answer768. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which she and her Department have identified vulnerable heritage sites throughout the country which may be at risk of deterioration; the steps she will take to address concerns in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20816/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 763 and 768 together.
My role, as Minister, with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets.
Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including relevant structures on the Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.
I also have a role, as Minister, in terms of being a prescribed body under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2015, whereby development proposals that may impact on our built heritage are referred by planning authorities to my Department so that recommendations can be made as appropriate to avoid or mitigate any such impacts.
My Department has a number of measures at its disposal to facilitate the maintenance and restoration of major historical or cultural sites on both a rural and regional basis. As Minister, I am the owner or guardian under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014 of approximately 1,000 national monuments located at approximately 750 sites and in such cases there is a statutory duty to maintain the national monument. Such maintenance is undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Local authorities are responsible under the National Monuments Acts for maintaining the national monuments of which they are owners or guardians.
My Department is also providing €350,000 of funding to the OPW in 2017 to assist in the conservation and presentation of historic buildings and national monuments in State ownership. My Department’s National Monuments Service works in close collaboration with the OPW on survey, excavation and research work to optimise the protection, management, interpretation and presentation of national monuments in State care most of which are regionally spread.
Under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, my Department has established and maintains the Record of Monuments and Places, which affords legal protection to over 120,000 recorded archaeological sites and monuments in the State. Anyone proposing works to a monument that is included in the Record of Monument and Places must give my Department two months prior notice before works can start.
I launched the Built Heritage Investment Scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures on 21 October 2015. This scheme operated in 2016, via the local authorities, on the same model as the very successful Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which ran in 2014 and which is being run again this year.
The Structures at Risk Fund enables conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. This fund is being run again in 2017 and seeks to encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and to help to secure the preservation of protected structures which might otherwise be lost.
I am delighted to be able to say that tomorrow I expect to announce a significant investment in both the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Structures at Risk Fund for 2017. These will now support a large number of projects across every local authority area in the country.
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage is a state initiative to identify, record, and evaluate the post-1700 built heritage of Ireland, uniformly and consistently as an aid to its protection and conservation. The NIAH building surveys provide the basis for my recommendations, as Minister for Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, to the planning authorities for the inclusion of particular structures in their Record of Protected Structures. The published surveys are a source of information on the selected structures for relevant planning authorities both urban and rural. They are also a research and educational resource.
In view of the broad range of measures in place across the various areas of our built heritage which I have outlined above which involve my Department, Local Government and the OPW, I would consider such investment in our rural and regional sites as central to the objectives set out in the Action Plan for Rural Development.
764. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which she can foresee job creation in rural areas through investment in the arts sector and heritage projects with particular reference to the need to promote historic locations from an educational and tourism aspect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20811/17]
View answerMy Department works to invest in rural Ireland across all its programme areas. In this regard I secured increases in funding across a range of arts and heritage bodies under my Department’s remit, as well as increases in a number of rural schemes under Budget 2017. These included:
- An additional €5 million for the Arts Council, an 8% increase in its annual budget;
- Boosts in funding for all of the National Cultural Institutions;
- €2 million to allow for the opening of the newly restored historic wings at National Gallery of Ireland and the opening of Killarney House on foot of significant capital investment by the State;
- An increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board and €1 million for Culture Ireland;
- An additional €1 million to assist the Heritage Council with its work;
- Funding of €5 million for implementation of the Creative Ireland Programme;
- A trebling in funding for the Town and Village Regeneration Scheme (€12m in total for 2017);
- An additional €8 million for National Rural Development Schemes, including €5 million for the recently re-opened CLÁR Programme; and
- €40 million for the delivery of the LEADER Rural Development Programme in 2017.
Much of this investment is being delivered through the recently published Action Plan for Rural Development and Creative Ireland Programme. For example, under the 2nd Pillar of the Creative Ireland Programme - Enabling creativity in every community - each local authority is being asked to develop a Culture and Creativity Plan, reflecting the overall structure and aims of the national strategy for culture and creativity. These plans will be key to promoting heritage and arts assets in every community around the country. To deliver this each local authority has now established a Culture Team bringing together arts officers, librarians, heritage officers, museum curators, archivists and other relevant personnel led by a Director of Services, with a nominated person as 'Creative Ireland Co-ordinator'.
All these initiatives will assist in bringing jobs to rural Ireland.
765. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the degree to which she expects to be in a position to allocate funding for specific projects throughout the country towards rejuvenating activity in rural towns and villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20812/17]
View answer766. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has prioritised specific projects throughout the regions to maximise or rejuvenate projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20813/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 765 and 766 together.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a package of measures at national and local level to support the rejuvenation of towns and villages across Ireland, which also includes initiatives in areas such as heritage, tourism, arts and culture, the re-use of vacant premises, and business supports.
On 13 April, I launched an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of the Action Plan for Rural Development. This scheme will see €20 million in funding being invested in towns and villages across rural Ireland over the next 15 months. I anticipate that up to 300 towns and villages will benefit from funding under the Scheme.
The Scheme is specifically targeted at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000 people, with a particular emphasis on those with less than 5,000 people. Support for projects will generally range from €20,000 to a maximum of €100,000. Funding of up to €200,000 will also be considered for a limited number of projects which can deliver exceptionally strong economic benefits to a town and its outlying areas.
Projects which have clear positive economic impacts on the town/village or which stimulate economic activity between a town/village and its neighbouring townlands will be strongly encouraged, as will projects which demonstrate leveraging of, or linkages with, other schemes operated by Government Departments or agencies (e.g. in the areas of heritage, arts, culture, tourism, tidy towns, recreational facilities, re-use of vacant premises, vacant sites, energy efficiency schemes, etc.).
The closing date for applications is 30 June 2017.
767. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which she and her Department have achieved a satisfactory understanding with persons living on canals with particular reference to changes in the regime affecting such persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20815/17]
View answerAs I stated in my reply to Questions No. 437 and 438 from the Deputy on 7 March 2017, Waterways Ireland continues to work closely with boat owners using the canals, canal users, land owners and representative groups. Contact is on-going between Waterways Ireland and the canal users groups, and local communities who support the efforts of Waterways Ireland in the maintenance and operation of the canals.
As the Deputy may be aware, provisions to amend the Canals Act 1986 in order to allow for the subsequent making of bye laws to regulate boating on the canals and to manage the use of the canals are contained in the Heritage Bill 2016. The proposed changes would allow Waterways Ireland to proactively manage the Royal and Grand Canals and the Barrow Navigation. As the Deputy will be aware, the 1988 Canal Bye Laws have been in force for almost 30 years and need to be revised to reflect changes in the use of the canals over the intervening years.
The Heritage Bill 2016 was passed by Seanad Éireann on the 13 April 2017. Deputies will have the opportunity to consider the Bill as it passes through the various stages of enactment in Dáil Éireann.
769. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the various local community-based festival groups such as musical and dramatic societies which have benefited from grant aid in the past 12 months through her Department or through the Arts Council; the extent to which she expects this to continue in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20817/17]
View answerMost of my Department's arts and culture budget is allocated to the agencies under its remit. Within these allocations, the Arts Council is the primary State agency for funding the arts. I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council in Budget 2017 of €5 million, or 8%. Details of the Council's funding decisions can be found on its website at the following link www.artscouncil.ie/who we funded/.
The Deputy might be also interested to know that Music Network recently announced the results of the Music Capital Scheme 2016. A total of €189,000 in funding from my Department has been awarded to 22 performing groups and 15 individual musicians. The Music Capital Scheme, supported by my Department and managed by Music Network, comprises two distinct awards that provide funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups and to professional musicians. Further details including the list of awards can be viewed at the following link:http://www.musicnetwork.ie/musicians/winners/music_capital_scheme1.
770. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on "The Moore Street Report - Securing History", presented to her by a group (details supplied) on 29 March 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20824/17]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply today to Priority Question No. 5.
771. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken in view of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Illicit Trade Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19341/17]
View answerThe WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) treaty was ratified by the State in November 2005. Ireland is a strong advocate of the FCTC and is fully committed to its implementation. The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products was adopted in November 2012 and is the first protocol to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). The Protocol was signed by Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York on 20 December 2013 and it is the intention to ratify the Protocol.
The objective of the Protocol is to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products. The Protocol requires Parties to take measures to control the supply chain of tobacco products effectively and to cooperate internationally on a wide range of matters. The FCTC Protocol is a mixed competence agreement. The effect of this is that has to be ratified both by the Member States of the EU and by the European Union.
The Protocol sets out a number of obligations including, amongst others, the following:
- Licensing in respect of the growing, retail, transporting and distribution of tobacco products;
- Tracking and tracing of tobacco products from manufacture to intended market for retail sale;
- Sale of tobacco products over the internet;
- Offences, prosecutions and sanctions in relation to the illicit trade of tobacco;
- Disposal of confiscated illicit tobacco products;
- International cooperation i.e. information sharing, enforcement, investigation, prosecutions, mutual legal assistance and extradition; and
- Reporting.
In respect of licensing, the Government approved the drafting of a General Scheme of a Bill to provide for the introduction of a licensing system and other measures in relation to the sale of tobacco products and non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems, including e-cigarettes. The drafting of a Regulatory Impact Assessment and the General Scheme for the Bill is ongoing.
The EU Tobacco Products Directive, which Ireland transposed into domestic law last year, contains provisions relating to the tracking and tracing of tobacco products which is a key element of the WHO FCTC Protocol. Discussions are currently being held at EU level in relation to the development of a legal framework for a track and trace system within Member States.
The Department of Health in Ireland will work with key stakeholders, including inter alia the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Finance and the Department of Justice to move towards ratification of the Protocol.
772. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on nursing students on work placements not being paid; if he will consider a review of this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19585/17]
View answerStudent nurses undertake a number of unpaid supernumerary work experience placements during the first three years of their degree programme. In the fourth year they undertake a 36 week clinical placement during which they replace staff nurses on a 2:1 ratio. During this placement they experience the full range of nursing duties and requirements, including week-end and night duty rosters.
A number of specific measures have been taken in relation to pay by my Department and the HSE, including an increase in the rate of pay for the student nursing placement to 70% of the first point of the staff nurse pay scale. In the last quarter of 2016 the Government approved restoration of incremental credit for 2011 to 2015 graduate nurses in respect of the 36 week clinical placement undertaken by fourth year student nurses in the context of the 2017 Estimates. All nurses and midwives are now eligible for incremental credit for the 36 week placement. There are no plans to review payment for the unpaid undergraduate nurses at this time.
773. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce legislation regarding surrogacy allowing couples to be recognised as a child’s legal parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19694/17]
View answerOfficials in my Department are currently drafting the General Scheme of legislative provisions on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated research, which will include provisions relating to surrogacy. It is envisaged that the General Scheme will be completed by the end of June 2017. Once the General Scheme has been completed, a memo will be submitted for Government approval, and once approved by Government, I intend to submit the General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health for pre-legislative scrutiny.
The proposed legislation will take cognisance of the 2014 Supreme Court judgment in the MR & Anor v An tArd Chláraitheoir & Ors (surrogacy) case. It is envisaged that the legislation will establish a mechanism for transfer of parentage from the surrogate (and her husband, if she has one) to the intending parents.
In addition, it is envisaged that under the surrogacy provisions at least one of the intending parents will have to be genetically related to the child. Surrogacy will be permitted on an altruistic basis where the payment of defined and receiptable reasonable expenses will be allowed, however, commercial surrogacy will be prohibited.
The intention of the legislation in this area is to protect, promote and ensure the health and safety of parents, others involved in the process (such as donors and surrogate mothers) and, most importantly, the children who will be born as a result of AHR.
774. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 11 April 2017, the number of persons in his Department working on the drafting of the general scheme of this Bill; the reason for the long delay in its publication; if a corresponding timeline for implementation is being developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19763/17]
View answerOfficials in my Department are currently drafting the General Scheme of legislative provisions on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated research, which will include provisions relating to surrogacy. This comprehensive piece of legislation will regulate a range of practices for the first time, including: gamete (sperm or egg) and embryo donation for AHR and research; surrogacy; pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos; posthumous assisted reproduction; and stem cell research. The General Scheme will also provide for an independent regulatory authority for AHR.
It is envisaged that the General Scheme will be completed by the end of June 2017. Once the General Scheme has been completed, a memo will be submitted for Government approval, and once approved by Government, I intend to submit the General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health for pre-legislative scrutiny. In addition, officials in my Department will engage with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to commence the drafting of a Bill based on the approved General Scheme.
775. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will schedule the relevant assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20157/17]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
776. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his plans to make funding available to establish a second 24 hour State service providing forensic examinations for child victims under the age of 14; and if he will consider placing the right to access forensic services for those under 14 years of age on a statutory footing. [20327/17]
View answerChild sexual assault treatment services are generally provided to children under 14 years in the Children's Hospitals, which provide comprehensive and specialist paediatric acute health services to children. Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive's (HSE) function is to manage and deliver health and personal social services. This includes the provision of sexual assault treatment services to children.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
777. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he has expressed an interest in Ireland hosting the European Medicines Agency if it is relocated following Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20468/17]
View answerThe Government has expressed a strong interest in hosting the EMA. The Agency plays a vital role in the protection of the health of 500 million EU citizens through the scientific evaluation and safety monitoring of human and veterinary medicines and I believe Dublin is the right choice for the new host city.
In October 2016 the Irish Government agreed that Dublin should be promoted as a suitable new location for the EMA. An interdepartmental/interagency working group, chaired at a senior level by the Department of Health, has been set up to prepare a bid in support of the relocation of the Agency to Dublin. This group has commenced its work with a view to finalising a proposal this year for submission to the European Council in due course.
The Government believes that Dublin would be a very suitable location for the EMA, particularly in the interests of ensuring continuity and sustainability in the conduct of its business. Such continuity is critical for European citizens and the industries which the EMA regulates.
Dublin is a safe, modern, open and multicultural city which can offer a range of advantages to the EMA including:
- Whole-of-government support for the relocation;
- Excellent connectivity through Dublin Airport to Europe;
- A dynamic life sciences sector;
- High quality of life for staff and their families;
- Strong education and research credentials; and
- All the amenities of a modern capital city.
The relocation of the EMA also represents an opportunity to attract a prestigious EU Agency to Dublin which will directly employ almost 1,000 staff and attract many more high-quality jobs in associated sectors. The EMA is also key to maintaining the competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical industry, which is worth approximately €260 billion annually.
Its location in Dublin would also stimulate employment in ancillary sectors, including the hospitality and transport industries.
I met with permanent representatives of EU Member States in Brussels last Friday to set out the strength of the Irish bid. I also met the Belgian health Minister to promote Dublin for the EMA. I will officially launch the brochure in Dublin, along with an accompanying website on Thursday 4 May. This will be followed by visits to cities around Europe to promote the Dublin bid.
The plan is that in each city stop there will be a bilateral meeting between me or Minister of State Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, with our equivalent health minister. However, the Irish delegation would also include senior representatives from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) as well as the IDA Ireland, to allow us to project the strength of the coalition we have built in Ireland to support Dublin’s bid.
Ultimately the decision on the new location for the EMA will be made by the European Council at heads of state or government level. Therefore I want to ensure in advance of that decision that European leaders are clear that Dublin is the best location for the EMA and is ready, willing and able to host it successfully.
778. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that are eligible for the free under six general practitioner scheme; the number of persons that have registered under the scheme to date; if he has conducted research on the reason some persons are not taking up the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19151/17]
View answer780. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE to assist persons that wish to enrol their children under the free under six general practitioner scheme but that are unable to access a general practitioner that is accepting new patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19153/17]
View answer781. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons registered with a general practitioner; the GMS status of those general practitioners; if those general practitioners have registered for the free under six GP scheme; if so, the number of children under six years of age those general practitioners have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19154/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 778, 780 and 781 together.
As at 1 April 2017, 2,482 GPs were contracted by the HSE to provide services under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme to over 2.125 million people who hold either a medical card or GP visit card. 2,350 GPs were registered to provide services to children under 6 years of age. Persons who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis. Details of the numbers of private patients attending particular GPs are not collected by the Department of Health or the HSE.
The introduction of GP care without fees to children under 6 represents a major step forward in improving access, quality and affordability of health care in Ireland. The under 6s GP service contract, which includes age-based preventive checks focused on health and well-being and a cycle of care for children with asthma, underlines the Government’s commitment to enhancing primary care and keeping people well in their own community.
To date, approximately 95% of GMS GPs have entered into agreements with the HSE for the provision of services to children under 6 and 364,426 children under 6 have access to GP care without fees through a medical card or GP visit card. This represents approximately 90% of the under 6 population, according to the latest census information available from the CSO for this age cohort.
Information on the total number of persons who have registered for GP care without fees for under 6s to date is not readily available to my Department. In any event, it should be noted that this figure would not reflect the total number of children who currently have access to the service, as many children who registered since the scheme was introduced in 2015 would now have turned 6 years old and would no longer be automatically eligible for GP care without fees. There would also be a proportion of children under 6 who hold medical cards or GP visit cards which were awarded based on an assessment of their family’s means, many of whom would have held this card prior to the introduction of the scheme in 2015.
As of yet, no research has been carried out in relation to why a small percentage of the eligible population have not yet registered for the free GP care for under 6s service. Information on the service is widely available online. However, parents or guardians must register their children to avail of the scheme, and it is up to each parent or guardian to decide if they wish to do so. In some cases, a child may already attend a GP who does not hold a contract with the HSE to provide services to children under 6, and their family may wish for them to continue to attend this GP on a private basis.
Parents/guardians of eligible children who do not have a Medical Card or GP Visit Card must register them for this new scheme at www.pcrsonline.ie. A printable form is also available on the site or from HSE Local Health Offices if applicants would prefer to submit a paper based form. The site also provides a list, which is updated daily, of GPs taking part in the scheme.
In the event that an eligible patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the HSE has the power to assign an eligible person to a GP's GMS patient list where the person has been removed from another GP's list or refused entry onto a GP's list, and the person has unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area who are contracted to provide services under the GMS. I would advise any parent or guardian who is experiencing a difficulty in registering a child for the under 6s service to contact the HSE, who will be able to assign their child to a GP.
779. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to bring in a national register of general practitioners as recommended in the HSE document on medical workforce planning future demand for GPs 2015 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19152/17]
View answerWhile no central register exists specifically for GPs working in Ireland, all doctors in practice in Ireland must be registered with the Medical Council. The Medical Council is designated as the regulatory body for all registered medical practitioners under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007.
As outlined in the HSE Medical Workforce Planning Report Future Demand for General Practitioners 2015 -2025, a number of sources provide data on GPs working in Ireland at present. The Medical Council collects and analyses data from the general , specialist and trainee specialist registers to produce valuable data on the GP workforce. The HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service collects data on the number of GMS contract-holders and those GPs delivering state-funded primary care services. The Irish College of General Practice also collects and analyses data on the GP workforce, including the number of doctors registered for professional competence and those holding membership of the ICGP.
At present there are no plans to introduce a national register specific to GPs working in Ireland. However, this matter will be kept under review in the context of workforce planning and development of GP services generally, and a review by the HSE later this year of its 2015 Workforce Planning Report.
