Written Answers Nos. 292-313
292. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars that were scrapped in 2016 due to the fact that they exceeded 300,000 km mileage and-or exceeded ten years of age. [31288/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and distribution of Garda resources and I, as Minister, have no role in the matter.
I have asked the Commissioner for the specific information requested by the Deputy and, when it is to hand, I will inform him accordingly.]
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 292 for answer on 4 July, 2017, in which you requested the details of the number of Garda cars that were decommissioned in 2016.
As you will recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to revert to you in relation to the matter. As you are aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for themanagement and distribution of Garda resources and I, as Minister, have no role in the matter.
I understand from the Garda authorities that, the general policy in relation to the decommissioning of Garda vehicles is that, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations they are decommissioned when the odometer reaches 300,000 kilometres. Vehicles are also decommissioned on age grounds (usually when they reach 10 years) or as a result of collisions or when the vehicles are beyond economic repair.
The application of this policy has resulted in 375 vehicles being decommissioned in 2016.
I trust that this is of assistance.
293. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the monopoly that a college (details supplied) has on the training and accreditation of barristers; and his plans to open this up to competition. [31338/17]
View answerThe Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 contains a series of new measures that will review the area of legal professional education including in terms of who provides it, who has access to it, and what professional qualifications may apply. These combine annual reporting obligations with the undertaking of a more comprehensive review of this area that will be open to all stake-holders including, on the delivery side, universities and other third-level providers of legal professional education.
The relevant provisions of section 13(2) of the 2015 Act, as commenced under S.I. No. 383 of 2016, provide that the Legal Services Regulatory Authority may, and where required by the Act, shall, keep under review and make recommendations to the Minister for Justice and Equality in respect of the admission requirements of the legal professions, that is to say both barristers and solicitors, under their respective bodies and the availability and quality of such education and training. This will also take into account the curriculum arrangements for the provision of clinical legal education and the teaching of legal ethics, negotiation skills, alternative dispute resolution and advocacy and the methods by which, and the persons by whom, such education and training is provided. It will also review the policies of the Law Society in relation to the admission of persons as solicitors in the State and those of the Bar Council and the Honorable Society of the King's Inns in relation to persons entitled to practice as barristers.
Under section 33 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, when commenced, the Legal Services Regulatory Authority will also report, within four months of the end of each financial year, on admissions to the legal professions. This report shall specify the number of persons admitted to each of the legal professions during the given year. It will also contain an assessment as to whether or not, having regard for the demand for the services of practising solicitors and barristers and the need to ensure an adequate standard of education and training for persons admitted to practice, the number of persons so admitted in that year is consistent with the public interest in ensuring the availability of such services at a reasonable cost. A copy of this report will be laid, by the Minister, before each House of the Oireachtas and will be published and sent by the Regulatory Authority to each of the legal professional bodies concerned.
In addition to this annual reporting cycle, the Legal Services Regulatory Authority has been given the specific task of preparing, with the support of a public consultation process, a comprehensive report in relation to the education and training (including on-going training) arrangements in the State for legal practitioners, including the manner in which such education and training is provided. This report is to be provided to the Minister within two years of the Authority's establishment day, 1 October 2016. Under the detailed parameters set out in section 34 of the 2015 Act as commenced under S.I. No. 383 of 2016, it will contain " a review of the existing arrangements relating to the education and training of legal practitioners" and make such recommendations as considered appropriate in relation to the arrangements that, in the opinion of the Authority, should be in place for the provision of such education and training. This is also to include "the accreditation of bodies to provide such education and training and the reforms or amendments, whether administrative or legislative, that are required to facilitate those arrangements".
In addition, Section 34 (3) (c) of the 2015 Act lays out the specific areas of recommendation that are to be dealt with under this review process. These are to include, among other matters, the appropriate standards of education and training for legal professional qualifications; arrangements necessary to monitor those standards; the scope and content of the curriculum for the courses concerned; standards required for the award of legal professional qualifications, and, arrangements that would facilitate the minimisation of duplication and consequent expense incurred in the taking of overlapping examinations in legal subjects.
294. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 18 May 2017, if he has received the promised report from the Garda authorities on this matter; if so, the conclusions of this report; the steps his Department and An Garda Síochána will take on foot of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31340/17]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the CSO postponed the release of the latest Quarterly Recorded Crime Statistics, which was due on 28 June 2017. I am advised that this postponement arose because the ongoing Garda review is not yet complete and, therefore, it was not possible to conduct the normal CSO data verification process in advance of the publication of new crime statistics.
I note that these issues are under close scrutiny by the Policing Authority, and that the Garda authorities have undertaken to provide further information to the Authority, as well as the CSO. I also expect to receive further updates from the Garda authorities as this work is progressed. Given the Policing Authority’s important oversight role, which this Government established, I am sure the Deputy will agree that it is entirely appropriate that this matter is the subject of careful examination and inquiry by the Authority.
We must bear in mind that issues with the consistent recording of crime data are not unique to this jurisdiction, and I am assured that there is continuing close engagement by the CSO with An Garda Síochána in relation to this matter and to support the ongoing improvements to our official crime statistics generally. The CSO has already carried out two detailed reviews of crime data quality, in 2015 and 2016, and I understand that further general reviews of crime data quality are planned. The CSO’s work provides an important measure of re-assurance to support ongoing work to enhance the quality of the official crime statistics.
As previously outlined to the Deputy, the CSO also chaired an Expert Group on Crime Statistics which has considered a number of the Garda Inspectorate’s recommendations on crime statistics, including in relation to the crime counting rules. I am advised that the Expert Group has prepared a report, and I expect this will be published in the coming weeks.
295. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 88 to 91, inclusive, of 24 May 2017, the number of collisions that involved just the Garda car and other vehicles; the number of vehicles that involved a pedestrian or cyclist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31361/17]
View answer296. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 88 to 91, inclusive, of 24 May 2017, if any of the gardaí involved in these collisions received compensation as a result of the road traffic collision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31362/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 296 together.
I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matters raised by the Deputy and will contact him directly once this is to hand.
297. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 859 to 861, inclusive, on 20 June 2017, the amount which was allocated in 2017 to deliver on recruitment; the amount allocated to the recruitment of 300 Garda reserves, 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31404/17]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the total Net Vote for An Garda Síochána in 2017, which represents the funding being made available to the Garda Vote minus estimated receipts under Appropriations-in-Aid, is €1.506 billion. This represents an increase of 4.6% when compared to the final net outturn figure of €1.440 billion for 2016. This increase is mainly due to an additional provision in the Garda Pay Subhead to address the Garda Pay Deal under the Lansdowne Road Agreement as well as the recruitment of 800 new Gardaí, some 500 new civilian staff and some 300 Reserve members in 2017.
I would refer the Deputy to the post-reply correspondence in respect of Parliamentary Questions No. 858, 862 and 866 of 3 July 2017, wherein I indicated that the full first year payroll cost of recruiting 800 new Gardaí, 500 new civilian staff and 300 Reserve is estimated at €14,863,029, €21,500,000 and €690,000 respectively.
The high proportion of resources allocated to the Garda Vote underlines this Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the Government’s decision to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.
298. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the policy response which is triggered within his Department further to the publication of the census of population; the sections of his Department involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31405/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the full set of Census reports have not yet been published and this will happen on an ongoing basis during the rest of 2017. Some of these forthcoming reports will have direct relevance for policy issues under the remit of my Department such as integration, ethnicity and equality. The Census is a rich data set and all relevant units within my Department, particularly the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) unit, utilise it as a valuable source of data for analysis on a range of issues. It is the practise of my Department to make best use of all available sources of sound evidence and data to shape policy in line with best practice.
299. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason citizens from Peru are not entitled to a 90-day visa on arrival (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31434/17]
View answerThe requirements for which countries are visa required to come to Ireland are kept under regular review in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Government is pursuing a strategy of greater co-ordination and co-operation on visa issues with the United Kingdom (UK) in the context of the Common Travel Area (CTA). This is exemplified by the operation of the British Irish Visa Scheme in China and India which allows for travel to and around Ireland and the UK on a single visa. As part of this greater co-operation, the matter of alignment of those States whose citizens are visa required is also being kept under review. The greater the extent of alignment between the two jurisdictions, the greater the opportunity to increase the numbers of tourism and business visits to the CTA. At present, both Ireland and the UK require all citizens of Peru to be in possession of a visa for travel to their jurisdiction and any proposals for change will need to be considered in this context.
I might also add that visitors to Ireland, whether visa required or not, must on arrival at a port of entry receive permission to enter the State from an immigration officer. Visitors who intend to stay in Ireland for more than 90 days must also register with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for permission to reside in Ireland.
300. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the allocated budget for the Valuation Office’s pilot scheme under which an external partner is contracted to carry out the revaluations of Carlow and Kilkenny local authority areas. [31532/17]
View answer301. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the allocated budget for the Valuation Office’s occupier-assisted valuation approach pilot scheme for revaluing businesses in the Laois local authority area. [31533/17]
View answer302. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to evaluate the performance of the revaluation pilots conducted by the external partner and by occupier-assisted valuation; the timeframe for same; and if other local authority areas have already been identified for either of these approaches, including those subject to a second revaluation. [31534/17]
View answer303. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for subsequent revaluations after the conclusion of the Reval 2017 programme; the annual schedule; the local authority areas yet to undergo revaluation; and the areas due for a revaluation for a second time covering each of the years 2018 to 2021, respectively, in tabular form. [31535/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 300 to 303, inclusive, together.
The Commissioner of Valuation has responsibility under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 to maintain a valuation list for each Local Authority, of all commercial properties in that Local Authority area, which is used to calculate the rates due from individual ratepayers. The Commissioner is independent in the performance of his functions and the statute does not accord me, as Minister for Justice and Equality, any role in this regard. Revaluation is a process where all rateable properties in a Local Authority area are valued periodically by reference to a single valuation date. Following the first revaluation, subsequent revaluations of each rating authority area are then carried out on a cyclical basis no sooner than five years and no later than ten years after the first revaluation (Section 25 of the Valuation Act 2001).
The revaluation provisions in the Valuation Acts 2001 - 2015 provide for the revaluation of all rateable property within a rating authority area so as to reflect changes in value due to economic factors, differential movements in property values or other external factors such as changes in the business environment or infrastructural changes in the vicinity of a property. The Valuation Office is currently engaged in a national revaluation programme, the immediate objective of which is to ensure that the first revaluation of all rating authority areas in over 150 years is conducted across the country, as soon as possible, and on a phased basis. Revaluation is an important instrument in redressing historical anomalies in relation to commercial rates. The general outcome of revaluations finalised to date by the Valuation Office has been that about 60% of ratepayers have had their liability for rates reduced following a revaluation and about 40% had an increase, a pattern which is most welcome and is expected to be replicated elsewhere as the programme advances.
The national revaluation programme currently underway is the first general revaluation of all commercial property in the State since the middle of the 19th century, involving the valuation of some 150,000 commercial rateable properties. Completing the first revaluation and getting properties in every local authority area onto the 5-10 year cycle of revaluations provided for in the legislation represents a sea-change for the rateable valuation system. All rateable properties in the Dublin, Waterford and Limerick local authority areas are now re-valued. In addition, 13 public utilities representing some of the largest ratepayers in the State have been revalued on a global basis. This represents approximately 57% of the national rateable valuation base in monetary value terms or 33% in numerical terms. Significant progress is being made and the programme has established a momentum which is now being built upon as the current phase of work known as “REVAL 2017” is nearing a conclusion and which covers the following nine counties - Longford, Leitrim, Roscommon, Westmeath, Kildare, Offaly, Sligo, Carlow and Kilkenny. A second revaluation of the commercial properties in the South Dublin county council area is also underway.
The Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015 which came into effect on 8 June 2015 has as its primary purpose, the acceleration of the national revaluation programme and it contains a number of measures in this regard. The Act provided for the Commissioner to conduct a revaluation with the assistance of the occupiers of property using elements of self-assessment. This provision – known as “Occupier Assisted Valuation” - is one of the express provisions intended to assist the acceleration of the national revaluation programme. I understand that the Commissioner intends running a pilot project involving the revaluation of the approximately 2,280 commercial properties in County Laois rating authority area using ”Occupier Assisted Valuation”. The Valuation Office has conducted the necessary statutory consultations with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and with Laois County Council and is now embarking on development of appropriate technical and statutory systems of valuation to underpin the pilot project and allow for its initiation later this year. Draft regulations are currently under preparation which when finalised will give effect to these new procedures set out in the 2015 Act.
The Occupier Assisted participative approach also involves the development and implementation of extensive information and communications technology facilities. The provision of a wide range of on-line supports will be essential to the success of the pilot project, including use of video and audio technology to assist ratepayers in carrying out their elements of the process. There will be extensive engagement with the ratepayers through an information campaign which will be undertaken to ensure maximum participation during the pilot. Accordingly, at this stage the Commissioner cannot be precise about the date on which he will sign the statutory Valuation Order to formally commence the revaluation in County Laois. However, I am informed that he expects to do so later this year. Following the signing of the order, the Valuation Office intends to undertake a publicity and information campaign during which each individual ratepayer will be written to informing them of the commencement of the project and requesting information in relation to their property. There will also be a programme of engagement with the various trade bodies and representative associations with the purpose of keeping them abreast of developments. Regarding the allocated budget for the County Laois pilot, the costs for development work on information and communication technology and on-line supports and ancillary work are estimated to be in the region of €60,000.
Similarly, the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015 included an amendment which enables the Valuation Office to enter into contractual arrangements with external parties to outsource work in order to augment the in-house capacity of the Office. This is another of the provisions intended to assist the acceleration of the national revaluation programme. During the early months of 2016, the Office conducted an extensive procurement exercise, conducted in accordance with EU Public Procurement requirements, which resulted in an award of contract to CBRE, Connaught House, Burlington Road, Dublin 4 to carry out the revaluation of the Carlow County Council and Kilkenny County Council rating authority areas on its behalf. This contractual work is still underway in these two counties and the new valuations will be published in September 2018. It is anticipated that appeals from these valuations will continue into 2018. The total value of the contract awarded for this pilot project, as advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union is €1.945 Million (excl. VAT).
Regarding plans to evaluate the performance of the revaluation pilots conducted by the external partner in Carlow/Kilkenny and by the occupier assisted valuation method in Laois, the position is that because of the independence of the Commissioner under the valuation legislation, I, as Minister, have no direct role in reviewing the work done as part of the revaluation programme, whether by direct assessment, external partners or by using the occupier-assisted method of valuation. I am informed by the Commissioner that such performance evaluations are undertaken as a matter of course following the completion of a revaluation project and evaluations of this nature will be conducted by the Commissioner and his senior officers following the conclusion of the pilots in Laois and in Carlow/Kilkenny. It is intended that a review of the Carlow-Kilkenny pilot project will be conducted during the first quarter of 2018, in accordance with the Valuation Office’s published Strategic Plan. The timeframe for an evaluation of the County Laois pilot has not been determined as the project is currently at the advanced planning stage with the substantive work due to commence later this year following the signing of the valuation order which will signal the formal commencement of the project. I have been informed that there are no plans at present to extend the pilot projects to other revaluations, pending the reviews outlined above.
Following the conclusion of the current phase of revaluation programme, i.e. REVAL 2017, attention will turn to the next two phases of the programme. I understand that the Commissioner intends to include seven rating authority areas in the next phase – known as REVAL 2019 - which will formally commence later in 2017 and will culminate in 2019 with the publication of a new valuation list for these areas. The next and final phase of the programme - REVAL 2021 - will include 8 rating authority areas and will conclude in 2021 with the publication of new valuation lists for these areas. The local authorities to undergo revaluation in each of these two phases are indicated in the following table:
|
REVAL 2019 Rating Authority |
REVAL 2021 Rating Authority |
|
Cavan County Louth County Meath County Monaghan County Tipperary County Wexford County Wicklow County |
Cork City Cork County Clare County Donegal County Galway City Galway County Kerry County Mayo County |
Subsequent revaluations of each rating authority area following the first revaluation are carried out on a cyclical basis no sooner than five years and no later than ten years after the first revaluation (Section 25 of the Valuation Act 2001). The position in relation to second revaluations is contained in the following table.
|
Local Authorities to undergo a 2nd revaluation in the period 2018 to 2021 |
||
|
Rating Authority |
1st Revaluation Completion Date |
2nd Revaluation Completion Date |
|
Fingal County Council |
31 December 2009 |
31 December 2019 |
|
Dun Laoghaire- Rathdown |
31 December 2010 |
31 December 2020 |
304. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civil servants in his Department who have requested a transfer to a location outside County Dublin; the number of civil servants in his Department who have requested a transfer from a location outside of Dublin into County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31781/17]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not keep lists in relation to officers seeking a transfer to other Departments or agencies outside of Dublin. Officers interested in applying for such transfers are directed to the Human Resources Division in the relevant Department to express their interest. Similarly, my Department does not keep lists for staff wishing to move from a regional location into County Dublin.
In relation to staff members from my Department who have requested a move to one of our regional offices outside of Dublin, the information requested by the Deputy for the years 2015 to date can be found in the table below.
Finally, the Deputy may be aware that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently working on a Civil Service Wide Mobility Scheme that will allow staff to apply centrally for a transfer to another Department or agency. The scheme is one of a number of arrangements that fulfil the requirements of Action 15 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan which calls for mobility opportunities for staff across geographic, organisational and sectoral boundaries.
|
Year applied for |
Number |
|
2015 |
3 |
|
2016 |
5 |
|
2017 |
5 |
305. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if an archaeological assessment has been undertaken in Bantry Bay recently; if not, if one is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30798/17]
View answerNumerous underwater surveys and assessments have been undertaken by various parties in Bantry Bay in recent years. This year my Department’s National Monuments Service has provided advice on locations of archaeological interest within areas in which it is proposed to undertake commercial activity. I am advised that, as the proposal will not have any impact on any known archaeological feature, site or object, no further assessment is planned by my Department in respect of it.
306. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding that has been allocated for 2017 to increase the provision of the Irish language preschool programme called Naíonraí in line with the recommendations proposed by the policy on Gaeltacht education 2017 to 2022. [31002/17]
View answer307. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding that has been allocated for 2017 to increase the provision of training of qualified child care workers in the Irish language in line with the recommendations proposed by the policy on Gaeltacht education 2017 to 2022. [31003/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 307 together.
I have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that its subsidiary, Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta (CNNG), provides administration, support and training services for early childhood education and care services which include naíonraí, crèches, breakfast clubs, afterschool services and parent and toddler groups in the Gaeltacht areas. CNNG currently manages 74 early-years services (Naíonraí) throughout the Gaeltacht, providing early-years education to over 1,000 children. Údarás na Gaeltachta approved funding of €535,000 for CNNG’s operations in 2017.
In anticipation of the increase in the provision of Irish language naíonraí (as proposed by the Policy on Gaeltacht Education), Údarás na Gaeltachta recently approved funding to Muintearas Teo to provide a Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education through Irish in the Connemara Gaeltacht. Enquiries are also underway to assess the requirement for providing the same course in the other Gaeltacht regions based on demand. Údarás na Gaeltachta has also approved a pilot scheme aimed at supporting the upskilling of those already employed in the early-years education sector in the Gaeltacht.
The Policy on Gaeltacht Education sets out a number of objectives aimed at supporting services at present operating through the medium of English in the Gaeltacht to move towards an Irish-medium model and also aims to increase the availability of Irish language naíonraí.
In the interest of completeness, I should also mention that in addition to the aforementioned assistance provided to the early years sector in the Gaeltacht, my own Department has sanctioned funding to eight early years childcare facilities in the Gaeltacht through Scéim Seirbhísí Réamhscoile agus Iarscoile. This scheme, which was established for a trial period of 3 years in March 2014, provides assistance to qualifying Gaeltacht-based Family Support Centres and certain Gaeltacht pre-school services which operate through Irish, in order to support the provision of language acquisition and enrichment activities aimed at young Gaeltacht households.
308. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will consider retaining the word Gaeltacht in the title of her Department when the reorganisation of her Department occurs. [31035/17]
View answerThe title of my Department remains the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs pending the making of a Government Order to change the title. This will be done once the reconfiguration of my Department is complete, as is normal procedure.
309. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the commitment of additional funding made in relation to a project (details supplied) in County Cork remains; if her Department has engaged with Cork City Council on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31328/17]
View answer312. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has received costings regarding a project (details supplied) from a local authority. [30854/17]
View answer314. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has received costings for a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30976/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 309, 312 and 314 together.
The Cork Event Centre is a project being developed and managed by Cork City Council. My Department allocated €12 million to the City Council towards the cost of the Centre. This allocation is subject to a Service Level Agreement with the City Council to ensure compliance with all relevant requirements in relation to major capital projects.
My Department recently received further correspondence from Cork City Council indicating that the overall project costs has risen from €65m up to between €67m and €73m. However, the Council and contractor have not yet finalised the full cost due to design changes required to provide full multi-functionality for the centre. My Department is continuing to liaise with Cork City Council who have been asked to provide additional information on the cost increases. Once furnished my Department will consider the matter further.
310. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the names and positions of those who attended a meeting between the National Monuments Service and officials of Tipperary County Council on 13 June 2017; the location in which the meeting was held; the duration of the meeting; the items on the agenda; the correspondence and documents that were provided to attendees; if she will provide a copy of the minutes of the meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31388/17]
View answerA Senior Archaeologist and an Architectural Heritage Officer from my Department attended a meeting with Tipperary County Council officials on the date in question. The meeting related to traffic management issues on Ardfinnan Bridge which is a recorded monument. The meeting was in the nature of a pre-planning consultation and was at the Council’s request. The only document furnished was one drawn up by the Council’s consulting engineer regarding potential options.
As all the arrangements for the meeting were made locally, and as the meeting was in the nature of a pre-planning consultation, further information should be sought in the first instance from the Council itself.
311. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the date on which it is proposed to transfer responsibility for 14 to 17 Moore Street from her Department to the OPW; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30844/17]
View answerThe Office of Public Works has statutory responsibility under the National Monuments Acts for the maintenance and management of national monuments in the ownership of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Following completion of the essential preservation and protection works approved by the High Court, basic day to day care and maintenance of the buildings has now also been taken over by OPW.
313. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the board of Screen Training Ireland is certified to deliver accredited training; and if it has been quality assured by Quality and Qualifications Ireland. [30973/17]
View answerThe Irish Film Board is the national development agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry. Screen Training Ireland is part of the Irish Film Board and is a national training and development resource specifically created for Ireland’s audiovisual industry. Screen Training Ireland works with national and internationally recognised industry professionals to identify, design and deliver training in Ireland. Training programmes are offered to enhance expertise in Film, Television, Animation and interactive screen content. Screen Training Ireland continually evaluates industry growth to identify future skills needs and professional development for a growing industry. Screen Training Ireland courses are developed in consultation with industry professionals across all disciplines, and tutors are industry practitioners working at the cutting edge of the industry.
Like many training providers, Screen Training Ireland partners with providers that have accreditation arrangements with awarding bodies recognised on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). For example, Screen Training Ireland is developing two career traineeships for the film industry in collaboration with SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards. These traineeships will be certified by the appropriate awarding body and will offer structured work-based training to new entrants.
The Irish Film Board and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland jointly commissioned a report on the skills needs of the audiovisual industry in Ireland. This report is being finalised and will make recommendations for the industry's training needs into the future. My Department will consider recommendations contained in the report, in consultation with the Irish Film Board.
Further details Screen Ireland's range of courses as well as international training can be accessed on its website at the following link:
https://www.screentrainingireland.ie/training-courses/upcoming-courses/.
