Written Answers Nos. 153-172
153. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the 2017 national reserve and young farmers scheme are expected to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43043/17]
View answerProcessing of applications under the 2017 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme is at an advanced stage and the issuing of payments under these schemes to successful applicants is scheduled to commence in early December 2017 immediately following Basic Payment Scheme balancing payments which are due to commence on 1st December.
154. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of ANC and GLAS payments for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43048/17]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2017 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes application on 15 May 2017. This application and the GLAS application are currently being processed with a view to issuing any payments due to the nominated bank account of the person named as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
155. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to maintain grounds owned by his Department in Killybegs in order to avoid flooding; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that owned grounds along the Shore Road are overgrown with scrub wood, waste ground shrubbery and foliage which in turn is blocking the water channel which drains from the Bridge Street area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43069/17]
View answerKillybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.
Flooding recently occurred in the Bridge Street Area of Killybegs town. I would advise the Deputy that the Office of Public Works (OPW) is the lead agency for flood risk management and is coordinating the national Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.
Killybegs has been identified as an Area of Further Assessment for Flood Risk as part of this programme. I can confirm that the Bridge Street area is identified in the study as an area prone to flooding. My department understands that Donegal County Council and the OPW are investigating this latest flooding event but that vegetation on tidal lands is unlikely to be a significant factor.
The capacity and maintenance of the pipes that drain the river into the sea under the nearby Shore Road is a matter for Donegal County Council. My Department will however keep this matter under review.
156. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a GLAS 2 2016 payment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43071/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1st January 2016.
However, an issue arose with the application. My Department were in contact with the person named and the issue has now been resolved. The payment due is expected to issue to the person named shortly.
157. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the sum of money retained from farmers in the beef data genomics scheme in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43081/17]
View answerThe Beef Data & Genomics Programme (BDGP) was introduced in 2015 to build on and expand breeding data gathered under the Beef Data Programme (2013 & 2014) and Beef Genomics Scheme (2014).
Under the Terms and Conditions of the BDGP participants are required to submit data and take genomic samples from a prescribed number of animals. Where all of the data and/or genomic samples were not received, a reduction was applied to the participant's payment. With regard to 2016 scheme year payment a reduction was also applied where the training course was not attended or the carbon navigator not completed within the specified timeframes.
Deductions of €760,551.06 have been made from payments amounting to €44m in respect of the 2015 Programme year and €608,541.68 from payments of €42m for the 2016 Programme year.
Payments for the 2017 Programme year are scheduled to commence in December 2017.
158. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 466 of 3 October 2017, the number of dogs that a club (details supplied) has registered in breach of greyhounds legislation. [43089/17]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is responsible for the identification and registration of greyhounds in the Irish Greyhound Studbook. It is the controlling authority for the breeding and coursing of greyhounds.
The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon under Section 26(2) of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 (the Act). Bord na gCon is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing.
The details requested by the Deputy are an operational matter for Bord na gCon.
159. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether a club (details supplied) has fulfilled its primary role to maintain the integrity of the stud register. [43090/17]
View answerThe maintenance of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book is but one of the objectives of the Irish Coursing Club (ICC). The Irish Greyhound Stud Book has been owned and maintained by the ICC since 1923.
The ICC has assured me that it is satisfied with the integrity of the particulars in the Irish Greyhound Stud Book in respect of the breeding and identification of thoroughbred greyhounds in Ireland.
160. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a greyhound breeder has ever requested from his Department a list of stud dogs that are available and compliant with artificial insemination legislation; if that list was furnished; and if not, the reason therefor. [43091/17]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is responsible for the identification and registration of greyhounds in the Irish Greyhound Studbook. It is the controlling authority for the breeding and coursing of greyhounds.
The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon under Section 26(2) of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 (the Act). Bord na gCon is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing.
I can confirm that my Department did receive a request from a greyhound breeder for a list of stud dogs that are available and compliant with artificial insemination legislation.
As this is an operational matter for Bord na gCon, the request was referred to that body.
161. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has reviewed the evidence linking diesel exhaust fumes to certain cancers; his plans to ban this type of fuel in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43080/17]
View answerVehicle emissions are a key source of negative health impacts from a range of air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), black carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly in urban areas. Though petrol and diesel road vehicles have met progressively tighter EU emission limits since the early 1990s, a number of factors, including the increase in road traffic volumes and changes to the ratio of diesel to petrol vehicles, mean that the air pollution impact from road transport still presents a significant challenge.
The diesel emissions scandal in 2015 highlighted a number of regulatory shortcomings in EU legislation, most notably that the current emissions test cycle in the EU is not representative of actual “on road” real driving conditions. To address these issues the EU has adopted a revised emissions test cycle that incorporates elements of real world driving. The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is the Type Approval Authority in Ireland and issues approval for a number of vehicle types (including for vehicle emissions) which is valid across the EU.
There are no plans to ban diesel, but my Department has commenced work on the first ever National Clean Air Strategy which will provide an overarching strategic policy framework within which clean air policies can be formulated and given effect in a manner consistent with national, EU and international policy considerations and priorities. The Clean Air Strategy will address priority air pollutants in Ireland, including diesel emissions, in an integrated manner.
162. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to the roll-out of the deep retrofit scheme which was discussed at the fuel poverty and climate action conference in March 2017, when this will be made available to the public; the estimated cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43044/17]
View answerAt the Energy Action conference on fuel poverty earlier this year I announced that deep retrofits would, for the first time, be made available under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme. The Warmer Homes scheme provides energy efficiency upgrades completely free of charge to people who meet the eligibility criteria. Up until my announcement, the scheme focused on relatively shallow interventions such as attic and cavity wall insulation, low energy lightbulbs, lagging jackets and energy advice.
Following my announcement in March, every person who applies to the Warmer Homes scheme has their home surveyed by a professional contractor working on behalf of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). When those surveyors find an applicant who is living in a home that is in a particularly poor condition they will recommend the person for a deeper set of measures. When assessing a home for deeper measures the surveyors will look at factors such as the primary heating method, the construction method and the age of the home. For example, homes will be assigned deeper measures where there is no central heating, or only an open fire or a G rated boiler. If the boiler is G rated, the home must also have been constructed with solid wall or hollow block and been built pre-1978.
I would like to make these deeper renovations available on a wider basis but deep energy efficiency interventions can cost many times that of shallower interventions so I must attempt to find a balance between the depth of the renovations that the scheme can offer and the number of people the scheme can help each year. By the end of this year, SEAI expect to have completed up to 500 of these deeper renovations.
I also spoke about the Warmth and Wellbeing scheme. The Warmth and Wellbeing scheme is a pilot initiative being delivered under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The main aim of the scheme, which began in 2016, is to demonstrate the positive effects that making homes warmer and more energy efficient can have on the health and wellbeing of people in energy poverty who are living with a chronic respiratory condition. An independent research project will assess the impact the scheme is having. At the conclusion of the scheme and with independent evidence on its effectiveness, the potential for a wider roll-out will be considered.
In total, 276 homes have been upgraded so far under the scheme and surveys and works are underway on another 262 homes. Recruitment of participants will continue over the winter months and those people will have their upgrades carried out as early as possible in 2018, as this type of work cannot always take place during the winter.
I will have allocated at least €20m in funding to this programme by the end of 2018 to provide for the upgrade of at least 1,500 homes. This is the minimum size needed to develop the evidence base on the impact on the health outcomes of participants of making their homes more energy efficient and warmer, and make the business case for a wider roll-out of the scheme.
163. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to provide modern and up-to-date broadband telecommunications infrastructure in an area (details supplied); if consideration will be given to the request of the local community to have the telecoms infrastructure updated due to the needs of local business and households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43146/17]
View answerThe Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that, to date, approximately 1.5 million or 65% of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland can get high-speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second and this footprint is expanding. In April, I published an updated High-Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area. The Map is searchable by eircode.
- The BLUE areas on the Map represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering, or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services and include premises to be served under eir's rural broadband deployment to 300,000 premises by the end of 2018 (shown as LIGHT BLUE areas on the MAP).
- The AMBER areas on the Map represent the areas that will require State Intervention and are the subject of a procurement process.
The map shows that premises in the village of Crosskeys, County Cavan, and its general catchment area will be realised through a mix of commercial investment and through the State Intervention under the National Broadband Plan.
Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available from eir at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/. Citizens can access this website to determine the connectivity availability status for their premises using their eircode.
My Department is engaged in an ongoing procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network for the State led intervention. A significant milestone in that procurement process was reached last month with the submission of "Detailed Solutions" by two bidders. This is the last stage of the procurement process before receipt of final tenders and ultimate progression to the appointment of a preferred bidder(s).
To improve both mobile and broadband services in rural Ireland in advance of the rollout of the high-speed broadband network to be built in the State intervention area, I established a Taskforce to identify immediate solutions to mobile phone and broadband coverage deficits and investigate how better services could be provided to consumers. These solutions will enhance the existing services prior to the full build and rollout of the network planned under the National Broadband Plan State intervention.
164. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive a date for a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43052/17]
View answerThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
165. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding streams that are available to a charity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43077/17]
View answerMy Department administers grants on an annual basis to a number of Community Rescue Boat organisations that are so-called "declared resources" to the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG), a Division of this Department. I understand that the organisation in question is not a declared resource of the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) at present and as such, they are not eligible for grant assistance for that purpose.
Key factors in relation to the IRCG declaring a resource for Search and Rescue purposes is capacity to respond to SAR incidents and gaps from a geographical perspective.
166. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the allocation of the 2017 sports capital programme grants will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43083/17]
View answerThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on the 24th February. By the closing date, a record number of 2,320 applications seeking €155 million in grants were received. The level of demand means that the allocation of grants will be particularly challenging.
All of the 2,320 applications received are currently being assessed by officials in my Department. I expect to be in a position to make an announcement regarding allocations in the coming weeks.
167. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe for the next sports capital grant allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43141/17]
View answerThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on the 24th February. By the closing date, a record number of 2,320 applications seeking €155 million in grants were received. The level of demand means that the allocation of grants will be particularly challenging.
All of the 2,320 applications received are currently being assessed by officials in my Department. I expect to be in a position to make an announcement regarding allocations in the coming weeks.
168. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of funding he has requested in budget 2018 to improve Dublin Bus services for customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43142/17]
View answerThroughout the year I committed publicly, both here in the House and in the Joint Oireachtas Committee, to further increasing PSO funding levels in the future as resources allowed. Therefore, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, in Budget 2018 I secured an 8% increase in the overall Exchequer funding available for PSO services throughout the country, including Dublin Bus services. This means that over €285 million will be allocated via the National Transport Authority (NTA) in 2018 to support the continued delivery of these socially necessary but financially unviable services that have grown in recent years, and to facilitate some further expansion including the commencement next year of the planned roll-out of bus market opening.
As is normal, the precise allocations to the PSO operators - including Dublin Bus - will be decided by the NTA in exercise of its statutory mandate and in accordance with the various contract arrangements that it has in place with PSO service providers.
I have also secured a four year multi-annual capital envelope of over €770 million for the BusConnects programme. BusConnects is a plan to fundamentally transform Dublin’s bus system, so that journeys for passengers by bus will be fast, reliable, punctual, convenient and affordable. It represents a reimagining of bus transport for the Dublin region. It encompasses the revamping of all aspects of the bus system; from the ticketing technology to the road infrastructure; from the bus stops to the network of routes; and from the fare structure to the vehicle emissions.
169. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to reconstitute the national youth work advisory committee as provided for in the Youth Work Act 2001; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43078/17]
View answerSections 17 and 18 of the Youth Work Act 2001 provide for the appointment of a National Youth Work Advisory Committee. The Committee had an advisory and consultative role to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in matters to do with youth work, including the coordination of youth work programmes and services. In line with these provisions, a new National Youth Work Advisory Committee was appointed by the then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with a term of office of one year with effect from 28 January 2013. The Committee had its final meeting on 26 November 2013. The Committee continued to work with my Department and assisted with the development of the new National Youth Strategy, in particular in identifying in what ways the youth work sector can contribute to shared policy objectives for young people.
The National Youth Strategy 2015-2020 was published in, 2015. The implementation structures established by my Department under Better Outcomes Brighter Futures (BOBF), the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People oversee the roll out of the National Youth Strategy. There is no doubt that the youth work services have a significant contribution to make to realise the goals of the National Youth Strategy as part of a cross sectoral, whole of society approach to supporting young people in their everyday lives. For this reason, the key youth sector interests are represented on the structures established by my Department to support the implementation of Better Outcomes Brighter Futures. At national level, representatives of the voluntary youth services have been appointed to the Advisory Council of BOBF. At local level, youth sector representatives participate in the Children and Young People’s Services Committees. Key Government departments and agencies that have an interest in children and young people and that had served on the National Youth Work Advisory Committee are represented on the Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium and on the Sponsors Group that have been established under Better Outcomes Brighter Futures to drive the effective implementation of the policy framework.
There have been other significant policy and legislative developments that are relevant to the provision of youth services and the role of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee since the 2001 Act was passed. These include the introduction of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013 which, inter alia, provides for a statutory function for Education and Training Boards in supporting the provision and assessment of youth work services at local level. The National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making 2015-2020, which was published by my Department in June, 2015 is particularly relevant. I am deeply committed to ensuring that young people are involved in the preparation, planning and implementation of policies that impact on their lives.
In addition, my Department is fully committed to the reform of the many youth funding schemes. The Deputy will be aware that a number of targeted funding schemes supporting youth services were the subject of a Value for Money and Policy Review in 2014. The review made a number of recommendations for the future operation of the youth schemes and their development in the years ahead. Work on the development of a new funding scheme has been prioritised by my Department and consultations with youth services are continuing with a view to introducing the new youth funding programme in line with the review. The Deputy will also be aware that my Department has commenced a review of the Youth Service Grant Scheme. This review is intended to enhance its accountability, transparency and outcome measurement. It is also seeking to determine how best to meet the ever evolving needs of young people.
My Department works closely with the youth work sector, the voluntary youth services, the Education and Training Boards, other government departments and agencies and consults with young people themselves in the development and delivery of policies and services for children and young people.
For the above reasons, it is not my intention to reconvene the National Youth Work Advisory Committee while the reform process is ongoing. Given the seismic changes which have occurred over the past sixteen years, my Department will be revisiting the Youth Work Act, 2001 on the conclusion of the reform process, to ensure that it fully articulates the needs of young people in Ireland.
170. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will make funding available to an organisation (details supplied) to provide a purpose-built room to cater appropriately for all the needs of the children that use its service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43107/17]
View answerMy Department is committed to the development and reform of the Capital programme in respect of the needs of children and providers, with the aim of providing childcare facilities of the highest quality. Capital Funding is made available by my Department on an annual basis at varying levels for particular projects.
For example, the Early Years Capital 2017 programme focused on creating new childcare places as well as increasing the quality of existing childcare facilities. To achieve this, €8.4 million was allocated to Early Years Capital funding for 2017. Among other things, Early Years Capital 2017 made available funding for the creation of new childcare places and for the improvement and maintenance of existing childcare facilities, under Strands One and Two respectively of its programme for delivery. The 2017 cycle is well underway with the application deadline of 24th April 2017 and results announced in early July 2017.
I can inform you that the Early Years Capital 2018 programme is at present under development, the details of which will be announced later this year. My officials are currently liaising with Pobal and City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) in order to determine the priorities and structure of Early Years Capital 2018.
The details on how to apply for Early Years Capital 2018 - including the specific areas of focus under which capital funding will be made available - will be communicated to providers in due course. While I cannot commit to funding specific organisations, I would invite all interested and eligible providers to submit an application once the Early Years Capital 2018 programme is launched.
171. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to increase funding to family resource centres (details supplied) as part of budget 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43122/17]
View answerBudget 2018 provides for a significant increase in the funding allocation to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. In 2018, Tusla will have available to it some €753 million in funding, representing an increase of €40.6 million, or 5.7%, over 2017. The precise details of funding for Family Resource Centres will be considered by Tusla in developing its 2018 Business Plan, based on the Performance Statement, which I will issue later this year.
Tusla provides a financial contribution towards running costs of Family Resource Centres on an annual basis. In 2017, Tusla provided €13.512m for Family Resource Centres. I can confirm that under the 2018 Budget proposed, this will be significantly increased, and will include funding for 11 new Family Resource Centres, in addition to increased funding for the existing 109 centres.
I very much appreciate the role that Family Resource Centres play in offering early intervention support to vulnerable children and families in demographically diverse communities around the country. I am pleased to be in a position to support the work of centres through the targeting of additional resources to services that will impact positively on vulnerable children and families.
172. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of Tusla registered childcare providers and childminders who signed up to the new affordable childcare scheme in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43174/17]
View answerAfter months of hard work I can confirm that 86% of eligible childcare providers have signed up to deliver these measures. This number equates to 3,156 of 3,705 eligible services providing a reduction to the tens of thousands of families that are now experiencing lower childcare costs.
51 childcare providers have signed up to pass on the savings to parents in the county of Westmeath. That is more than 3 out of every 4 eligible services in the county.
A full list of services contracted to provide the universal payment can be found at www.affordablechildcare.ie.
