Written Answers Nos. 200-205
200. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her key priorities in relation to the forthcoming capital review; the projects submitted for priority inclusion in the review; the status of negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2284/18]
View answerThe Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform published the "Report of the Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan: Building on Recovery 2016-2021" in September 2017. I understand that the review was made available to all Oireachtas members.
This was followed by the allocation of additional capital funding for public investment over the period 2018 - 2021 in the context of the 2018 Estimates. My Department now has a capital allocation of €123 million over this period.
Building on this investment, my colleague the Minister for for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform is planning to publish a new 10 year National Investment Plan for the period 2018 - 2027. I have indicated that there will be significant capital investment required in the area of childcare. My Department is currently working to identify the level of investment required.
201. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there have been bullying or sexual harassment claims lodged within her Department in each year since 2011; if so, the number of either complaints on an annual basis, in tabular form; if these complaints have been investigated; the outcome of each investigation; and the policies in place within her Department to combat bullying and sexual harassment. [2310/18]
View answerSince my Department's establishment in June 2011, there have been three allegations of bullying, one in 2011 and two in 2014. There have been no sexual harassment complaints in the same period.
|
Year |
Number of allegations of Bullying |
Informal Resolution or Investigation undertaken |
Outcome of Investigation |
|
2011 |
1 |
Formal Investigation |
Allegation not upheld |
|
2014 |
2 |
Informal Resolution |
Not applicable |
It is a central policy of my Department to ensure that managers and staff encourage and maintain good employee relations in order to ensure a motivated workforce and an efficient service. The Dignity at Work - Civil Service anti–bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy is the civil service policy for dealing with harassment, sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace.
202. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the community banking report will be published (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2241/18]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government envisaged that An Post, the Irish League of Credit Unions and other interested stakeholders would be asked to investigate and propose a new model of community banking, such as the Kiwibank model in New Zealand. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to investigate the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks.
A project team comprising officials from my Department and the Department of Finance was established last year to progress this commitment. The project team carried out detailed research into the concept of a public banking model, with a particular focus on the Sparkassen model. In addition, a public consultation process, seeking views on the concept of a community banking model, ran for four weeks. A total of 16 replies from a range of stakeholders were received.
As part of their research, officials from both Government Departments met with representatives from the Savings Banks Foundation for International Co-operation and Irish Rural Link. These organisations put forward a proposal as to how a local public bank, based on the Sparkassen model, could work in Ireland.
The Departmental officials have now finalised their report and have submitted their findings to the Minister for Finance and myself. The report will be brought to Government shortly for consideration.
203. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his key priorities of in relation to the forthcoming capital review; the projects submitted for priority inclusion in the review; the status of negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2296/18]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently preparing a new 10 year National Capital Investment Plan for the period 2018-2027, which will be published alongside, and in support of, the forthcoming National Planning Framework.
The National Investment Plan will align with the strategic objectives to be set out in the National Planning Framework. The objectives which were outlined in the draft of the Framework which was published for public consultation in September 2017 strongly support regional, rural and community development.
The capital programmes currently administered by my Department such as LEADER, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Recreation Programme and Libraries Investment are strong drivers of rural and community development and I would expect to see them referenced in the National Investment Plan. However, I would also be supportive of targeted projects delivered by other Government Departments in areas such as transport, broadband investment and enterprise support which will also make an important contribution to rural and regional development.
My Department has been in on-going contact with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the National Investment Plan and will continue to work with that Department and the Plan is finalised.
204. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there have been bullying or sexual harassment claims lodged within his Department in each year since 2011; if so, the number of either complaints on an annual basis, in tabular form; if these complaints have been investigated; the outcome of each investigation; and the policies in place within his Department to combat bullying and sexual harassment. [2322/18]
View answerThe Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.
The Department is committed to protecting dignity and respect across the organisation. The key policy in place in this regard is the Dignity at Work Policy. This policy outlines the procedures in place and the steps which individuals may take if they believe that they have been bullied, harassed, or sexually harassed. All staff are made aware of the contents of this policy and the procedures to be followed, as part of the induction process for new employees. This ensures that all members of staff are aware that all forms of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment are unacceptable and that every staff member has a duty to behave in an acceptable and respectful manner.
In addition staff may be referred by the Department's HR Manager to the Civil and Public Service Mediation Service, as a means to resolve complaints of bullying and harassment, as appropriate, where local efforts to resolve complaints have been exhausted.
There have been no bullying or sexual harassment claims made since the formation of the Department, to date.
205. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a carer's allowance review will be completed for a person (details supplied); the length of time this matter has been ongoing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2137/18]
View answerMy Department received an application for Carer's Allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 21 May 2017.
One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of CA is that the means of the person concerned must be less than the statutory limit.
Following an investigation it was determined that the means of the person concerned were not less than the statutory limit and that she was therefore not entitled to CA.
The person concerned was notified on 2 October 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision in December and submitted additional evidence in support of her application.
The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
