Joan Burton
Question:260. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda personnel assigned to the Dublin 7 and 15 areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29422/18]
View answerGarda Deployment
Questions (260)
Written answers
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
I am informed by the Commissioner that the number of Gardaí assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region (D.M.R.) West Division on 31 May 2018, the latest date for which information is readily available, was 671. There are also 26 Garda Reserves and 55 Garda civilian staff attached to the Division. The number of Gardaí assigned to the D.M.R. North Central Division on 31 May 2018, the latest date for which information is readily available, was 643. There are also 35 Garda Reserves and 42 Garda civilian staff attached to the Division. When appropriate the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Armed Support Units, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. To achieve this the Government has put in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. We are making real, tangible progress on achieving this goal.
I am informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,000 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide of whom 194 and 181 respectively were assigned to the D.M.R. West Division and the D.M.R. North Central Division. Garda numbers, taking account of retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017 – a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016.
I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. This year a further 800 new Garda Recruits will enter the Garda College; some 400 of whom have already done so. In total, 800 Garda trainees are scheduled to attest during the year, 400 of whom have attested to date. Further, Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, are on track to reach 14,000 by the end of 2018.
In addition, a further 500 civilians will also be recruited to fill critical skills gaps across the organisation and to facilitate the redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and technical duties to front-line operational duties. There are plans to strengthen the Garda Reserve with new Reserves expected to commence training in 2018.
This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Division, including the D.M.R. West Division and the D.M.R. North Central Division.
Workplace Relations Services
Questions (261)
Willie Penrose
Question:261. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the various avenues or mechanisms available to a person who has received a partial recommendation from the rights commissioner under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29408/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) was established on 1 October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. It assumes the roles and functions previously carried out by the Labour Relations Commission, the Rights Commissioners Service, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Equality Tribunal, and the first-instance functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
It would appear from the information provided by the Deputy that the recommendation referred to came about as a result of a complaint referred to the Rights Commissioner Service of the Labour Relations Commission, under the Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 2015 and prior to the establishment of the WRC.
I understand that the complaint was heard by the Rights Commissioner Service in 2015 and that a recommendation on the matter was issued by the Rights Commissioner earlier this year. In accordance with section 13(9) of the Industrial Relations Act 1969, it is open to either party to the dispute to appeal the recommendation to the Labour Court.
However, I should point out that Ireland’s system of Industrial Relations is essentially voluntary in nature and therefore under the Industrial Relations Acts, recommendations of a Rights Commissioner, or a decision of the Labour Court on appeal, if this was sought, are not binding on the parties involved.
It follows that there is no statutory mechanism for the enforcement of such recommendations under the Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 2015 although there is an expectation that the parties to the dispute would respect the process put in place by the State to resolve disputes in the workplace. In this instance, I can only advise that the matter should be taken up directly with the employer in question.
Legislative Programme
Questions (262)
Billy Kelleher
Question:262. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business; Enterprise and Innovation if she or her predecessor made a submission to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection regarding the impact of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 on small and micro sized businesses with respect to the administrative burden and compliance costs of proposals in the Bill including section 16 provision of banded hours; if such submissions were made following changes to the Bill after Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann; if same is planned following Report Stage in Dáil Éireann; if she has had meetings with business organisations that have raised concerns with aspects of the Bill; and if so, the actions agreed to following same. [28687/18]
View answerWritten answers
Last November, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection requested my observations on a confidential draft Memorandum for Government on the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017. I provided observations to the Minister on several aspects of the Bill, including its potential impact on small and micro enterprises.
After the Bill had passed Committee stage, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection sought observations from the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court on the possible enforcement implications of the Bill and observations were provided to her Department which included issues around section 16(15) of the Bill.
I have received written correspondence from IBEC setting out some of their concerns and my Department has been in contact with IBEC directly.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (263)
David Cullinane
Question:263. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the annual expenditure on commercial archaeology services in her Department by provider in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28739/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has not had any expenditure on commercial archaeology services in the period in question
Advertising Regulation
Questions (264)
Noel Rock
Question:264. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if legislation is being considered to require online advertising campaigns that employ models to sell body-focused products to specify if models are taking anabolic steroids to obtain an enhanced physique (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28791/18]
View answerWritten answers
Advertising directed at consumers is subject to statutory regulation under the provisions of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 on misleading commercial practices. These provisions give effect to Directive 2005/29/EC on unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices. As this Directive is a maximum harmonisation measure, it is not open to me to introduce additional national provisions of a consumer protection nature along the lines indicated by the Deputy. Article 3(3) of the Directive provides however that it is without prejudice to Community and national rules relating to the health or safety of products. National legislative provisions of a health nature could accordingly be considered to address the issue raised by the Deputy. Consideration of such provisions is a matter for the Minister for Health.
Electric Vehicles
Questions (265)
Catherine Murphy
Question:265. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of charging ports and parking bays for electric vehicles at her Department building and other buildings used by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28884/18]
View answerWritten answers
Accommodation for my Department is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in buildings which are either State owned or leased by OPW on our behalf. The accommodation is typically shared with other Government Departments and Offices with limited car parking spaces available to staff. There are currently no e-car charging points in any of the carparks in locations occupied by the Department and its Offices.
Enterprise Ireland
Questions (266)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:266. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if Enterprise Ireland plans to expand its office network in Europe and North America; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29124/18]
View answerWritten answers
Enterprise Ireland (EI) is committed to helping companies expand their reach, internationalise and provide quality jobs throughout the country. It does this by offering a wide range of supports to client companies, particularly when it comes to entering new markets. In 2017, 350 new overseas presences were established with support from EI. Of these, 232 client investments were in excess of €0.5 million, and 56 companies were first time exporters outside of the UK.
Through its network of 33 overseas offices and its extended Pathfinder (Trade Consultant) network, EI has the capacity to provide client companies with the appropriate support in markets where there are identified opportunities. EI’s client companies have access to market knowledge on a sectoral basis; introductions to buyers/suppliers/in-market partners; and market intelligence such as competitor analysis, identification of professional services etc. They also have access to incubation and hotdesking facilities.
The activities of EI’s overseas network are supported by the Market Research Centre and Strategic Marketing Unit based in Dublin, alongside a range of financial and capability developments supports aimed at helping client companies to compete and win sales in overseas markets.
The expansion of EI’s overseas presence is an ongoing process, and is part of Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025, the Government strategy for doubling the scope and impact of Ireland’s global footprint in the period ahead which was recently announced by the Taoiseach. Decisions on where to expand are based on a number of factors such as market analysis and availability of resources.
EI’s new Eurozone Strategy aims to increase exports to Eurozone countries by 50% to 2020. As part of its Eurozone strategy, EI launched the #IrishAdvantage campaign, a new digital marketing campaign targeting buyers in key sectors. The campaign highlights the advantages of sourcing from Ireland, including access to technology and innovation, and working with flexible and dedicated Irish professionals. A key theme is the reliability of the supply chain and the quality of the goods and services being delivered from a country which is strongly committed to the EU. The campaign is now live in over ten markets including the UK, Dutch, French, German, Nordic, and has also been extended outside of the Eurozone to the North American and Australian markets and in the fintech and high-tech construction sectors.
Work Permits Applications
Questions (267)
Michael McGrath
Question:267. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to delays in the processing of applications under the critical skills work permit system; the steps being taken to address same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29264/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Employment Permits Section in my Department informs me that it is currently processing Trusted Partner applications received on 25th May and standard applications received on 3rd April.
My officials advise prospective applicants that any application for an employment permit must be received at least 12 weeks before the proposed employment start date. It is currently taking 13 weeks to process standard applications, including Critical Skills Employment Permits.
In the first half of 2018 (end June) the total number of employment permit applications accepted was 8,195, a 24% increase over the same period in 2017 (6,596 permit applications). During this period 5,851 employment permits issued (of which 2,301 have been for Critical Skills Employment Permits), a 5% increase over the same period in 2017 (5,569 permits issued).
Work Permits Eligibility
Questions (268)
Willie Penrose
Question:268. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will enable employers providing home care to thousands of clients and which advocate the highest standards of regulated home care service be made available to the elderly and persons with disabilities on a statutory basis to be eligible to recruit migrant workers who have regularised their immigration status in the home care industry, along the lines of changes made to allow those in the agrifood sector enabling them to recruit workers from outside the European Union when necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29441/18]
View answerWritten answers
At my request, my Department is currently conducting a review of economic migration policies underpinning the current employment permits system to ensure that our policies are fully supportive of Ireland’s emerging labour market needs, be they skills or labour shortages in certain sectors. The review is on schedule for completion with a full report due in the coming weeks. Following on from that Report, it is expected that a review of the lists of occupations for employment permits will be conducted in the second half of this year.
Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the State and wider EEA, an employment permit may be sought by an employer to hire a non-EEA national. The employment permits system is managed in part through the operation of the highly skilled and ineligible occupation lists for the purpose of grant of employment permits.
Changes to access to the Irish labour market for specific occupations via the employment permits system are made on the basis of research undertaken by the Expert Group of Future Skills Needs and, coordinated by the National Skills Council, the annual National Skills Bulletin and the annual Vacancy Overview Report in tandem with a public consultation process.
Care workers are currently included on the Ineligible Categories of Employment List (ICEL). In order to remove a skill from this list, there would need to be a clear demonstration that recruitment difficulties are solely due to shortages across the EEA and not to other factors such as salary and/or employment conditions. Organisations in the sector would need to provide the necessary data to substantiate their claims. A detailed evidence-based case for removal of care workers from the ineligible list, based on this detailed data would then need to be put forward by the Department of Health, as the lead Department for the sector, to my Department for review and consideration.
I am aware that my colleague, Minister of State Daly, with special responsibility for Older People, has had various meetings with the nursing home sector and this matter has been discussed. I understand Minister Daly is willing to work with the industry on this important issue to ensure continuity of service in the best interests of residents.
Departmental Programmes
Questions (269)
James Browne
Question:269. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the roll-out of the employability programme in association with mental health organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29116/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (270)
Peter Burke
Question:270. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28641/18]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Dental Services Provision
Questions (271)
Niamh Smyth
Question:271. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) will receive a dental appointment before the child commences secondary school; if an appointment will be scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28692/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff Data
Questions (272)
James Browne
Question:272. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of dieticians based in County Wexford; the location of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28711/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Health Services Staff Data
Questions (273)
James Browne
Question:273. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of eating disorder nurses based in County Wexford; the location of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28712/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (274)
Niamh Smyth
Question:274. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28714/18]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (275)
Timmy Dooley
Question:275. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 606 of 12 June 2018, when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28717/18]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (276)
James Browne
Question:276. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if the need of a person (details supplied) to receive additional mental health services will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28727/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (277)
Pat Deering
Question:277. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health his plans to administer the human papilloma virus, HPV, vaccine to teenage boys; the timeframe for same; the age at which boys will be included in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28728/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am pleased by the support for HPV immunisation programme as evidenced by the motion passed unanimously by this House on 28 March last.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice and international best practice. All relevant and appropriate information is taken into account when deciding to make changes to the State's immunisation programmes. NIAC has made a recommendation that the HPV vaccine should be given to boys.
The Health Information and Quality Authority is undertaking a health technology assessment, at the request of my Department, on extending the national immunisation schedule to include HPV vaccination to boys. This HTA will establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of providing the vaccine to boys and is expected in Q4 2018. The decision to extend the current programme which offers HPV vaccination to all girls in their first year of second-level education to a programme that also offers vaccination to boys will be informed by the evidence contained in the HTA.
The process to enable an informed decision concerning the extension of the current HPV immunisation programme is at an advanced stage. Once it is concluded, and subject to a favourable recommendation from HTA, I will seek to extend this vaccine universally as a priority.
Home Help Service Provision
Questions (278)
Pearse Doherty
Question:278. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has had home help hours reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28729/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Home Help Service Provision
Questions (279)
Pearse Doherty
Question:279. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if previously allocated home help hours will be reinstated for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28730/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (280)
David Cullinane
Question:280. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the annual expenditure on commercial archaeology services in his Department by provider in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28748/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has not made any payments in respect of commercial archaeology services during the period in question.