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Thursday, 5 Jul 2018

Written Answers Nos. 327-339

Departmental Staff Training

Questions (328)

Micheál Martin

Question:

328. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the training his Department and agencies under its aegis will receive on GDPR legislation; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29854/18]

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Written answers

My Department has undertaken a comprehensive GDPR readiness project involving all business units.

The project has included data protection workshops held with individual business units designed to assist with the Department's readiness for the implementation of GDPR on 25 May this year.

As part of the overall project, there are a number of general GDPR training sessions open to staff which have already taken place or are scheduled to take place out to year end, as well as specific GDPR training for business units whose work involves significant data processing activities.

Agencies under the aegis of my Department are responsible for arranging their own training and I have therefore referred the question for direct reply. Please contact my Office if you have not received a reply within 10 days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A

Rural Transport Programme

Questions (329)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

329. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the departmental policies regarding the tendering for the new Local Link programme; if there are alternative processes such as the restrictive tendering process open to his Department; and the direction with regard to which option is open to the NTA. [30009/18]

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Written answers

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including, since 2012, management of the Rural Transport Programme which now operates under the "Local Link" brand.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities regarding Local Link services, including the issues referred to by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.

Family Resource Centres

Questions (330, 333)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

330. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 20 June 2018, the details of each of the 11 new allocations in respect of geographical location, the size and population of the catchment area, the degree of economic disadvantage in each area and the existing distribution of services in each of these areas in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29716/18]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

333. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 20 June 2018, the details of each of the 11 new allocations in respect of geographical location, the size and population of the catchment area, the degree of economic disadvantage in each area and the existing distribution of services in each of these areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29885/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 333 together.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is responsible for the administration of the Family Resource Centre Programme. As administrators of the Programme, Tusla processed all applications that were made to the Programme in 2017, and conducted an assessment process, which included consultation with Tusla staff based around the country, and Children and Young People's Services Committees.

I have requested that Tusla provide details to the Deputy directly, in respect of its assessment of the degree of economic disadvantage in each area, and the existing distribution of services in each area. The locations of the 11 new Family Resource Centres, which are planned to be operational in Quarter 4, 2018, are listed in Table 1.

Table 1: Family Resource Centres added to the Programme in 2018

County

Organisation

Cork

Carrigtwohill Family Resource Centre Centre CLG

Donegal

Raphoe Springboard Family Support Project, Ballybofey/Stranorlar

Dublin

Barnardos Family Support Project Finglas West

Dublin

Aster Family Support Balbriggan

Kildare

Teach Dara Community and Family Centre

Kildare

Athy Community & Family Resource Centre

Laois

Mountmellick Development Association

Louth/Meath

Laytown

Roscommon

Roscommon Leader Partnership Company

Tipperary

North Tipperary Community Services, Nenagh

Waterford

Ballybeg Community Development Project

Total

11

Tusla is committed to using all available resources for children and families in the most efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable manner.

I strongly value the work of Family Resource Centres in communities throughout Ireland, and I will be making the case for a continued investment in the centres in 2019 and beyond.

Childcare Costs

Questions (331)

Joan Burton

Question:

331. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average cost of childcare services for preschool children nationally; and the average cost of such services in Dublin city and county. [29832/18]

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Written answers

Data on the cost of childcare services for pre-school children is gathered annually by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. This is done through the Early Years Sector Profile. This survey aims to provide a national picture of services providing early childhood care and education in Ireland.

The most recent figures available were published in November 2017.

The survey identified that the average cost of fulltime childcare nationally is €174.16 per week. The average cost in Dublin city and county is €204.42.

In line with previous trends, fees are higher in affluent areas rather than in deprived areas (€205.56 and €153.32, respectively), higher in urban areas rather than rural areas (€182.76 and €158.84) and higher in private services than community/not for profit services (€181.52 and €154.89).

The figures for mid-2018 will become available in the coming months when this year’s survey data has been analysed.

A series of measures were introduced last September to assist families with the cost of childcare including a non means tested, universal subsidy of up to €1,040 per annum for children under the age of three, and greatly enhanced supports worth up to €145 per week for children up to the age of 15. Uptake of these measures has exceeded the target with the families of more than 79,000 children having benefitted from these measures to date. In addition, from this September the ECCE scheme will be available for two years for children before they enter school.

Departmental Staff Training

Questions (332)

Micheál Martin

Question:

332. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the training her Department and agencies under its aegis will receive on GDPR legislation; when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29841/18]

View answer

Written answers

In relation to my Department, I can confirm that the details of GDPR legislation training provided in-house are set out in the table:

Date

Type of Training

Duration of Training

Provider

3rd May and 4th May 2018

GDPR Essentials training in-house

2 Days

Public Affairs Ireland

29th May 2018

General Awareness Sessions

4 sessions of 90 minutes each over the course of 1 day

Public Affairs Ireland

30th May and 31st May 2018

GDPR Essentials training in-house

2 Days

Public Affairs Ireland

13th June 2018

General Awareness Sessions

4 sessions of 90 minutes each over the course of 1 day

Public Affairs Ireland

27th June and 28th June 2018

GDPR Essentials training in-house

2 Days

Public Affairs Ireland

2nd July 2018

Management Board briefing session

Half Day

Public Affairs Ireland

GDPR training will continue to be provided in my Department as required.

It is also intended that my Department's Data Protection Officer will participate in centrally coordinated training aimed at Government departments, when that becomes available later this year. Data Protection Officers should be in a position to avail of training opportunities to develop their skills as necessary and without any particular time limitations.

As regards the agencies under the remit of my Department, I have requested Tusla - the Child and Family Agency, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Oberstown Children Detention Campus to forward the requested information directly to the Deputy.

Referred replies were forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Question No. 333 answered with Question No. 330.

Control of Dogs

Questions (334)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

334. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department collates data on the number of dangerous dogs that have been euthanised or killed in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29788/18]

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Written answers

My Department publishes statistics in respect of the range of dog control responsibilities of local authorities, including the number of dogs euthanised in local authority pounds. Information up to and including 2017 is available on my Department’s website at the following link https://drcd.gov.ie/dog-control/view-our-dog-control-statistics/.

I am pleased to note that the total number of dogs euthanised in 2017 in local authority pounds was 996, a reduction of over 40% on the previous year, continuing the trend in the decline in the number of dogs being euthanised – down from a high of just over 21,000 in 2002.

The data recorded in respect of numbers of dogs euthanised does not differentiate between those breeds that are included in the Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998, and those that are not.

CLÁR Programme

Questions (335, 336)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

335. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the criteria for qualifying for the CLÁR programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29709/18]

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Paul Kehoe

Question:

336. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on whether the criteria for qualifying for the CLÁR programme should be changed to ensure more areas are included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29711/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 336 together.

The CLÁR programme is an important part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and makes a huge contribution to supporting the most depopulated areas in rural Ireland. The programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.

CLÁR was originally launched in October 2001 to provide targeted investment in disadvantaged rural areas. The areas originally selected for inclusion in the programme were those which suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 1996. The Cooley Peninsula which was also included on the basis of the serious difficulties caused in that area by Foot and Mouth disease. The average population loss in the original CLÁR areas, over the period 1926 to 1996, was 50%.

In 2006, an analysis of the 2002 Census data was carried out by the NIRSA Institute at Maynooth University and the programme was extended to include areas with an average population loss of 35% between 1926 and 2002.

It is my intention to carry out a full review of qualifying CLÁR areas later this year on the basis of the 2016 Census data. The level of depopulation will continue to be a primary factor in the designation of any area as a CLÁR area. This review will involve a detailed examination of all areas of the country, as well as stakeholder consultation.

The findings of the review will inform future launches of the CLÁR programme in 2019 and beyond.

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Questions (337)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

337. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the town and village renewal scheme; when applications from County Kildare can be submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29753/18]

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Written answers

The 2018 Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched on 27th April 2018. The scheme is funded by my Department and administered through the Local Authorities.

For the 2018 scheme, Local Authorities were required to seek expressions of interest from communities for project proposals. The Local Authorities were invited to select up to 12 proposals for submission to my Department for consideration. The closing date for submission of applications to the Department was 30 June 2018.

My Department received 8 applications from Kildare County Council under the scheme and these applications are currently being assessed. It is anticipated that successful projects will be announced in early September. Projects will be expected to commence by the end of the year and will run for a period of up to 18 months.

Over €31.6 million in Town and Village Renewal funding has been approved for over 450 projects across the country since the scheme was introduced in the second half of 2016. It is anticipated that at a further €15 million in funding will be approved under the 2018 Scheme for up to 200 projects.

The Government’s commitment to supporting rural Ireland is underscored through the new €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which I launched this week. This new Fund will provide an opportunity to deliver more integrated and ambitious projects which will further support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages in the coming years.

CLÁR Programme

Questions (338)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

338. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason no project in County Wexford benefitted from the latest round of CLÁR funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29759/18]

View answer

Written answers

The CLÁR programme was originally launched in October 2001 to provide targeted investment in disadvantaged rural areas. The areas originally selected for inclusion in the programme were those which suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 1996. The Cooley Peninsula which was also included on the basis of the serious difficulties caused in that area by Foot and Mouth disease. The average population loss in the original CLÁR areas, over the period 1926 to 1996, was 50%.

In 2006, an analysis of the 2002 Census data was carried out by the NIRSA Institute at Maynooth University and the programme was extended to include areas with an average population loss of 35% between 1926 and 2002.

The analysis, which was carried out at a District Electoral Division (DED) level, found that the level of population decline in Wexford did not meet the qualifying criteria for inclusion in the programme. As a result, no DED in Wexford was designated as a CLÁR DED.

It is my intention to carry out a full review of qualifying CLÁR areas later this year on the basis of the 2016 Census data. The level of depopulation will continue to be a primary factor in the designation of any area as a CLÁR area. This review will involve a detailed examination of all areas of the country, as well as stakeholder consultation. The findings of the review will inform future launches of the CLÁR programme in 2019 and beyond.

Departmental Staff Training

Questions (339)

Micheál Martin

Question:

339. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the training his Department and agencies under its aegis will receive on GDPR legislation; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29853/18]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has provided both full and half day GDPR training courses for all its staff. Training was provided by the Institute of Public Administration and was completed throughout the first two weeks of April 2018. Further training is to be scheduled to facilitate staff that were unable to attend on those dates.

Furthermore, I can confirm that the staff of all agencies under the aegis of the Department have received GDPR training.

In addition, I am also aware that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, as the Contracting Authority, has issued a request for tenders in relation to the award of a contract for the provision of services to deliver training for Data Protection Officers within the civil service and bodies across the public sector. The submitted tenders have been assessed and the winning tenderer will be notified shortly.

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