Thursday, 27 Sep 2018

Written Answers Nos. 80-104

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (80)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

80. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39130/18]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

As the Deputy will now be aware, a reply to your correspondence issued on Monday 24th September.

The delay in replying to the Deputy is regretted. It was an administrative oversight, recognising the time of year where the primary focus of the department has been on the preparation for the forthcoming Budget.

Public Appointments Service

Questions (81)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

81. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a Public Appointments Service campaign for a post (details supplied) is still ongoing; when applicants under consideration for appointment will receive correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39170/18]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Public Appointments Service (PAS), an independent statutory recruitment body, advertised a competition for Investigation Officers in the Protected Disclosure Unit, Garda Ombudsman Commission in July 2017.

Following the selection process conducted by PAS a panel of candidates was formed. Should any of these candidates come under consideration for a position they are informed of this and corresponded with thereafter as and when necessary.

However, prior to any offer of appointment candidates must also undergo and satisfy a rigorous and potentially lengthy clearance process, given the nature of the position.

Budget 2019

Questions (82, 83)

Barry Cowen

Question:

82. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 64 of 20 September 2018, if current spending overruns of €209 million according to the August Fiscal Monitor if maintained to the end of the year will be filled by capital spending underspends of €361 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39273/18]

Barry Cowen

Question:

83. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are capital underspends in Departments at the end of the year if these underspends are automatically carried over to 2019; if not, if that funding will be drawn from the capital funding allocation for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39274/18]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together.

As outlined in the August 2018 Fiscal Monitor published by the Department of Finance, overall gross voted expenditure to the end of August 2018 was €39,449 million. This was €152 million, or 0.4 per cent, below profile and €2,874 million, or 7.9 per cent, higher than expenditure for the same period in 2017. Gross voted current expenditure of €36,770 million was €209 million, or 0.6 per cent ahead of profile and €2,353 million, or 6.8 per cent ahead of the same period last year. At the end of August 14 out of 17 Ministerial Vote Groups were either broadly in line or below profile, with an aggregate underspend of €207 million versus their current expenditure profiles. Health, Education and Skills, and Justice were ahead of their gross current expenditure profiles by an aggregate amount of €416 million.

Given the scale of gross voted expenditure, €62 billion in aggregate for 2018, the need for Supplementary Estimates or the surrender of funds to the Exchequer at end-year can arise for a number of reasons. Additional funding requirements in one area may be partly offset by underspends in another area. The exact scale of any underspends is difficult to assess at this stage in the year. However, the expenditure outturns for the last two years provide an indication of the potential range.

As reported in the December 2017 Fiscal Monitor, gross voted expenditure in 12 out of 17 Vote Groups was in line or below profile for the year. These profiles reflected the allocations set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2017 published in December 2016 and the Further Revised Estimates presented to the Dáil on 17th October 2017. The aggregate underspend on current expenditure across these 12 Vote Groups was €208 million. As set out in the December 2016 Exchequer Statement, gross voted expenditure in 11 out of 16 Ministerial Vote Groups finished the year at or below their total expenditure profile. The aggregate underspend on current expenditure across these 11 Vote Groups was €238 million. Consequently, based on the level of current expenditure underspends over the last two years in Vote Groups that underspent relative to their profiles, voted current expenditure underspends in the region of c €0.2 billion could be expected to partly offset the expenditure pressures emerging in Health, Education and Justice.

At the end of each financial year, unspent voted allocations must be surrendered to the Exchequer. However, as set out in the Public Financial Procedures, there is an exception in relation to voted capital. Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004 provides that a maximum of up to 10% of the capital envelope of each Vote may be carried over to the following year by way of ‘deferred surrender’ to be spent that year on priority capital programmes. The total amount of capital carryover at end-2017 was €70.3 million.

At the end of August, gross voted capital expenditure of €1,679 million was €361 million, or 11.9 per cent below profile and €521 million ahead of end-August 2017. The Department of Housing was €175 million below profile with a significant proportion of this capital underspend being due to a timing issue relating to Irish Water, which is expected to revert to profile. Consequently, excluding the Department of Housing, gross voted capital expenditure is €186 million below profile. At end-August 2017, the equivalent underspend was €163 million. At end-December 2017, after taking capital carryover of €70 million into account, the equivalent capital underspend, excluding the Department of Housing, amounted to €54 million, which is approximately 1 per cent of the overall capital allocation. However, given the nature of spending on capital projects there is a particular difficulty in assessing the potential full year outturn at this point in time.

Managing the delivery of public services within budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and their Departments. Taking into account the level of underspends in previous years outlined above, it is important that where Departments have expenditure pressures arising in certain programmes the scope to reallocate expenditure from other programmes is fully examined in order to mitigate the risk of an overspend. Any increase in expenditure in one sector, unless offset by expenditure underspends elsewhere, either voted or non-voted, or additional revenues, would result in a deterioration in the general government deficit from a projected 0.2 per cent of GDP this year and 0.1 per cent of GDP next year. Consequently, as part of the Budget process, work is ongoing to determine the scale of any potential Supplementary Estimate requirements for this year, the potential impact on aggregate voted expenditure in both 2018 and 2019, and potential offsetting revenue or expenditure across all areas of General Government.

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Questions (84)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

84. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to provide funds to address the issue of providing a pension and gratuity to retiring and retired community employment supervisors as per a recommendation of the Labour Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39360/18]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I refer the deputy to my previous response to PQ 35780/18.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (85)

Eamon Ryan

Question:

85. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of removing the anomaly in which lone parents in receipt of one-parent family payment and jobseeker's transition payment and rent supplement are not eligible for SUSI maintenance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39309/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

In general terms, there is nothing preventing a lone parent who is in receipt of Rent Supplement, One Parent Family Payment and/or Jobseeker's Allowance Transition payment(s) from applying to SUSI for maintenance funding under the Student Grant Scheme. As such no additional costs would accrue.

Rent Supplement, Housing Assistance Payment, Rental Accommodation Scheme, One Parent Family Payments (where paid to the applicant) and Jobseeker's Allowance Transition (where paid to the applicant), are all treated as income disregards for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme and are not included in the calculation of reckonable income. Furthermore, the One Parent Family Payment and Jobseekers Allowance Transition payments are eligible payments for the special rate of maintenance grant.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe.

School Transport Provision

Questions (86)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

86. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school transport service will be provided for a person (details supplied). [39127/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.

Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy has recently commenced on a school transport service.

School Transport Administration

Questions (87)

Jack Chambers

Question:

87. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to issues regarding the school transport scheme; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that many children are not able to get to and from school on a daily basis due to problems with the scheme; if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined in order to ensure that a child with a disability can get to school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39132/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.

Under the terms of the Primary and Post-Primary Transport Schemes, children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the current school year where such services are in operation.

Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream or special school that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills' criteria. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.

The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport and Bus Éireann has advised that he commenced on a school transport service on Monday 24th September 2018.

The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (88)

Clare Daly

Question:

88. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of a building project by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39151/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which she refers is included in my Department's Capital Programme.

In that regard a technical site visit was carried out by my Department at the school's current site with a view to developing the project brief, which is currently being finalised. My Department will continue to liaise with the school authority in respect of the project.

School Staff

Questions (89)

Michael McGrath

Question:

89. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork will remain a four-teacher school for the 2018-2019 school year; if an appeal mechanism is open to the school in the event that it does not meet the minimum number of 81 pupils on 30 September 2018 for the retention of four teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39199/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its March 2018 meeting under the small school criterion. The appeal was provisionally approved by the Appeals Board pending confirmation of the actual enrolments on the 30th September 2018. If the school fails to achieve the required enrolment of 81 pupils on 30th September the post will be suppressed with effect from 26th October 2018.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board will meet in mid-October to consider appeals for the 2018/19 school year. Application forms are available in Circular 0010/2018, published on the Department of Education website. The closing date for receipt of appeals for this meeting is 8th October 2018.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

Schools Data

Questions (90, 91)

Carol Nolan

Question:

90. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of non-DEIS primary schools with two special classes other than autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes designated for pupils with special educational needs; the number of these schools that have a teaching principal; and the number that have an overall school enrolment between 113 and 175 inclusive that have a teaching principal. [39225/18]

Carol Nolan

Question:

91. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of non-DEIS primary schools with two special classes other than autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes in which the overall school enrolment is between 113 and 175 inclusive; the number in which the principal has administrative status; the name, address and roll numbers of these schools; and the criteria on which these positions of administrative principal were sanctioned. [39226/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.

The information sought by the Deputy is not routinely collated by my Department.

I will arrange to have the material compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Questions (92)

Dara Calleary

Question:

92. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is in receipt of an emergency works application from a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo; the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39260/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm that my Department recently received an Emergency Works application from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application is currently being assessed and a decision will issue directly to the school authority in due course.

Commencement of Legislation

Questions (93)

Catherine Martin

Question:

93. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will commence the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. [39270/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 was signed into law by the President on the 18th July 2018.

In relation to commencement of the various sections of the Act my Department has sought the advice of the Office of the Attorney General (AGO) in respect of which sections can be commenced immediately. Other sections will require regulations and procedures to be drafted following consultation with the Education Partners before they can be commenced.

The commencement of the Act remains a priority and I will consider which sections of the Act can be commenced and appropriate timelines, following advice from the AGO in this regard.

Teachers' Remuneration

Questions (94)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

94. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in resolving the issue of lower paid teachers whose salaries were reduced in context of emergency economic measures; if recognition is being given to their situation with a view to resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39345/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I negotiated, together with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, a 15-22% pay increase for new teachers.

As a result of these changes, from 1 October 2018 the starting salary of a teacher will be €36,318, and from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692.

Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides that “the Minister [for Public Expenditure and Reform] shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the cost of and a plan in dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service.”

The report laid before the Oireachtas on foot of this provision by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform assesses the cost of a further change which would provide a two scale point adjustment to new entrants recruited since 2011. The total cost of such an adjustment across the public sector is of the order of €200 million, of which Education accounts for €83 million. The report also acknowledges that, during the financial crisis, there were policy changes which affected remuneration in different occupations across the public sector (including education). Addressing any issues arising from changes which are not specifically detailed in the report would give rise to additional costs over and above the foregoing figures.

The matter of new entrant pay is a cross sectorial issue, not just an issue for the education sector alone. The Government supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.

On Monday 24th September, I welcomed, together with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the outcome of discussions between public service employers and the public services committee of ICTU in respect of new entrant pay.

This agreement will benefit 16,000 teachers and nearly 5,000 SNAs within the education sector. The deal provides for a series of incremental jumps for new entrants at points 4 and 8 of their scale.

For example, a teachers hired in September 2011 would see their salary increase from €45,200 in September 2018 to €53,062 in September 2020 under the PSSA agreement and the recent outcome of the new entrant pay talks.

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Questions (95)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

95. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason income allegedly derived from parents was used in the calculation of entitlement to a higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39349/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as an independent student or a dependent student.

An applicant’s class is defined at his/her first point of entry or re-entry to an approved course and will continue for the duration of his/her studies.

In order to be classified as an independent applicant a student must:

- Be over 23 years of age on the first of January of the year in which s/he enters or re-enters an approved PLC or higher education course, and

- Not ordinarily reside with his/her parent(s) from October of the year before the first point of entry or re-entry to an approved higher education course.

If an individual applicant considers that s/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, s/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe.

Direct Provision Expenditure

Questions (96)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

96. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the budget that was given to private companies to run direct provision centres in each of the years 2012 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39246/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

The Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is provided with an annual budget under the vote of the Department of Justice to provide applicants for protection with accommodation for the duration of the application process.  No budgets are given to private companies for this purpose. RIA seeks to have services provided under contract at centres located throughout the state.

The following table provides a breakdown of the RIA budget spend for the years 2012-2017.

Expenditure Type	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Accommodation (includes commercial, State-owned & self-catering)	€59.971m	€53.307m	€51.071m	€54.895m	€60.327m	€65.407m
Pre-school (contributions towards some costs)	€0.114m	€0.112m	€0.101m	€0.127m	€0.112m	€0.095m
Additional costs at State-owned centres (incl. gas, oil, water, sewage, etc.)	€2.109m	€1.746m	€1.972m	€1.879m	€3.558m	€1.742m
Transport costs (under dispersal policy)	€0.071m	€0.036m	€0.046m	€0.103m	€0.129m	€0.093m
Miscellaneous	€0.064m	€0.027m	€0.027m	€0.021m	€0.011m	€0.022m
Total Budget	€62.329m	€55.228m	€53.217m	€57.025m	€64.137m	€67.359m

Immigration Support Services

Questions (97)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

97. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the funding provided for immigration integration services in each year since 2011; the services provided with this targeted funding; the amount each service received in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39249/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

I with to inform the Deputy that service provision to migrants is mainstreamed across all Government Departments.  The following table sets out the budget allocation for each year from 2011 to 2018 in respect of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration which operates in the Department of Justice and Equality.

2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
3,638	2,502	2,344	2,312	2,346	4,445	4,957	5,196

2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
3,638	2,502	2,344	2,312	2,346	4,445	4,957	5,196

The Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration operates a number of funding schemes in the area of migrant integration which includes the integration of refugees.  It administers a National Funding Programme to Promote Integration of Migrants (a scheme for grants spread over 3 years) and a small grants scheme (maximum grant of €5,000 per project) under the Communities Integration Fund.  The EU Funds Unit of the Department administers generally larger grants and for multi-annual projects using funding from European sources, including the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).

Details of funding amounts and services provided are attached where available as follows:

A; National Funding Programme to Promote the Integration of Migrants

B. Communities Integration Fund 2017

C.  Communities Integration Fund 2018

D.  Asylum Migration and Integration Fund 2017 - 2019

E. European Integration Fund 2009/2010

F.  European Integration Fund 2013/2015

G. European Refugee Fund 2009/2010

H. European Refugee Fund 2013/2015

I. European Social Fund PEIL 2.7 Integration and Employment of Migrants

j. Dormant Accounts Fund Measure 4 - Preactivation Supports for Female Refugees

European Integration Fund 2013-15

Integration Migrants

Dormant Accounts Fund - Measure 4

Integration Fund

European Integration Fund 2009-10

Asylum Migration & Integration 2017-19

European Social Fund PEIL

Communities Integration Fund 2018

European Refugee Fund 2009

European Refugee Fund 2013-15

Civil Legal Aid

Questions (98)

Eamon Ryan

Question:

98. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of abolishing financial contributions to civil legal aid for victims of domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39292/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can inform the Deputy that, from 1 January 2018, a contribution is no longer required of persons granted legal aid in connection with proceedings where the sole remedy sought is an order pursuant to the Domestic Violence Act 1996.  Statutory Instrument 626 of 2017, which I signed in December 2017, gave effect to this.  Based on 2016 contribution figures, the estimated cost of implementing this change is €150,000 per annum.

Legislative Reviews

Questions (99)

Martin Heydon

Question:

99. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the review of the Defamation Act 2009; and if there is a timeline for the review to be completed. [39177/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware the Defamation Act 2009 codified and reformed Irish Defamation law. Section 5 of the 2009 Act requires my Department to undertake a review of the operation of the Act and this review is currently ongoing.

The parameters of the review were published on the website of the Department of Justice and Equality as well as a call for submissions for a public consultation on the operation of the Defamation Act.  Submissions to this public consultation were also published on the Department’s website. In announcing the review, I stated that the central focus for the review is to ensure that our law strikes the correct balance between the right to freedom of expression in a democratic society, and an individual’s right to protect their good name and privacy against unfounded attack – rights which are protected both under our Constitution and under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Amongst other matters, the review  is addressing whether any changes should be made to the level or type of damages which may be awarded in defamation cases, or to the factors to be taken into account in making that determination. In addition, the review is addressing whether any changes should be made to the respective roles of judge and jury in High Court defamation cases. The review is also addressing the adequacy of the current range of defences under the 2009 Act, including the defence of fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest.

My officials have completed extensive work on the review, which includes a comparative examination of the law of defamation in other jurisdictions, including in relation to assessment of damages and the respective roles of judge and jury. The timeframe for the review was extended due to requests by stakeholders for more time to prepare their submissions, the complexity of the issues under consideration, the wide scope of the submissions received, other urgent legislative priorities for the Department, and significant intervening judgments of relevance from the European Court of Human Rights and the Supreme Court.

The review will culminate in a report to that will be submitted to me and that will include a range of options for reform of the 2009 Act. My officials have informed me that it is expected that the draft report with options for reform will be submitted to me before the end of 2018.

Immigration Status

Questions (100)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 333 of 18 September 2018, if his attention was drawn to the fact that the person was on maternity leave; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that they are trying to return to work, which they cannot do unless their stamp 4 is updated; if this principle is generally applicable in cases in which due to a pregnancy a woman had to leave the workforce as provided for under national and international law; if the decision in this case is a breach of equality legislation; if previous holders of stamp 4 residential status did not have such rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39201/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned was granted permission to remain in the State as an exceptional measure on an individual and personal basis on 13 July 2015.

This permission is subject to a number of conditions including that the person concerned does not become a burden on the State and must be in a position to show evidence of employment or self-sufficiency when renewing their immigration permission. Information available shows that the person concerned was on maternity leave from 28 April 2017 to 26 October 2017 and has been on Job Seekers Allowance since this date. Records further show that the person concerned ceased employment on 18 October 2017, prior to the cessation of the maternity leave. On 18 July 2018 the individual attended their local registration office where the request to renew their permission was refused as the individual was unable to show that they met the criteria outlined in the permission.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Direct Provision Data

Questions (101)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

101. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the capacity of Mosney direct provision centre in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of residents living in Mosney direct provision centre as of 1 September in each of the years 2011 to 2018; the details of expansion to the centre since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39247/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

As a demand led organisation, the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department of Justice & Equality manages its accommodation portfolio by reference to the accommodation requirements and needs at any time. Thus, capacity at centres can increase or decrease from contract to contract as needed.

In the case of Mosney, the total available capacity at the centre is 800, however, the Minister has only availed of such peak capacity under periods of particular pressures of need.

The contracted capacity at Mosney on 31st December each year between 2011 and 2017 was 600. During this period, when numbers exceeded 600, additional spaces were incorporated into the contract for services when it was certain that the requirement remained.

In 2016, the Irish Refugee Protection Policy (IRPP) was established and utilised the additional available capacity of 200 places in Mosney as an EROC (Emergency Reception & Orientation Centre). Following the completion of a public procurement process, long term contracts for EROCs are being put in place.

While the total contracted capacity including the EROC is now at 800, additional spaces remain available where an exceptional need arises.

The following table outlines the information requested and indicates the capacity usage of the centre.

Year/Month	Contracted Capacity (Q 1)	Occupancy(Q 2)	Contracted Capacity EROC	OccupancyEROC
2011 September	600	576	N/A	N/A
2012September	600	535	N/A	N/A
2013 September	600	613	N/A	N/A
2014 September	600	617	N/A	N/A
2015September	600	665	N/A	N/A
2016 September	600	580	200	28
2017 September	600	673	200	54
2018 September	600	674	200	144

Direct Provision Data

Questions (102)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

102. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the contract values for direct provision centres for 2016 and 2017 will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39248/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

All accommodation centres for those persons seeking protection, whether State-owned or privately owned, are operated by commercial companies. There are currently 36 accommodation centres being operated (including the Reception Centre at Balseskin, Co. Dublin) under the direct provision system.

Extensive and detailed information on the amount paid by my Department to each company contracted to provide direct provision accommodation every year up to and including 2015 can be found on the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) website www.ria.gov.ie under the 'Contract Values' section of the website - http://www.ria.gov.ie/en/RIA/Pages/ContractValues.

This is in accordance with the RIA's policy on disclosure of financial information which was agreed with the Office of the Information Commissioner. Under this policy, a table of Contract Values is published on the RIA website, excluding the most recent previous two years. Therefore, in 2018, contract values up to 2015 were published on the website. Contract values for 2016 will be published in 2019 and contract values for 2017 will be published in 2020. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate to provide values for current contracts entered into by my Department. Negotiations take place with a number of commercial entities on an on-going basis with a clear focus on achieving the best value for money in respect of each contract.  It is not in the interests of yielding best value for the taxpayer that details of current individual contracts are made available to other commercial bodies who are, or may be in the future, engaged in these negotiations.

Direct Provision Data

Questions (103)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

103. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the integration services provided within direct provision services; the cost of these services in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39250/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

Funding for integration services provided within accommodation centres contracted as part of the direct provision system is not recorded as a separate item.

However, under the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) 2014-2020, the EU Funds Unit of the Department of Justice and Equality is currently funding eight projects under the Asylum Specific Objective, with the total AMIF grant allocations amounting to €2.28 million. Most of the projects were formally approved (following an Open Call for Proposals) in April/May 2017 and will be delivered over three years, ending in 2020.

The objectives of the eight projects relate to supporting the needs of persons in the international protection process through a range of means, typically around information, advice, advocacy and service referral. Again, in the main, these supports are provided at a local level and are not made within accommodation services or directly to centres.  

The projects are:

Project	Grant Amount	Location
KASI	€180,000.00	Kerry
South West Mayo Development Company	€265,814.00	Mayo
Laois Partnership Company	€150,000.00	Laois
Galway City Partnership	€201,000.00	Galway
Spirasi	€750,000.00	Nationwide
Dorus Lumní	€234,245.00	Limerick / Mid-west
NASC - the Irish Immigrant Support Centre	€200,000.00	Cork
Irish Refugee Council Ireland	€300,000.00	Nationwide

Since the publication of the McMahon Report (Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers), integration efforts have also been focused on the voluntary work of the Friends of the Centre groups, as recommended in the report.

Friends of the Centre groups are made up of residents, centre managers, local people and representatives from non-governmental groups. The emphasis of Friends groups is on fostering active engagement between centre residents and the local community as one of the simplest and most meaningful form of integration. As the Report stated "Work to develop community linkages should focus on developing reciprocal linkages with residents participating in activities in the local community and vice versa.  The centre management should consider making facilities in the centre, e.g., meeting rooms and grounds, available for meetings and other activities to create and strengthen two-way links between residents and the local community." These groups aim to encourage and facilitate the active participation of asylum seekers in local community life and the activities developed by this network promote a self-help approach.

During 2017 and 2018, in particular, many events have been organised through the Friends of the Centre groups.  Open Days were held in all family centres, helping to break down barriers, both real and perceived, between the centres and the local community.

Deportation Orders

Questions (104)

Clare Daly

Question:

104. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 289 of 18 September 2018, if he will respond to the question regarding the statistics for prisoners on protection in Irish prisons as opposed to those on restricted regimes; and the figures for the daily average of prisoners on protection in 2017. [39251/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can advise the Deputy that as per my reply to Parliamentary Question 442 for written answer on 7 September 2018, there are no prisoners on protection who are not on a form of restricted regime with the exception of one prisoner on Portlaoise Campus.

A prisoner may, either at his/her own request or when the Governor considers it necessary, in so far as is practicable and subject to the maintenance and good order and safe and secure custody, be kept separate from other prisoners who are reasonably likely to cause significant harm to him/her.  This is provided for under Rule 63 of the Prison Rules 2007. 

In addition, the Governor may decide, for the maintenance of good order in the prison, to remove a prisoner from general association or structured activity to reduce the negative effect that a prisoner or prisoners may have on the general population. This is provided for under Rule 62 of the Prison Rules 2007. There may also be a smaller number of prisoners who would be restricted for medical (Rule 64) or discipline reasons (Rule 67).

The Census undertaken by the Irish Prison Service on a quarterly basis provides figures in respect of all of these categories of restricted regime prisoners.

As the information is compiled on a quarterly basis, data in relation to daily averages is not available.