Seán Sherlock
Question:567. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a bus route and depot (details supplied); and the effect it will have on employees in County Kildare. [48255/18]
View answerBus Éireann Services
Questions (567)
Written answers
The issue raised is a matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
Pension Fund Data
Questions (568)
Imelda Munster
Question:568. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the current state of the CIE superannuation scheme 1951; his plans in relation to the scheme; his plans to reimburse the scheme of moneys previously removed during the recession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48284/18]
View answerWritten answers
Issues in relation to Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIÉ Group and their employees. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to CIÉ for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
Cycling Facilities Provision
Questions (569)
Brendan Howlin
Question:569. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding he has allocated for the development of cycleways in 2017; the amount of funding that will be allocated to the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48295/18]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, over the period 2018 to 2021 I have secured significantly improved funding allocations which will benefit both cycling and walking.
These improved allocations over the 2018 to 2021 period include:
- €110 million specifically dedicated to cycling and walking infrastructure in our major urban areas;
- €135 million for sustainable urban transport measures; and
- €750 million towards the BusConnects programme in Dublin which will include the delivery of around 200 kilometres of segregated cycling lanes, where possible.
I am also providing €53 million to support the development of new Greenways in more rural areas, in line with the Greenways Strategy, published earlier this year.
As can be seen from the above, these are multi-annual capital expenditure programmes which will positively assist with the better development and provision of cycling and walking infrastructure across the State.
In addition to these infrastructure measures, my Department also provides funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to behavioural change programmes and to Cycling Ireland to develop a new national cycle training standard - "Cycle Right" – which was rolled out in January 2017 and expected to train approximately 20,000 primary school students this year.
In relation to cycleways specifically, the NTA has statutory responsibility to secure or provide cycling infrastructure in the State. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
Departmental Advertising Campaigns
Questions (570)
Brendan Howlin
Question:570. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has carried out advertising campaigns to promote policies or programmes being implemented by his Department; the campaign or relevant programme; the cost of advertising in publications, broadcast advertising, outdoor advertising and other consultancy or production costs for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48296/18]
View answerWritten answers
The information on advertising costs requested by the Deputy is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services
My Department publishes information on all expenditure on external services, on a six monthly basis each year, and the second part of 2018 (July - December) will be published in early 2019.
Aviation Policy
Questions (571)
Robert Troy
Question:571. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legislative timeframe for the appointment of an independent competent authority for noise; and if it is still his intention to appoint Fingal County Council as the competent authority. [48412/18]
View answerWritten answers
I intend to publish the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018 this month, which was approved by cabinet today, providing for the designation of Fingal County Council as the Competent Authority for the purposes of EU Regulation 598/2014. The target is to enact the Bill by the end of the year.
As the Deputy is aware, a General Scheme of the Bill was considered and approved under the pre-legislative process last month, and in the period since there has been an intensive effort to produce a final Bill. I look forward to the Deputy's contributions during the legislative process to come and ultimately to his support for this important piece of new regulatory law.
Child and Family Agency Expenditure
Questions (572)
John Brassil
Question:572. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an organisation (details supplied) will receive an increase in funding in view of the fact that its case load has increased significantly since 2012, which contrasts with a 16% reduction in state support from 2012 to 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48176/18]
View answerWritten answers
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised me that it provides annual funding of €82,389 to the organisation to which the Deputy refers. The purpose of this funding is to provide information, support and counselling to bereaved parents.
Tusla previously provided some funding to this organisation to maintain the National Paediatric Register. In 2017, the Register transferred to Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and Tusla no longer provides funding for this particular service.
Due to overall budget cuts, all community and voluntary organisations experienced funding reductions between 2012 and 2016. However, Tusla has maintained the level of funding to this organisation since 2016.
Tusla is committed to working with service providers throughout the country to ensure services are available to vulnerable children and families. As part of its commissioning approach, Tusla continuously seeks to assign resources to areas of the greatest need, ensuring the best possible outcomes.
I highly value the work of Tusla and its partner organisations in the provision of child and family services nationwide.
Aftercare Services Provision
Questions (573)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:573. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of adults discharged from Tusla funded aftercare into homelessness each year since the agency was established; and the supports in place to prevent the discharge of young adults from Tusla funded aftercare into homelessness. [47706/18]
View answerWritten answers
Every year more than 500 young people leave the care of the State. These young people are offered a wide range of services from different State actors including income supports, health supports, accommodation and education.
The aftercare provisions of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 came into force on the first of September 2017. This means that there is now a statutory obligation on Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to prepare an aftercare plan for each eligible child and young person. This plan encompasses the range of supports that a young person may need from all service providers, including Tusla, to help them make the transition to independent adult life. This plan must specifically include consideration of the young person’s needs in relation to accommodation.
The majority of young people who leave the care of the State each year upon turning 18 do so with stable accommodation in place. A significant number of young people leaving care remain living with their former foster carers. Those who do not have family support from a foster carer or family base are assisted in finding accommodation in supported lodgings, sheltered housing or independent accommodation and encouraged and supported financially in furthering their training and education.
Tusla does not collate data on the number of young adults discharged from aftercare into homelessness. Tusla does not operate a policy of discharging young adults into homeless services.
Of the 1,964 young adults aged 18 to 22 years in receipt of an aftercare service at the end of June 2018, 45.2% were living with their former foster carers, 25.1% were living independently, 10.5% were at home with their birth parents, and 9.3% were in a residential care placement or supported lodgings.
However, some 9% of young people leaving care are at a more pronounced risk of entering unstable accommodation due to the complexity of their support needs. In recognition of the particularly complex needs of a minority of young people leaving care, they have since 2017 been included for the first time as a separate category for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). CAS will provide targeted assistance to the most vulnerable care leavers by enabling Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to acquire residential units to accommodate care-leavers. My Department and Tusla have developed principles and criteria relating to funding proposals under CAS. Where accommodation is provided under CAS, Tusla will provide and, where necessary advocate for, additional independent living supports, in particular for the most vulnerable care leavers, in accordance with the individual’s pre-agreed aftercare plan. I am pleased to be able to confirm that the first two care leavers have now taken occupancy of secure accommodation under the scheme while an additional 43 units, consisting of a mix of one and two bed units across the State, are "Sale Agreed" and should be available for many other young people leaving care in the near future.
The security provided by a tenancy in CAS accommodation, combined with the aftercare supports identified by Tusla as part of the aftercare planning process, can help ensure that these young people have a safe base from which to begin their transition to independent adult life.
Aftercare Services Provision
Questions (574)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:574. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) has been informed that their Tusla funded aftercare placement will end on 16 November 2018; and the steps Tusla will take to prevent them from being discharged into homelessness. [47707/18]
View answerWritten answers
The attention of my officials was drawn to this case by the young person’s former foster parents on the 11th of this month. My officials immediately contacted Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to establish the details of the case. I am pleased to assure you that Tusla have confirmed that they will temporarily extend the young person’s current aftercare placement to ensure that she has a safe place to stay.
According to the information provided by Tusla, the young person in question was due to be discharged from her current placement on Friday 16th November, with the intention that she could move directly to an Aftercare unit run by Focus Ireland and funded by Tusla. Unfortunately, on November 9th, this unit advised that they were not in a position to accommodate the young person due assessed risk.
Tusla are appealing this decision, and are offering additional support to the unit to manage concerns identified by that service. Due to the particularly complex needs of the young person identifying a suitable adult placement is a challenge. Tusla believe that the unit identified will best meet these needs. A final decision is awaited from the unit. In the interim, as mentioned, the young person can temporarily remain in her current placement.
Childcare Services Staff
Questions (575)
Ruth Coppinger
Question:575. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the pay grades outlined for childcare sector workers in the Mercer report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47777/18]
View answerWritten answers
I welcome inputs from all stakeholders in the early learning and care sector, including the recent Mercer report, which I understand was commissioned by the National Childhood Network and the Crann Support Group.
However, my Department is not the employer of early learning and care sector staff and cannot set wage levels. I renew my call for the sector to pursue a Sectoral Employment Order, and I note that the Mercer report advises this course of action also. A Sectoral Employment Order offers a viable mechanism to establish appropriate wage levels. My department will readily co-operate with such a process, if and when it is underway.
I would not wish to prejudice any future process through commenting on the specific wage levels suggested in this report, but will say again that I welcome all contributions that seek to address quality in Early Learning and Care, and I believe that those working in the sector need and deserve better pay and conditions, especially given the importance of the work they do in supporting children's early learning and development.
I have supported a range of measures to improve pay and conditions using the tools available to me. In particular, I have introduced additional capitation into funding programmes for early learning and care, including a 7% rise this September in the ECCE capitation rate, as well as Programme Support Payments to recognise the administrative roles that services play. I have also continued to provide a higher rate of capitation payment for graduate-led pre-school rooms, to encourage the attraction and retention of graduates. This year I also introduced a pilot measure for funding services whose staff take part in continuing professional development, and I hope to build on this pilot over the years to come, following an evaluation.
New data on current wage rates will shortly be available through Pobal's annual sector profile, which will be published later this month, and through the independent review of costs for service providers in the sector, which was commissioned by my Department. The new Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and Families contains significant actions to develop and support a valued early learning and care workforce that will deliver quality services to children in the most important years of their development.
Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Questions (576)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:576. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action she will take following the resignation of a person (details supplied) from the mother and baby homes collaborative forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47801/18]
View answerWritten answers
I remain absolutely committed to inclusive, constructive and collaborative engagement with former residents of mother and baby homes and other stakeholders.
I established the Collaborative Forum as a progressive response to the theme of “nothing about us without us” which emerged from my consultations with former residents of these institutions. This innovative approach facilitates and empowers former residents to actively contribute to decisions on matters of concern to them and their families.
I understand that the members of the Forum are working hard to produce a first report with a focus on priority issues around health and well-being supports, identity and memorialisation.
The filling of the current vacancy will be considered having due regard to the representative nature of the Forum, its programme of work and the expressions of interest previously received.
Child Detention Centres
Questions (577)
Alan Kelly
Question:577. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she retains full confidence in the chairperson and members of the board of Oberstown Children Detention Campus in view of the refusal of the chairperson and the board to publish a report (details supplied); and the correspondence she has received from the chairperson which alluded to a threat of resignations if the report was published. [47873/18]
View answerWritten answers
I have full confidence in the chairperson and members of the Board of Management Oberstown Children Detention Campus in their management of the Oberstown Campus. Over the past 2 years there is evidence of positive change in the day to day operations in Oberstown. I have met with young people in Oberstown on a number of occasions in recent months, who were anxious that the many positives about Oberstown be highlighted. Furthermore, the most recent HIQA report also found that improvements were evident. I believe that these improvements have been brought about by the strong leadership of the Chairperson and the Board.
The Report referred to by the Deputy, relates to a Review that was commissioned by Oberstown Board of Management following a particularly difficult time in Oberstown in 2016. There had been serious incidents involving young people which threatened the safety of the centre.
It is imperative that a report of this kind should observe due process and fair procedures, so that all persons referred to are treated appropriately. The Board of Oberstown and I have taken legal advice on the question of publication.
Following careful examination, the Board was not in a position to satisfy itself, or myself, that fair procedures had been applied before the report was finalised and submitted. In light of this and the legal advice received, I, following careful consideration of the matter, concluded that it is not appropriate to publish the full report.
In addition to this Review, the Board commissioned a number of other reports at the same time, with a view to engaging external expertise to support the development of the Campus. These reviews included security, health and safety and behaviour management. The Review Implementation Group, which I appointed, began work to oversee all the various recommendations in March 2017. The Group’s final report in December 2017 produced a coherent plan to implement all the recommendations. An updated Action Plan was completed in May 2018 and was published on my Department’s website.
Child Detention Centres
Questions (578)
Alan Kelly
Question:578. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of an operational review of Oberstown Children Detention Campus by a company (details supplied). [47874/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by Oberstown Children Detention Campus that the cost of the report referred to by the Deputy was €15,366.60.
Child Detention Centres
Questions (579)
Alan Kelly
Question:579. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of the legal advice sought and received by the board of Oberstown Children Detention Campus in relation to the publication of and matters arising from a report (details supplied). [47875/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by Oberstown Children Detention Campus that the cost of the legal advice sought and received by the Board, in relation to the publication of and matters arising from the report referred to by the Deputy was €26,025.57.
Child Detention Centres
Questions (580)
Alan Kelly
Question:580. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the individual fees and expenses paid to the chairperson and members of the board of Oberstown Children Detention Campus for each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018. [47877/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by Oberstown Children Detention Campus that three board members received no payments in respect of fees and expenses. Details of payments to the Chairperson and other board members for 2016 and 2017 are as set out in the following table. No fees have been paid to date in 2018.
|
Board Member |
2018 Board Fees |
2018 Vouched Expenses |
2017 Board Fees |
2017 Vouched Expenses |
2016 Board Fees |
2016 Vouched Expenses |
|
Prof. Ursula Kilkelly (Chair) |
- |
€6,411 |
|
€12,967 |
|
€3,393 |
|
Mr Charles Irwin |
- |
€3,243 |
€5,985 |
€2,979 |
€1,750 |
€1,416 |
|
Ms Emer Woodfull |
- |
|
€5,985 |
€579 |
€1,750 |
€256 |
|
Ms Fiona Murphy |
- |
|
|
€136 |
€1,750 |
€447 |
|
Mr Michael Farrell |
- |
€967 |
|
€457 |
|
€342 |
|
Mr Jim Gibson |
- |
|
|
|
|
€219 |
|
Ms Sinead O'Herlihy |
- |
|
|
€189 |
|
|
|
Ms Laoise Manners |
- |
|
|
€189 |
|
|
|
Mr Pat Rooney |
- |
|
€5,985 |
|
|
|
|
Ms Elizabeth Howard |
- |
|
€5,985 |
|
|
|
|
Mr Don O'Leary |
- |
€549 |
|
€1,791 |
|
|
|
- |
- |
€11,170 |
€23,940 |
€19,287 |
€5,250 |
€6,073 |
Child Detention Centres
Questions (581)
Alan Kelly
Question:581. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has received the 2016 and 2017 annual accounts for Oberstown Children Detention Campus in accordance with section 173 of the Children's Act 2001; and if so, her plans to publish same. [47878/18]
View answerWritten answers
The accounts for January to May 2016 were included in the Annual Report and Accounts for 2012-2016, following the amalgamation of the three children detention schools to form the Oberstown Children Detention Campus. They were laid before the Oireachtas on July 24, 2017,
The accounts, for the period from June 2016 to December 2016, that were audited by the C&AG were sent into my Department in April 2018. However due to an administrative oversight, they were not been laid before the Houses. I will arrange for them to be laid before the Houses as a matter of urgency.
The annual accounts for 2017 are currently in the process of finalisation and will be laid before the Oireachtas as soon as they are available.
Childcare Services Provision
Questions (582)
Niamh Smyth
Question:582. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is additional funding for a provider (details supplied) in circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48039/18]
View answerWritten answers
School Age Childcare (SAC) is hugely important to my Department and the registration and regulation of these services is a core priority for the upcoming year. In early 2019, DCYA will introduce initial SAC regulations which will enable the registration of SAC services, to be followed shortly thereafter by full regulations which will enable inspection. This move is designed to enable school aged children to avail of the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) when it is launched in late 2019. A fundamental requirement for access to ACS will be registration with Tusla and for services to be subject to inspections. In Budget 2019, my Department secured additional funding for Tusla to recruit more inspectors to meet this increased demand. The recruitment process is ongoing and will see the staff in post in early 2019.
The Early Years and School Age Capital Programmes in 2018 were available to childcare providers looking to expand, repair, maintain or establish a new service. Applications for funding were open from February to March 2018, with the results of the process announced in June 2018. Strand 4 of the programmes was designed to assist new or existing services who were looking to provide additional school age childcare places and strand 5 covered building improvements and maintenance for school age childcare services. The maximum grant available under strand 4 in 2018 was €20,000 with a total of €750,000 awarded to 45 services. The maximum grant available under strand 5 in 2018 was €5,000 with a total of €250,000 awarded to 54 services. The design of 2019's Capital offering is currently on-going, and the details of this will be made available to providers as soon as possible.
Currently, there are no specific funding streams covering school age children with disabilities. However, following the end of the third programme year of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM, which operates in the ECCE / pre-school programme) in mid 2019, DCYA will carry out an evaluation of AIM, and in the light of the evaluation will consider possible extension of AIM to other age groups, such as school age children.
For any queries in relation to the various schemes run by the Department, the local City/County Childcare Committee is best placed to assist. They are funded by DCYA to provide assistance on all matters related to childcare provision in a given area.
Departmental Advertising Campaigns
Questions (583)
Brendan Howlin
Question:583. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has carried out advertising campaigns to promote policies or programmes being implemented by her Department; the campaign or relevant programme; the cost of advertising in publications, broadcast advertising, outdoor advertising and other consultancy or production costs for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48309/18]
View answerWritten answers
The detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available as it spans a number of programme, scheme and administrative areas of my Department. The information is currently being collated and will then be forwarded directly to the Deputy.
A deferred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
Rural Development Policy
Questions (584)
Brendan Griffin
Question:584. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an indemnity scheme (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47728/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has been working to develop a scheme to indemnify private land owners with regard to the use of their lands for recreational purposes. In this context, my officials have been in contact with the State Claims Agency and the Attorney General's Office with a view to progressing the matter.
My Department has been advised that the proposed indemnity scheme should be underpinned by legislation, and my officials are now in the process of identifying the precise legislative requirements and/or processes required give effect to the scheme.
I have asked my officials to prioritise this work and to develop clear proposals to have the scheme progressed and rolled out as soon as possible on a phased basis, including in the area referred to by the Deputy.
CLÁR Programme
Questions (585)
Niamh Smyth
Question:585. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the areas in which he is expanding CLÁR funding in 2019, by category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47839/18]
View answerWritten answers
CLÁR was originally launched in October 2001 to provide for 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 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 regions 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 CLÁR programme was closed for new applications in 2010. However, I re-launched the programme in the second half of 2016, using as a base-line the areas identified in the work carried out by NIRSA. Over 1,200 projects have been approved for funding of €25 million under CLÁR since I re-launched the programme in 2016.
I have initiated a review of the CLÁR programme which will examine CLÁR areas by reference to the 2016 Census of Population data. It will also consider whether there are any other factors that should be taken into account in designating areas for eligibility under CLÁR. The review will also help to inform future CLÁR programmes in 2019 and beyond.
Decisions regarding specific areas and measures which might be supported under the CLÁR programme in 2019 will be made early next year.