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Tuesday, 22 Jan 2019

Written Answers Nos. 589-608

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (589)

Micheál Martin

Question:

589. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will publish the airline costs for her Department for 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2686/19]

View answer

Written answers

A total of €54,364.60 was spent by my Department in 2018 on air travel. 

My Department uses a Public Service Framework for the Provision of Travel Management Services and the company providing these services seeks best value quotations on behalf of the Department.  The figure quoted includes all official and Ministerial air travel.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (590)

Micheál Martin

Question:

590. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will publish the cost of newspapers in her Department in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2703/19]

View answer

Written answers

A total of €4,382 was spent by my Department on the cost of newspapers in 2018. This includes printed newspapers and subscription services to two online paper services. 

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Questions (591)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

591. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of complaints made to Tulsa in respect of social workers by county in 2017 and 2018, in tabular form. [2783/19]

View answer

Written answers

I have written to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to request this information. A further response will issue to the Deputy when I have received their reply.

Child and Family Agency

Questions (592)

Clare Daly

Question:

592. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the board of Tusla first had sight of a report (details supplied). [2840/19]

View answer

Written answers

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised me that the Board of Tusla was not furnished with a copy of the report referred to by the Deputy. A copy of the report was furnished to the Chairperson of the Special Inquiries Committee, a sub-committee of the Board, in April 2018.

Child and Family Agency Services

Questions (593)

John Brady

Question:

593. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consent of both parents is required before a child can be referred to a play therapist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2929/19]

View answer

Written answers

The issue of parental consent, within the context of play therapy, does not fall under the remit of my Department.

This issue falls under the remit of the HSE.  The question is therefore more appropriate for my colleague the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris.

Youth Services Funding

Questions (594)

Willie Penrose

Question:

594. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the budget allocation under the youth service grant scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3022/19]

View answer

Written answers

The Youth Service Grant Scheme (YSGS) provides funding, on an annual basis, to 30 national and major regional voluntary organisations. The continued funding of voluntary youth organisations through the Scheme is intended to ensure the emergence, promotion, growth and development of youth organisations with distinctive philosophies and programmes aimed at the social education of young people.

The YSGS allocation for the years 2016 to 2018 is as follows:

Year

YSGS allocation

2016

€10,148,979

2017

€10,651,764

2018

€10,658,170

The overall budget allocation for the youth sector in 2019 is € 60.4m in current funding.  This represents an additional €1.5m over 2018; an increase of €8.5m in the youth funding provided in 2016. The level of funding supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the youth work sector.

I am not in a position, currently, to give details on the YSGS allocation for 2019.  My Department has commenced a process to identify service development needs for 2019 and to finalise the 2019 youth funding allocations. The primary purpose of this process is to ensure that youth services are sufficiently resourced to meet the needs of young people and particularly those who are at risk of drugs or alcohol misuse, early school leaving, homelessness or who are living in disadvantaged communities.

In this regard, officials within my Department are currently processing funding renewal applications on behalf of both national youth organisations and youth projects throughout the country.  Every effort will be made to complete this process as soon as possible and all youth organisations and youth services will be notified of their allocation at the earliest possible date.

I will be happy to inform the Deputy of the YSGS allocation for 2019 when this information becomes available.

Adoption Records Provision

Questions (595)

Joan Burton

Question:

595. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans in relation to progressing the rights of adopted persons to access personal birth information and files; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3052/19]

View answer

Written answers

I am committed to the enactment of the Adoption ( Information & Tracing) Bill 2016.

This important legislation will give adopted people, people who have been the subject of an illegal birth registration, birth parents and relevant guardians a statutory right to an information and tracing service.  It also provides that relevant records will be maintained by the Adoption Authority of Ireland.

The Bill must operate within the current constitutional framework and must seek to balance the rights to identity and to privacy, which may sometimes be in conflict. However, the Bill operates on the basis of a presumption in favour of disclosing information in so far as is legally and constitutionally possible.  I am continuing to actively explore all options in relation to facilitating the release of as much information as possible to adopted and other relevant persons and will introduce any necessary amendments at Committee Stage.

It is my intention to progress to Committee Stage of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 in the Seanad Éireann as quickly as possible.

Adoption Records Provision

Questions (596)

Joan Burton

Question:

596. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of cases of irregular or false registrations of adopted persons that have been identified; the number of persons affected who have been contacted; the number of persons who have been unable to be contacted; the reason therefore; her plans to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3053/19]

View answer

Written answers

I am committed to the process of notifying people who are affected by illegal registrations identified on the files of St. Patrick's Guild and providing these individuals with as much information as possible regarding their identity.

Tusla social workers are supporting these individuals as they deal with the news that they have been illegally registered at birth. The information that an illegal birth registration has taken place is potentially life changing and the State has a responsibility to reach a high level of certainty that this has in fact happened before it contacts the individuals concerned.  This threshold was reached in the 126 cases which Tusla are dealing with.

The progress made regarding contacting those affected is a matter for Tusla and the process is still ongoing. The Deputy will be aware that the process of contacting people in these circumstances is a sensitive and complex one and the pace must respect the wishes of the individual involved.

The Deputy will also be aware that I initiated a review of adoption records to determine if similar evidence of illegal registration could be identified from the records of other former adoption agencies and other relevant bodies as was identified in the St. Patrick's Guild files.

It is not possible at this stage to anticipate the type of information that will emerge from the review. Given the sensitive personal data contained in the files, data protection and GDPR issues have arisen, which have delayed the review, but these have now been addressed and the final report of the review is expected to be submitted to me before Easter 2019.

Adoption Records Provision

Questions (597)

Joan Burton

Question:

597. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of a society (details supplied); if she was consulted regarding the liquidation of the society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3054/19]

View answer

Written answers

I understand that St. Patrick's Guild Adoption Society ceased operations in December 2014.  Its records were transferred to Tusla in May 2016. This has ensured that the relevant records are safeguarded and can be accessed for information and tracing services.

The liquidation or otherwise of the Society is not a matter for the Minister. The Society is no longer an accredited body under the Adoption Act 2010. 

LEADER Programmes Funding

Questions (598)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

598. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the financial allocations in each of the years under the 2014 to 2020 Rural Development Programme per measure 19 support for LEADER local development; the annual amount expended on the programme in each year of the RDP to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2379/19]

View answer

Written answers

LEADER, which is referred to at EU level as Measure 19 of the Rural Development Programme, forms part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and has a total budget of €250 million over the period in question.  €220 million of this funding has been allocated to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) throughout the country who deliver the LEADER programme.  The remaining €30 million is available for schemes to be delivered at a national level. 

The funding which has been allocated to the LAGs is provided for the duration of the programme, rather than on an annual basis. This provides greater flexibility to the LAGs in managing their resources.  

Table 1 below details the overall expenditure incurred each year to date under the programme.  This expenditure includes the initial costs incurred by the LAGs in developing their Local Development Strategies in the early years of the programme, LAG administration costs and the cost of their engagement with communities to generate projects, and project expenditure itself.

Expenditure and project approvals under LEADER have increased significantly over the last year.  A total of 1,644 projects have now been approved by the LAGs for funding of over €55.8 million since the programme began. A further 355 projects with a combined value in excess of €22 million are currently within the approvals process. The level of project expenditure under the programme is expected to increase further in 2019 as payment claims are submitted in respect of these project approvals.  

Table 1: LEADER 2014-2020 Expenditure broken down per year

-

Total Programme Expenditure

2015

€1,251,185.25

2016

€1,260,920.54

2017

€12,123,851.06

2018

€22,983,712.69

2019

€453,201.43

Total

€38,072,870.97

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (599)

Micheál Martin

Question:

599. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will publish the airline costs for his Department for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2698/19]

View answer

Written answers

The cost of Ministerial foreign travel is routinely published by the Department as part of our FOI publication scheme, and this information is available on the Departments website. In addition I can inform the Deputy that the total cost incurred by the Department for airline travel in 2018 was €5,886, inclusive of Ministerial travel.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (600)

Micheál Martin

Question:

600. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will publish the cost of newspapers in his Department in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2715/19]

View answer

Written answers

The cost of newspapers in my Department in 2018 was €6,551.80.

Departmental Programmes

Questions (601)

John Curran

Question:

601. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current and capital funding allocated to the RAPID programme, community facilities scheme and community enhancement programme, respectively in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the amount of such funding allocated per local authority and local community development committee; the amount expended in each such year; and the 2019 allocation in tabular form. [2776/19]

View answer

Written answers

The Communities Facilities Scheme and the nationwide re-cast RAPID programme were launched for the first time in 2017.  €65,000 was provided to each local authority area under each scheme, a total of €130,000 for each area.

In 2018, these two programmes were replaced by the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP).  The below table gives the amount allocated, and provided to each Local Authority/LCDC for this new programme in 2018.  Details are provided for both the main CEP and the ring-fenced fund for Men's Sheds under the CEP.

The national allocation for the CEP in 2019 is currently €4 million.  The funds have not yet been allocated to the local authorities.

Local Authority

Main 2018 CEP

(Capital)

Men's Shed fund

(Capital) 

Total 2018 CEP

Carlow

€252,039

€7,246

€259,285

Cavan

€259,648

€14,493

€274,141

Clare

€321,746

€14,493

€336,239

Cork City

€459,524

€13,043

€472,567

Cork

€618,516

€31,884

€650,400

Donegal

€600,565

€31,884

€632,449

Dublin City

€1,329,824

€34,783

€1,364,607

Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown 

€361,092

€8,696

€369,788

Fingal

€477,189

€15,942

€493,131

Galway City

€227,879

€5,797

€233,676

Galway County

€378,937

€18,841

€397,778

Kerry

€365,239

€17,391

€382,630

Kildare

€442,585

€26,087

€468,672

Kilkenny

€281,205

€8,696

€289,901

Laois

€284,032

€10,145

€294,177

Leitrim

€183,271

€5,797

€189,068

Limerick

€510,601

€31,884

€542,485

Longford

€226,909

€7,246

€234,155

Louth

€408,482

€10,145

€418,627

Mayo

€403,803

€21,739

€425,542

Meath

€371,923

€21,739

€393,662

Monaghan

€229,476

€8,696

€238,172

Offaly

€311,997

€10,145

€322,142

Roscommon

€239,556

€8,696

€248,252

Sligo

€250,359

€13,043

€263,402

South Dublin

€737,700

€13,043

€750,743

Tipperary

€465,727

€20,290

€486,017

Waterford

€394,081

€8,696

€402,777

Westmeath

€284,675

€18,841

€303,516

Wexford

€470,891

€23,188

€494,079

Wicklow

€350,530

€17,391

€367,921

Total

€12,500,000

€500,000

€13,000,000

Departmental Programmes

Questions (602)

John Curran

Question:

602. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of project approvals and the monetary value of each project to the RAPID programme, community facilities scheme and community enhancement programme, respectively in each of the years 2016 to 2018 per local authority and local community development committee in tabular form. [2777/19]

View answer

Written answers

The nationwide re-cast RAPID programme and the Communities Facilities Scheme were launched for the first time in 2017.  €65,000 was provided to each local authority area under each scheme, a total of €130,000 for each area and €4m across the country.

In 2017, 292 projects were approved under the RAPID programme.  Details of each project are available on my Department's website on the following link:

https://drcd.gov.ie/revitalising-areas-by-planning-investment-and-development-rapid/.

In 2017, over 2,100 projects were approved under the Communities Facilities Scheme.  Details of each project are available on my Department's website on the following link:  

https://drcd.gov.ie/community/communities-facilities-scheme.

In 2018, these two programmes were replaced by the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), which received total funding of €13m. 

Detail on approved projects for 2018 are available on my Department's website on the following two links. Information is provided on over 3,000 projects that have been approved to date under both the main CEP and a ring-fenced Men's Shed fund under the CEP.

https://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/CEP-Jan-2019-Project-approvals.pdf.

https://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Mens-Sheds-Funding-Jan-2019.pdf 

RAPID Programme

Questions (603)

John Curran

Question:

603. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current and capital funding under the RAPID programme in each year over the 2016 to 2018 period to the Dublin north east inner city area; the amount expended in each such year; and the 2019 allocation to this area in tabular form. [2778/19]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table below. Funding is provided to support initiatives which are overseen by the North East Inner City Oversight Committee, chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach. 

The North East Inner City Initiative (NEIC) commenced in 2016.  No RAPID funding was provided for the initiative in 2016, however separate funding was provided by the then Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government from the SICAP/Local and Regional Development Supports Subhead for which my Department now has responsibility. 

Since the establishment of the Department of Rural and Community Development in July 2017 funding for the NEIC Initiative was provided from the RAPID Subhead in 2017 and 2018.  From 2019,  this Subhead will be renamed as Supports for Disadvantaged Communities.

Year

CURRENT

 CAPITAL

AMOUNT EXPENDED

2016

250,000

Nil

250,000

2017

1,232,830

1,267,170

2,500,000

2018

2,569,220

590,330

3,159,550

2019

5,233,000

1,267,000

n/a

Control of Dogs

Questions (604)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

604. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to update the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2010. [2903/19]

View answer

Written answers

The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2010 set out a range of requirements for all dog owners or any other person in charge of a dog. The Control of Dogs Regulations set out further requirements in respect of owners of 10 specific breeds.  The aim of these specific control requirements for certain breeds is to provide a balanced and workable arrangement which prioritises the protection of society while also recognising the rights of dog owners.  

I have asked my officials to examine the requirements in relation to restricted breeds in order to ensure that safe and fair arrangements remain in place and are strengthened if necessary.  I am aware of research that critically examines the current approach to the regulation of restricted breeds.  I am also aware of the view that some additional breeds may warrant inclusion on the list of restricted breeds. I have asked my officials to examine this matter, giving consideration to the range of views held.  This will involve examining the relevant legislation to ensure that existing laws and international best practice, as well as the views of stakeholders, are taken into account.   Any amendments to existing legislation will be dependent on the outcome of this review.  This work has commenced and will continue throughout 2019.

Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation

Questions (605)

Dara Calleary

Question:

605. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made with the implementation of the action plan for rural development to date; and when the next progress report will issue. [3081/19]

View answer

Written answers

Progress Reports on the implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development are published twice a year on my Department's website, www.drcd.gov.ie. The most recent, Third Progress Report, was published in November 2018 and outlines the progress which took place in relation to all actions due for delivery between January 2018 and June 2018, or which are being implemented on an ongoing basis over the course of the three year Action Plan.

Of the 275 actions reported on in the latest report, 266 had been completed or were substantially advanced.  A number of case studies also feature in the Third Progress Report, which illustrate the positive impact the actions being delivered are having on rural communities. 

The coordinated, whole-of-Government approach of the Action Plan is achieving results in terms of increased employment in the regions and increased investment in projects and communities across the country. Since 2015, there has been an increase of over 163,000 in the number of people employed in regions outside of Dublin, surpassing the Government’s target of 135,000 by 2020.  We are also seeing increased employment in the hospitality sector from the promotion of tourist attractions and investment in greenways and blueways.

My Department is in the process of compiling the Fourth Progress Report on the Action Plan for Rural Development, which will report on the delivery of measures in the second half of 2018. It is envisaged the report will be circulated to the Monitoring Committee which oversees the Action Plan in the first quarter of this year, for consideration and subsequent publication.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Questions (606)

Dara Calleary

Question:

606. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications by category 1 and 2 projects made under the rural regeneration and development fund by county to date; the number of successful and unsuccessful project applications, respectively per category that applied for funding per county; the successful projects by county that have been approved for funding per category; the value of funding approved for each such project; when successful applicants will receive funding in 2019; the amount allocated for the fund in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3082/19]

View answer

Written answers

Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed €1 billion to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over a 10 year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities.  The Fund has been allocated €315m over the period 2019 to 2022, with €55m set aside in my Department's budget for successful projects in 2019.  The respective allocations for the years 2020 to 2022 will be confirmed as part of the annual budgetary process. 

The first call for applications for the Fund closed at the end of September and there was an excellent response from all across the country, with 280 applications received.  A breakdown of applications received by Category and County is set out in the Table 1. 

Applications for the Fund are currently being examined by the Project Advisory Board, made up of representatives from key Government Departments and external experts, which was established to oversee the assessment process.  Category 1 "shovel ready" projects were prioritised in the assessment process in the first instance and Category 2 projects - those which need development funding to become potential Category 1 applications in future calls for applications - are also now being considered.

I announced the first set of 18 successful Category 1 projects for funding on the 23rd November 2018. Details of funding allocated to successful applications by County is set out in Table 2.  My Department is currently engaging with the 18 successful lead applicants as part of the due diligence process and contractual arrangements, including payment milestones, will be finalised shortly.

A further announcement detailing successful Category 1 and Category 2 projects will take place early in 2019, with a second call for the Fund taking place later in the year.

Table 1. Applications by County and Category

County

Category 1

Category 2

Total per County

Carlow

1

5

6

Cavan

2

3

5

Clare

13

10

23

Cork

17

49

66

Donegal

8

4

12

Dublin

0

1

1

Galway

9

5

14

Kerry

7

7

14

Kildare

4

9

13

Kilkenny

4

5

9

Laois

4

1

5

Leitrim

2

3

5

Limerick

13

5

18

Longford

2

1

3

Louth

2

2

4

Mayo

7

6

13

Meath

2

6

8

Monaghan

5

4

9

Offaly

1

4

5

Roscommon

2

1

3

Sligo

3

2

5

Tipperary

3

3

6

Waterford

1

4

5

Westmeath

1

2

3

Wexford

5

6

11

Wicklow

1

2

3

Multiple Locations

7

4

11

Totals

126

154

280

Table 2. Successful RRDF Applications by County 

County

Number     of Successful Applications

Total RRDF Funding

Carlow

1

€654,820

Cavan

1

€867,174

Clare

1

€1,023,300

Cork

1

€2,157,375

Donegal

2

€3,228,042

Galway

2

€2,276,887

Kerry

1

€1,270,000

Kilkenny

1

€561,750

Laois

1

€1,200,000

Limerick

3

€7,167,477

Mayo

2

€2,895,062

Sligo

2

€1,115,752

Total

18

€24,417,639

LEADER Programmes Expenditure

Questions (607)

Dara Calleary

Question:

607. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made to date with the roll-out of the LEADER programme 2014 to 2020; the expenditure incurred to date on the programme by administrative, animation and projects costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3083/19]

View answer

Written answers

LEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a total budget of €250 million over the period to 2020. 

Total expenditure on the LEADER programme since it commenced - effectively in 2016 when the majority of Funding Agreements were signed - amounts to over €38 million.  This comprises:

- €1.5 million in initial costs incurred by the LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) to develop their Local Development Strategies.

- €22.9 million in administration costs of the LAGs and the cost of their engagement with communities to generate projects.

- €13.6 million on project expenditure. 

The level of project activity under the LEADER programme has increased significantly over the last year. 1,644 projects have now been approved for funding of over €55.8 million, compared to 592 projects approved at the end of 2017.  A further 355 applications, requesting an additional €22 million, are at an earlier stage in the approvals process.

Project payments have increased significantly in recent months as approved works are completed and claims are submitted. Over €13.6 million of project expenditure has been incurred to date, compared to just under €700,000 at the end of 2017.

I expect that the progress now being made on the LEADER programme will continue as further projects are approved and payment claims are made. The progress has been assisted by improvements made by my Department in 2018 to the applications and approvals process, in consultation with the LAGs.

Brexit Issues

Questions (608)

Dara Calleary

Question:

608. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the contingencies being taken in a no-deal Brexit scenario; the legislative areas under his remit that will have to be changed; and the impact this will have on schemes and funding. [3085/19]

View answer

Written answers

I can confirm that Departments across Government have been planning for all Brexit scenarios but as the UK's exit date of 29 March approaches, Government has decided that immediate priority must now be given to preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

The Government published a Contingency Action Plan on 19 December 2018, which my Department inputted into, setting out its approach to dealing with a no-deal Brexit and is determined that Ireland will be as ready as we can be in mitigating any impacts from Brexit and of a no-deal scenario.  

Preparations in advance of Brexit have been focused on engagement and awareness in relation to our stakeholders in the rural and community development sectors.

Intensive work has been undertaken across Government to screen all Irish legislation currently in force to identify areas where legislative amendments will, or may, be required in the context of a no deal Brexit.  My Department has engaged with this screening process and has not identified any legislative areas under my remit where amendment is required in advance of a no-deal Brexit.

As the Tánaiste outlined to the Dáil last Thursday, the Government has identified 17 different areas, across nine Government Departments, to be included in a single omnibus Bill in the context of a no deal Brexit. In addition, the Government has also identified a further 28 pieces of secondary legislation that will be required in such a scenario. 

I am very conscious that the potential effects of a disorderly Brexit on communities and on certain economic sectors, such as agrifood, will have a major regional impact.

Therefore, a key element of my Department's contingency planning is to ensure maximum flexibility in our programme of initiatives, to allow for responses to emerging needs and to continue to build resilience in communities.

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