Written Answers Nos. 131-146
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if renewal of a work permit is an option in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7601/19]
View answerIn order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit. The Employment Permits Section of my Department administers the Employment Permits system. All applications for employment permits are processed in line with the Employment Permits Acts and associated Regulations which lay down in legislation the criteria in relation to the application, grant and refusal of an employment permit.
The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that, on 8th January 2018, a General Employment Permit issued in respect of the named individual; this Employment Permit expired on 7th January 2019.
In order for a renewal application to be considered, it must be submitted no earlier than three months before a permit is due to expire or within 4 weeks of the expiry date. As more than 4 weeks have elapsed since the permit expired, it is not possible for a renewal application to be considered.
However, this does not preclude an applicant from submitting another application for a new employment permit. Such an application should comply with all of the legislative requirements for the particular employment permit type.
132. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of farm safety inspectors employed by the HSA; and the number of new inspectors that have been hired in 2017 and 2018, respectively for farm safety. [7644/19]
View answerThe Health and Safety Authority currently has 39 full time equivalent inspectors available to deliver the Authority’s occupational safety and health inspection programme. Of these, 24 inspectors will be involved in delivering the Authority’s farm inspection programme and promotion campaigns during 2019.
In 2017 the HSA undertook a recruitment campaign for 11 Inspector posts, 6 of which were for field inspection posts. These 6 Inspectors were involved in farm inspection campaigns during 2018 and were in addition to the existing cohort of 18 inspectors involved in farm inspections and farm safety campaigns.
In 2018, the HSA recruited 7 new field inspector posts of which 5 new inspector posts will be assigned to general inspection activities during 2019. Two of these posts will be involved in the delivery of the Authority’s farm inspection and farm safety promotion campaigns.
While farm inspection remains an important part of the Authority’s overall approach to improving safety standards on farms research has shown that, due to the size and nature of the sector, other methods of engagement with the farming sector are also highly valuable in bringing about sustainable and positive change to work practices on the farm.
Initiatives such as Knowledge Transfer Groups, Farm Walks, presentations and training to stakeholder groups as well as presentations and training to Agricultural students, the development and dissemination of information and guidance are all helping farmers to utilise new information, new procedures and practices and new technology to bring about safe and lasting changes in the way they farm.
133. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount spent by the Health and Safety Authority on farm safety initiatives; the number of inspections in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the number of fatalities on farms in this period annually; the percentage of farm fatalities out of total workplace fatalities recorded by the HSA as a percentage in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7645/19]
View answer134. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of funds allocated by the Health and Safety Authority for farm safety initiatives in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the amount expended in each such year; the amount allocated in 2019 for farm safety initiatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7646/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.
Information on the amount spent by the Health and Safety Authority on farm safety initiatives, the number of inspections, the number of fatalities and the percentage of farm fatalities out of total workplace fatalities for the years 2016 to 2018 are set out in the attached Tables.
Final expenditure is broadly in line with original estimated expenditure for the years in question. However, estimated expenditure across all mandates of the Health and Safety Authority can be subject to change where unexpected circumstances arise which might require a re-prioritisation of available funding.
In respect of 2019 the Health and Safety Authority has estimated an expenditure of approximately €500,000 on specific agricultural sector initiatives throughout the year. The Authority will monitor this budget and will adjust it accordingly where priority matters arise in the agriculture sector.
Overall workplace fatality figures show that 37 people were killed in work related accidents in 2018 which is a decline of 23% on 2017 and the lowest figure since the establishment of the Health and Safety Authority in 1989.
The farming sector, which has consistently been the most dangerous sector in which to work, had 15 work related deaths in 2018 compared to 25 in 2017, a decline of 40%. While this decline of 40% is very welcome, 15 fatalities is still very high for a sector that employs just 6% of the workforce.
The overall fatal accident rate of 1.6 deaths per 100,000 workers is also now at an all-time low. This fatality rate of 1.6 deaths per 100,000 workers is particularly significant given it was as high as 6.4 per 100,000 workers in the early 1990’s. Due to the efforts of Government and the Health and Safety Authority along with employers, employees and key stakeholders there has been a huge improvement in health and safety standards since then.
However, with 37 people losing their lives in work related activity in 2018 there is clearly still more to be done. Against a backdrop of a thriving economy with thousands of new workers joining the workforce each month and challenges ahead such as Brexit and a skills shortage in certain sectors it is vital that worker health and safety stays on the priority list of all businesses. This is to protect the lives and health of workers and, also, to protect the viability and competitiveness of businesses themselves.
Expenditure on Farm Safety Initiatives 2016 to 2018
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2016 |
€416,917 |
|
2017 |
€533,995 |
|
2018 |
€624,000 |
*Note: Annual figures for expenditure include some cross-sectoral initiatives where the expenditure is also relevant to other sectors. As it is not possible to extract this, it has been included as the full figure
Farm inspections and investigations 2016 – 2018
|
Year |
Nos. |
|
2016 |
2,008 |
|
2017 |
1,776 |
|
2018 |
1,949 |
Farm fatalities as a percentage of total deaths across all sectors 2016 – 2018
|
YEAR |
Farm Deaths |
All Sector Deaths |
Farm deaths as a % of Total |
|
2016 |
22 |
48 |
46% |
|
2017 |
25 |
49 |
51% |
|
2018 |
15 |
37 |
41% |
|
TOTALS |
62 |
134 |
46% |
Note: the classification of fatalities may be subject to change as additional information becomes available. This can result in the overall fatality total changing, as well as the sectoral fatality totals in due course.
135. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the capital projects completed by her Department since 2011; the initial contract value of same; the final cost of same; and the final cost of the capital projects that have had an ex post review in tabular form. [7843/19]
View answerThe Capital funding provided to my Department is mainly in the way of grants to support the multi-annual programmes of our enterprise development and innovation agencies.
The table below sets out the breakdown of the capital allocation across my Department’s subheads from 2011-2019. Due to a changes in the Vote structure between 2011 and 2019 some subhead numbers may no longer correspond with those previously published. I have used the current structure for the sake of clarity.
|
Subhead |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
2013 |
2012 |
2011 |
|
A.4 - INTERTRADE IRELAND |
6,695 |
5,695 |
5,695 |
5,530 |
5,530 |
5,760 |
6,000 |
6,000 |
6,000 |
|
A.5 - IDA IRELAND |
142,000 |
132,000 |
137,000 |
112,000 |
90,000 |
89,000 |
79,000 |
86,000 |
86,000 |
|
A.6 - NSAI - G-I-A FOR ADMIN & GEN EXPS |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
|
A.7 - ENTERPRISE IRELAND |
65,750 |
63,000 |
63,000 |
56,000 |
50,000 |
49,000 |
55,000 |
70,500 |
72,500 |
|
A.8 - LOCAL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT |
27,500 |
22,500 |
22,500 |
18,500 |
18,500 |
18,500 |
15,000 |
15,000 |
15,000 |
|
A.9 - TEMPORARY PARTIAL CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
1,500 |
500 |
10,000 |
|
|
A.10 - MATCHING FUNDING FOR INTERREG |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
2,770 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
2,000 |
|
A.14 - FUTURE GROWTH LOAN SCHEME |
6,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A.15 - HUMANITARIAN RELIEF SCHEME |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B.4 - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME |
300,250 |
293,250 |
289,000 |
278,100 |
270,330 |
258,040 |
275,200 |
291,200 |
295,393 |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
122,000 |
122,000 |
122,000 |
117,600 |
113,430 |
110,600 |
127,000 |
132,000 |
131,393 |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
172,750 |
166,750 |
162,500 |
157,000 |
154,000 |
144,540 |
145,300 |
156,000 |
160,800 |
|
Tyndall Institute |
5,500 |
4,500 |
4,500 |
3,500 |
2,900 |
2,900 |
2,900 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
|
International Leverage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
200 |
200 |
|
B.5 - PROGRAMME FOR RESEARCH IN THIRD LEVEL INSTITUTIONS |
24,300 |
14,300 |
14,400 |
10,377 |
32,014 |
16,700 |
16,700 |
26,800 |
27,007 |
|
B.6 - SUBSCRIPTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS, ETC. |
23,504 |
20,255 |
19,405 |
18,723 |
18,626 |
|
|
|
|
|
European Molecular Biology Conf |
202 |
202 |
200 |
195 |
191 |
|
|
|
|
|
European Molecular Biology Laboratory |
1,248 |
1,248 |
1,223 |
1,186 |
1,112 |
|
|
|
|
|
EUREKA - Involved in S&T Research |
33 |
33 |
33 |
33 |
33 |
|
|
|
|
|
COST |
11 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
European Space Agency |
18,313 |
17,814 |
17,779 |
17,279 |
17,279 |
|
|
|
|
|
CECAM |
30 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOFAR |
91 |
91 |
90 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ELIXIR |
76 |
76 |
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ESO (European Southern Observatory) |
3,500 |
750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B.9 - DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES INNOVATION FUND |
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHANNON FREE AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,600 |
5,000 |
3,600 |
|
TOTAL |
620,000 |
555,000 |
555,000 |
503,000 |
489,000 |
442,000 |
454,500 |
514,000 |
508,000 |
The enterprise supports are mainly by way of grants to our Enterprise Agencies such as the IDA to enable them to attract Foreign Direct Investment and to EI, the Local Enterprise Offices and Intertrade Ireland to enable them to support local indigenous and cross border businesses to start, scale and export. My Department’s Jobs and Enterprise Development Programme also supports a number of specific initiatives in the area of access to finance for SMEs and other indigenous businesses.
The innovation supports are mainly to research focussed bodies such as SFI, Enterprise Ireland, the Tyndall Institute, and supporting Ireland’s membership of International Research Organisations such as the European Space Agency, the European Southern Observatory and other Research focussed Agencies.
In terms of reviews, the Enterprise Agencies themselves and the Department, through its Strategic Policy Division and the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) of the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, undertake regular assessments, ongoing reviews and formal evaluations of the various Capital programmes being supported by the exchequer to ensure that they are:
- in line with Government policy;
- meeting a national strategic need;
- represent best use of resources available to the Agency;
- effective and can be delivered to ensure best value for money for the Exchequer.
136. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the cost of the construction and equipping of the MISA unit at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8; the details of the tendering process; the number that tendered; the names of the construction firms that tendered; and the successful applicant. [7478/19]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
137. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the €9 million for a replacement 50-bed unit at the Sacred Heart Hospital, County Roscommon, has been ring-fenced; if the project is still included in the HSE capital plan 2017 to 2021 in view of the overspend on the national children’s hospital; the status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7534/19]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
138. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the €17 million for a new 50-bed unit at Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe has been ring-fenced; if the project is still included in the HSE capital plan 2017 to 2021 in view of the overspend on the national children’s hospital; the status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7535/19]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
139. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the funding for a 50-bed unit in St. Patrick's Community Hospital, Carrick-on-Shannon, has been ring-fenced; if the project is still included in the HSE capital plan 2017 to 2021 in view of the overspend on the national children’s hospital; the status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7572/19]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
140. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the review of the national children's hospital process; if the option of investigating alternatives to the continuation of the project at St. James's will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7412/19]
View answerThe independent review commissioned to understand the reasons for the cost escalation associated with the new children's hospital construction project is underway. As per its terms of reference, the primary focus of the review is on the governance and management arrangements in place within and between the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) and Executive, Design Team, relevant consultants, user groups and contractors. The review will deal with the accountability of the relevant key parties, functions and roles.
The terms of reference of the review also require it to develop any further recommendations, if possible, which may identify any areas of potential costs savings or reductions, which are consistent with the applicable contractual undertakings and the delivery of the project, in light of its current status. The review will be completed by the end of March subject to availability of relevant documentation and personnel, and will inform appropriate next steps by decision makers, including Government.
In December 2018, Government approved the construction investment to allow Phase B of the hospital to be instructed. The building of the new children’s hospital on the St James’s campus is underway, Phase B works commenced on site at the end of last month. The review does not include the option of investigating alternatives to constructing the hospital on the St James's Hospital campus.
141. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 429 of 22 January 2019, if those living in Glenamaddy, County Galway, availing of Westdoc services and that have no access to transport to bring them to Roscommon will be facilitated in Glenamaddy when they make a call to Westdoc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7413/19]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for it to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
142. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not received respite; if the case will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7414/19]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
143. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the way in which a nurse returning home to work here should proceed to receive the relocation allowance; the length of time it takes to receive same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7415/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
144. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason the relocation allowance for a person (details supplied) is taking a long time to be received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7416/19]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
145. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for referral to Beaumont Hospital; and if such treatment can be availed of through the cross-border scheme. [7417/19]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
146. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the role the National Development Finance Agency has had in the new national children’s hospital project; if the agency was entitled to be part of the board of the hospital; if not, the reason this was not the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7421/19]
View answerIn relation to National Paediatric Hospital Development Board membership, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order 2007 provided that the Board will consist of a Chairperson and 12 ordinary members appointed by the Minister for Health. Of the 12 ordinary members, three were to be appointed to represent the interests of the general public; three on the nomination of the Chairperson; two on the nomination of the Health Service Executive; one on the nomination of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; one on the nomination of the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street; one on the nomination of the National Children’s Hospital at Tallaght; and one on the nomination of the Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
The Children's Health Act 2018 includes provision to amend the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board appointment process to better reflect the Board's primary role which is to deliver on the capital project, rather than its previous broader remit which also included operational planning for the services, the latter now being a matter for Children's Health Ireland. There is nothing in either the original or revised appointment process set out in the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board Establishment Order which entitles or precludes a member of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) from being appointed to the Board.
I have asked the NDFA to reply direct to the Deputy outlining their involvement in the new children's hospital project.
