Tuesday, 16 Apr 2019

Written Answers Nos. 592-601

EU Directives

Questions (592, 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599)

Clare Daly

Question:

592. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the consultative committee on urban seagull issues has not yet met. [17440/19]

Clare Daly

Question:

593. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether the review of the derogation process under Article 9(1)(a) of the EU birds directive delivered on 6 September 2018 addressed adequately and substantively all perceived threats in the context of urban seagull issues and the interests of public health and safety as catered for in the directive. [17442/19]

Clare Daly

Question:

594. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the policy initiatives she will be making in the 2019-20 general derogations declaration towards addressing all perceived threats in the interests of public health and safety in view of the recommendation in the final review report on urban gull issues which sought early publication of declarations. [17443/19]

Clare Daly

Question:

595. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if specific levels of professional competency in matters of public health and safety were mandatory requirements in the tender for the review of the derogations process under Article 9(1)(a) of the EU directive; the degree to which such competencies were vetted by her as being present in the consultancy team that was constituted to conduct the review; and if she is satisfied that the interests of public health and safety have been professionally and competently addressed in the review. [17444/19]

Clare Daly

Question:

596. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the recommendations at 2.1 to 2.4 in the interim report of the review of the derogations process under Article 9(1)(a) of the EU birds directive were not acted upon. [17445/19]

Clare Daly

Question:

597. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a consultative committee is being convened in view of the fact that it was not recommended by the report of the review of the EU birds directive Article 9(1)(a) derogations process and may delay the process of dealing with health and safety issues caused by urban gulls. [17446/19]

Clare Daly

Question:

598. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether her Department is not a competent authority in matters of public health and safety in view of the fact that the report of the review of the EU birds directive Article 9(1)(a) derogations process refers frequently to her Department as being the competent authority for making derogations. [17447/19]

Clare Daly

Question:

599. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if all national policy changes to address all perceived threats in the interests of public health and safety will be implemented with the priority due to matters of public health and safety at the earliest opportunity in view of the fact that section 4.2.1 of the report of the review of the EU birds directive Article 9(1)(a) derogations process acknowledges a number of public health and safety issues arising from same. [17448/19]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 to 599, inclusive, together.

Firstly, I will address the various issues raised by the Deputy in relation to the Review of the Derogation Process under Article 9 of the Birds Directive.

My Department commissioned a review of the derogation process under Article 9 of the EU Birds Directive which took account of all relevant factors, including perceived threats, distribution and population data available in respect of all the bird species in the derogations. ANIAR Ecology were appointed by my Department to undertake the review following a public tendering process. While specific professional competencies in relation to a wide range of particular fields were not specified in the tendering process for the review, which was wide ranging and not related to any specific type of bird, the tenderers were required to have knowledge of relevant bird species and an understanding of the effects of bird species on a range of issues including public health and safety.

The consultant’s report was published in October 2018 and is available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at www.npws.ie.

The consultants in their report made a number of recommendations in relation to seagulls including the setting up of a group to agree a programme of action in relation to the seagull situation in the certain urban areas. In line with the recommendations of the consultants' report I have agreed to the formation of a Consultative Committee, with an independent chair, whose membership will include representatives of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, Fingal County Council, local community representatives and a conservation group. I understand that arrangements are in hand to convene the first meeting of the Committee shortly after the Easter holiday period.

The Deputy raises the issue of public health and safety in Section 4.2.1 of the consultant’s report. While my Department is not a national competent authority in relation to public health, it will take account of the advices of relevant authorities as appropriate. The consultants indicate in this section of the report that managing the issues surrounding the impact of seagulls is complex given the longevity of seagulls, the availability of food sources and their resilience and ability to re-nest. Their conclusion is that further research and reviews are required in order to determine effective solutions and the effectiveness of mitigation measures such as removing eggs and nests. The consultants also indicate that there is a need to take account of the unfavourable conservation status of seagulls.

The Declarations to implement derogations under the Birds Directive are renewed annually. The 2018/19 Declarations expire on 30 April and I want to assure the Deputy that that there will not be a delay in this process in the context of a 2019/2020 Declaration.

Disability Act Employment Targets

Questions (600)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

600. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number or percentage of employees in her Department and in the agencies under her aegis with intellectual disabilities; her plans to increase this number to promote and support the employment of persons with intellectual disabilities as outlined in the Disability Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17483/19]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I am advised that my Department and the bodies under its aegis complies with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005. This requires all departments and bodies under its aegis to make a return to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Disability Authority on how many employees have disclosed a disability. My Department provides a Part 5 return on an annual basis.  In 2017 staff with disabilities made up 3.1% of our workforce in the Department and 4.8% in the bodies under the aegis of the Department. My Department and the bodies under its aegis do not generally recruit staff directly; the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is used to fill most vacancies.

The underpinning of this process is that these figures are based upon the voluntary disclosure that staff and agencies make. If employees with intellectual disabilities require accommodation in order to conduct their work, this will be made available to them upon request.

Disability Act Employment Targets

Questions (601)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

601. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department and the agencies under her aegis track the numbers of employees they have with an intellectual disability; her plans to do so in order to help set targets and increase workplace opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities such as those outlined in the national disability inclusion strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17500/19]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I am advised that my department and the bodies under its aegis complies with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005. This requires all Departments and bodies under its aegis to make a return to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Disability Authority on how many employees we have who have disclosed a disability. My department provides a Part 5 return on an annual basis. In 2017 our staff with disabilities made up 3.1% of our workforce in the Department and 4.8% in the bodies under the aegis of the department

The underpinning of this process is that our figures are based upon the voluntary disclosure that our staff and agencies make.

While we do not track the numbers of employees with intellectual disabilities we do endeavour to meet the needs of all staff with intellectual disabilities with regard to accommodation requirements or any training and development needs as and when required.

My Department has participated fully in the implementation of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy by:-

- Progressing and reporting on the relevant actions contained in the Strategy by means of consultation with the relevant line Divisions.  Preparation of this report is coordinated by the Corporate Governance Unit.

- Attendance at the quarterly Steering Group meetings by a department official (Corporate Governance Unit).

- The establishment of a Disability Consultative Committee (DCC).