Written Answers Nos. 301-320
301. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application for a sports capital grant by a club (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40276/19]
View answerThe 2018 round of the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) closed for applications on Friday 19th October last. By that deadline, a record 2,337 applications were submitted seeking a total of €162m in funding.
186 of these applications were for projects that were deemed invalid under the 2017 round of the programme that subsequently submitted corrected documents. These applications were assessed first and approximately €7m in allocations to 170 projects were announced on the 17th January.
619 applications for sports equipment only were assessed next and 466 allocations with a value of €9.8m were announced to these organisations in May. The club referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for sports equipment under the 2018 SCP. Unfortunately, given the level of demand and the amount of funding available under the programme, it was not possible to allocate grants to every eligible applicant. In this regard, the club referred to did not receive a sufficiently high score at assessment stage at qualify for a grant on this occasion.
As soon as all allocations have been made under the current round, my Department will carry out a review of all aspects of the 2018 round of the programme to include any possible improvements for the future. This review will include consideration of the timing and scale of the next round and it will be open to the club in question to submit a new application for funding under this next round.
302. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application for a sports capital grant by a club (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40277/19]
View answerThe 2018 round of the Sports Capital Programme closed for applications on Friday 19th October last. By that deadline, a record 2,337 applications were submitted seeking a total of €162m in funding.
186 of these applications were for projects that were deemed invalid under the 2017 round of the programme that subsequently submitted corrected documents. These applications were assessed first and approximately €7m in allocations to 170 projects were announced on the 17th January.
619 equipment only applications were assessed next and 466 allocations with a value of €9.8m were announced to these organisations in May.
Work is now underway in assessing the remaining applications for capital works, including an application from the organisation referred to by the Deputy.
For the first time, applicants who submitted incorrect documentation under this round are being given the opportunity to correct their application during the assessment period. While there will be no undue delay in completing the assessment process, in view of the opportunity to correct documentation, the record number of applications received and the detailed information contained in each application, it is likely to take a further number of weeks to have all applications assessed with allocations announced shortly after that.
303. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a feasibility study on extending the proposed MetroLink to Firhouse, Dublin 24, will be authorised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40280/19]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area.
As the Deputy may be aware, there is a statutory Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 as prepared by the National Transport Authority. It sets out the strategic transport priorities for the period in the Greater Dublin Area and provides for a wide range of improvements across all modes of public transport and active travel. Importantly it is also a statutory requirement that relevant land-use strategies in the area are consistent with the Transport Strategy.
In relation to metro, there is no provision in the Transport Strategy for a metro service to Firhouse, Dublin 24; however, the Strategy is required to be reviewed every 6 years and new projects can be considered as part of that review of the Strategy. I am informed that the NTA will commence this review during 2020.
304. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of residents of south west County Dublin that BusConnects by itself will not provide adequate public transport capacity for the area; his plans to improve public transport in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40281/19]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including BusConnects.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities on this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
305. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to develop a special stream of funding for sports clubs that want to install disabled access to their facilities. [40282/19]
View answerThe Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.
The guide to making an application under the SCP is available on the Department's website and specifically states that projects to improve disability access are eligible for funding under the programme. It is also a requirement that all projects funded by the SCP must be accessible to people with disabilities. At assessment stage extra marks are awarded to projects that are specifically targeted at increasing participation among people with disabilities or with mental health issues.
In light of the prominence already given to accessibility in the SCP, I have no plans at present to introduce a special stream of funding specifically for disabled access projects.
306. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Athy southern distributor road construction; the amount spent on the road to date; if the construction of the road will be funded until its completion; and when it is due to be completed. [40283/19]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. Each local authority is the contracting authority for the purpose of implementation of regional and local road improvement projects.
Under Project Ireland 2040 my Department is committed at present to providing grant funding towards the cost of 12 significant capital road improvement schemes, including the Athy Southern Distributor Road. As regards grant expenditure to date on this scheme, the Regional and Local Road payment booklets available in the Oireachtas library provide details of grant payments made by my Department in previous years. As regards 2019, €3 million was allocated to the Athy scheme at the start of the year and €617,778 of the allocation has been drawn down to date this year.
The Project Ireland 2040 road improvement projects are managed on a programme basis with allocations determined on an annual basis depending on progress with individual schemes and taking into account the available capital budget.
307. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the basis for an allocation of €20,350 to a partnership (details supplied) in 2018 under the women in sport programme in view of the fact that the median allocation across all partnerships was €4,000; the purpose of the allocation; and the specific projects and location of projects it has been spent on. [40300/19]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. This includes the allocation of funding to Local Sports Partnerships. I have no role in the process.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
308. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated number of the 1.9 million passenger journeys in 2018 supported by the rural transport programme which were undertaken by young persons under 26 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40330/19]
View answer309. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the policies and measures his Department is undertaking to support the increased use of rural transport services by young persons under 26 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40331/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. It also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme, which now operates under the Local Link brand.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
310. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the truck capacity in each of Dublin, Rosslare, Ringaskiddy and Shannon Foynes ports; the number of trucks processed each day at each port under current circumstances; the number at each port in a no-deal Brexit scenario; the contingency plans at each port to deal with the potential backlog in the event of a no-deal Brexit in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40452/19]
View answer311. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the container capacity in each of the Dublin, Rosslare, Ringaskiddy and Shannon Foynes ports; the number of containers processed each day at each port under current circumstances; the number at each port in a no-deal Brexit scenario; the contingency plans at each port to deal with the potential backlog in the event of a no-deal Brexit in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40453/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together.
The CSO publish figures annually for traffic in and out of the ports. These can be found at the following link: www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/spt/statisticsofporttraffic2018/. For ease of reference the relevant tables are attached at Appendix 1.
As you will understand, the number of units can vary greatly from day to day due to seasonal factors or day of the week. Rosslare estimate they handle an average of 330 RoRo units per day. Dublin Port has an estimated daily average of 2700 RoRo units and 2000 LoLo TEUs. The Port of Cork report a daily move count of 85 LoLo TEUs at their Ringaskiddy Terminal and 850 LoLo TEUs at their facility in Tivoli. There are 3 RoRo sailings out of Cork every week in the summer season with an average now of 30 RoRo units on each of these sailings. There are 2 RoRo sailings out of Cork during the Winter months with an average of 40 RoRo units per sailing.
Additionally Dublin Port publishes quarterly figures on their website. These can be accessed at: www.dublinport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/DPC-Throughput-Statistics-Q2-2019.pdf. For ease of reference the relevant tables are set out at Appendix 2.
Feedback from the Irish ports is that they all have spare capacity.
In relation to contingency plans, the Government has extensive preparations in place for a possible no-deal Brexit on 31 October 2019. In its Action Plan published in July 2019, the Government acknowledged that a no deal Brexit will be highly disruptive and will have profound implications across all aspects of society. It will be impossible for the UK to maintain the current seamless arrangements with the EU across the full range of sectors including transport connectivity, trade flows and supply chains. The contingency plans in place, including in the transport sector, will mitigate but cannot eliminate the impacts of a no-deal Brexit.
The re-introduction of customs or border controls as a consequence of Brexit will undoubtedly increase transit times for all traffic travelling via or from the UK to Continental Europe, including for many Irish importers and exporters.
The three locations for which Ireland is heavily dependent on connectivity to the UK are Dublin Port, Dublin Airport and Rosslare Europort. The Office of Public Works has worked across Government with relevant agencies and Departments in delivering the required facilities for these agriculture, health and customs checks at these locations. Temporary facilities are now in place to meet the needs of these agencies. Additional staffing in Customs, Agriculture and Health have been recruited and trained to provide the necessary support and to manage the efficient movement of freight and people through these locations.
The necessary associated staffing and IT systems are also in place. Testing of the relevant IT systems is continuing. Communications with stakeholders is ongoing and will continue during October 2019.
Trade between Port of Cork, Shannon Foynes Port Company and UK is more limited and is not exposed to the implications of Brexit in the same way as Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort. However, both ports have also been contingency planning for Brexit, including planning for any opportunities that may arise. While Shannon Foynes handles no LoLo or RoRo presently, I am aware that as part of their expansion plans and Brexit contingency planning, the Port is currently examining the viability of new direct container services from Foynes to Europe. Opportunities for new routes are also being explored on an ongoing basis by Irish Ports with other European Ports and shipping companies. I am aware also that Port of Cork is also seeking to identify new business opportunities that may flow from Brexit.
My Department is working closely with other agencies to have appropriate traffic management plans in place in the event that there is significant congestion in Dublin Port that impacts on wider traffic flows in the surrounding Dublin road network.
A traffic Management Planning Exercise is underway in Rosslare with the State agencies and Wexford County Council and will be finalised for 31st October.
312. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of action 35 of Realising Our Rural Potential - Action Plan for Rural Development to introduce a new single targeted youth funding scheme which will address a range of factors including rural isolation; the way in which the scheme will address isolation among young persons in rural areas; the funding dedicated in the scheme to addressing the needs of young persons in rural areas; when the scheme will be open for applications; the number of potential beneficiaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40327/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware my Department is currently managing the most significant reform of youth services ever undertaken. This will provide an opportunity to identify need and to focus funding on young people most in need of intervention.
Future development and investment in youth services will be informed by the mapping exercise completed in 2017, which mapped youth service provision across the State as well as an Area Profiling, Needs Assessment and Service Requirement tool which was designed in collaboration with the Education and Training Board (ETB) sector and was officially launched in January 2019. This mapping and tool will assist the Department and the relevant ETBs in developing a detailed social demographic profile in terms of both population numbers and deprivation levels. My Department is committed to working with ETBs to identify requirements in their area and facilitate decisions on service requirement by reference to evidenced need.
The Targeted Youth Funding Scheme has been allocated €35.18 million for 2019 to provide out of school supports to young people in their local communities to enable them to overcome adverse circumstances and achieve their full potential by strengthening their personal and social competencies. Young people aged 10 to 24 years of age who are described in the National Youth Strategy as marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable will be the primary target group for services available through the new scheme.
The launch of the scheme is still expected to take place in December 2019 and the applications process will begin in January 2020. Following the applications process it is expected that the scheme will be fully operational in July 2020.
313. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of action 43 in Realising Our Rural Potential - Action Plan for Rural Development to support the participation of young persons in rural areas in decision making; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40328/19]
View answerAction 43 of Realising Our Rural Potential – Action Plan for Rural Development relates to my Department’s National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making 2015-2020.
This Strategy was launched in June 2015, and is a constituent of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, 2014-2020. The strategy is guided and influenced by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The Strategy builds on the infrastructure for children’s participation already established by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs through the 31 Comhairle na nÓg and Local Authority structures around the country. This cross-government action plan strengthens the voice of children and young people in their local communities, in formal and informal education settings, in health and social services and in the national context of government decision-making.
A key objective of the strategy is that children and young people will have a voice in their local communities.
Under action 2.5 of this Strategy the Department of Rural and Community Development will consult with children and young people in order to capture their views as part of the new rural policy development process.
My Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development are in the early stages of exploring how young people’s voices can be heard under the current structures.
314. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which a person who has been taken into care under court instruction can obtain their records for the period of time. [40218/19]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for his question. As this is an operational matter I have referred the question to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for their direct reply.
315. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the case of persons (details supplied) will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40249/19]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on individual cases. I can confirm that this matter has been referred to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency for their appropriate attention and direct reply.
316. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if investment will be increased in youth work in budget 2020 to support the work of youth organisations to deliver more and enhanced youth work services to young persons in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40252/19]
View answer318. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that while overall expenditure has increased by 12% since 2011 funding for youth work has only increased by 0.3%; if the lack of investment in youth services will be addressed in budget 2020 in order that voluntary youth organisations in County Kilkenny can meet the needs of young persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40254/19]
View answer319. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the allocation to the youth service grant scheme will be increased (details supplied) in budget 2020 in view of the fact that the allocation to the scheme is at 2005 levels not taking inflation into account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40255/19]
View answer327. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will address the lack of investment in youth work in budget 2020 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40309/19]
View answer328. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that while the budget of her Department has increased by €511 million between 2014 and 2019 only 2% of that additional funding has been allocated to support youth work; her plans to increase the proportion of departmental funding for youth work in budget 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40310/19]
View answer329. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that while overall Government expenditure has increased by 12% since 2011 funding for youth work has only increased by 0.3%; her plans to increase investment in youth work in budget 2020 in order that voluntary youth organisations can meet the needs of a growing youth population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40311/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 316, 318, 319 and 327 to 329, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware the annual Estimates process is ongoing. It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time as funding for the provision of youth services, amongst other areas, is under consideration and, as might be expected, is subject to resources.
I have enhanced investment in youth service provision each year since I took office, increasing current funding for youth services by an additional €8.5 million in the last three years. This represents an increase of 16% compared to 2016. Included in this funding under the Youth Service Grant Scheme has increased by almost 10% since 2016, rising to €11.126m in 2019.
In addition, I have taken on board the findings of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Youth Programmes. I am prioritising the implementation of an integrated funding scheme as recommended by this Review. Consultations with a wide range of stakeholders are continuing with a view to introducing this targeted youth funding scheme as soon as possible.
In 2019, my Department has funding of €60.4 million that is being deployed across a broad range of programmes supporting the provision of youth services throughout the country, with a specific focus on services in communities in areas considered to be disadvantaged based on the deprivation index. With the invaluable assistance of each Education and Training Boards and national organisations, the funding from my Department supports national and local youth programmes involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in communities across the country, as well as some 1,500 youth clubs nationally.
317. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that while the budget of her Department has increased by €511 million between 2014 and 2019 only 2% of that additional funding has been allocated to support youth work; if the lack of financial support for youth services will be addressed in budget 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40253/19]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the annual Estimates process is ongoing. It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time as funding for the provision of youth services, amongst other areas, is under consideration and, as might be expected, is subject to resources.
I have enhanced investment in youth service provision each year since I took office, increasing current funding for youth services by an additional €8.5 million in the last three years. This represents an increase of 16% compared to 2016 . Included in this funding under the Youth Service Grant Scheme has increased by almost 10% since 2016, rising to €11.126m in 2019.
In addition, I have taken on board the findings of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Youth Programmes. I am prioritising the implementation of an integrated funding scheme as recommended by this Review. Consultations with a wide range of stakeholders are continuing with a view to introducing this targeted youth funding scheme as soon as possible.
In 2019, my Department has funding of €60.4 million that is being deployed across a broad range of programmes supporting the provision of youth services throughout the country, with a specific focus on services in communities in areas considered to be disadvantaged based on the deprivation index. With the invaluable assistance of each Education and Training Boards and national organisations, the funding from my Department supports national and local youth programmes involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in communities across the country, as well as some 1,500 youth clubs nationally.
320. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a public services card must be produced in order to access aspects of the national childcare scheme; if persons have been refused access to the scheme for not being a holder of or in possession of a public services card since the card was introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40258/19]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme has always been designed, such that, when it is fully up and running, applications will be accepted both online and by post. A Public Services Card (PSC) and verified MyGovID account are required to apply online only. The online system will offer a user friendly and effective system for parents, whilst offering greater efficiency in the administration and costs associated with the operation of a Government scheme. A secure identity verification system is required for any such IT system, and the Public Services Card and MyGovID offers this security in the safeguarding of applicants' information and the administration of public funding.
The Scheme has not yet launched. It is targeted to launch on 29th October, with payments flowing from November. Following expert advice regarding the launch of the new Scheme, the online application process will be introduced first, followed shortly thereafter by the paper based application process.
With regard to the report by the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) into the PSC, the Government and the Attorney General have carefully considered the findings of the report, including the legal basis for the use of the PSC by specified bodies or persons (such as the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs). The Government has agreed to challenge the findings of the report, as based on the legal advice received, it does not believe the DPC’s findings are correct in law.
The advice of the Attorney General’s Office is that there is a strong legal basis for the continued public service wide use of the PSC.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs remains committed to delivering the National Childcare Scheme as planned and, in so doing, assisting thousands of families to access high quality and affordable early learning and care and school age childcare. Over 3.2 million of the population already have the card, many of whom it is believed are the parents of young children who may be interested in the subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme. Those families already availing of current targeted childcare schemes do not require the card and they can remain on these schemes until end of August and, as such, will not require the card.
