Written Answers Nos. 280-294
280. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will request that a person (details supplied) be permitted to sit university exams online given the exceptional circumstances in the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61001/21]
View answerIn order to address concerns in relation to exam sittings and other operational matters impacted by Covid, I recently met with management, staff and student representatives. Management bodies confirmed that they are actively looking at a range of approaches to ensure that end of term examinations will be safe, and that the requirements of students who may have Covid-19 or underlying health conditions can be addressed.
The outcome of the meeting was that individuals who cannot sit exams due to Covid-19 concerns will be offered alternatives. I would encourage the individual to engage with the institution concerned and seek a different arrangement. In all instances public health must remain a priority and I know that there will be a continuing focus on the evolving and often quickly changing public health situation overall. The Deputy may wish to know I have recently announced a €9 million fund to allow institutions provide free antigen tests to students.
While my Department does not determine sector specific matters at this level I will continue to engage with all stakeholders across the third level sector through the Covid Sectoral Steering Group which meets regularly.
281. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the working groups his Department has with industry; the members of the groups; and the way the members of each group were selected. [61103/21]
View answerUnderpinned by the framework of the National Skills Strategy 2016-2025, a core principle of skills policy development in Ireland is partnership with enterprise and other key stakeholders. This is achieved through a range of partnership platforms, which foster engagement, dialogue, and collaboration between relevant Government Departments and agencies, the education and training system, the enterprise agencies, and private sector representatives.
The National Skills Council is the high level partnership platform established under the National Skills Strategy. It is an advisory body made up of high-level representatives from public and private organisations, and aims to be a space for interactive dialogue in relation to skills priorities. The Council is currently chaired by Bob Savage, Vice President, Regional Chief Information Officer for EMEA and Cork Site Leader Dell Technologies. Full details of membership appended in tabular format.
National Skills Council Membership
|
Body |
Name |
|
Chairperson |
Mr. Bob Savage |
|
Secretary General, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
Mr. Jim Breslin |
|
Assistant Secretary, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
Mr. William Beausang |
|
HEA |
Dr. Alan Wall |
|
QQI |
Dr. Padraig Walsh |
|
SOLAS |
Mr. Andrew Brownlee |
|
IDA |
Mr. Martin Shanahan |
|
EI |
Mr. Leo Clancy |
|
SFI |
Prof. Mark Ferguson |
|
ETBI |
Mr. Paddy Lavelle |
|
Skillnet Ireland |
Mr. Paul Healy |
|
Secretary General, Department Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
Dr. Orlaigh Quinn |
|
Secretary General, Department of Employment and Social Protection |
Mr. John McKeon |
|
Assistant Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
Ms. Patricia Coleman |
|
IUA |
Prof. David FitzPatrick |
|
THEA |
Dr. Brendan McCormack |
|
SAP Labs Ireland |
Mr. Liam Ryan |
|
Combilift |
Mr. Martin McVicar |
|
P Mulrine & Sons Sales, Owner, Director |
Mr. Peter Mulrine |
|
No.1 Pery Square Hotel & Spa, Pery Square, Limerick |
Ms. Patricia Roberts |
Regional Skills Forum Members
National Training Fund Advisory Group
|
Body |
Name |
|
Chairperson |
Liam Ryan (SAP Ireland) |
|
ISME |
Adam Weatherley |
|
IBEC |
Claire McGee |
|
Chambers Ireland |
Alan Hickey/Shane Conneely |
|
Construction Industry Federation |
Dermot Carey |
|
Irish Exporters Association |
Simon McKeever |
|
Irish Hotels Federation |
Michael Vaughan/Tim Fenn |
|
American Chamber Of Commerce Ireland |
Mary Connole-Joyce |
|
SOLAS |
Shauna Dunlop |
|
Skillnet Ireland |
Paul Healy |
|
The Wheel |
Deirdre Garvey |
|
HEA |
Vivienne Patterson |
|
Dept of Business, Enterprise and Innovation |
Marcus Breathnach |
|
Dept of Social Protection |
Roshin Sen |
|
Dept of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) |
William Beausang |
|
DFHERIS |
Mary McGarry |
|
DFHERIS |
Stephanie O’Brien |
National Apprenticeship Council Membership
|
Name |
Position |
Organisation |
|
Pat O'Doherty |
Council Chairman |
ESB Chief Executive |
|
Eamon Devoy |
Council Members |
Irish Council of Trade Unions (ICTU) |
|
Sandra Guilfoyle |
Council Members |
Jones Engineering |
|
Patricia King |
Council Members |
Irish Council of Trade Unions (ICTU) |
|
Natasha Kinsella |
Council Members |
Regional Skills (Dublin) |
|
Dr Bryan Maguire |
Council Members |
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) |
|
Claire McGee |
Council Members |
Irish Business and Employer Confederation (IBEC) |
|
Tommy Moloney |
Council Members |
G&T Crampton |
|
Dr Jim Murray |
Council Members |
Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) |
|
Martin O'Brien |
Council Members |
Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) |
|
Sarah Miley |
Council Members |
DFHERIS |
|
Noreen O'Hare |
Council Members |
Microsoft Ireland |
|
Dr Vivienne Patterson |
Council Members |
Higher Education Authority (HEA) |
|
Dr Mary-Liz Trant |
Council Members |
SOLAS |
The Regional Skills Fora bring people together at local and regional level, to identify, interrogate and validate skills needs, and to ensure that employers / enterprise are linked to the right places, to get responses they need. Membership of the nine Regional Skills Fora is regionally focussed, bringing together key stakeholders in both the public and private sector. Each of the Fora is composed in such a way as best meets the needs of the specific region. Full details of membership appended in tabular format.
The National Training Fund Advisory Group is a permanent resourced structure to optimise enterprise engagement on NTF priorities. It is chaired by Mr Liam Ryan, SAP SSC (Ireland) Ltd and its individual members were nominated by the relevant employer representative bodies and agencies. Full details of membership appended in tabular format.
The Apprenticeship Council has completed its role in the expansion of apprenticeships from the initial 26 craft apprenticeships to a current total of 62 apprenticeship programmes with 18 additional apprenticeship in development at the current time. The former membership of the Council is appended in tabular format. Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 the existing role of the Council will be subsumed into the National Apprenticeship Alliance (NAA) which will advise the new National Apprenticeship Office on the delivery of the Action Plan over the coming period. The makeup of the NAA is under consideration at the current time. It will include a balanced membership from enterprise, the education and training sector, learner representation and social partners.
282. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice if her Department will review an application for naturalisation and citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60893/21]
View answerThe granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
There is no review mechanism of citizenship decisions. However, in the past, officials of my Department have met applicants to explain the decision making process relating to Irish Associations. It is open to the person referred to by the Deputy to request such a meeting with my officials, and any such request will be carefully considered. It also remains open to the person concerned to submit a new application at any time.
Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended gives the Minister the absolute discretion to waive the statutory conditions in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations (defined as related through blood, affinity or adoption to a person who is or is entitled to be an Irish citizen).
As set out under Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956:
Section 16; (2) For the purposes of this section a person is of Irish associations if:
(a) he or she is related by blood, affinity or adoption to, or is the civil partner of, a person who is an Irish citizen or entitled to be an Irish citizen, or
(b) he or she was related by blood, affinity or adoption to, or was the civil partner of, a person who is deceased and who, at the time of his or her death, was an Irish citizen or entitled to be an Irish citizen.
There is no right or entitlement to have any of the statutory conditions waived, even where the applicant comes within the certain circumstances defined. The policy is that these powers should only be used sparingly and in exceptional and compelling circumstances, particularly where other viable pathways to naturalisation are available to an applicant under the Act. To do otherwise would be manifestly unfair to the thousands of other applicants who apply annually, having satisfied the statutory criteria under Section 15 of the Act.
283. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if there are programmes available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60915/21]
View answerI share the Deputy’s concerns for the Afghan people and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government has approved my Department's proposal for an additional initiative: the special Afghan Admission Programme, which will provide places for up to 500 Afghan family members to travel to Ireland. Each applicant will have an opportunity to nominate up to four family members who are currently residing in Afghanistan or who have fled to neighbouring territories and whom they consider would be especially at risk in terms of their freedom and safety.
My Department will open the Programme for applications very shortly and it may be open to the person concerned to make an application to that Programme, subject to meeting its criteria. Full details of the scheme will be published on my Department's Irish Immigration website (www.irishimmigration.ie).
A key focus of the Programme will be on establishing the identity of those intending to come to Ireland. Therefore, in advance of the Programme’s launch date, applicants and beneficiaries should focus on ensuring they have as many identity documents as possible available to support their application.
284. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the amount expended by her Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on electricity costs in tabular form; and if she will provide an additional schedule that sets out all energy costs associated with their ICT hardware, that is, servers and so on in tabular form. [60942/21]
View answerThe amount spent by my Department on electricity costs in each of the past five years to date in 2021 is set out in tabular form below. These costs relate to 12 premises which are used by my Department.
The Department cannot provide the energy costs in relation to our servers as these are hosted in the Revenue Data Centre. It is also not possible to quantify how much is spent on power for PCS and IT hardware, as these are not separately metered.
|
Year |
Electricity Costs |
|
2017 |
558,062 |
|
2018 |
559,535 |
|
2019 |
495,239 |
|
2020 |
465,017 |
|
2021 |
426,805 |
285. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice the annual Garda bill to the State for protecting the US military at Shannon Airport in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form. [60964/21]
View answerI have referred the matter to the Garda authorities and will contact the Deputy directly when a response is to hand.
|
Year |
Expenditure* € |
Year |
Expenditure* € |
|
2020 |
1,500,973 |
2014 |
930,842 |
|
2019 |
1,549,430 |
2013 |
758,152 |
|
2018 |
1,594,350 |
2012 |
862,573 |
|
2017 |
1,443,308 |
2011 |
994,052 |
|
2016 |
1,319,720 |
2010 |
858,319 |
|
2015 |
1,231,671 |
- |
- |
286. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice the amount her Department spent on Covid-19-related advertising in the period from 1 January 2020 to 30 November 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60989/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has been working closely with all Government Departments to support the national COVID-19 effort. My Department has contributed to and participated in the large scale cross-Government communications programme which has been running since the start of the pandemic. This includes supporting and amplifying Government and public health messaging through both our internal and external communications channels. There has been no spending by my Department on advertising directly related to COVID-19 during the period in question.
The Deputy may wish to note that while not specifically a campaign to raise awareness of COVID-19, since March 2020 my Department has been running the important ‘Still Here’ campaign. The purpose of this campaign is to reassure victims of domestic abuse that support services from State agencies and the voluntary sector remain available and accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of any restrictions in place.
In addition to reminding victims of domestic abuse that help is ‘Still Here’, the campaign reminds anyone concerned for their safety that any restrictions on movement do not apply to people at risk, or who are removing themselves from a domestic abuse situation. To date the Department has spent €397,944.36 on the 'Still Here' campaign.
287. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the position of her Department with respect to ensuring that female only prisons are reserved to those that are biologically female; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61009/21]
View answerThe Irish Prison Service is responsible for the safe and secure custody of all people held in prison.
When a court makes an order committing a person to prison, the Irish Prison Service must accept that person into the prison as specified by the court.
All people committed to prison are accommodated in accordance with their legal gender.
In some cases, the Governor may make a recommendation on the appropriate placement within the prison system, taking into consideration good order, security, operational and protection issues, available accommodation and the healthcare needs of the prisoner as well as the safety and security of other prisoners and staff.
288. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice if circumstances described in correspondence (details supplied) will qualify under the recently announced scheme for undocumented persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61010/21]
View answerLast week, the Government approved my proposal for a once-in-a-generation scheme to regularise thousands of undocumented migrants and their families who are living in Ireland.
The scheme will enable eligible applicants to remain and reside in the State and to regularise their residency status. It will bring some much-needed certainty and peace of mind to thousands of people who are already living here and making a valuable contribution to our society and the economy, many of whom may be very vulnerable due to their current immigration circumstances.
People who are eligible under the scheme will:
- Have a period of 4 years residence in the State without an immigration permission, or 3 years in the case of those with children on the date the Scheme opens for applications;
- Be granted an immigration permission that allows for unrestricted access to the labour market; and
- Have years of residence with that permission reckonable for the purposes of pursuing citizenship by way of naturalisation.
The Scheme will only be open to those who do not have a current permission to reside in Ireland.
Any person who has previously held an EU Treaty Rights (EUTR) permission and who currently has a temporary permission to remain while their application under the relevant legislation is being considered or is at review stage would not be considered as being undocumented. Therefore, they will not meet the criteria for the regularisation scheme.
If successful in their EUTR application or review, they will be granted permissions under the relevant EU Regulations, for example 5 years' residence or permanent residence in the State.
289. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the status of the development of CCTV in local communities in north County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61032/21]
View answerThe rollout of community CCTV schemes across the country has benefitted many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. It is a priority of mine to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in their valued contributions to their local CCTV schemes whilst ensuring sufficient, proportionate oversight of data protection statutory considerations.
Since 2017, my Department has administered a grant aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. Eligible groups, including community groups and local authorities nationwide, can apply for grant aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum total of €40,000.
The scheme was extended in 2019 to cover not only new CCTV systems but also to allow funding applications for extension or upgrade of existing community CCTV systems which are incomplete or obsolete. Applicants may now also seek a once-off grant of up to €5,000 for minor maintenance costs.
A total of 34 schemes have been funded to date with commitments of almost €940,000 made to these schemes across 10 counties. Funding continues to be available for 2021. I am advised that we have not received any applications for CCTV funding from anywhere in North County Dublin. However, if the Deputy is aware of groups wishing to avail of the grant aid scheme, further details are available to download from my Department's website and support and guidance is available to help interested groups through a dedicated email address.
The Deputy will be aware that community-based CCTV is governed by Section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (SI 289 of 2006). This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must:
- be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee,
- have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must also act as data controller, and
- have the authorisation of the Garda Commissioner.
This is the legal basis for all community CCTV schemes, regardless of how they are funded. These key legal requirements have not changed since 2006.
As the Deputy will also be aware, the general scheme of the Garda Síochána (Digital Recordings) Bill was published on 29 April 2021 and has been submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny. This Bill will provide statutory underpinning for Garda overt recording, which will include CCTV authorised in local communities by the Garda Commissioner. It is planned to have a further review of the terms and conditions of the current scheme to bring it into line with the proposals in this new legislation and in keeping with the commitment in the Programme for Government. Once this review is completed, appropriate guidance will issue to An Garda Síochána on the control and supervision of CCTV systems. It is expected the Bill will be enacted in 2022. The legislation, once enacted, will replace Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.
290. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to the full implementation of the Neurorehabilitation Strategy within the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60884/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
291. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to ensure that the shortfall of nine neurology nurses in Galway University Hospital will be filled as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60885/21]
View answerSaolta Hospital Group has provided the following update with regard to the recruitment of 4 Neurology Nursing staff in University Hospital Galway:
- Neurology Clinical Nurse Specialist (epilepsy) - took up post on 6th December;
- CNS Neurology Paediatric - interviews held. Successful candidate to be released from current post in new year;
- CNS Paediatric neurodevelopmental – interviews held. Successful candidate to be released from current post in new year;
- Neurology CNS (headache) - interviews scheduled for 9th December.
I am advised that University Hospital Galway does not have any other such vacancies.
292. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is considering including the option of providing a record of a negative test within the previous 24 hours as an alternative to proof of vaccination as has recently been approved by the Scottish Parliament (details supplied) for attendance in a premises and venues covered by the domestic Covid-19 certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60887/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 situation in Ireland remains of concern and is delicately balanced. Ireland remains vulnerable to a further deterioration in the disease profile depending on several factors, including levels of social contact in the coming weeks and over the festive period, adherence to basic public health protective measures and levels of immunity across the population. The potential impact of the recently identified Omicron variant remains uncertain at present.
As the Deputy will be aware a COVID-19 pass, based on certification of vaccination or recovery, is required for indoor hospitality, cinemas, theatres, events, gyms, leisure centres (excluding access to swimming pools or standalone swimming pool facilities) and hotel bars and restaurants.
The current high level of COVID-19 infection and the dominance of the significantly more transmissible Delta variant poses a very substantial threat, particularly to those who are not fully protected through vaccination. Public health advice remains that those who are not fully vaccinated or have immunity from infection should avoid congregated indoor settings for their own and others safety.
As the Deputy will be aware, Covid certification arrangements are in place in many countries across the EU. There are a range of different systems in place, including those which require proof of immunity from vaccination or recovery only, similar to the system in Ireland, to others that allow a not detected test result to permit access to facilities. There are also differences in terms of the types of settings that certification is required for.
Government keeps all measures under review on an ongoing basis.
293. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1691 of 27 July 2021, if he will provide an update on the development of a regulatory framework for home support providers including an update on the primary legislation; when this will be introduced; the role HIQA will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60888/21]
View answerWork is ongoing in the Department of Health on the development of a new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services. This includes establishing the regulatory framework for the new scheme.
With the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with a standard, high-quality level of care which is safe, effective, and person-centred, it is envisaged that the regulatory framework will comprise: (i) primary legislation for the licensing of public and private home-support providers; (ii) minimum requirements (i.e., regulations); and (iii) HIQA National Standards for Home Support Services.
Earlier this year, Government gave approval to draft a General Scheme and Heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. This is being progressed by the Department with a view of bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. It is expected that the primary legislation will give the Minister for Health the power to make regulations in respect of minimum requirements which will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a licence will be determined. A regulatory impact analysis undertaken by the Department will take place in 2022 to ensure effectiveness and mitigate risks.
The aim is to ensure that service-users are safe-guarded and protected, and a responsive, person-centred, quality-driven home-support service is provided. This is central to the Sláintecare objective of providing ‘right care, in the right place at the right time’. The regulations being drawn up by the Department and the standards being drafted by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) both take cognisance of the diverse and often complex needs of those who require homecare and support.
HIQA has extensive experience in the regulation of social care services and has, in the last 18 months, conducted wide-ranging research into the regulation of home-support services. HIQA ran a public scoping consultation in September to inform the development of National Standards for Home Support Services. HIQA has convened an Advisory Group to assist in the process of developing the Draft National Standards.
In collaboration with HIQA and in consultation with the Health Service Executive and other key informants, the Department is in the process of developing draft regulations. These draft regulations will be circulated for targeted stakeholder consultation this month. This consultation will inform further amendments in advance of a public consultation in 2022.
294. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to correspondence from a person (details supplied) regarding the orthopaedic needs of children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus; and the steps he will take in relation to same. [60896/21]
View answerI acknowledge that waiting times for many hospital procedures and appointments are unacceptably long. It is of particular regret that children can experience long waiting times for orthopaedic treatment, especially for time sensitive procedures, and I remain acutely aware of the impact that this has on children and their families.
As part of Children’s Health Ireland’s (CHI) paediatric orthopaedic service, most complex orthopaedic cases are treated at Crumlin and Temple Street, with Crumlin providing specialised multi-disciplinary treatment for the most complex patients. The National Orthopaedic Hospital at Cappagh provides additional capacity for the treatment of less complex orthopaedic patients, including routine scoliosis procedures. By using the capacity provided by Cappagh, CHI can free up space in order that complex orthopaedic procedures can be carried out centrally at CHI sites.
More specifically, additional theatre capacity at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh commenced on the 26 April 2021 for daycase surgery. CHI has advised the Department of Health that this should result in a positive impact in reducing long waiting times for general orthopaedics, in addition to consequential capacity gains for scoliosis patients. In 2022 CHI is planning to undertake a range of inpatient, daycase and outpatient orthopaedic appointments in Cappagh.
In 2018 Children’s Health Ireland was provided with an additional €9 million in funding to address paediatric orthopaedic waiting lists, including the provision of scoliosis services. This funding is recurring and has been provided in the base HSE allocation each year since 2018. The additional funding supported the recruitment of approximately 60 WTEs in 2018 and 2019 to enable the expansion of paediatric orthopaedic services.
Funding proposals submitted to the HSE by Children’s Health Ireland for increased investment in paediatric orthopaedic services in 2022 will be decided as part of the finalisation of the Access to Care fund. In addition, the HSE has advised my Department that a proposal to fund an additional theatre at Temple Street is currently progressing through the normal HSE capital approval process. Improving access to scheduled care capacity remains a priority for the Department of Health as work continues to finalise next years’ Access to Care fund. For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists.
In addition, my Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. The plan will be informed by the lessons learned from the successful Vaccine Taskforce.
