Written Answers Nos. 397-417
397. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there is an official or unofficial arrangement between the Irish State and the United Kingdom that allows the Royal Air Force to conduct armed operations within the Irish airspace. [9821/22]
View answerAs stated in response to previous Parliamentary Questions, I cannot comment on reports concerning arrangements for national security. The Government’s engagement in international security cooperation is aimed at ensuring public safety and is conducted with full respect for Irish sovereign decision-making authority and for Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality.
398. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has won any award from a publication (details supplied); if so, when this award was won; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9833/22]
View answerMy Department has not won any awards from the publication in question.
400. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he uses an application on his official Government telephone; if so, if he has the disappearing messages setting activated on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9960/22]
View answerRecords previously released by my Department in response to Freedom of Information requests confirm use by me of the application referred to in the Deputy’s question. I do not use the setting referenced.
401. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 387 of 8 February 2022, if he will address an additional query (details supplied) in relation to vacancies on a retirement roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10016/22]
View answerIreland's current International Election Observation Roster has 197 active members, sufficient to enable Ireland to continue to respond to calls for nominate observers to election observation missions organised by the European Union and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The current roster will expire on 31 December 2023.
403. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to appoint full-time cultural officer posts for the Irish Embassies in Warsaw and Rome. [10063/22]
View answerThe appointment of full-time specialist Cultural Officers in priority locations worldwide has been identified in the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy as a key action to widen and deepen our global cultural presence and engagement. Five positions in Berlin, London, New York, Los Angeles and Beijing have been filled to date in a close partnership between my Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Consideration is being given at present to further such appointments in priority locations and regions as part of the Global Ireland programme, subject to resources and to local conditions and requirements. The cultural briefs in Warsaw and Rome are currently managed by the relevant Embassy's diplomatic staff.
405. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the timelines involved in the implementation of the recently published report on the commission on the Future of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9116/22]
View answer406. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if he plans to establish a committee to oversee the implementation of the report on the Commission of the Defence Forces; the way that the committee will be constituted; if there will be a Government member as part of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9117/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 406 together.
The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020 which also agreed its terms of reference and membership.
I welcomed the publication of the report of the Commission which was launched on 9 February 2022. The Commission have undertaken a significant body of work encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. The report contains 69 main recommendations and together with sub recommendations, there are 130 recommendations. The Commission's terms of reference included the consideration of appropriate capabilities, structures and staffing for the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service.
The report proposes significant changes for the Defence Forces, including to high-level command and control structures, and for the level of Defence provision in Ireland. Clearly, there are matters that will require careful consideration and in some critical aspects inter-departmental discussion and agreement. This includes the level of resourcing that may be allocated to Defence and the governance framework that will be required to underpin any changes the Government approve on foot of the Commission's report. I will also be seeking the views of my Department and the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces Representative Associations will be consulted on all matters that fall within the scope of representation, relating to the implementation of any approved plan. I also intend to engage with key stakeholders and the Oireachtas, which commenced with the Dáil statement on the report which took place on 16 February. When these deliberations are completed I intend to revert to Government with a proposed plan of action.
It is anticipated that this process will take at least four to five months in order to bring a considered and comprehensive proposal back to Government to address the fundamental issues that the Commission have set out.
407. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the exact amount being deducted from the pension of a person (details supplied) each month as a result of a court settlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9391/22]
View answerThe person in question served in the Defence Forces from 1979 to 1985 before being discharged “Below Army Physical Standards”. This period of service service was below the minimum length of service required to qualify for an occupational or service pension; however, a Short Service Gratuity was paid at the time.
The person in question separately applied for a disability pension under the Army Pensions Acts, which he was awarded in 1986. In 1986 the value of his disability pension was €4,071 (£3,206) per year. The current rate of his disability pension is €13,749 a year.
The person in question also instituted civil proceedings in respect of the same injury and in July 1986 the High Court awarded him compensation of €37,457 (£29,500). His disability pension was therefore reviewed by the Minister for Defence in accordance with the provisions of Section 13(2) of the Army Pensions Act, 1923 (as amended). Section 13(2) provides:-
“Any compensation which may be received from or on behalf of the person alleged to be responsible for the act which caused the wounding….. may be taken into consideration in fixing the amount of any pension, allowance or gratuity which might be awarded under this Act to or in respect of such person and if such compensation is received after the award of any such pension or allowance the Minister may review the award and, having regard to the amount of such compensation, either terminate or reduce the amount thereof”
The underlying objective of Section 13(2) is to take into consideration compensation paid ‘on the double’ for the same disablement.
In March 1987, the then Minister for Defence decided under the provisions of Section 13(2) to reduce the disability pension in question by the annuity value (as assessed by an Actuary) of the civil compensation received. The annuity value of the civil compensation was assessed at €3,648 (£2,873) a year.
The person in question applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the Minister’s decision to reduce his pension. The High Court decided that he had not been given adequate opportunity to present his case before the decision to reduce the disability pension was made. The Court quashed the decision to reduce the disability pension and ordered that the matter be considered anew. The Court did not express any view as to the outcome of the review. The Department consented to the High Court’s decision and an Order to this effect was made. The Order did not preclude the then Minister for Defence from arriving at the same decision made previously.
A fresh review of the disability pension was undertaken and all aspects of the case, including, in particular, representations made by his solicitors, were fully considered. In March 1988 the then Minister decided to take into account all of the civil compensation received by him and to reduce the disability pension by the assessed annuity value of that compensation. The reduction took place from 1 April 1988, some two years after the date of discharge and after payment of the pension had commenced.
As the annuity value was assessed at €3,648 (£2,873) a year the effect of the decision under Section 13(2) is to reduce the rate of disability pension payable from €13,749 to €10,101 a year at the current rates payable. The annual deduction of €3,648 equates to a monthly deduction of €304. (Defence Forces’ disability pensions are not subject to Income Tax.) The annuity value has remained fixed at €3,648 per annum since 1988; however, the annual value of the disability pension has increased over time from €4,071 (£3,206) in 1986 to a current value of €13,749.
408. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Defence the amount his Department has paid for advertising, features and so on in a magazine (details supplied). [9570/22]
View answerMy Department has had two advertisements in the Public Sector Magazine since 2013.
The requested information is set out in the table.
|
Item |
Year |
Cost |
|
Advertisement in the Public Sector Award Magazine |
2017 |
€2084.85 |
|
Advertisement in the Public Sector Award Magazine |
2016 |
€2152.50 |
409. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Defence the number of buildings assigned to the Reserve Defence Forces currently lying idle or unused; the number that require private security; and the cost of providing that private security in each of the past three years in tabular form. [9804/22]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format sought. My Department has requested these details from the military authorities and as soon as this material is received, I will arrange to have same forwarded to the Deputy.
410. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Defence if his Department has won any award from a publication (details supplied); if so, when this award was won; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9828/22]
View answerMy Department received one Award from the Public Sector Magazine since 2013. In 2017 Civil Defence were the outright winners for Best Support to the Emergency Services.
411. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if he uses an application on his official Government telephone; if so, if he has the disappearing messages setting activated on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9955/22]
View answerMy official Government phone is supplied by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Records previously released by DFA in response to Freedom of Information requests confirm use by me of the application referred to in the Deputy’s question. I do not use the setting referenced.
412. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if he has spoken formally with his UK counterpart in the past six months. [10072/22]
View answerIn my capacity as Minister of Defence, I have not spoken formally with the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Mr. Ben Wallace MP, in the past six months. Our last formal conversation was in July of 2020.
An in-person meeting was scheduled for April of last year in London but, due to unforeseen circumstances, this meeting did not take place .
413. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence when refurbishment works will commence on the accommodation block (details supplied) at Renmore Barracks; and the expected duration of works. [10073/22]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the upgrade project for the USAC building is now at an advanced stage, with tenders currently under examination in my Department and a contract award is expected shortly. It is expected construction works will commence in mid 2022 with a project timeframe of 12 months for completion.
414. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence when refurbishment works will commence on blocks 4 and 8 in Haulbowline Naval Base; and the expected duration of works. [10074/22]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the refurbishment works on Block 8 are now well advanced and work is scheduled for completion in the coming weeks. In relation to the refurbishment project for Block 4, I can confirm that my Department has in recent days appointed a design team to commence the detailed design work for this project, (block 4). Subject to the design and procurement process it is planned to have this project commence on site in late 2023.
415. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel by rank in the Defence Forces equitation school as of 14 February 2022; the number of vacancies in the Defence Forces equitation school by rank; and when each of the vacancies will be filled in tabular form. [10075/22]
View answerThe table at the following link details the requested strength and vacancies, by rank, for the Army Equitation School, on 14 February 2022.
The military authorities advise that vacancies are filled on an ongoing basis in line with promotional arrangements and by recruitment via Cadetship and Army General Service (GSR) recruitment competitions.
An advertising campaign aimed at attracting suitable General Service Recruits is planned to commence shortly. Once such recruits are qualified as 3 star privates, they will be posted to the Equitation School as appropriate.
Additionally, cadetship competitions are also expected to be held shortly.
416. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when she will introduce an amendment to the public service superannuation scheme to allow access to the scheme for school secretaries and school caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10049/22]
View answerSchool secretaries are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are employees of individual schools and responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.
The Department with school management bodies have been engaging with Fórsa on a claim on terms and conditions for grant-funded school secretaries. On 27 October 2020, under the auspices of the WRC, an understanding was agreed on a pathway to progress the issues. Several key strands were identified, and a phased approach is being taken to the development of proposals.
Following intensive discussions at the WRC on 13 September 2021, there was significant progress in this dispute. The Department has offered to move School Secretaries’ pay rates to a scale which is aligned with the Clerical Officer Grade III pay scale, on a pro rata basis according to a secretary’s current working pattern. The Department has additionally offered to improve the conditions for School Secretaries with regard to sick leave, annual leave and maternity provisions. These offers are subject to agreement on all elements of the claim. Engagement is continuing, with the aim of reaching an overall agreement: the most recent formal talks took place at a meeting at the WRC on 26 January, and the parties are to meet again later this week, following reflection on the matters discussed at that meeting.
Public servant status and the associated access to a public service pension scheme is not a part of the current offer. As previously set out in the joint statement following the WRC engagement in May 2021, the final element of the claim in respect of public service status is acknowledged by all parties to be more complex and will require more detailed analysis and consideration following the conclusion of current discussions.
I welcome the continued engagement between the parties and I encourage all stakeholders to focus on finalising an agreement
417. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education when the National Council for Special Education will complete and submit its policy advice on education provision in special classes and special schools first commissioned in September 2018. [9040/22]
View answerIn September 2018, the then Minister for Education and Skills requested the NCSE to advise on future educational provision for students in special schools and classes and to make recommendations on the provision required to enable them to achieve better outcomes.
The NCSE strives to ensure that its policy advice is informed by robust and wide-ranging consultative and research processes. Its policy advice is always informed by international best practice.
The Deputy will be aware that NCSE published a progress report in November, 2019. At that stage, NCSE had reviewed existing educational provision in Ireland, conducted a detailed literature review, consulted various stakeholder groups and visited a number of Irish schools. NCSE had also looked at fully inclusive schools and practice in Canada and Portugal.
The report found no evidence to show that one type of special education placement is better that another. It also stated that any decision to move towards greater inclusion would require careful consideration and planning. It is not something that could be achieved in the short term.
Since the publication of the progress report, NCSE has conducted further research and analysis, engaged in a public consultation survey and has received further submissions and expert inputs. It has also examined the implications arising from the UNCRPD.
Before the advice is finalised, every effort is being made to ensure that NCSE has consulted widely with a view to developing shared understandings on the critical issues involved and proposed solutions.
The policy advice is expected to be completed in 2022.
