Pa Daly
Question:149. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive their Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52685/23]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
Questions (149)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (150)
Paul Murphy
Question:150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will reinstate free PCR testing centres for Covid-19 for at least the duration of the winter period, given the likely increase in Covid-19 cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52697/23]
View answerWritten answers
Public health advice relating to COVID-19 is available on the website of the HSE. This advice is kept under continuing review. At present, the advice is that people with symptoms of COVID-19 should stay at home until 48 hours after symptoms are mostly or fully gone and avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from COVID-19.
The public health rationale for testing, case finding and tracing of infection to reduce COVID-19 transmission is focused on mitigation of the severe impacts of COVID-19 for those most vulnerable to the disease and those with risk factors who may benefit from specific interventions. Testing for COVID-19 is now operated on a sustainable model similar to the model that exists for other respiratory diseases. Testing is no longer needed unless a GP or healthcare worker advises you to have one or under the direction of Public Health in the HSE. Anybody who has concerns about an underlying condition or their level of risk in relation to COVID-19 should seek advice from their GP or treating clinician.
The targeted approach for COVID-19 testing now in place supports clinical assessment, diagnosis and management of individual “at risk” patients. This may include, for example, when a clinician is considering access to a specific therapeutic intervention. In common with most other infectious diseases, the HSE now operates a comprehensive disease surveillance-based model in line with public health guidance.
Additional resources have also been provided to the HSE to ensure enhancements are put in place to existing infectious disease surveillance systems in the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). Eighty-nine new posts in disease surveillance have been created with 55 of these already recruited. The HPSC is delivering an enhanced, integrated public health surveillance system for a range of respiratory pathogens (SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV etc.) This includes, for example, prioritising improvements to disease surveillance programmes such as expansion and strengthening of GP sentinel surveillance, Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) surveillance and establishment of a Biostatistics and Modelling Unit at the HPSC and strengthening of other surveillance systems that support COVID-19 surveillance. In addition, Wastewater Surveillance and Whole Genome Sequencing programmes remain in place and operational. This ensures effective monitoring and signalling of what is happening with infectious diseases at population level, so that we can better understand disease transmission and severity along with population immunity and risk.
EU Directives
Questions (151)
Holly Cairns
Question:151. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all EU Directives which have not yet been ratified within his Department; the estimated date of ratification of each Directive; and the deadline set by the EU for ratifying each Directive, in tabular form. [52709/23]
View answerWritten answers
There are currently no EU Directives, which have not yet been ratified, within the Department of Health.
Health Services Staff
Questions (152)
Holly Cairns
Question:152. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all vacancies for intellectual disability nursing positions in CHO4; the locations of the vacancies; and the impact of the HSE recruitment freeze on the filling of these positions. [52718/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (153)
Holly Cairns
Question:153. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health whether his attention has been drawn to instances where parents who contact out-of-hours GP helplines have been advised to directly visit an emergency department and, consequently, must pay a fee due to a lack of GP referral; whether he will make steps to ensure parents seeking emergency medical care for their children will not be charged an emergency department fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52719/23]
View answerWritten answers
GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of health services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs contracted under the GMS Scheme are required to make arrangements for their patients to be able to make contact outside of normal practice hours. Commonly, GPs will work with out of hours co-operatives to meet this requirement. GP out of hours co-operatives are largely private organisations.
On contacting a GP out of hours co-operative, the person concerned at the point of triage may be advised that, due to their circumstances, it is recommended they attend their nearest Emergency Department rather than receiving a remote or in-person GP consultation.
Where a person receives an out of hours GP consultation, upon examination, the GP may refer that person to their nearest Emergency Department if appropriate. Persons who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card are charged by the co-operative for remote or in-person GP consultations, these charges are a private matter between the co-operative and the person concerned. Medical card and GP visit card holders are not charged for out of hours GP consultations.
The Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2019 provides that, subject to certain exemptions, a charge shall be made for out-patient services provided at designated centres including an Emergency Department (€100) and a Minor Injury Unit (€75). These exemptions include a person with a medical card, a person who has a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner, such as a GP, and a person whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (154)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:154. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52722/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (155)
Paul Murphy
Question:155. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will act to ensure that a dedicated neurology nurse phone line is reopened in Crumlin Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52729/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Health Services Staff
Questions (156)
Johnny Guirke
Question:156. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health to indicate the HSE grading system genetic counsellors fall under; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52758/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
Eating Disorders
Questions (157)
Mark Ward
Question:157. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if historical data on the number of children and teenagers treated for anorexia as inpatients in a paediatric hospital is retained; if so, the data for the years 2017 to present, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52793/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (158)
Róisín Shortall
Question:158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid 19 vaccines that were purchased by the HSE between 2020 and 2022; and the total cost of these vaccines. [52848/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Third Level Education
Questions (159)
Johnny Guirke
Question:159. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration has been given to establishing a postgraduate university course for genetic counselling in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52759/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has been working in cooperation with the Department of Health, the HSE, third level institutions and health profession regulators, to increase places in third level programmes where there is an acute requirement indicated by the Department of Health workforce planning division.
The introduction of new programmes in health disciplines would require significant input from all stakeholders in the sector, and subject matter experts, particularly for a discipline as complex as genetic counselling.
It is my Department's understanding that as part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland, the Department of Health and the HSE plan to develop workforce capacity in this area to enhance clinical services.
www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/strategic-programmes-office-overview/national-strategy-for-accelerating-genetic-and-genomic-medicine-in-ireland/
My Department will continue to work in lock step with the Department of Health and relevant stakeholders to support the provision of appropriately skilled health professionals to meet Health service demands.
Third Level Staff
Questions (160)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:160. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52637/23]
View answerWritten answers
The issue of academic career precarity is and will remain an important element of the work of my Department. As part of this work, my officials engage with all stakeholders, including trade unions and Higher Education Institutions, on the issues that are raised in IFUT’s recent report on precarious employment. The report is a useful contribution to ongoing consideration of precarious employment, although caution should be exercised in extrapolating its findings across the entire sector.
It is also important to stress that a number of measures are already being implemented that will help to address precarious employment. These include the provision of around €198 million in additional funding to the Higher Education sector through Budget 2024. This will help to build capacity and to ensure the sector is funded on a sustainable basis and, among other things, will allow more staff to be recruited and provide additional scope to help address the issue of precarious work.
In addition, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken to develop a revised staffing framework to replace the current Employment Control Framework (ECF). Work is continuing on this new approach which will better align with the realities that the higher education sector now faces. Further, an uplift of some 1,500 core-funded posts under the current ECF was announced in the summer which will facilitate Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in recruiting more permanent staff.
Even as all stakeholders work to ensure that there is optimal security and stability for staff, there is a need to recognise the autonomy of universities and other institutions and their legitimate need for an appropriate staffing mix that supports a high-performing sector.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (161)
Catherine Murphy
Question:161. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount paid in late payment interest payments for goods and services provided to his Department in each of the years from 2016 to date in 2023; and separately, the top five highest late interest payments made in each of those years, and the service and goods supplier that received the payments, in tabular form. [52648/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Prompt Payment Act 1997 and SI 580 2012 European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012, prompt payment interest (PPI) is applied to valid invoices which are not processed for payment within 30 days of receipt. The applicable reference rate (rate applied by the ECB) plus the statutory interest for late payments is 8%. A compensating amount based on the value of the invoice may also be applied.
Since 2009, all Government Departments are committed to reducing the payment period to suppliers for commercial transactions from 30 to 15 calendar days.
The Department of Education provides my Department with financial shared services which includes the processing of invoices for payment. This shared service monitors the payments of invoices to ensure that suppliers are paid promptly to minimise, where possible, PPI & associated compensation payments.
From August 2020 to March 2021, due to a transition period following the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science, all prompt payment returns for both this Department and the Department of Education were recorded and reported by the Department of Education. However, following the successful updating of the Financial Management System in 2021, Prompt Payment returns are being reported separately.
DFHERIS PPI
• 2021: €807.49 (Apr – Dec)
• 2022: €1,090.34
• 2023: €847.42 (Jan – Sep)
Outlined below are PPI payments for my Department, per your request, in 2021, 2022 and year to date 30th September 2023.
|
Year |
Supplier |
Paid € |
|
2021 |
Digital Revolutionaries |
78.32 |
|
Carr Communications Ltd |
41.68 |
|
|
Central Translations NI Ltd |
41.57 |
|
|
Institute of Public Administration |
41.50 |
|
|
Clare Rowland |
41.05 |
|
|
2022 |
Ruepoint Media |
103.67 |
|
Keith Arkins Media |
102.53 |
|
|
Ruepoint Media |
100.3 |
|
|
Ruepoint Media |
94.23 |
|
|
Mediahuis Ireland Digital Ltd |
88.61 |
|
|
2023 |
Institute of Public Administration |
158.74 |
|
Keith Arkins Media |
115.97 |
|
|
The Communication Clinic |
100.51 |
|
|
Bounce Sound Ltd |
97.82 |
|
|
Ruepoint Media |
94.30 |
In line with Government Decision S29296 of 19 May 2009, all interest and penalty payment values are published each quarter. This information is available: here - www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/2fc54-prompt-payment-policy/#quarterly-reports.
EU Directives
Questions (162)
Holly Cairns
Question:162. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a list of all EU Directives which have not yet been ratified within his Department; the estimated date of ratification of each Directive; and the deadline set by the EU for ratifying each Directive, in tabular form. [52708/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science holds the national coordination role for two EU Directives. These Directives were transposed into Irish law in 2017 and 2022 respectively and as follows:
• Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications (as amended by Directive 2013/55/EU) was transposed by S.I. No. 8/2017 - European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017.
• Directive (EU) 2018/958 on a proportionality test before adoption of new regulation of professions was transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 413/2022 - European Union (Regulated Professions Proportionality Assessment) Regulations 2022.
At present there are no further Directives pending transposition under this Department’s remit.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (163)
Catherine Murphy
Question:163. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount paid in late payment interest payments for goods and services provided to her Department in each of the years from 2016 to date in 2023; and separately, the top five highest late interest payments made in each of those years, and the service and goods supplier that received the payments, in tabular form. [52653/23]
View answerWritten answers
Details of payments made under the prompt payment legislation have been published on a quarterly basis since 2018 on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/294dc7-financial-information/.
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017, and financial arrangements for 2017 were managed by other Government Departments on behalf of my Department while formal arrangements were being put in place. Details of relevant payments for 2017 were published by those Departments as part of their reporting arrangements.
For ease of reference, Table 1 below provides the details of payments made for the period 2018 to 1 October 2023. Table 2 provides details of the top five highest late interest payments made in respect of each of those years and the service and goods supplier that received those payments.
My Department’s financial guidelines, which are issued to all staff, clearly outline the procedures to be followed to comply fully with the provisions of the prompt payment legislation. These guidelines also form part of the induction programme provided to new staff as they join the Department.
Table 1: Details of late payments from 2018 to 1 October 2023
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 (to 1 October) |
Total |
|
|
Number of Payments made in excess of 30 Days that were subject to Late Payment Interest (LPI) and compensation costs |
33 |
12 |
13 |
6 |
11 |
7 |
82 |
|
Amount of LPI paid |
225.91 |
19.49 |
42.75 |
14.50 |
277.18 |
25.49 |
605.32 |
|
Amount of compensation costs paid |
1660.00 |
480.00 |
610.00 |
270.00 |
590.00 |
280.00 |
3890.00 |
Table 2: Top five highest late interest payments from 2018 to 1 October 2023
|
2018 |
|||||
|
Vendor Name |
Invoice Amount |
Interest Amount Paid |
Compensation Amount Paid |
Total Paid |
Goods / Service provided |
|
LEADING EDGE MARKETING & PROMOTIONS LTD |
5,842.50 |
79.38 |
70.00 |
149.38 |
National Ploughing |
|
SPARK FOUNDRY |
38,228.40 |
33.52 |
100.00 |
133.52 |
Advertisement for TT Adjudicators in National Papers |
|
ANNAVEIGH PLANTS LTD |
2,270.00 |
17.91 |
70.00 |
87.91 |
Trees for Tidy Towns Grove Park |
|
STEPHEN BRACKEN ARCHITECTURAL |
4994.00 |
12.04 |
70.00 |
82.04 |
Supply & Inscribe 20 Limestone tree markers to the Phoenix Park |
|
DEBBIE NESBITT - TIDY TOWNS ADJUDICATOR |
1168.18 |
10.24 |
70.00 |
80.24 |
Attendance at Tidy Towns Steering Groups and adjudication |
|
2019 |
|||||
|
Vendor Name |
Invoice Amount |
Interest Amount Paid |
Compensation Amount Paid |
Total Paid |
Goods / Service provided |
|
ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF IRELAND. |
659.40 |
7.66 |
40.00 |
47.66 |
Catering Costs- Conference |
|
MCR GROUP. |
258.85 |
3.28 |
40.00 |
43.28 |
Security Costs |
|
MCR GROUP. |
287.69 |
3.22 |
40.00 |
43.22 |
Security Costs |
|
MCR GROUP. |
124.85 |
1.20 |
40.00 |
41.20 |
Security Costs |
|
RENTOKIL INITIAL LTD |
173.43 |
0.72 |
40.00 |
40.72 |
Plant Maintenance |
|
2020 |
|||||
|
Vendor Name |
Invoice Amount |
Interest Amount Paid |
Compensation Amount Paid |
Total Paid |
Goods / Service provided |
|
RPS GROUP LTD |
14888.28 |
16.27 |
100.00 |
116.27 |
Training Modules & Training Sessions |
|
DORSET COLLEGE |
1790.00 |
5.86 |
80.00 |
85.86 |
Training Specialist Courses |
|
MILLHOUSE MANAGEMENT LTD |
140.40 |
0.37 |
80.00 |
80.37 |
Newspapers |
|
DOONANE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LTD |
1476.00 |
3.87 |
70.00 |
73.87 |
Quantity Surveying Services-Claremorris Community Radio |
|
EUROPUS |
719.39 |
12.27 |
40.00 |
52.27 |
COVID 19 information leaflets |
|
2021 |
|||||
|
Vendor Name |
Invoice Amount |
Interest Amount Paid |
Compensation Amount Paid |
Total Paid |
Goods / Service provided |
|
BROWNES PHOTOGRAPHY LTD |
1353.00 |
0.59 |
70.00 |
70.59 |
Min.J O'Brien - Wexford visit. |
|
RENTOKIL INITIAL LTD |
173.43 |
11.10 |
40.00 |
51.10 |
Plant Maintenance |
|
VINEHALL DISPLAYS |
282.90 |
1.30 |
40.00 |
41.30 |
Cut props - Department of Rural and Community Development |
|
CODEX LTD |
216.53 |
0.71 |
40.00 |
40.71 |
Stationary |
|
IRISH ACADEMY OF COMPUTER TRAINING |
72.00 |
0.64 |
40.00 |
40.64 |
OneLearning Training - March2021 |
|
2022 |
|||||
|
Vendor Name |
Invoice Amount |
Interest Amount Paid |
Compensation Amount Paid |
Total Paid |
Goods / Service provided |
|
W1 DESIGN LIMITED |
6050.61 |
168.42 |
70.00 |
238.42 |
Hubs Video |
|
PHD MEDIA (IRELAND) LIMITED |
28498.11 |
68.71 |
100.00 |
168.71 |
Public Consultation Press Advertising |
|
PHD MEDIA (IRELAND) LIMITED |
3469.65 |
8.37 |
70.00 |
78.37 |
Public Consultation Press Advertising |
|
VICTORIA VIEW DEVELOPMENTS LTD |
1422.60 |
3.43 |
70.00 |
73.43 |
Refreshments & Meeting Rooms provided for Training |
|
DATA CONVERSION DIRECT LTD |
922.50 |
19.81 |
40.00 |
59.81 |
Changes to TidyTowns Database |
|
2023 (to October 1st) |
|||||
|
Vendor Name |
Invoice Amount |
Interest Amount Paid |
Compensation Amount Paid |
Total Paid |
Goods / Service provided |
|
CARLOW CASH REGISTERS LTD |
394.83 |
8.83 |
40.00 |
48.83 |
Stationery |
|
EUROPUS |
122.99 |
7.98 |
40.00 |
47.98 |
Translation Services |
|
THIRD SPACE LTD |
128.50 |
5.42 |
40.00 |
45.42 |
Refreshments |
|
EUROPUS |
197.64 |
1.99 |
40.00 |
41.99 |
Translation Services |
|
CAMPBELL CATERING LTD |
184.30 |
0.90 |
40.00 |
40.90 |
Volunteer Ireland Away Day Catering |
EU Directives
Questions (164)
Holly Cairns
Question:164. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a list of all EU Directives which have not yet been ratified within her Department; the estimated date of ratification of each Directive; and the deadline set by the EU for ratifying each Directive, in tabular form. [52713/23]
View answerWritten answers
There are no EU directives that fall under the remit of my Department which have not yet been ratified.
Offshore Islands
Questions (165, 166, 167, 168, 169)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:165. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the strategic objectives underpinning the provision of subsidies for the transportation of freight to the offshore islands. [52724/23]
View answerDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:166. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to explain the metric on which the maximum pricing for the transportation of freight to the offshore island set by her Department is based; if the maximum pricing applies to all islands equally regardless of distance from the mainland; and if so, the reason for this. [52725/23]
View answerDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:167. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the ongoing monitoring mechanisms that are in place to oversee that the service provided by subsidised offshore island freight operators is working in the best interests of island residents. [52726/23]
View answerDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:168. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are minimum equipment requirements specified for subsidised freight operators on the various routes and for the island piers; and to outline how this is monitored. [52727/23]
View answerDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:169. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is any PSO element in the freight contracts between her Department and the various operators; and if not, the reason for same. [52728/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 to 169, inclusive, together.
The Government’s Islands Policy, Our Living Islands 2023 -2032 aims to ensure that our offshore islands continue to support sustainable and vibrant communities through economic and social development and thus improve the quality of life of those who live on the islands.
Access to year-round reliable and affordable cargo services is a fundamental issue of concern to island communities as it impacts on every aspect of island life. They provide support and sustainability to indigenous island manufacturers and businesses sectors, including tourism, shops, hotels and farming. Cargo services greatly improve the quality of life for the island communities.
My Department currently subsidises 9 heavy cargo contracts for 17 separate off-shore islands. In 2022, the most recent full year of service, 44,500 tonnes of heavy cargo were carried on these services. In addition to these dedicated cargo services, 4 passenger ferry contracts provide a light cargo element to their service, while 2 others are delivered using ‘Roll on/ Roll off’ vessels, which also allows the carriage of cargo.
None of these contracts are Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts. A ‘contract for services’ approach is favoured, which ensures that the island community’s current (and future), needs and requirements remain central to the subsidised service. Services are sourced on the open market through public procurement competitions, where successful tenderers are provided with a subsidy to deliver services in accordance with the requirements of an agreed contract.
As cargo requirements vary from island to island, so too do the tender documents. Tenderers are required to provide vessels that are adequately equipped to deliver a service, as requested, and must also take into account the availability of key mainland and island infrastructure such as slipways, cranes, pontoons, cargo storage area etc., in their submissions.
Regarding the monitoring of a service, subsidised operators provide the Department with daily sailings logs that capture key performance indicators. This allows the Department to monitor the service to ensure contract compliance. In recent years, and as contracts are renewed, monitoring committees now form part of the service. The committees meet regularly during the year and review the service. They give the island community a forum to provide direct feedback to the Department regarding a subsidised service.
To ensure that a service remains affordable, the tender document for a service sets maximum fares that operators can charge. Cargo items are categorised by weight, size and/or volume, and charged against an agreed capped price list. The distance of an island from the mainland does not impact on these charges.
As the Deputy is aware the ‘Our Living Islands Action Plan 2023-2026,’ launched in June 2023, in conjunction with the islands policy, makes a clear commitment to “Review the cost of transporting goods on subsidised cargo services for future contracts, with particular emphasis on the carriage of building materials”. The Department intends to have this review completed by the end of 2024.
Question No. 166 answered with Question No. 165.
Question No. 167 answered with Question No. 165.
Question No. 168 answered with Question No. 165.