Wednesday, 20 Mar 2024

Written Answers Nos. 21-40

Referendum Campaigns

Questions (37)

Seán Canney

Question:

37. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Taoiseach if the decision to hold the two referenda was a Cabinet decision. [13091/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The referendums to which the Deputy refers were held pursuant to Article 46.2 of the Constitution following the passage by both Houses of the Oireachtas of two Bills proposed by the Government. A Government-sponsored Bill is only presented to the Oireachtas with the Government’s prior approval.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (38)

Carol Nolan

Question:

38. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach if his Department has had the need to contact An Garda Síochána due to verbal, written (including electronically) or physical threats being addressed to staff or Ministers, at any level, working within their Department during the period 2020 to date. [11603/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach works closely with the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána to ensure the safety and security of office holders and staff located in Government Buildings. There are appropriate protocols in place in the event of security incidents, including bomb threats and other emergencies. The Department does not provide details in relation to such incidents for security reasons.

Public Inquiries

Questions (39)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

39. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach his plans for long-Covid to be included in the terms of reference for the upcoming Covid inquiry. [12139/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic.

It will include a review of the whole-of-government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar type event were to occur.

It will include a consideration of the health service response covering hospitals, the community and nursing homes, along with the wider economic and social response.

It is intended to have a public element to hear the lived experiences of all society. The review should be undertaken by those independent of the national response and with relevant expertise.

A consultation with opposition parties and stakeholders has taken place on draft terms of reference. It is intended to bring the terms of reference to Government shortly.

As the purpose of the evaluation is to explore and evaluate our experiences from the pandemic to learn and prepare for future analogous events, it is not considered the appropriate setting to examine

current clinical challenges and service provision such as long covid.

However, we are very mindful of the impacts long covid can have. The HSE interim Model of Care for Long COVID is being implemented, building on existing service provision, in addition to establishing new services across GP, community services and acute hospitals, to ensure a national service is in place for all who need it.

The HSE and the Department of Health continue to monitor international data and research to ensure all available evidence is used for service planning and delivery.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (40, 41)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

40. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach the breakdown of expenditure from the shared island unit, broken down by year and Department since 2020, and by the revised estimates for projected expenditure for 2024, in tabular form. [12162/24]

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

41. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach to provide a breakdown of each project and funding announced on 20 February 2024 to be funded from the shared island unit; the details of the amount of funding allocated in 2024; and the funding needs projected into the future to for the projects. [12163/24]

Written answers

Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together.

Expenditure by the Shared Island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach relates primarily to the Shared Island research programme and dialogue series. Provision is made in the Revised Estimates each year, as part of the Department’s administration subhead allocation, for the work of the Shared Island unit. Detail on expenditure from the Shared Island unit since 2020 is included in tabular form.

Separately, the Shared Island Fund is ring-fenced funding under the revised National Development Plan (NDP) which is allocated by Government to fulfill our commitments and objectives in this area under the Programme for Government and revised NDP.

Following Government decisions on Shared Island Fund allocations, projects are taken forward by the relevant Government Minister and their Department, working through all-island partnerships with Executive, UK Government, Local Authority, Education and civil society partners. Shared Island Fund allocations are made to and managed within line Department Votes. In many cases, projects are progressed with funding from various sources, including Departmental or Agency resources, and/or with contributions from Executive, UK Government, or Local Authority partners. A full list of Shared Island Fund allocations to date is provided in tabular form.

Work is continuing across all Government Departments to develop further all-island investment projects, which can be supported through the Shared Island Fund and other sources.

Tabular information

Table 1:

Research programme (including with Economic and Social Research Institute, National Economic and Social Council, Labour Employer Economic Forum and Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South)	€14,670.31
Dialogue series & Shared Island Youth Forum	€44,953.25
Admin (office equipment, IT, postal and telecommunications, travel and subsistence)	€9,249.46
2024 to date	€68,873.02
	2023
Research programme (including with Economic and Social Research Institute, Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South, Irish Research Council, Risk Reduction D/Defence, Hydrogen feasibility study, D/Transport)	€482,688.33
Dialogue series & Shared Island Youth Forum	€213,224.09
Admin (office equipment, IT, postal and telecommunications, travel and subsistence)	€35,048.94
2023 total	€730,080.32
	2022
Research programme (including with Economic and Social Research Institute, National Economic and Social Council, Irish Research Council, Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South)	€620,000.00
Dialogue series	€211,845.69
Admin (office equipment, IT, postal and telecommunications, travel and subsistence)	€ 29,557.46
2022 total	€861,403.15
	2021
Research programme (including with Economic and Social Research Institute, National Economic and Social Council, Irish Research Council, Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South)	€344,520.25
Dialogue series (held online given public health requirements)	€ 50,414.70
Admin (office equipment and IT, postal and telecommunications, travel and subsistence)	€ 10,360.14
2021 total	€405,295.09
	2020
Research programme	€ 0.00
Dialogue series (held online given public health requirements)	€17,813.80
Admin (office equipment and IT, postal and telecommunications, travel and subsistence)	€18,290.03
2020 total	€36,103.83

Table 2:

Shared Island Fund allocations as of March 2024
Development of two new all-island bioeconomy demonstrator facilities - €7m Taken forward by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine in cooperation with Executive counterpart
Pilot cooperation programme on educational attainment - €24m Taken forward by the Minister for Education in cooperation with Executive counterpart
Shared Island Enterprise scheme - €30m Taken forward by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in cooperation with Executive counterpart
Shared Island dimension to Community Climate Action Programme - €3m Taken forward by the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications
Shared Island Civic Society Fund - €2m (total €3m fund including D/FA contribution) Taken forward by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs
North South Research Programme contribution (rounds 1 and 2, 2022-2027) - €50m Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Ulster University - new teaching and student services building in Derry - €44.5m Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science in cooperation with Executive counterpart and Ulster University
All-Island Co-Centres for Research and Innovation contribution - €20m Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in cooperation with Executive and UK Government counterparts
Construction of respite and therapeutic centre for children diagnosed with cancer from across the island - €2.5m Taken forward by the Minister for Health
Construction of the Narrow Water Bridge - €5m for tender. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive counterpart
Phases 2 and 3 Ulster Canal restoration contribution - €47m Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in coope\ration with Executive counterpart
Cross-border innovation hub - €12m Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Local Authority partners
All-island peatlands and biosecurity projects - €11m Taken forward by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive and Scottish Government counterparts
Shared Island Local Authority development funding scheme - €5m Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site - €10m Taken forward by the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works
Casement Park redevelopment contribution - €50m Taken forward by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in cooperation with Executive counterpart
Shared Island dimension to Creative Ireland and cultural heritage projects - €8m Taken forward by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Tourism brand collaboration project - €7.6m Taken forward by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in cooperation with Executive counterpart
All-Island arts capital investment projects - €7.4m Taken forward by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in cooperation with Executive counterpart
Electric Vehicle charging point scheme for Sports Clubs across the island - €15m Taken forward by the Minister for Transport
Introduction of an hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast - €12.5m Taken forward by the Minister for Transport
Completion of the cross-border Carlingford Lough Greenway - €1.5m Taken forward by the Minister for Transport in cooperation with Executive counterpart