Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:
368
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the sections and division of the European Commission which are involved in assisting and or monitoring the implementation of those aspects of the national development plan for which his Department has responsibility; the name of the senior EU official with responsibility for that role; the number of meetings that have taken place since the publication of the national development plan between officials of his Department and the relevant officials of the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5613/01]
The following measures under the national development plan are co-funded by the European Commission: the Child Care Measure of the Regional Operational Programmes and the NDP Gender Equality Unit of the Employment and Human Resources Operational Programme. Ms. V. Kolotourou, DG Employment, is the European Commission official with responsibility in respect of these measures. My Department participated in a meeting with the European Commission organised by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 16 February 2001. In addition, officials of my Department meet with the relevant officials of the European Commission in the context of monitoring and co-ordinating committees of the NDP.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:
369
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he will state for that section of the national development plan for which he has responsibility for its implementation, the number of consultants who have been hired by his Department to assist with the design or implementation of the national development plan; the projects upon which they are engaged; the cost of those projects; the approximate pro fessional fee cost which the consultants will be charging his Department on completion of the consultancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5629/01]
My Department has responsibility for a number of measures under the national development plan. These include the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme; an Equality for Women Measure; an Equal Opportunities Promotion and Monitoring Unit; a measure to prepare prisoners for employment after their release; a crime prevention measure, a Garda youth diversion programme and a number of community based drug use awareness projects. The following table sets out the material requested:
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Section of NDP –Consultants hired
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Projects in respect of which the consultants have been engaged
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Cost of those Projects
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Consultants Fee
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Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme–OMNA Early Years Project
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To provide Technical Assistance to the Certifying Bodies Sub-Group of the National Co-ordinating Childcare Committee
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£375,000 approx.
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Equality for Women Measure–One Contract with WRC Social & Economic Consultants
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To advise on project selection, project management and project strand support
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£11 million approx. over the period 2000-2003
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£1 million approx. over a three year period subject to a minor variation having regard to the number of projects which will be approved
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Equal Opportunities Promotion and Monitoring Unit–4 consultancy companies have been hired–Penhouse Design–Irish Marketing Surveys–Capita Business Services–European Policies Research Centre University of Srathclyde
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design of logo data collectiontrainingtraining
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The budget for this Measure is £4 million over the life of the NDP.
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£2,000£11,000£14,000£24,000
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|
CONNECT Prisoner Training Programme–REHAB – National Training and Development Service
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To assist in the development and implementation of the project
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£45.8 million over the life of the NDP
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£1.750 million for 3 years
|
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Garda Youth Diversion Programme–One contract entered into – National Youth Federation
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To develop financial and progress reporting templates for use by projects
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£17.3 million over the life of the NDP
|
£5,000
|
In addition, my Department has engaged Area Development Management Ltd. to provide assistance in the development, assessment and monitoring of projects under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme.
Through the recruitment of these consultancy services my Department secured additional resources and expertise to assist with the implementation of the various measures for which it is responsible under the national development plan. Further consultancy services may be recruited in this regard over the life of the plan.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:
370
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the aspect of the national development plan for which his Department has responsibility; the precise number of projects which are a part of that section of the national development plan for which his Department has responsibility; the number of personnel in his Department who are working full-time and part-time on the national development plan; their grade within the Civil Service; the budgeted cost for each project; the timetable for its implemen tation; the stage at which it is; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5647/01]
The following table sets out the material requested.
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Section of NDP
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Number of Projects
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Number of Personnelfull/part-time
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Budgeted cost of each project
|
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Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme
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The overall number of projects is not yet known.333 projects were approved by end of January, 2001.
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1 APO2 HEO2 EO2 CO1 PO (temporarily assigned)1 APO (temporarily assigned)
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£250,000 over the life of the NDP£36 million in total in respect of the 333 approved projects by end January 2001.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equality for Women Measure
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Not yet known
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1 APO Part-time1 HEO Full-time1 EO Part-time1 CO Part-time
|
£23.2 million over the life of the NDP
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equal Opportunities Promotion and Monitoring
|
The overall number of projects is not yet known
|
1 Gender Equality Expert1 EO1 CO (additional staff will be recruited)
|
£4 million over the life of the plan
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crime Prevention Measure
|
1
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1 APO (Part-time)1 Asst. Governor (Full-time)8 Chief Officer (Full-time) 13 Ass Chief Officer (4 Part 9 Full)56 Prison Officer (16 Part 40 Full)
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£45.8 million over life ofplan
|
|
|
|
|
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Crime Prevention Measure
|
11
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1 APO1 Welfare Officer
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£25 million over the life of the plan
|
|
|
|
|
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Garda Youth Diversion Programme
|
22
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1 PO part-time2 APO part-time2 HEO part-time1 EO part-time2 CO part-time
|
£16 million over the life of the plan
|
|
|
|
|
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Community based drug use awareness/prevention projects
|
7
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The staff involved in implementing the Garda Youth Diversion Programme are also involved in implementing these projects
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£1.3 million over the life of the plan
|
The period for implementation in all cases is over the life of the National Development Plan, 2000-06.
Progress on my Department's measures is as follows. The equal opportunities child care programme has three sub-measures as follows. The capital grants scheme is available to community based groups and private child care providers catering for no more that 20 children at any one time. At the end of January 2001 a total of 168 projects had been approved for funding under the sub-measure. A total of £9.316 million 11.829 million euro, has been committed to these projects.
Support for staffing costs is available to community based groups only. To the end of January 2001 a total of 153 projects had been approved under this measure with a total of £17.316 million, 21.987 million euro, committed thereto.
The quality improvement programme provides funding for national voluntary child care organisations, local child care networks, county child care committees, local child care training models and innovative projects. To the end of January 2001 a total of 12 projects had been approved under this sub-measure at a cost of £9.142 million, 11.608 million euro. As the programme is ongoing and projects are approved on a monthly basis, it is not possible to predict the final number of projects which will be allocated funding under the child care measure.
I launched the equality for women measure on 5 October 2000 and invited project applications for particular strands. Over 350 project proposals were received by the closing date and these are now undergoing appraisal. I plan to announce details in April of projects which qualify for funding under the measure until 2003. The measure is also supporting the national framework committee on the development of family friendly policies at the level of the enterprise. The committee was established under the PPF and is planning a programme of activities, including a family friendly workplace day on 1 March, a website, brochure and seminars. The Equality Authority is receiving funding to gender proof personnel policies and advertised for a panel of experts to carry out this work. The measure is also funding a number of research projects.
A new unit, the NDP gender equality unit, has been established within my Department to support all implementing Departments and delivery agencies to meet the NDP commitments on gender equality in their programmes, measures and initiatives. Funded initially with the aid of EU technical assistance and now funded under the NDP, the unit has contracted for the collection of existing gender disaggregated statistics relevant to the plan. This has now been completed and is available on the Department's website, www.irlgov.ie/justice/equality/gender/. A contract has recently been placed to collect further gender disaggregated statistics on housing and mode of transport. Some 300 officials from Departments, implementing agencies and social partnership organisations have attended gender mainstreaming training sessions in 2000, two of which were held in the regions. A further training programme is being undertaken in 2001, focused on the sectoral areas of education, transport, housing, enterprise and industry and agriculture and rural development. The unit has also advised on the gender impact of all measures funded under the plan. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform plans to expand the unit by recruiting more staff, particularly to focus on the development of gender disaggregated statistics and gender mainstreaming. The implementation of the equal opportunities commitment in the NDP will be monitored over the life of the plan.
The CONNECT prisons service project was developed on a pilot basis at Mountjoy Prison, the training unit and the Dóchas centre – the new women's prison – in Dublin over the period 1998 to 1999. The pilot project developed methodologies for building effective linkages from custody to labour market participation after release for people in custody. During the year 2000 the earlier pilot project was consolidated in the three start-up prisons, and preparations were made to bring the project to the other prisons in Ireland. By the end of 2000 slightly more than 700 ex-offenders had participated in the programme. In the months of January and February of 2001 the project is being initiated in five more prisons, Wheatfield and St. Patrick's Institution in Dublin, Cork and Limerick prisons and Castlerea Prison.
Under the crime prevention measure, the probation and welfare service will provide a broad range of interventions to underpin supervision of ex-offenders in the community and the construction of 11 centres. The 11 centres will provide pre-vocational training to facilitate re-entry to the labour market. The precise scheduling to be determined by the pace of local negotiations. Already a booking deposit has been paid on a property in Sligo and discussions have commenced with owners in Tallaght and Athlone.
The Garda youth diversion programme sub-measure comprises a total of 22 projects, and this number will increase further this year. The budgeted cost of the sub-measure is £16 million over the life of the plan. With respect to the local development measure, my Department has responsibility for seven projects, and their total budgeted cost comes to approximately £1.3 million, again over the life of the plan.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:
371
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of groups, both statutory and non-statutory but excluding local authorities, with which his Department is in regular contact or consultation in respect of the implementation of that section of the national development plan for which his Department has responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5663/01]
My Department has responsibility for a number of measures under the national development plan. These include the equal opportunities child care programme, an equality for women measure, an equal opportunities promotion and monitoring unit, a measure to prepare prisoners for employment after their release, a crime prevention measure, a Garda youth diversion development programme and a number of community based drug use awareness projects.
Under the child care measure my Department is in regular contact with a broad range of organisations through a number of structures designed to ensure the co-ordination of delivery of child care service provision over the term of the national development plan. These are as follows: the national co-ordinating child care committee, NCCC, is chaired by my Department and oversees the development of an integrated child care infrastructure throughout the country. The membership of this committee, excluding local authorities, comprises my Department, the Department of Education and Science, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, the Department of Health and Children, the ICTU, IBEC, Chambers of Commerce in Ireland, the community and voluntary pillar, the farming pillar, national voluntary child care organisations, FÁS, Dublin Institute of Technology Rathmines, health boards, county child care committee representatives, Area Development Management Limited, the Border, Midlands and Western Regional Assembly, the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly, National Women's Council of Ireland and PLANET.
Membership of the certifying bodies sub-group to develop a framework for child care training and qualifications comprises my Department, FÁS, Dublin Institute of Technology Rathmines, the National Council for Vocational Awards, the National Council for Education Awards and University College Cork.
Membership of the advisory group on disability and ethnicity comprises my Department, Pavee Point, One Parent Exchange Network, the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism, the Irish Refugee Council, the Forum for People with Disabilities, An Comhcoiste Réamhscolaíochta Teo, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the ISPCC, Area Development Management Limited, Children's Rights Alliance, the Irish Preschool Playgroup Association and the Jack and Jill Foundation.
There is an interdepartmental synergies group to encourage Departments and State agencies with funding for child care to work strategically together. Membership of this committee comprises my Department, the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Education and Science, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, health boards, FÁS, the National Council for Vocational Awards, the Dublin Institute of Technology and Area Development Management Limited.
County child care committees have been established to advance child care service provision at local levels. The health boards are facilitating the establishment of the committees which will have wide representation from statutory and non-statutory bodies.
In relation to the equality for women measure, a technical advisory committee has been formed to advise on the development of the measure. The committee is comprised of representatives from my Department, the regional assemblies, the Department of Education and Science, FÁS, Enterprise Ireland, the enterprise boards, the Equality Authority, the National Women's Council of Ireland and the four pillars of social partnership.
The equal opportunities promotion and monitoring unit is in regular consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies in promoting a gender mainstreaming approach to expenditure under the NDP. The unit is in regular contact with all Departments and implementing agencies which receive funding under the national development plan as well as with the social partners, including community and voluntary groups.
The measure to prepare prisoners for employment after their release involves ongoing contact, which is largely informal, with many groups and individuals, both statutory and non-stautory, concerned mainly with providing services for prisoners while they are in custody and also arranging for them to receive necessary supports in the wider community after their release. These contacts, including with employers, are made usually pursuant to the needs of individual prisoners.
One of the tasks of the project is to strengthen linkages between the Department and the Irish Prisons Service and other agencies which can con tribute to prisoner rehabilitation, including linkage at the level of the local community. There are about 15 organisations with which there is regular ongoing contact or consultation in relation to implementing the measure.
Under the crime prevention measure, the probation and welfare service has established the linkage project in partnership with the Dublin business community and IBEC, which engages employment and training support workers, funded partly by the NDP, to assist the integration of ex-offenders into the labour force and the community. The service, in advancing treatment of ex-offenders under the NDP, negotiated arrangements with the management of four residential centres to address substance abuse issues with ex-offenders referred by the service. Consultation will also be undertaken with statutory and community groups, including local residents as well as service providers, in the proposed locations for the new centres.
Under the Garda youth diversion programme my Department is in regular contact with An Garda Síochána in relation the implementation of the programme and the community based drug use awareness-prevention projects for which my Department is responsible, as that organisation is the intermediary body and/or project promoter for these activities.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:
372
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he will outline, in respect of that section of the national development plan for which his Department has responsibility, the number of potential public private partnerships that have been identified; the number that are under active consideration; the name, location and potential cost of such projects; if any exchange of letters has taken place; if any other initial firm commitment has been entered into with prospective private providers; the approximate capital value of all projects so identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5689/01]
My Department has responsibility for a number of measures under the national development plan. These include the equal opportunities child care programme, an equality for women measure, an equal opportunities promotion and monitoring unit, a measure to prepare prisoners for employment after their release, a crime prevention measure, a Garda youth diversion development programme and a number of community based drug use awareness-prevention projects. These measures will not involve public private partnership arrangements.
