Written Answers.

Food Agency Co-operation Council.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

52 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of meetings of the Food Agency Co-operation Council in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14003/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The Food Agency Co-operation Council was established in 2000 under the aegis of my Department to promote the fullest practical co-operation between the State agencies involved in the food industry, in the interests of the optimum development of the industry. The council has an independent chairman, Mr. Padraic White.

The inaugural meeting of the council took place in March 2000 and it has met on 20 occasions since its inception. The council did not meet in 2004 as a number of factors contributed to the difficulties in re-scheduling meetings that year. My Department is currently drawing up an outline work programme for discussion with the council's chairman, having regard, inter alia, to the recommendations of the enterprise strategy report, the 2015 agri-vision report and work on the national strategic implementation plan to achieve the goals set out in the Government’s research and development action plan, Building Ireland’s Knowledge Economy.

The council has played a significant role in increasing co-operation, at formal and informal level, between the State agencies involved in the food industry and has led to a number of memorandums of understandings being agreed between agencies. The council has also produced a number of publications, which have been well received by the industry. In 2001, the council was instrumental in the drawing up of an agreed human resource development programme for the food processing industry and also produced the publication, Market Trends — Implications for Suppliers and State Agency Initiatives. In December 2002, the council's publication, A National Food Incident Management Plan, was launched. The market led new product development guide, launched in April 2003, provides guidance to food and drink companies in relation to new product development best practice and this has since been promulgated to county enterprise boards.

During 2004 the food development agencies directly concerned with the food programme components of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 met twice with my Department to assess progress on the plan in preparation for meetings of the monitoring committee for the programmes concerned.

Single Farm Payment.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

53 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans for cross-compliance under the single farm payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13993/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Under the new single payment scheme farmers receiving direct aid are required to respect the various statutory management requirements set down in EU legislation on the environment, food safety, animal health, and welfare, and plant health and to maintain the farm in good agricultural and environmental condition, GAEC. There will also be an obligation on the member state to ensure that there is no significant reduction in the amount of land under permanent pasture by reference to the total area under permanent pasture in 2003. These requirements are termed cross-compliance.

The EU directives and regulations referred to in cross-compliance are in place for many years now. Producers are generally familiar with them and are complying with the standards set in implementing them in Ireland. The Department prepared a consultative document on cross-compliance in October 2004 and invited views from interested organisations. Department officials met the main farming organisations in December to discuss their submissions and these discussions have continued more recently in the context of the review of the protocol on direct payments.

An information booklet on cross-compliance has been issued to all farmers and it sets out the principle features of cross-compliance both in terms of the standards that must be met by farmers and the control arrangements that will be necessary. To coincide with the issue of the booklet, a series of countrywide farmer information meetings organised by my Department in conjunction with Teagasc took place in early April. These meetings focused not only on cross-compliance but also addressed the various other issues associated with the introduction of the single payment scheme.

In implementing the single payment scheme, I am aiming to minimise the number of inspection visits and to move towards a situation where, in most cases, all eligibility and cross-compliance checks will be carried out during a single farm visit. It is envisaged that the 22,000 or so inspections, which were carried under the old regime, will be significantly reduced to some 10,000 under the single payment scheme. This approach should minimise the level of inconvenience to farmers. However, in certain instances more than one inspection of a holding may be unavoidable.

Farm Safety.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

54 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the details of planned initiatives on farm safety, in view of relative danger of the farm as a workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14222/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I remain very concerned about the level of safety on our farms and I support wholeheartedly the Programme of Work 2005 of the Health and Safety Authority which is the State authority charged with overall responsibility for promotion and enforcement of workplace health and safety.

The authority has a proactive inspection and enforcement programme which focuses on high risk sectors, including agriculture, and aims to achieve an improvement in farm safety, and an increase in the percentage of farms with safety statements.

To achieve these objectives actions are being taken to: focus initiatives on changing farmer behaviour as it relates to farm safety, inspect farms, agricultural suppliers and agricultural contractors and address the issues of safety statements, farm self-assessments, machine operation with a particular emphasis on tractor use, slurry handling, livestock handling, electrical installations, and child safety; review the code of practice on preventing accidents to children in agriculture; encourage, promote and implement the approach outlined in the farm safety action plan 2003-07; and undertake innovative approaches with other interested parties in the agricultural sector to promote farm safety.

While I welcome and support the efforts of the Health and Safety Authority, it is clear to me that the primary responsibility for safety on the farm rests personally with each and every farmer and it is ultimately only at farm level that the actions can be taken which will avoid injuries and deaths in the future.

Ministerial Visit.

Donie Cassidy

Ceist:

55 Mr. Cassidy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on her recent visit to the US with Enterprise Ireland. [14138/05]

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

61 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will make a statement on the outcome of her recent business development trip to the United States. [14179/05]

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

100 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will make a statement on the outcome of her recent meeting with the US Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. Mike Johanns. [14180/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 61 and 100 together.

I visited the United States over the period 9 to 16 April. This was my first visit to the US as Minister for Agriculture and Food and had as its overall objective the consolidation and further development of political, investment and trade links between Ireland and the US in the sphere of agriculture, with particular emphasis on food, nutrition and research and development.

My itinerary encompassed visits to New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Washington DC and Chicago, Illinois, in the course of which I had meetings with Mr. Mike Johanns, the US Agriculture Secretary and with a number of American and Irish owned US based companies. I also met the senior executives in the US of both Bord Bia and the Irish Dairy Board.

My meeting with Secretary Johanns covered a number of issues of mutual concern, most notably the recent developments in agricultural policy in both the EU and US and their relevance to the ongoing World Trade Organisation negotiations. I took the opportunity to outline Ireland's particular perspective on the agriculture dimension to WTO. I furthermore explained the recent CAP reforms and the overall policy approach being pursued in the CAP, especially following the MTR, and their impact on the EU's negotiating position in the WTO. As well as considering the up to date position in the negotiations, Secretary Johanns and I discussed the prospects for a conclusion to the talks and how other current policy issues, in the EU and the US, might influence the outcome. I also brought to his attention a number of concerns on bilateral trade issues. Our discussions also covered the significance of both US investment in Ireland in the areas of food and nutrition and ongoing investment by Irish agri-food companies in food-related businesses in the US. My meeting with Secretary Johanns was a very worthwhile and timely exchange of views and perspectives.

On the business development dimension of the visit, a key objective was to promote and further develop investment and technology links between Irish food companies and leading US food corporations, particularly in the areas of research collaboration and new high growth food sectors such as functional foods and ingredients and the health and well-being sectors. A number of key investment initiatives have already arisen out of the visit. I am not in a position to divulge the details at this point because of the necessity to respect commercial confidentiality.

On 28 April I was, however, able to announce one very welcome development arising from the visit. This was an exclusive research, development and cross-licensing agreement entered into by Cork company, Alimentary Health, with the major US company, Mead Johnson Nutritionals. Under the terms of this agreement, Alimentary Health and Mead Johnson Nutritionals will each contribute their intellectual property and patented technologies to research projects and jointly fund development programs focussing on the development of new paediatric nutritional products.

I am satisfied that the visit met its overall objective and that appropriate follow up will be undertaken by Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia.

Food Industry.

John Curran

Ceist:

56 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on her efforts to develop a competitive potato sector here. [14143/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The potato industry makes an important contribution to the rural and national economy. The farm gate value of the sector is estimated at €85 million in 2004 which represents a fall on the previous year due mainly to lower prices and a reduction in fresh potato consumption. Since taking up office in the Department of Agriculture and Food, I have become very conscious of the need to bring the sector to a higher plane and maximise the contribution and value of this traditional industry to the economy.

In 2004, my Department completed an expenditure review report of State programmes in the sector. What was very clear from the report was the need to further develop seed potato production and bring commercial focus to this area of activity. Following a series of meetings with representative bodies, State organisations and others I have put in place measures aimed at revitalising this key area. Charges are being introduced for the first time this year for seed certification. The growing of pre-basic seed, heretofore carried out by the Department, will in future be carried out by growers themselves. These measures will assist in the development of a specialised seed sector and allow market forces operate. The need for close marketing linkages between seed and ware growers is essential and this new framework will assist in this process.

I am also introducing measures which will further protect the high plant health status of Irish potatoes and prevent the entry of such quarantine diseases as ring rot and brown rot which could have a devastating effect on the industry. Accordingly, I will sign a statutory instrument next week which will make it obligatory on all importers of potatoes for planting to notify the Department five days in advance of such importations.

Since last December I have approved grant aid of more than €6.3 million to 17 potato projects for the modernisation and development of new facilities under the Department's marketing and processing scheme. This brings to some €10 million the total grant aid provided to potato growers and packers under the current NDP programme. The modern infrastructures which are now being put in place will ensure all year round availability of quality potatoes, the development of value added products and the minimisation of the need for imports. I am also considering the provision of grant assistance to producers who are prepared to modernise and invest in facilities necessary for high quality seed production, particularly for early generation material. These measures will ensure the development of a competitive potato sector in Ireland.

Genetically Modified Organisms.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

57 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the European Commission’s view that governments of member states should take more responsibility for European policy on commercial approval of genetically modified organisms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14224/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The Deputy is obviously referring to a draft document prepared by the Commission for a meeting of the college of Commissioners, held last March, to review the current state of the European GMO legislative framework. It should be noted that following that meeting, the Commission confirmed its full confidence in the existing regulatory system and did not consider it necessary to call on the governments of member states to take on any additional responsibility.

Over the past six years or so, a comprehensive suite of legislation governing the deliberate release, the authorisation and the labelling and traceability of genetically modified products has been put in place. This was done to ensure that the highest standards of protection operate to safeguard the health and environmental welfare of the citizens of the Community. That legislation was adopted under the co-decision procedure, which implies that each individual piece of legislation secured the agreement of both the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The legislation is binding on all member states.

The position of the Government on genetically modified organisms, which was informed by the report of the interdepartmental group on modern biotechnology published by the Government Stationery Office in October 2000 is positive but precautionary. This takes account of the undoubted potential that biotechnology offers in the fields of medicine, health, agriculture, etc., while at the same time recognising that caution must be exercised to ensure that food safety and the environment are protected. This position is fully consistent with the EU legislation currently in place.

EU Directives.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

58 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with other Departments and State agencies with a view to meeting the EU biofuels directive requiring Ireland to replace 2% of petrol and diesel with renewable fuels by the end of 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14206/05]

Jim Glennon

Ceist:

78 Mr. Glennon asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to progress the bio-fuel sector here. [14141/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 78 together.

Promotion and development of renewable energy in Ireland are matters in the first instance for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. My Department is represented on the bioenergy strategy group established by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural resources to consider policy options and support mechanisms available to Government to stimulate increased use of biomass for energy conversion and to make specific recommendations for action to increase the proportion of energy from biomass in Ireland.

In addition, an interdepartmental group chaired by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is considering policy options for the development of a biofuels sector in Ireland. My Department is represented on that group. As part of the group's work, a liquid biofuels strategy study was published by Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, in December 2004. This report provides comprehensive details on the potential for the development of a biofuels market in Ireland and options to stimulate the market.

The possibility of producing bioethanol from sugar beet was mooted recently in the context of the closure of the Carlow sugar factory but Irish Sugar Limited has indicated that it intends to process the full Irish sugar quota at its Mallow plant, which will be upgraded. Arrangements are being made to transport the sugar beet from the Carlow catchment area to Mallow.

Under the single payment scheme operated by my Department aid is available at a rate of €45 per hectare per year for areas sown with energy crops. The aid is granted in respect of areas where production is covered by a contract between the farmer and a processor, except in the case of processing undertaken by the farmer on his holding. Agricultural raw materials, with the exception of sugar beet, may be grown under the energy crops scheme provided the crops are intended primarily for use in the production of products considered to be biofuels and for electric and thermal energy produced from biomass.

A maximum guaranteed area of 1.5 million hectares for which aid for energy crops can be granted has been established in the European Union. According to figures provided by the EU Commission, in excess of 303,000 hectares was sown with energy crops in 2004, of which 439 hectares were Irish. From 1 January 2005, farmers may claim the energy crop payment in addition to their entitlement under the single farm payment. In addition to this scheme, set-aside land can be used for a variety of non-food uses, including growing crops for energy purposes, and will therefore qualify to activate set-aside entitlements under the single payment scheme. I am having the energy crops scheme and a number of other areas such as wood biomass considered by my Department to determine how their bioenergy potential can be promoted.

Live Exports.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

59 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to recent concerns expressed, following the release of film by Compassion in World Farming, of the conditions under which some live cattle are exported from this country for slaughter abroad; the steps in place to ensure that such animals are treated humanely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14171/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I am aware of the recent film produced by Compassion in World Farming, CIWF, and the issues raised therein. However, I should point out that this film did not actually show any ill treatment of Irish cattle during their transportation to the Lebanon.

The live export trade is important to the livestock sector here, as it provides an important outlet for categories of cattle thereby helping to sustain prices for the very many farm families in Ireland who rely on beef production for their livelihoods. I recognise that this trade must be based on high standards and that it is essential that the welfare of animals transported from Ireland should be a priority. To safeguard the welfare of cattle during transport, my Department has in place a comprehensive legislative framework to ensure that vessels authorised for the carriage of livestock by sea are designed and fitted out in a manner which ensures the welfare of the animals and has rigorous controls and procedures in place to ensure compliance with this welfare legislation. My Department will fully investigate alleged breaches of welfare requirements that are brought to its attention.

Food Safety Standards.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

60 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the extent to which production, processing, hygiene and traceability standards applicable here have been applied to all meat imports in countries of origin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14234/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including meat and meat extracts, as well as to imports of these products from third countries.

Under harmonised legislation a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the member states to ensure that animal products are produced to standards that guarantee the safety of food and the protection of human and animal health. The application of these standards in the member states is monitored by the FVO, food and veterinary office, of the EU.

It is a requirement that animal products imported from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, member states. All such imports must come from third countries or areas of third countries approved for export to the EU. To be approved as an exporter to the EU, a third country must: appear on a list drawn up and updated on the basis of EU audits and guarantees given by the competent authority of the exporting country; have veterinary controls equivalent to those applicable in the EU, particularly in terms of legislation, hygiene conditions, animal health status, veterinary medicines controls, zoonoses controls and other food law; and have in place a residues programme approved by the European Commission.

The animal products must be sourced from establishments that are approved and must bear an EU approved health mark. Exporting establishments must have: standards equivalent to the requirements for EU export establishments; effective control systems and supervision by the competent authorities; traceability-labelling in accordance with the systems approved by the FVO and accepted and notified to the EU member states.

The FVO carries out inspections to ensure that only establishments that meet hygiene and health standards equivalent to those operating within the EU are approved. Where the FVO considers that public health requirements are not being met, an establishment may be removed from the EU approved list. If outbreaks of animal diseases occur in a third country, approval to export to the EU is suspended for the infected regions of the country, or the whole country, as appropriate, until the disease risk has been eliminated.

Importers of animal products must be registered with my Department. They are required to give advance notice of importation and, following import, are required to keep records of importation available for inspection by the Department for a period of three years.

Imported animal products must be accompanied by the appropriate commercial documentation showing country and approval number of the establishment of production and, in the case of meat and meat extracts imported from third countries, a health certificate conforming to the models set down in EU legislation.

While there is free movement for trade within the EU, all consignments from third countries must first be landed at a border inspection post, BIP, that has been approved by the FVO and must undergo documentary, identity and physical checks. These are carried out at frequencies laid down in EU law. In Ireland, BIPs approved for the processing imports of animal products are located at Dublin Port and Shannon Airport. The FVO carries out monitoring and inspection of each member state's BIPs to ensure the conditions for import of animal products into Europe, provided under the harmonised legislation, are being correctly applied.

Once it has been established that imported animal product has met all the required conditions it is released for free circulation within the Community. Copies of the BIP clearance document and the health certificate must accompany the consignment to its destination. Imports failing to comply with these veterinary control checks may be detained for further examination. If non-compliance is established they are returned to the exporting country or destroyed.

Where there are concerns with regard to the effectiveness of controls being operated in an approved third country the Commission, in consultation with the standing committee on animal health and the food chain, may introduce specific controls by means of a safeguard measure to ensure the protection of human and animal health.

Safeguard measures limiting or banning the export of animal products from EU countries or regions of countries may also be implemented where, for example, the conditions of an animal disease outbreak could seriously effect production and trade in animal products in the EU.

Question No. 61 answered with QuestionNo. 55.

Grant Aid.

Damien English

Ceist:

62 Mr. English asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will increase the level of grant aid available to farmers under the SFP scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14020/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The level of funding available to each member state under the single payment scheme has already been agreed under European Council Regulation 1782/2003. The amount available to Ireland in 2005, including the dairy premium, is €1.260 billion and this will increase to €1.322 billion as and from 2006 onwards. The envelope of money available to each member state represents the average value of livestock premia and arable aid paid in the respective member state during the three year reference period 2000 to 2002 calculated at the 2002 rates of payment. Also included in the envelope is the new dairy premium introduced for the first time in 2004, the value of which will increase to some €186 million by 2006.

Increasing or index linking the level of aid available to each member state was not an element of the European Commission's proposals for the mid-term review of Agenda 2000. There was, however, a proposal to provide for a reduction of up to 13% in the single payment, known as degression, to meet future financing needs. One of the major achievements in the negotiations was the removal of this proposal. The removal of this particular provision meant a saving of some €420 million for Ireland over the lifetime of the agreement. The compromise agreed was to allow the Council to review, from 2007 onwards, the financial situation annually if budget deficits arise.

Animal Welfare Bodies.

Paddy McHugh

Ceist:

63 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the assistance made available to animal welfare centres throughout the country in 2004 in comparison with the previous three years. [14136/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

In recent years, my Department has made ex gratia payments to a number of organisations directly involved in the delivery of animal care and welfare services to help towards their work. The amounts paid by my Department are as follows. In 2001, €650,741 was allocated to 52 organisations, in 2002, €500,000 was allocated to 67 organisations, in 2003, €850,000 was allocated to 80 organisations and in 2004, €1 million was allocated to 83 organisations.

I am very pleased to be in a position to be able to help these largely voluntary organisations which do so much good work throughout the country in delivering animal care and welfare services. The assistance provided has made a real difference to the bodies concerned in sustaining their efforts over the years. I recognise that such funding will never be enough to defray the full costs to these bodies of meeting all the demands made on them and that they will continue to need the support of the public if they are to maintain their operations at effective levels.

Farm Household Incomes.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

64 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has carried out an assessment to determine the degree to which farm families can rely on the family farm for their livelihood in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14235/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The CSO 1999-2000 household budget survey indicates that approximately 60% of farm household income comes from off-farm sources. This indicates that many farm families do not solely rely on farm income for their livelihood and off-farm employment has become increasingly common for farm families. Interestingly, much of this off-farm employment is related to agriculture and the agri-food sector.

Analysis conducted for the agri-vision 2015 committee show that of the 136,000 farms in 2002, 38,700 farms were classified as being economically viable with 19,000 of viable farms being part-time farms that is with the farmer and-or spouse having an off-farm income, 37,000 were classed as non-viable farms and 60,000 as transitional.

If the current trends were to continue to 2015 there would be approximately 105,000 farms with approximately 30,000 viable farms of which 20,000 would be part-time, 37,000 non-viable farms and 38,000 transitional farms.

However, when the impact of decoupling, demographics and macro-economic trends are taken into consideration, the composition of the 105,000 farms projected for 2015 alters with a greater number of viable farms projected. The analysis estimated that there would be 40,000 viable farms of which 31,500 would be part-time, 45,000 non-viable farms and 20,000 transitional farms.

These results show that the policy changes, in particular decoupling, would enable larger numbers of farmers to remain viable, but there would also be an increase in the number of part-time farmers. The 2015 committee emphasised that the changes in farm numbers are based on expected reactions of many thousands of farm families to changes in the policy and economic environment, and that they do not, in any sense, constitute a prescription.

World Trade Negotiations.

Joe Sherlock

Ceist:

65 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her priorities for the current round of world trade talks and the summit due in Hong Kong later in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14175/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Following intensive negotiations, agreement was reached in Geneva in August 2004 on a framework setting out the general outline and content of the new World Trade Organisation, WTO, agreement. The detailed implementation of this framework is the subject of ongoing negotiation at technical and political level and is likely to conclude at the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December 2005. I am satisfied that the framework agreement secured the benefits to Irish farmers of the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy and represents a satisfactory outcome from Ireland's point of view. My priorities for the further negotiations are to ensure that: the phasing out of all forms of export subsidies will be applied in parallel, as provided for under the framework agreement, and that the phasing-out period will be as long as possible; and Ireland's agricultural exports will remain competitive in the EU market as a result of the level of tariff protection that will apply on imports from third countries. My overriding objective will be to ensure that the terms of a new agreement can be accommodated without the need for further reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Animal Feedstuffs.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

66 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the final conclusion to the reported importation of animal feed contaminated with traces of bone; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14010/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I advise the Deputy that there were two separate incidents in the four week period from 18 October to 11 November 2004, in which traces of terrestrial animal bone were found in samples of imported feed material. The affected feed material and associated compound feed was subsequently impounded, recalled, where necessary, and detained by my Department.

The first incident refers to two consignments of sugar beet pulp, totalling around 4,160 tonnes, which were imported into Dundalk port from Germany, via Holland, on 18 and 22 of October 2004. Testing carried out by the competent authorities in other member states discovered similar problems with imports of this material. Officials in my Department examined and accepted a proposal submitted by the importer to dispose of the contaminated material and associated compound feed. In March of this year, the contaminated sugar beet pulp material was despatched under the supervision of Department officials to Holland for destruction by means of incineration at a power generation plant in that country. The dispatch of the associated compound feedingstuffs to Holland is scheduled to happen in the next couple of weeks, and again it will be under the supervision of officials of my Department.

The second incident refers to a consignment of maize gluten, totalling around 6,515 tonnes, imported from the USA and part discharged at Foynes on 9 November and part in Ringaskiddy on 11 November. The original feed material and the associated compound feed has been recalled and is currently held in a number of secure stores. The importer in this case sought a judicial review in the High Court of the powers used to issue the instructions to impound and recall the affected material. The judge ruled in favour of the importer. However, on the advice of senior counsel and considering the implications of the ruling for the current EU controls on processed animal proteins, my Department has lodged an appeal of the judgment with the Supreme Court and will ask its counsel to prepare papers which will I hope result in a reference being made to the European Court of Justice on the interpretation of EU legislation and its effect.

Notwithstanding this, and without prejudice to liability the importer has submitted a proposal to my Department for disposal of the contaminated material, which involves the export of the material for incineration at a power generation plant. Officials of my Department have examined and accepted the proposal and it is anticipated that the export of the material will be carried out shortly under strict supervision.

EU Directives.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

67 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of EU directives for which her Department has responsibility that are yet to be implemented; the number in respect of which the implementation date has passed; the steps being taken to ensure that all such directives are implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14168/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Of the 16 EU directives to be transposed into national law for which my Department has responsibility, none are overdue for transposition. I intend to have the directives implemented by the due date in each case.

Single Payment Scheme.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

68Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Foodthe assessment carried out by her Department regarding the implications of the SFP on the ERS; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[13989/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (MaryCoughlan)

My Department has been aware, from an early stage in the negotiations leading to the introduction of the single payment scheme, of the possible implications for retired farmers who had leased their holdings. In so far as it has proved possible in the context of the EU regulations governing the single payment scheme, and following lengthy discussions with the European Commission, provision has been made under the rules of the single payment scheme to address some of the concerns of retired farmers.

As participants in the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming had retired before the start of the reference period in 2000, they are not in a position to claim entitlements under the single payment scheme. However, a concession agreed with the European Commission will allow family members who take over a holding that was leased to third parties during the reference period to have access to entitlements from the national reserve. This will benefit the family members of retired farmers who decide to take up farming.

Participants in the current early retirement scheme, who would have farmed during part or all of the reference period, can activate entitlements and lease them to their existing transferee. If the transferee does not want the entitlements, the transferor — retired farmer — has until 2007 within which to lease or transfer the entitlements, with land, to another farmer. My Department has recently written to these retired farmers advising them on how to activate entitlements.

Farm Retirement Scheme.

John Perry

Ceist:

69 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will index link the early retirement pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13992/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The rate of pension payable under the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming is the maximum amount provided for by the EU Council regulation under which the scheme was introduced. The regulation does not provide for indexation of payments.

My Department's proposals for the current early retirement scheme, which commenced on 27 November 2000 and is one of the measures in the CAP rural development plan for the period 2000-06, included provision for annual increases in pension over the period of the plan. The European Commission rejected this proposal and insisted on legal grounds that a fixed rate be set instead.

Farm Safety.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

70 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps being taken to address the serious problems of death and injuries through farm accidents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14173/05]

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

105 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps being taken to address the problem of death and injury to children in farm accidents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14174/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 105 together.

The Health and Safety Authority is the State authority charged with overall responsibility for promotion and enforcement of workplace health and safety. The authority has a proactive inspection and enforcement programme, Programme of Work 2005, which focuses on high risk sectors, including agriculture, and aims to achieve an improvement in farm safety, and an increase in the percentage of farms with safety statements.

In launching the farm safety week last month, I noted that the trend of death and injuries of children on our farms is, thankfully, falling due to key initiatives taken by the Health and Safety Authority in the recent past. The four key themes for farm safety week were: safety for the elderly on farms; completion of the farm safety self-assessment document; tractor maintenance; and machine guarding, especially power take off, PTO, shafts.

However, it is clear to me that the primary responsibility for safety on the farm rests personally with each and every farmer and it is ultimately only at farm level that the actions can be taken which will avoid injuries and deaths in the future.

Milk Production Partnerships.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

71 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to encourage dairy partnerships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14163/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Since the introduction of milk production partnerships, MPPs, in 2002 the regulations have been reviewed regularly to ensure the balance between the special treatment afforded to partnerships and the restrictions on their formation is appropriate to the circumstances of the sector. I am satisfied this objective has been met.

While the number of standard MPPs is still quite low, I am satisfied the partnership format will make a very significant contribution to the sector by allowing dairy farmers operate at a viable level and to have a satisfactory balance between work and family life.

There are now 250 new entrant-parent MPPs operating and this format is giving young trained farmers a worthwhile stake in the family enterprise. This will enhance the prospects of their continuing on with a career in dairying in the longer term which is vital to the whole industry.

In regard to 2005, I have increased the off-farm income limits for both standard and new entrant-parent MPPs and have streamlined the application process by removing the pre-partnership land transfer rule and easing the pre-partnership production rule. In this year's milk quota restructuring scheme, I changed the quota access conditions for new entrant-parent MPPs. Now all but the largest producers will be able to form such partnerships with an eligible son or daughter but the new entrant ceases to have priority access to quota when the combined quota of the parent and new entrant reaches 500,000 litres. This will make the system fairer and further enhance the impressive contribution that the new entrant-parent format has made to the sector. I will continue to examine the partnership model and explore further options for its development to ensure that the format is used to the maximum advantage of the dairy sector.

Farmer Numbers.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

72 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers who have left full-time farming since 1997; her views on the fall in the number of full-time farmers; the steps she is taking to deal with the drift from the land; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14167/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The most recent figures available from the CSO show that there were 77,900 full-time farmers, as defined by the CSO, in 2003 a drop of 20,400 since 1997. Over the same period the number of part-time farmers increased by 7,900 to 57,200. The agri-vision 2015 committee indicated in its report that it believed the trend to part-time farming using a somewhat different definition than the CSO will continue.

The ongoing trend towards part-time farming reflects a combination of factors, including the increased availability of off-farm employment. Many smaller farmers are finding that combining farming with off-farm employment is an effective way to ensure their viability on the land. At the same time, full-time farmers are looking to the new flexibility offered to them under decoupling to develop and intensify their commercial farm enterprises.

Genetically Modified Organisms.

Liam Twomey

Ceist:

73 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans her Department has to evaluate the economic implications of the use of genetically modified organisms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13994/05]

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

89 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans she has to evaluate the economic implications of the use of genetically modified organisms; the action being taken by her Department to trace the full consignment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14009/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 89 together.

Teagasc has an ongoing programme of research investigating the potential risks and benefits associated with the growing of GM crops in Ireland including, inter alia, the economic implications. Preliminary research completed by it to date indicates that the cultivation of certain crops with certain modifications may provide a financial incentive to the individual Irish farmer. While strands of this research parallel recently completed work in other countries, it does not specifically address the costs associated with the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops. The general conclusion of recent Danish and UK research on the economic impact of co-existence on farm profitability is that the costs of complying with the required thresholds for crops of maize, potatoes, cereals, oilseed rape and sugar beet vary from zero to 9% above the costs of growing conventional crops. However, it should be noted that costs described were based on estimates.

To establish greater clarity in the matter, as far as Irish conditions are concerned, I have asked Teagasc to explore the possibility of carrying out an evaluation of the possible national economic implications for the agri-food industry from the possible use of GMOs in crop and livestock production. Teagasc has now set up an internal working group of economists, agronomists and animal scientists to address this question in more detail and it plans to publish the results of the analysis in due course.

In regard to tracing a consignment, EU legislation, which was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in 2003, requires that all GM products have to be properly labelled and be accompanied by the appropriate documentation to facilitate full traceability.

Energy Requirements.

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

74 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will act to make a reality the prospect outlined at the Teagasc national tillage conference in 2003 of Ireland supplying all its energy requirements from fuel crops; and if she will encourage the development of the biofuel sector for the sake of all farmers, especially those who depended on the Carlow sugar factory. [14230/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Promotion and development of renewable energy in Ireland are matters in the first instance for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. My Department is represented on the bioenergy strategy group established by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural resources to consider policy options and support mechanisms available to Government to stimulate increased use of biomass for energy conversion and to make specific recommendations for action to increase the proportion of energy from biomass in Ireland.

In addition, an interdepartmental group chaired by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is considering policy options for the development of a biofuels sector in Ireland. My Department is represented on that group. As part of the group's work, a liquid biofuels strategy study was published by Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, in December 2004. This report provides comprehensive details on the potential for the development of a biofuels market in Ireland and options to stimulate the market.

The possibility of producing bioethanol from sugar beet was mooted recently in the context of the closure of the Carlow sugar factory but Irish Sugar Limited has indicated that it intends to process the full Irish sugar quota at its Mallow plant, which will be upgraded. Arrangements are being made to transport the sugar beet from the Carlow catchment area to Mallow.

Under the single payment scheme operated by my Department aid is available at a rate of €45 per hectare per year for areas sown with energy crops. The aid is granted in respect of areas where production is covered by a contract between the farmer and a processor, except in the case of processing undertaken by the farmer on his holding. Agricultural raw materials, with the exception of sugar beet, may be grown under the energy crops scheme provided the crops are intended primarily for use in the production of products considered to be biofuels and for electric and thermal energy produced from biomass.

A maximum guaranteed area of 1.5 million hectares for which aid for energy crops can be granted has been established in the European Union. According to figures provided by the EU Commission, in excess of 303,000 hectares was sown with energy crops in 2004, of which 439 hectares were Irish. From 1 January 2005, farmers may claim the energy crop payment in addition to their entitlement under the single farm payment. In addition to this scheme, set-aside land can be used for a variety of non-food uses, including growing of crops for energy purposes, and will therefore qualify to activate set-aside entitlements under the single payment scheme. I am having the energy crops scheme and a number of other areas such as wood biomass considered by my Department to determine how their bioenergy potential can be promoted.

EU Directives.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

75 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the nitrates directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14208/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In October last, Ireland submitted an action programme to the European Commission for further implementation of the nitrates directive. In December, the Commission conveyed its view that the action programme was not complete and did not comply with the requirements of the directive or with the judgment of the European Court of Justice against Ireland, which had been delivered in March, 2004.

Subsequently, my Department worked closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the preparation of an initial response to the Commission. This response was sent on 20 April. I understand that a revised action programme, on which my Department has been consulted, will be sent to the Commission very shortly. Ireland has already submitted proposals for a derogation from the general limits laid down in the nitrates directive, designed to allow farmers to operate, under appropriate conditions and controls, up to a level of 250 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare.

Sugar Quota.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

76 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the ownership of the Irish sugar quota; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14008/05]

Simon Coveney

Ceist:

121 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the ownership of the Irish sugar quota; when she was informed of the decision to close the Carlow facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14006/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 121 together.

Under the EU sugar regime, each member state has a quota for manufactured sugar. There is no quota for sugar beet nor is there a quota at farm level. The EU regulations stipulate that the quota must be made available to the sugar manufacturing enterprises in the member state. Accordingly, in Ireland the entire sugar quota is processed by Irish Sugar Limited, which is the only sugar manufacturer in this country. Irish Sugar Limited places annual contracts with farmers to grow a specified tonnage of sugar beet sufficient to manufacture the sugar quota.

The question of ownership of the sugar quota has never been an issue in the past because the EU regulations do not provide for the buying and selling of quota. However, the status of the quota has become the subject of debate since the Commission raised the possibility of cross-border quota mobility in the context of the proposed reform of the EU sugar regime. Several member states, including Ireland, are strongly opposed to the idea of quota mobility but if it is maintained in the Commission's legislative proposals, due to be published around June, then the Commission will propose appropriate rules to deal with the new situation. I have sought the advice of the Attorney General in that context but my objective will be to ensure that the status quo is maintained and that cross-border mobility of quota is not allowed.

The decision by Greencore to close its plant in Carlow and to consolidate all of its sugar manufacturing in Mallow was a commercial decision taken by the board on 12 January 2005. The company advised my Department two days in advance of the board meeting that a proposal concerning the future of its two processing plants and involving the likely closure of the Carlow plant would be put to the board for decision.

Live Exports.

Paddy McHugh

Ceist:

77 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on her efforts to protect the trade in live animals from Ireland; the number of cattle exported in the first four months of 2005 compared with 2004. [14137/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The Government has consistently supported the live export trade as an essential market outlet for Irish farmers. My Department's function in the transport of animals by sea is to approve vessels for the carriage of livestock by working closely with applicant companies to ensure that the conditions aboard such vessels are consistent with national and EU animal welfare requirements. Within this framework, 18 dedicated livestock vessels and three roll on roll off vessels have been approved for the carriage of cattle since 1995. The actual provision of such services is a commercial matter.

I am pleased that, following the ending of the P&O service in December 2004, the live cattle export trade to continental Europe resumed in February 2005 on the ferry service between Rosslare and Cherbourg. The number of cattle exported live from Ireland in 2005 up to the beginning of April, is 43,243, compared with 25,452 in the same period of 2004.

Exports of live cattle to third country markets take place with the aid of EU export refunds. As recently as last week, I opposed the position taken by some EU member states at the Agriculture Council with regard to eliminating such refunds. I remain committed to the continuation of a viable live export trade. This requires the retention of export subsidies for the time being. In the case of all exports of live animals, the implementation of appropriate welfare safeguards is an essential requirement.

Question No. 78 answered with QuestionNo. 58.

Forestry Sector.

John Gormley

Ceist:

79 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will investigate the clear felling by Coillte Teoranta of the Nenagh River gorge, a SPA, and the planting of Bolingbrook Hill which the local population feels has not followed proper procedures. [14228/05]

Beef imports into the European Union from third countries must have been sourced, first in countries and second in premises, that are currently listed and approved by the European Commission and which are subject to veterinary audits by the EU's food and veterinary office. In addition, such imports are subject to checks laid down in the harmonised rules prescribed at European level, and must be accompanied by the prescribed veterinary health certification from the competent authorities in the country of export.

The Community beef labelling requirements, which are compulsory in all member states, apply to beef sold at retail level within the Community, regardless of whether that beef was produced within the Community or in a third country. Where beef is imported into the Community from a third country that beef must, at a minimum, be labelled as "Origin: non-EC" along with an indication of the third country in which slaughter took place.

The EU requirements in respect of labelling of beef do not apply at restaurant and catering sector level and Ireland has raised this with the Commission. I intend to proceed with a national legal requirement that country of origin must be displayed in respect of beef served on such premises. Proposals to this effect will be brought forward once the legal options allowing for this development have been examined.

Grant Payments.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

83 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the EU Commission to index link the single farm payment; if she intends to make the payment in two instalments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13996/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The agreement on the mid-term review of Agenda 2000 reached at the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 26 June 2003 provided a financial envelope to each member state. This envelope represented the average value of livestock and arable aid premia paid in the member state during the three year reference period 2000-02 calculated at 2002 rates of payment. The outcome of the agreement, which will reshape the Common Agricultural Policy and secure its future in making it more relevant to modern society and more defensible in a WTO context, was a balanced one which addressed Ireland's principal objectives. Among these objectives was the preservation of the financial benefits achieved under the Agenda 2000 agreement and the establishment of a policy framework that will allow farmers and the agri-sector the flexibility to adapt to evolving consumer and market demands and international circumstances.

Index linking of the single payment scheme was not an element of the Commission's proposals. There was, however, a proposal to provide for a reduction of up to 13% in the single payment, known as degression, to meet future financing needs. One of the major achievements in the negotiations was the removal of this proposal. The removal of this particular provision meant a saving of some €420 million for Ireland over the lifetime of the agreement. The compromise agreed was to allow the Council to review, from 2007 onwards, the financial situation annually if budget deficits arise.

The position with regard to payments under the single payment scheme is that the European Council Regulation 1782/2003 governing the scheme stipulates that payments shall be made once a year within the period from 1 December of the year of application to 30 June of the following year. The regulation also provides for the payment of advances in circumstances to be decided by the EU Commission subject to the budgetary situation.

The Deputy will appreciate, therefore, that it is not possible for any member state to decide on different payment dates to those specified in the European Council regulation or to those which, may be specified by the EU Commission if certain circumstances arise. Since the rules governing the single payment scheme are prescribed under European Council and Commission regulations, my Department has no option but to adhere to them.

Food Industry.

Jimmy Devins

Ceist:

84 Dr. Devins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the main areas being targeted under the food institutional research programme. [14140/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The food institutional research measure, FIRM, is a public good research programme in the food sector. The main objectives of the programme are to provide a base of information and expertise in generic technologies that supports innovation and product development in the food industry, and assists in assuring consumer protection by ensuring that product development is underpinned by attention to food safety and quality issues. The research is carried out at suitable institutions that can demonstrate the necessary research capabilities, including universities, institutes of technology and Teagasc food centres.

The areas targeted under the programme include: development of technologies to build a more competitive, innovative, consumer-focused and sustainable food production and marketing sector; development of the scientific knowledge to underpin effective food safety practices at all stages in the food chain; consumer foods technology; innovation in functional foods; cheese diversification; production of new food ingredients; nutrition; and new technologies for added-value meat products.

The FIRM programme has contributed to the formation of recognised centres of excellence in food research in Ireland. A number of research teams have been created at the various institutions and the capability and critical mass that has been developed, together with the associated knowledge base, represents a major resource for industry. In addition, the public good food research programmes have been instrumental in the development of a number of food products which contribute to the health and nutritional intake of the consumer. The outcomes of the research are disseminated widely for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

Progress under the measure has been very satisfactory with 110 projects awarded funding following general calls in 2000 and 2004 and a targeted call in 2001. A further targeted call issued at the end of March 2005 inviting proposals under the food safety and beverages themes.

The following table shows awards and expenditure under the various research areas to date.

Theme	No. of projects	Total Awards (€m) 2000-2004	Expenditure (€m) 2000-2004
Consumer Foods	17	7.745	4.802
Dairy	15	8.152	4.046
DNA Technology	5	2.167	1.267
Food Ingredients	7	3.207	2.854
Food Safety	17	8.057	6.604
Food Viruses	2	0.947	0.776
Food Waste	3	0.607	0.213
Meat	16	6.919	2.996
Miscellaneous	17	6.457	3.672
Nutrition	4	2.539	2.387
Process Design	3	1.380	1.267
Residues	2	0.630	0.430
TSE	2	1.198	0.772
Total	110	50.005	32.086

Notification of awards in respect of a further eight projects with indicative funding of €3.6 million issued in 2005. Three other projects with indicative funding of €2 million have received preliminary approval and these are currently being finalised.

Departmental Agreement.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

85 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will make a statement on the agreement between her Department and a company (details supplied). [14021/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The case mentioned by the Deputy arose from a dispute between a company, my Department and two co-defendants. This related to the storage of tallow at its premises going back to 1997.

A settlement was reached with the plaintiff on 6 December 2004. The settlement was agreed on the basis of legal advice from State Counsel and with the sanction of the office of the Attorney General. It was without admission of liability by the defendants. It was also agreed between the parties that the terms of the settlement would remain confidential except as required by law.

Sheepmeat Prices.

Joe Sherlock

Ceist:

86 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she intends to take to address the serious crisis facing many sheep farmers due to poor prices being paid for lambs by meat plants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14177/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

As the Deputy will be aware, there have been difficulties recently between sheep farmers and the meat export plants over the price for new season lamb. I am glad these difficulties were resolved following discussions last week between the farmers and the plants concerned.

Bord Bia will shortly commission a promotion of new season lamb on the Irish market, which will be extended over the months of May and June. It will also undertake a campaign on the French market over the coming months, aimed at maintaining and increasing market share for Irish lamb there. Initiatives such as these play an important role in maintaining and developing markets at home and abroad for Irish lamb. Whereas my Department is concerned that farmers receive a fair price for their produce, it has no function in the determination of market prices.

Farmers Markets.

David Stanton

Ceist:

87 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers markets in operation in the country; the action or supports her Department has taken or made available, or intends to take or make available, to encourage the development of farmers markets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14233/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The farmers markets concept has experienced significant growth in recent years with more than 80 separate markets operating under various arrangements in 22 locations throughout the country. My Department recognises the potential of farmers markets and actively supports efforts to promote the concept on a sustainable basis.

Bord Bia, which operates under the aegis of my Department, has launched a number of initiatives in this area. In co-operation with Invest Northern Ireland, the board recently launched A Guide to Farmers Markets in Ireland. The guide identifies the benefits of farmers markets for producers, consumers and local economies, lists the location of markets and trading days and offers clear advice on what makes for a successful farmers market. Bord Bia also provides general advice and information to people who have an active interest in setting up farmers markets. Further scope for developing farmer markets has been identified in the speciality-artisan food sector and Bord Bia is working with small food producers to develop this route to market.

The Food at Farmleigh model has been a resounding success and I was very pleased to see that Bord Bia hosted a food market in Farmleigh on Mayday with the participation of 28 of Ireland's finest speciality and artisan producers who offered a range of farmhouse cheeses, smoked salmon-eel-mackerel, preserves, cakes and biscuits, confectionery and charcuterie.

My Department has raised with Office of Public Works, OPW, the possibility of extending the successful Food at Farmleigh model style markets to other appropriate OPW sites. Bord Bia and OPW officials have begun discussion on how best to advance this.

EU Directives.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

88 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the EU Commission and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding a derogation under the nitrates directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14001/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In October last, Ireland submitted an action programme to the European Commission for further implementation of the nitrates directive. In December, the Commission conveyed its view that the action programme was not complete and did not comply with the requirements of the directive or with the judgment of the European Court of Justice against Ireland, which had been delivered in March 2004.

Subsequently, my Department worked closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the preparation of an initial response to the Commission. This response was sent on 20 April. I understand that a revised action programme, on which my Department has been consulted, will be sent to the Commission very shortly. Ireland has already submitted proposals for a derogation from the general limits laid down in the nitrates directive, designed to allow farmers to operate, under appropriate conditions and controls, up to a level of 250 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare. They were developed by my Department and Teagasc in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Commission has stated that it will not consider the application for a derogation until the action programme itself is agreed and in place but I am hopeful for a favourable outcome.

Question No. 89 answered with QuestionNo. 73.

Beef Industry.

Jim Glennon

Ceist:

90 Mr. Glennon asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on her efforts to assist the trade in Irish beef in 2005. [14142/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

In recent years, the focus of the Irish beef industry has been to broaden and expand its market reach at EU retail level, shifting its orientation away from international commodity markets and into the higher priced internal EU marketplace. Effective promotion and marketing of beef by Bord Bia and the industry has ensured a presence for top quality Irish beef in all the key European markets. This includes supply arrangements with multiples and the main retailers in the UK, France, Italy and the Netherlands.

The overall approach in the marketing of Irish beef is to build continually on its reputation as a high quality and safety assured product based on a natural, extensive and well controlled cattle production sector at farm level. The new beef quality assurance scheme, EN45011, is now operational and Bord Bia will shortly promote the scheme to encourage the widest possible farmer uptake.

A strong interest in Irish beef has been generated by building its reputation through the media, by chefs endorsements and the creation of demand from premium chefs-restaurants in each of these markets. The main goal of our marketing strategy is to increase retail market penetration and to invest in growing Irish beef awareness. This is being achieved by building relationships with key customers, product promotions and image building of the brand.

The reform of the CAP means farmers will enjoy greater freedom to grow and develop their enterprises producing for consumer requirements supported by the single farm payment. A targeted approach based on quality production represents the best and most profitable way forward for the Irish industry. This is particularly the case in the post-decoupling context when the market will be the sole determinant of the nature and scale of output from the sector. In such a context, there will be a need for even greater emphasis on good breeding policies, payment related to quality and sophisticated and integrated supply and purchasing systems.

Regarding third country trade, important markets such as Russia, Algeria and Egypt have re-opened for Irish beef while the Lebanon is open for live exports. Access to the Algerian market has now been broadened to include frozen beef in addition to fresh and chilled product. A delegation from my Department and Bord Bia recently visited Egypt and along with embassy officials held positive discussions with the Egyptian authorities with a view to relaxing the conditions under which exports to that country can take place. It is hoped to finalise a protocol with Egypt on these new conditions later this year. I have obtained the agreement of the European Commission to the continuation of the special export refund for Egypt which will also greatly assist trade during the year.

I am committed to opening all international markets to Irish beef and my Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bord Bia to achieve that aim.

The EU directives and regulations referred to in cross-compliance are in place for many years now. Producers are generally familiar with them and are complying with the standards set in implementing them in Ireland.

My Department prepared a consultative document on cross-compliance in October 2004 and invited views from interested organisations. Department officials met the main farming organisations in December 2004 to discuss their submissions. An information booklet on cross-compliance has been issued to all farmers and it sets out the principle features of cross-compliance both in terms of the standards that must be met by farmers and the control arrangements that will be necessary. To coincide with the issue of the booklet, a series of countrywide farmer information meetings organised by my Department in conjunction with Teagasc, took place in early April. These meetings focused not only on cross-compliance but also addressed the various other issues associated with the introduction of the single payment scheme.

In implementing the single payment scheme, I am aiming to minimise the number of inspection visits and to move towards a situation where, in most cases, all eligibility and cross-compliance checks will be carried out during a single farm visit. It is envisaged that the 22,000 or so inspections, which were carried under the old regime, will be significantly reduced to some 10,000 under the single payment scheme. This approach should minimise the level of inconvenience to farmers.

The EU regulations governing the cross-compliance sanctions system sets out a range of percentage reductions. For infringement of a legal standard, a 3% reduction is proposed but this could be reduced to 1% or increased to 5% depending on the extent, severity and permanence of the infringement. If the non-compliance were repeated a multiplier of three must be applied. In the case of intentional infringement, a 20% reduction is proposed but this could be reduced to 15% or increased to 100% depending on the extent, severity and permanence of the infringement.

My Department has recently been engaged in intensive negotiations with the farming bodies on the implementation of cross-compliance under the single payment scheme in the context of drawing up a new protocol on the delivery of all of my Department's schemes and services to farmers.

My Department regards the following principles as being central to the implementation of a sanctions system under the single payment scheme: procedures are fair, equitable, proportional and transparent; the system is standardised to the maximum extent possible across all areas of the country; and the client's rights are protected.

To achieve these objectives, it is necessary to put in place mechanisms that will take due account of whether any non-compliance found is: on its own minor in nature; negligent; or intentional. During the negotiations on the protocol, my Department tabled a paper outlining its proposals including a system of weightings to be applied for infringements of the statutory management requirements with due tolerances for minor infringements which, on their own, are regarded as inadvertent breaches capable of occurring in practical farm situations. The system has become know as the penalty points system. While some of the farming organisations were initially reluctant to accept the Department's proposals it is premature to suggest that agreement cannot be reached.

Food Labelling.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

94 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures she intends to take to improve the standard of food labelling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14013/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

There have been a number of positive developments in the area of food labelling, most of which emanated from the report of the food labelling group which was established in June 2002. The group reported in December of that year with a series of recommendations. The recommendations were accepted. As food labelling is a particularly complicated and broad based area, involving a number of Departments and agencies, an interdepartmental-agency group was established to progress the implementation of the report.

Good progress has been made to date in the implementation of the recommendations in the labelling report. There were a total of 21 recommendations, many of which are beyond the remit of my Department and some of which were to be activated only after others had been completed.

The two main issues that emanated from the recommendations of the labelling group were centralising enforcement in one agency and the definition of origin. Enforcement of all of the food labelling regulations has now been centralised in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI. This will not only streamline the enforcement measures but it will also provide a one-stop shop for any complaints on mislabelling of food. The centralisation of food labelling policy, with the exception of fish, in both the Department of Health and Children and my Department achieves another recommendation of the food labelling group. There was full agreement within the food labelling group that consumers have a right to information on the origin of the meat they cook in their homes or eat out. While the group could not agree on how origin should be defined, there was unanimous agreement that further research was necessary to establish consumers' wishes in this area. The consumer liaison panel has carried out this research, the results of which were presented in December 2003.

At the beginning of 2004, two regulations on the labelling of poultry meat were introduced. The first of these regulations requires poultry meat, loose and pre-packaged, originating in a country outside the EU to bear an indication of the country of origin when offered for sale in a retail premises. The second, requires information regarding class, price per unit weight, condition and slaughterhouse details in respect of loose poultrymeat, that is, non-prepackaged, to be provided to the consumer.

EU regulations provide for a detailed labelling system for beef to be applied at retail sale, which is over and above the general labelling provisions. These regulations do not apply at restaurant and catering sector level. It is my intention to proceed with a legal requirement that country of origin must be displayed in respect of beef served on such premises. The legal options allowing for this development are being examined at present. An internal committee has been established in my Department to consider the options.

On the food labelling issue in general, I must emphasise that my primary aim is to protect consumer interest and to ensure that the consumer is properly informed. Ireland is a major exporter of food and food products and, indeed, there are also considerable imports, so it is imperative that the same standards are applied to the labelling of foods in every sector and that there is a level playing field for the food industry at all levels. I hope to achieve this through the implementation in as full a manner as possible of the recommendations of the food labelling group. I have also indicated my views on labelling of foodstuffs in the Council of Agriculture Ministers and have, along with a number of member states, asked the Commission to examine how best food labelling should be handled at EU level in order to best protect the interests of the consumer.

There have been significant developments on food labelling and I am satisfied that other issues of concern are being actively addressed. Today's consumers should be in a position to make food consumption choices which best suit their circumstances and preferences, and an appropriate labelling system is a key element in bringing this about. It is also important to keep in touch with developments in the EU to ensure that any regulations adopted for the Community appropriately address our concerns.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

95 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a decision will be made to upgrade the remaining area of County Monaghan from disadvantaged to severely handicapped status; the stage the application is at in Brussels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14204/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The classification of all of County Monaghan as a more severely handicapped disadvantaged area has cleared all the hurdles in Brussels, as was announced last week by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith.

I am extremely pleased at this news which meets a commitment made to the social partners in Sustaining Progress. The agreement of the European Commission to my Department's proposals means that some 750 farmers in the 322 townlands involved in County Monaghan will receive the higher €88.88 per hectare more severely handicapped rate of payment from 2005 on as compared with the lower €76.18 less severely handicapped rate per hectare which they have been receiving up to now.

These 750 beneficiaries farming around 12,500 hectares will receive between them an additional €160,000 each year as a result. Assuming they are eligible for compensatory allowances, all they have to do this year to qualify for the higher payment rate is complete their single payment application form in exactly the same way as they would have completed it if they were still only going to receive payments at the lower rate.

Food Industry.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

96 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action she is taking to improve the lot of dairy farmers who are being paid less today for milk than a decade ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14227/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The price paid for milk is a commercial matter between milk producers and purchasers. The manufactured milk prices are determined by a number of factors, including the international market for dairy products, the product mix and the efficiency of the processor as well as the overall operation of the EU price support mechanisms.

My role, as Minister for Agriculture and Food, is to ensure that the areas within my scope of influence such as the EU market management measures are implemented in a manner which enables the dairy sector remain competitive and thereby continue to develop and support farmers' incomes. It is reassuring to note that milk producer prices in Ireland have remained stable for several years.

As part of the reform of the mid-term review of the Common Agriculture Policy producers have been compensated to the tune of €60 million for reductions in intervention prices of butter and skim milk powder. Compensation for these support price reductions takes the form of a direct payment to farmers amounting to approximately 1.2 cent per litre at present rising to 2.4 cent per litre as a decoupled payment later this year. The first intervention price cuts for butter amounting to 7% and skim milk powder, SMP, amounting to 5% took place on 1 July 2004 without any adverse effect on producer prices.

While stability is being maintained in milk prices, undoubtedly the changing nature of EU support for dairying will require a more market-oriented approach by the dairy sector in the future. This focus will, in particular, require a lessening of dependence on intervention and a renewed emphasis on competitiveness and increased efficiencies at all levels of the industry.

On a more general note on production at farm level, producers will also have to look at increasing the scale of their operations, reducing costs where possible, and improving the quality of the milk they produce. While the mid-term reform of the CAP has ensured the extension of the quota regime until 2014-15, it is imperative now, more than ever, to assist those who wish to expand their operations within this new environment. My decision to decouple the dairy premium from 2005, which has been positively received within the dairy sector, should help those who wish to expand. Also, the milk quota restructuring scheme which I announced at the end of last year, and which set a stepped down quota price for two years should also help producers, who wish to expand, gain access to available quota at a reasonable price.

The future development of the dairy sector and, in particular, price stability to milk producers, remains a priority for me. It must be recognised, however, that we are operating in a more global economic environment where many external forces come into play. I will do my utmost to encourage the dairy sector to make the necessary changes, both at producer and processor level to strengthen and improve its position in the increasingly competitive international markets in which it operates.

EU Directives.

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

97 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans she has to deal with the crisis in the intensive farming sector, that is, pigs, poultry and mushrooms, being brought about by the new proposals in Brussels for the nitrates directive; her views on whether the new regulation plus increased paperwork will force many out of production; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14205/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The nitrates action programme may have implications for the intensive farming sector, particularly in terms of the utilisation of the manure produced by intensive pig and poultry units. Accordingly, I have asked my officials to examine various aspects of intensive production in the context of the action programme, including feeding regimes and the storage, treatment and utilisation of manure. I have also asked them to look at the REPS specifications to see how far manure could be accommodated, in place of artificial fertiliser, within the REPS nutrient management regime.

It remains my objective, and it is also the objective of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to reach agreement on an action programme that meets the objectives of the nitrates directive in terms of safeguarding water quality while also minimising the burden of compliance that the agreement will place on farmers and safeguarding the future of the commercial farming sector.

Modulated Funds.

Shane McEntee

Ceist:

98 Mr. McEntee asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans for the modulation fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13991/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The modulated funds become available for use in 2006. In that year, their use is confined to the measures in the CAP rural development plan — agri-environment, early retirement, compensatory allowances and forestry — and the new initiatives introduced as part of the CAP mid-term review — food quality, animal welfare, farm advisory services and meeting standards.

I will decide shortly on the use of modulated funds and will then seek the necessary EU approval. My decision will be informed by the terms and conditions of the eligible measures and widespread consultation with stakeholders on this issue.

Genetically Modified Organisms.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

99 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, arising from the recent decision of the EU to ban US imports of certain types of animal feed unless they can be certified as free of genetically modified corn, checks have been put in place to establish whether any such feedstuffs were imported into this country prior to the ban; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14178/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Following the coming in to force, on 21 April, of the EU Commission Decision 2005/317/EC on emergency measures regarding the non-authorised genetically modified organism Bt10 in maize products, my Department has introduced a requirement that all imports of maize gluten feed and distillers dried grains originating from the USA be accompanied by an original analytical certificate to demonstrate that Bt10 maize is not present.

My Department also proposes to introduce random checks on such products once an event specific test for Bt10 is validated by the EU joint research centre and put into operation by the State Laboratory. It is anticipated that this test will be available within the next couple of weeks. I remind the Deputy that the European Food Safety Authority has concluded that this incident does not constitute an immediate public health risk, a position fully endorsed by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI.

Question No. 100 answered with QuestionNo. 55.

EU Directives.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

101 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding her negotiations with the EU on the implementation of the EU nitrates directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14187/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In October last, Ireland submitted an action programme to the European Commission for further implementation of the nitrates directive. In December, the Commission conveyed its view that the action programme was not complete and did not comply with the requirements of the directive or with the judgment of the European Court of Justice against Ireland, which had been delivered in March 2004.

Subsequently, my Department worked closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the preparation of an initial response to the Commission. This response was sent on 20 April. I understand that a revised action programme, on which my Department has been consulted, will be sent to the Commission very shortly. Ireland has already submitted proposals for a derogation from the general limits laid down in the nitrates directive, designed to allow farmers to operate, under appropriate conditions and controls, up to a level of 250 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare.

Food Industry.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

102 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position with regard to discussions within the EU on proposed reforms of the EU sugar regime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14182/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The EU Commission outlined its initial ideas for reform of the EU sugar regime in a communication to the Council and the European Parliament last July. The communication was the subject of technical discussions at Council working group level in Brussels and there was a policy debate at the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting in November.

The European Commission's initial ideas for reform would, if adopted, have serious repercussions for sugar beet growing and processing here and I have made it clear in discussions in the Council of Ministers that they are unacceptable. Ireland is in a group of ten member states with shared concerns about the Commission's proposals in their current form and we made a joint ministerial submission to the Commission outlining these concerns.

The next step will be the publication of formal legislative proposals by the Commission which are expected to be published on 22 June. In the forthcoming negotiations on the reform proposals, my overall objective will be to ensure that the future shape of the EU sugar regime is consistent with the continuation of an efficient sugar beet growing and processing industry in this country.

Farm Retirement Scheme.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

103 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to implement the recommendations of the joint committee report on the ERS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13990/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I received the report of the Oireachtas joint committee formally on 7 April. I have asked my officials to consider the recommendations in the report, having due regard to the terms and conditions both of the early retirement scheme itself and of the European Commission regulations under which both the current and previous schemes were introduced.

Organic Farming.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

104 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will urgently introduce initiatives to encourage organic farming here and to rescue Ireland’s green clean image in the food industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14220/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

My Department has already provided incentives to encourage organic farming which are substantial in proportion to the size of the sector. Through the rural environment protection scheme, almost €4 million was paid directly to organic farmers in 2004. Since REPS began in 1994, it has delivered some €31 million to the sector. Under the current scheme, an organic farmer with 55 hectares is eligible for an annual payment in REPS 3 of €18,505 a year for the first two years, and €13,555 each year for the rest of his or her time in the scheme. As a further incentive to encourage conventional farmers to venture into organic production, REPS now allows them to convert part of the farm instead of the entire holding as previously.

My Department also operates the scheme of grant aid for the development of the organic sector, which supports investment both on-farm and off-farm. For on-farm investments, grant aid can be given for 40% of the cost up to a maximum grant of over €50,000. For off-farm investments, the maximum grant is more than €500,000.

In addition, my Department has implemented all the main recommendations of the organic development committee's report published in April 2002, including the establishment of a national steering group. This group, made up of a broad range of stakeholder, has met on nine occasions and continues to monitor the implementation of the other recommendations of the organic development committee.

The decoupling of farm payments establishes a new policy framework in which farmers will have the freedom to farm in response to market demands. In this more market-oriented scenario, there is real scope for organic production to expand with the help of the financial incentives that I have outlined already. I strongly urge farmers to give it serious thought.

Ultimately, however, it is the producer and the consumer between them who will determine the size of the Irish organic sector. I do not accept that Ireland's clean green image is in need of rescue or that it depends on the level of organic farming in the country. By the end of the year, I expect that we will have 50,000 farmers in REPS, farming to a standard that goes beyond good farming practice. The bulk of the remaining farmers will be in the single payment scheme and will be under an obligation to keep their land in good agricultural and environmental condition. In these circumstances, I foresee no difficulty in preserving and further enhancing the image of Irish food.

Question No. 105 answered with QuestionNo. 70.

Special Beef Premium.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

106 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action she is taking to reduce the impact of the special beef premium overshoot on farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14011/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I made arrangements last month to expedite balancing payments to farmers affected by the special beef premium quota excess based on an estimated overshoot reduction. Over the past two weeks, some €80 million has been paid to special beef, suckler cow and slaughter premium applicants with the vast bulk of this going to farmers with more than 25 special beef premium animals.

I have also raised the matter of the overshoot with the European Commission pointing out that it was never the intention of the mid-term reform of the CAP that farmers would be disadvantaged in the transition to the single payment scheme. As the extent of the special beef premium quota excess is linked to the move to full decoupling of direct payments in 2005, I have asked the Commission to address the problem as a matter of urgency.

World Trade Negotiations.

Investigations are carried out into the feeding regimes of all herds in which BSE is identified and in particular in herds in which cases born after the feed controls were re-enforced are confirmed. Within the context of the overall picture, the diagnosis of BSE in a small number of animals born after 1997 was to be expected. To date, 11 animals born after 1997, four in 1998 and seven in 1999, have been diagnosed with BSE. In addition, ten cases were confirmed in 1997 born animals but some of these were born before all the enhanced measures were fully in place. My Department had foreseen the likelihood that individual cases would from time to time arise which may relate to circumstances specific to the farms in question and which do not conform with the general trend as the incidence of the disease in the national herd recedes. There is, however, no basis for suspecting that these cases are indicative of either a systemic failure in controls or of a reversal of or deviation from the overall positive trend in relation to BSE in Ireland.

Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

110 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures she intends to take to address the problems experienced by farmers in the Shannon Callows, as a result of current proposals which do not allow them to split their lands for grant aid purposes between REPS funding and funding allocated under the SAC and SPA designation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13998/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The designation of land under the EU birds and habitats directives is a function of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The question of compensation for farmers in the Shannon Callows area is a matter, in the first instance, for that Department, and I understand that discussions on the matter with the farming bodies have been going on for some time and are not yet concluded.

As far as REPS is concerned, I have already introduced arrangements designed specifically to address the situation of farmers in the Shannon Callows. Farmers in this area who wish to join REPS but believe that the REPS payments do not fully offset any income loss arising from the restrictions placed on their farming activities because of designation under the directives, may now also apply to the national parks and wildlife service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for additional compensation. Before this arrangement was introduced in September 2004, they had to choose between REPS and the compensation arrangements operated by NPWS but could not benefit from both. Since farmers in the Shannon Callows are thus provided with a means by which they are guaranteed full compensation, it is difficult to see how there could be justification for even more advantageous arrangements.

This further concession was additional to the inclusion of a new supplementary measure in REPS when REPS 3 was introduced in June 2004. Designated areas are already eligible for payments under REPS measure A of €242 per hectare for the first 40 hectares and lesser amounts for areas over 40 hectares, and the new supplementary measure provides for an additional payment of €100 per hectare on particular sites in the Callows which are important corncrake habitats. Those sites are monitored by BirdWatch Ireland, and REPS farmers can qualify for the additional payment by subscribing to BirdWatch Ireland management prescriptions for them.

REPS is a highly successful agri-environment measure and is acknowledged as such by the European Commission. One of the features of REPS which the Commission has commended is the fact that the whole farm is subjected to the full range of basic undertakings. This model has served Irish farmers well since the introduction of REPS in 1994 and it is not my intention to depart from the whole farm approach to accommodate a situation which I have already addressed adequately.

Decentralisation Programme.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

111 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the decentralisation programme within her Department; the number of the 60 posts that were due to be moved to Portlaoise during April 2005 which have moved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14190/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The review and appraisal of Ireland's forestry development strategy undertaken by Peter Bacon and Associates supports a planting target of 20,000 hectares per annum, as set out in the programme for Government. The report also comments that a lesser planting target could be a viable basis for support, providing the planting is undertaken in a manner that maximises the non-timber benefits.

The report by Dr. Bacon will form a key component of an overall review of our forestry strategy, to be carried out later this year, when the position regarding the proposed new rural development regulation becomes clearer. This regulation, which will cover the period 2007-13, is currently being negotiated in Brussels.

The schemes which are currently in place are extremely attractive, offering 100% grants for planting and substantial annual premiums. In addition, the concession obtained in relation to the stacking entitlements vis-à-vis the single payment scheme, make forestry a very attractive land use option for farmers.

Food Banks.

David Stanton

Ceist:

115 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of food banks in operation in the country; the success of these food banks in combating food poverty; the measures her Department intends to take to encourage the expansion of the role of food banks (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14232/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Food banks are charitable organisations outside the ambit of central government and accordingly my Department has no role in their operation. In accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No. 3149/932 on the supply of food from intervention stocks for the benefit of the most deprived persons in the Community, my Department has in the past made intervention stocks available to charitable organisations, including the Dublin food bank.

The recent changes in the Common Agricultural Policy with decoupling of supports from production will align agriculture more closely with market and consumer requirements and lessen the availability of intervention stocks. My Department is willing to play a role in facilitating dialogue between the food industry and the charitable organisations for suitable alternative mechanisms for distribution to food banks or targeted groups.

Forestry Sector.

Simon Coveney

Ceist:

116 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her position on the proposed cut by the EU of grant aid for forestry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14007/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The issue raised by the Deputy relates to one of the proposals for forestry contained in the draft rural development regulation 2007-13, first published by the European Commission in July 2004 and which is the subject of ongoing negotiations in the Council of Ministers.

From the outset, the Irish position on the draft regulation in general, including the specific aspects related to forestry has been clear. On these forestry aspects, I have pointed to the negative impacts that the original proposals would have on the sector, particularly those relating to reduced establishment grants, premiums and associated premium payment periods.

Forestry is only one element of the wider rural development proposals but a very important one for Ireland and for those countries with active afforestation programmes. As the overall negotiations move to an expected conclusion in June, I will press for a satisfactory outcome for Ireland on the package as a whole, which will include an outcome on forestry which best suits our particular needs.

Depopulation Programme.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

117 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of cattle born before 1996; the estimated value of same; the projected cost of herd depopulation as a result of BSE from 2005 to 2010; if she will consider a depopulation programme for all cattle born prior to 1996; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14219/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

It is estimated that there are in excess of 450,000 cattle in the national herd which were born before 1996. It is difficult to put an accurate value on such animals since their value to farmers is measured in terms of the calves and milk produced on an annual basis rather than by reference to what they would command at the market or in the factory. However, based on recent values of BSE suspects in this age category, the value of such animals would range from €500 to €1,000 per animal. Taking the lower figure, the value of all pre-1996 born animals left in the population would be at least €225 million. Trends observed over recent years indicate that approximately 165 cases of BSE — range 112-210 — are expected to be diagnosed in Ireland between 2005-10. Using that figure and the average cost of compensation for herd depopulation in 2004, the projected gross cost of compensation of herd depopulation as a result of BSE from 2005 to 2010 would be approximately €18.6 million. It should be emphasised that these are very tentative estimates based on certain assumptions and do not include slaughter, rendering, transport, disposal, etc., costs.

In March 2002, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland produced a report from its BSE sub-committee looking at strategies to reduce the incidence of BSE in Ireland, and whether these add value in terms of consumer protection over the existing control measures. The findings in that report were that provided all existing controls and regulations are strictly complied with, there was no added food safety value in a cull of older cattle in pre-clinical stages of the disease.

Avian Influenza.

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

118 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she is satisfied that adequate procedures are in place to protect against the spread of avian flu to this country especially in view of the recent warning from the food and agriculture organisation that the virus causing bird flu may be impossible to eradicate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14181/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

122 Mr. English asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans she has to develop the Teagasc service provided to farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14004/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988. Its function under the Act is to provide research, training and advisory services for the agrifood sector. Teagasc is governed by an 11 member authority. The chairman and five ordinary members are appointed by the Minister and the remaining five members are appointed by the Minister following nominations from designated organisations — IFA, ICMSA, ICOS, Macra na Feirme and Teagasc unions.

Teagasc has approximately 1,300 permanent staff, comprising advisers, teachers and research scientists with appropriate supporting services. These are complemented by some 250 contract staff, as well as teaching staff in the private agricultural and horticultural colleges. Teagasc staff carry out their functions from more than 90 locations.

Teagasc's operating budget for 2005 amounts to more than €155 million. Advisory services make up the biggest budget item, 35% of expenditure, followed by production research, 32%, training programmes, 19%, and food research, 13%. My Department's provision to Teagasc for capital and non-capital purposes in 2005 amounts to €123 million. The amount for non-capital purposes is €118.5 million and for capital development purposes the allocation is €4.5 million. By any standards these are substantial resources and are a clear indication of the Government's continuing commitment to supporting Teagasc activities.

It is the responsibility of Teagasc to prioritise activities and to allocate its funding accordingly. This it has done over the years in accordance with the needs of clients, EU and Government policy and industry needs. I am satisfied that in doing so, it has provided a first class service to Irish farmers.

In the short term, Teagasc will have to reconfigure its programmes in response to the fundamental changes in agriculture arising out of the new CAP support framework. The authority is, however, already well accustomed to tailoring its programmes to meet the changing requirements of the agri-food sector. Its annual programme of activities is developed in consultation with the key stakeholders in the sector many of whom are represented on the authority. Recently, it has undertaken more strategic planning initiatives, the Teagasc 2000 review and the three year strategy required under the strategic management initiative. A new review of its training and education programmes has recently got under way.

I am satisfied that Teagasc is well placed to face the future and to continue to provide the innovation and technology transfer for the sustainable development of agriculture, the food industry and rural communities in the years ahead.

Carlow Sugar Plant.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

123 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her approval has been sought from Greencore for the proposed sale of the site of the Carlow plant which closed on 11 March 2005; if she has sought information from the company regarding its intentions with respect to the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14184/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

My approval has not been sought to the sale of any property following the recent closure by Greencore of the Irish Sugar plant at Carlow and I am not aware of the company's intentions in that regard. As Minister, I hold a special share in Greencore plc. That share has the same monetary value as any other share in the company but special conditions are attached which prevent the company from engaging in a number of activities without the prior written consent of the Minister. One of the activities for which prior written consent is required is the disposal of more than 20% of specified sugar assets in Carlow and Mallow.

Single Payment Scheme.

Liam Twomey

Ceist:

124 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if deductions from farmers’ SFP will not exceed 3% when linear and other cuts are accounted for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13997/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

European Council Regulation 1782/2003 governing the single payment scheme provides that each member state must set up a national reserve using between 1% and 3% of every individual farmers entitlements. A single payment advisory group comprising representatives from the farming organisations, Teagasc and officials from my Department was set up to advise on the national reserve. A 3% provisional reduction for the national reserve is reflected in the certificates of provisional entitlements that have already issued to some 140,000 farmers. I have decided that in the event of the sum of individual payment entitlements for Irish farmers exceeding our financial ceiling, thus necessitating a linear percentage reduction for all farmers, such linear percentage reduction would be accommodated within the 3% provisional reduction already applied for the national reserve.

The Council regulation also provides for a reduction for modulation of 3% in 2005 rising by a further 1% in each of the years 2006 and 2007. The 3% deduction for modulation has also been reflected in the provisional statements of entitlements, which have already issued. However, a refund of this money will be made in respect of the first €5,000 of the single payment in each case. It is estimated that 46% of Irish farmers will in effect, not be subject to modulation at all.

Animal Feedstuffs.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

125 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, since the challenge by a company (details supplied), she has revised her Department’s testing procedures for animal proteins in feed, in order that they will be legally admissible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14223/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

To date in 2005, there have been 25 confirmed cases of BSE. In the same period in 2004, there were 59 cases. This represents a reduction of 57%. In 2003 and in 2002, over the same period, there were 82 cases and 131 cases, respectively.

Grant Payments.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

129 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the European Commission regarding the impact of the special beef premium overshoot on farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14015/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I made arrangements last month to expedite balancing payments to farmers affected by the special beef premium quota excess based on an estimated overshoot reduction. Over the last two weeks, some €80 million has been paid to special beef, suckler cow and slaughter premium applicants with the bulk of this going to farmers with more than 25 special beef premium animals.

I have also raised the matter of the overshoot with the European Commission pointing out that it was never the intention of the mid-term reform of the Common Agricultural Policy that farmers would be disadvantaged in the transition to the single payment scheme. As the extent of the special beef premium quota excess is linked to the move to full decoupling of direct payments in 2005, I have asked the Commission to address the problem as a matter of urgency.

Live Register.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

130 Mr. Neville asked the Taoiseach the details of the live register in Newcastle West for each month of 2005 to date. [14568/05]

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. Kitt)

The live register series gives a monthly breakdown of the number of people claiming unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit and other claimants registered with the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Figures are published for each county and each local social welfare office. A breakdown by postal district is not available. The most recent information available is for March 2005. It should be noted that the live register is not a definitive measure of unemployment as it includes part-time workers, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment assistance or benefit. Statistics on unemployment are measured at regional level by the quarterly national household survey. The exact area covered by each local office is not limited to the immediate locality of the particular office. For instance, in the Tallaght local office there may be registered persons from the Blessington area. The live register figures for the local office of Newcastle West for 2005, as requested by the Deputy, are set out in the following table:

Live register for Newcastle West by age group 2005.
	January	February	March
	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Under 25 Years	77	91	168	80	97	177	87	107	194
25 Years and Over	470	281	751	475	296	771	447	310	757
All Ages	547	372	919	555	393	948	534	417	951

Source: Central Statistics Office, Live Register Analysis.

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

131 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Taoiseach if the legal adviser to a group (details supplied) will have full access to all relevant files and papers of Departments and the Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13983/05]

The Taoiseach

The Joint Oireachtas Committee which examined the Barron report into the 1974 bombings last year recommended the establishment of a commission of investigation to examine matters relevant to this jurisdiction including specific aspects of the Garda investigation at the time and missing documentation. The Government has established a commission of investigation in accordance with that recommendation with Mr. Patrick MacEntee, SC, as sole member. It is a matter for the commission of investigation to determine how it will operate, including with regard to access to relevant documentation, in accordance with its terms of reference and its powers under the relevant legislation.

Health Levy.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

132 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the arrangements she is making to provide for repayment of the excess health levy of PRSI (details supplied) by residents of the Six Counties employed in this jurisdiction; the steps she intends to take to advise these workers of their entitlement to a rebate; if the rebate will be available retrospectively to 1994; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14058/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The health contribution levy was introduced by virtue of the Health Contributions Act 1979 and came into effect on 6 April of that year. The contributions are levied on income at a percentage rate set in pursuance of the Health Contributions Act and proceeds are paid to the Minister for Health and Children in aid of the vote for health. Subject to certain exemptions, the levy is applicable to all persons over the age of 16 with reckonable income. The current rate of contribution is 2% of gross income.

According to Regulation (EC) 1408/71, a person employed in one member state who resides in another member state and who returns to his state of residence at least once a week, is classed as a frontier worker. Under Article 20 of the regulation:

A frontier worker may. . . .obtain benefits in the territory of the competent state. Such benefits shall be provided by the competent institution in accordance with the provisions of the legislation of that State, as though the person concerned were resident in that State.

This provision is designed to ensure that the frontier worker can obtain all health services in both the member state of employment and the member state of residence, in both cases at the cost of the competent institution.

In the case of a frontier worker employed in Ireland and resident in Northern Ireland, the competent state is Ireland and the competent institution is the Health Service Executive. Thus, under the regulation, such a person is entitled to obtain health care both in Northern Ireland or in Ireland, but in both cases the competent state — Ireland — and the competent institution — the Health Service Executive — are responsible for the costs. Under the bilateral agreement on reimbursement of health care costs that exists between Ireland and the UK and as provided for in Regulation (EC) 574/72, Ireland reimburses the UK for the cost of health care provided to those persons resident in Northern Ireland or any other part of the United Kingdom who are employed in Ireland and who therefore receive health services in the UK, under Regulation (EC) 1408/71, on behalf of and at the cost of Ireland.

Therefore, when a person resident in Northern Ireland is employed in this State, he or she is liable to health contributions on the same basis as any other individual employed in the State unless he or she is exempt from the payment of health contributions on any of the grounds provided for in the legislation.

Vaccination Programme.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

133 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has concluded its consideration of the High Court judgment striking down the Government’s proposed inquiry into the conduct of vaccine trials on children in institutional care in the State; if a new form of inquiry into this scandal will be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14289/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The revocation of the relevant statutory instrument will require a draft resolution to be brought before both Houses of the Oireachtas. A number of complex issues have had to be considered in relation to this matter. These issues are now approaching finalisation and discussions have taken place with a number of parties involved. I am not in a position to outline the course of action which the Government will take on this matter until all discussions have been completed

Civil Registration Act.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

134 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; if she will consider amending the Civil Registration Act 2004 to reflect the thrust of the submission made therein; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14409/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

An tArd-Chláraitheoir, Registrar General, is responsible for the registration of all life events, including births. Oifig an Ard-Chláraitheoir has received correspondence from a person in Dublin 9 concerning a submission to amend the provisions of the Civil Registration Act 2004. The submission is mainly concerned with the issues of re-registration in cases involving unmarried parents and the child's surname details that may be re-registered.

Section 23 of the 2004 Act provides that where registration has occurred without the father's details in cases where the parents were not married to each other at the date of the birth or at any time during the previous ten months, re-registration of a person as father of a child can occur only at the joint request of the mother and the person acknowledging himself to be the father of the child, or at the request of the mother on production by her of a declaration as to the putative father's identity and his statutory declaration acknowledging fatherhood, or at the request of the putative father on production of his declaration acknowledging fatherhood and the mother's statutory declaration of confirmation, or at the request of the mother or putative father in writing on production of a certified copy of any court order in respect of proceedings relating to section 45 of the Status of Children Act 1987 naming the father of the child.

Provisions relating to surname details are contained in the Registration of Births Act 1996, as amended by the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002. The procedures dealing with the registration or re-registration of the child's surname are: births registered on or after 1 October 1997 with both parents details included on the birth entry cannot be re-registered and the surname assigned cannot be changed; for births registered on or after 1 October 1997 with the mother's details and surname only, the surname assigned may be changed on re-registration if both parents consent; for births registered before 1 October 1997 the surname assigned on re-registration can be the mother's or father's as they appear in the register, or of both. Once assigned the surname cannot be changed at a later date.

Births re-registered between 1 October 1997 and 15 October 2002 where the parents were obliged to re-register with the mother's surname may be re-registered for a second time to change the surname if both parents consent. The consent of both parents in issues involving re-registration and child's surname details is a fundamental principle of the legislation. In cases where consent is not given by either party, An tArd-Chláraitheoir has no legislative authority to arbitrate or decide upon the surname details to be registered as such judgements are appropriate to the courts of law.

The actual forename and surname used in connection with a child is not a matter for the registration service. It is a matter for a parent or parents to decide on the name by which a child is known. A person's legal name is that by which the person is known and a person acquires the right to it by use and repute.

Inter-Church Marriage.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

135 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position with regard to inter-church marriages; if they can be celebrated in churches of religions other than those of the parties to the marriage; and if there are legislative proposals in this regard. [14476/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

An tArd-Chláraitheoir, Registrar General, is responsible for the registration of all life events, including marriages. I have made inquiries with him concerning this matter and the position is set out below.

The position under current legislation, primarily contained in sections 38 and 39 of the Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law Ireland (Amendment) Act 1870, is that a marriage may be solemnised, in the case of a mixed marriage, only in a church of the same religion as that of the clergyman or clergywoman solemnising the marriage.

Upon the commencement of the marriage provisions of the Civil Registration Act 2004, the requirement will be that all marriages, other than civil marriages, must be solemnised only at a place chosen by the parties to the marriage with the agreement of the registered solemniser concerned. In the case of civil marriages where the venue is not the office of the registrar, the proposed venue must be approved by the Health Service Executive in accordance with any prescribed guidelines which may be issued.

Health Service Allowances.

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

136 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when persons (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive a Cúram home care grant. [14566/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. S. Power)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of health services. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's southern area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Genetically Modified Organisms.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

137 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the extent to which genetically modified foods are for sale here, whether labelled or unlabelled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14585/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. S. Power)

Under EU rules, only authorised GM foods, or foods containing ingredients thereof, can be imported and placed on the market. Ireland applies EU legislation on genetically modified, GM, foods. The following GM foods are authorised for sale on the Irish market: vegetable oil from oil seed rape; vegetable oil from cotton seed; maize products; soya products.

These products are normally used as food ingredients and the following are the food types in which the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, has identified GM ingredients: vegetable casserole, gluten-free reduced sugar rusks, soya protein mince, soya protein chunks, soya biscuits and cakes, soya bran, soya flour, infant formula, soya cream, soya yogurt, soya drink, soya dessert, lecithin granules derived from soya bean and maize meal, tortilla chips, taco shells, breadcrumbs for chicken and burger and corn snacks derived from maize.

However, the above list does not mean that there are not other food types on the market with GM maize or soya ingredients. Further authorisations of GM foods will only occur following full independent safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority and are subject to the latest European regulations with regard to traceability and labelling.

Two regulations which govern the labelling of food products containing genetically modified organisms, GMOs, 1829/2003 and 1830/2003, became applicable in April of last year. These regulations have amended the rules on the labelling of foods produced from GMOs to require labelling irrespective of whether DNA or protein of GM origin is present in the final product. Consequently, highly refined or processed food such as starch, sugar and oil products which may not have any residual DNA or protein require labelling if derived from GMOs. The regulations include a traceability system to verify the origin of the food. Labels have to indicate either, "This product contains genetically modified organisms" or "... produced from genetically modified (name of organism)". These regulations, which operators are required to comply with, are effective since April 2004.

Trace levels of GMOs in conventional food and feed can and do arise during cultivation, harvest, transport and processing. This is not particular to GMOs but can occur in the production of food, feed and seed with the result that it is difficult to achieve products that are 100% pure. Against this background, the EU's objective is to ensure legal certainty and establish certain thresholds above which conventional food and feed have to be labelled as consisting of, or containing, or being produced from a GMO. Under current legislation the presence of GM material in conventional food does not have to be labelled if it is below 0.9%, previously 1%, and if it can be shown to be adventitious and technically unavoidable.

The FSAI is the competent authority in Ireland for the enforcement of EU legislation regarding the genetic modification of foodstuffs. The FSAI carries out checks in the marketplace to ensure compliance with relevant legislation.

Care of the Elderly.

Joe Higgins

The surgical procedure in question was undertaken outside of this country and the relevant authorities in the State concerned are investigating the circumstances in this particular case. It is not appropriate or feasible for an authority or body in this country to have jurisdiction over a doctor practising in another country.

Persons who avail of the services of doctors performing cosmetic procedures, whether in this country or abroad, should endeavour to seek the services of reputable institutions. When invasive procedures are being arranged in so-called cosmetic clinics, persons would be strongly advised to check that the services are provided by a medical practitioner who is appropriately registered with the Medical Council in this country or the appropriate regulatory body in the jurisdiction where the procedure is to be performed. In addition, before agreeing to undergo any procedure, persons should ascertain the level of follow-up medical support which will be available to them after the surgery has been completed.

It is an offence under the Medical Practitioners Act for a doctor to falsely represent himself or herself to be a registered medical practitioner when he or she is not registered. Registration is required to sign medical certificates and to issue prescriptions for certain categories of drugs. In addition, doctors are not entitled to recover in legal proceedings, fees charged for the provision of medical or surgical advice or treatment given when they were not registered.

I have met a delegation from the Medical Council to discuss a number of matters relevant to the current and future system of regulation of the medical profession in Ireland. Among the issues discussed was that of cosmetic surgical procedures and the requirement for appropriate follow-up medical care for patients who undergo these procedures. The delegation outlined to me the council's concerns regarding the operation of cosmetic surgery clinics in Ireland. My Department is currently actively examining ways to address the issues raised.

With regard to promotion of the particular doctor's services through advertising, my Department has no role in relation to the restriction of advertising applicable in this or any other jurisdiction. In relation to advertising by medical practitioners and the provision of ethical advice generally, the Medical Council produces a guide to ethical conduct and behaviour in accordance with section 69(2) of the Medical Practitioners Act. The most recent edition of the guide was published in 2004 and includes guidelines on advertising and the media and practice announcements. The council is in a position to consider alleged breaches of the guide in respect of doctors who are registered with it. However, the council has no authority to deal with complaints against doctors whose names are not entered on its register.

Hospitals Building Programme.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

142 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she is now in a position to approve the appointment of a design team as requested by the Health Service Executive in December 2004 in connection with the proposed redevelopment of St. Anthony’s Community Hospital, Dunmanway, including its enlargement from 23 to 45 beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13912/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, HSE, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services.

The HSE service plan for 2005 was recently approved by me and, as required by relevant legislation, laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The detailed capital funding programme for hospitals for 2005 is being finalised in the context of the capital investment framework 2005-09. This process will be concluded in the near future and the HSE will then be in a position to progress its capital programme, in line with overall funding resources available for 2005 or beyond. A decision on the appointment of a design team for the proposed redevelopment at St. Anthony's Community Hospital, Dunmanway, will be made by the HSE in the context of the approved capital framework.

An Bord Altranais.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

143 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals to instruct An Bord Altranais to make its telephone system more customer friendly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13922/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

An Bord Altranais is the statutory body which provides for the registration, control and education of nurses and midwives and for other matters relating to the practice of nursing and midwifery. The issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for An Bord Altranais, and I suggest that the Deputy should contact the board directly about this matter.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of renal transplant services. Accordingly, my Department has requested the director of the National Hospitals' Office at the Health Service Executive to examine the issues raised and to reply to the Deputy directly.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

148 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for a triple bypass at the Mater Hospital; when this person was assessed for the by-pass; and if they are eligible for treatment under the treatment purchase scheme. [13951/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. As the person in question resides in County Mayo, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's western area to investigate the matters raised, including the position in relation to the national treatment purchase fund and the person's eligibility, and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Medical Cards.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

149 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will expedite an application for a medical card in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [13965/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the assessment of applications for medical cards. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's south-eastern area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

150 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the funding which has been allocated to the south east advocacy network for 2004 to date; if the group is on a contract; if so the timeframe involved; if there is a report due from its work; if so, when; the way in which advocacy groups can apply for funding; the qualifications their representatives need and the reason funding is granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13966/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the contracting of works by and the allocation of moneys to non-governmental organisations. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's south-eastern area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

151 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the outcome of the contact between her Department and a firm (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13974/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I am not aware of any direct contact between my Department and the firm that markets this drug.

John Perry

Ceist:

152 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to concerns expressed recently in the medical press by an obstetrician regarding the threat to private obstetrics here as a result of a reported withdrawal by the State of a cap on claims above €500,000; her views on whether the withdrawal of this cap will lead to the closure of private maternity services in the remaining private maternity facilities in the State; the steps she will take to ensure that this does not happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13979/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The supports which the Government put in place in 2004 with the objective of keeping the cost of professional indemnity cover for consultants' private practice at an affordable level remain. These supports mean that most consultants need only purchase indemnity cover for the first €1 million of the cost of any one claim against them. In the case of consultant obstetricians the limit is set at €500,000. In addition the aggregate annual exposure of any individual consultant obstetrician is set at €1.5 million. Beyond these limits the State, through the clinical indemnity scheme, will assume liability for qualifying personal injury claims. In accordance with a Labour Court recommendation issued at the end of 2004, these limits will be reviewed later this year. I am satisfied that these measures have achieved the objective of keeping indemnity cover affordable for consultants in private practice.

Clinical Indemnity Scheme.

John Perry

Ceist:

153 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of organisations which provide indemnity cover for medical consultants in private obstetrics practice here; her views on whether the high membership subscriptions being charged are attributable to the absence of competitive choice for consultants; the steps she is taking to address this matter in respect of private practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13980/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

As far as my Department is aware only one organisation, the Medical Protection Society, is at present offering professional indemnity cover to consultant obstetricians in full or part-time private practice. The only other provider of this type of cover, the Medical Defence Union, has not offered it to obstetricians since 2003. It is obviously not ideal that doctors should have to rely on a sole provider of such a vital service. However, the supports which the Government has put in place to keep the cost of this cover at an affordable level are available to both mutual defence organisations and any commercial insurers interested in entering this market. It is regrettable that no other organisation has, to date, chosen to avail of them. There is no evidence to suggest that the absence of competition in this highly specialised market is leading to the charging of excessive subscription rates. A condition of availing of the supports put in place by the Government is that the subscriptions charged are reasonable and are agreed with my Department.

John Perry

Ceist:

154 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in relation to the special arrangements that were concluded by her Department in 2001 and 2002 for the continuation of obstetric services, the State has assessed the contingent liability involved arising from the assurances and guarantees provided by the State to consultants or the indemnity organisation involved; if the State has made any payments in respect of such guarantees; if the State has been notified of any claims likely to involve payments under the guarantees; if the agreements are still in force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13981/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The agreements entered into in 2001 and 2002 with the Medical Protection Society were necessary at the time to avert a serious threat to the continuity of obstetric services in public and private hospitals. The period covered by these arrangements is from 1 March 2001 to 1 February 2004. As very few claims have yet emerged from this period it is difficult to come up with an accurate estimate of the value of the claims which will ultimately have to be paid. It must be borne in mind that the consultants covered by the arrangements will be co-defendants with other doctors and hospitals in these claims. The apportionment of liability, and the consequent share of the costs to be borne by the consultants, will vary from case to case. In addition, the State will benefit from the transfer of the funds established under the agreements.

Using some simplifying assumptions about the number of likely successful claims, likely average cost of settlements and share of liability the total cost to the State of settling these claims could range from €70 million to €90 million at present day values. This cost will be offset by the value of the funds to be transferred to the State. The State has made no payments to date on foot of these arrangements. My Department has been notified of a total of 21 claims which may fall to be covered by the agreements. It is difficult to say at this stage how many of these will involve the making of any payment. The funds to be transferred to the State under the agreements will be the first source used to finance the cost of settling these claims. The agreements effectively terminated on 1 February 2004 when claims against consultants were included in the clinical indemnity scheme. Discussions are continuing with the Medical Protection Society on the arrangements for the formal transfer of the balance of the funds to the State.

Long-Term Illness Scheme.

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

155 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will amend the terms of the long-term illness and disability scheme to include growth hormone deficiency. [14026/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

There are currently no plans to amend the list of eligible conditions for the long-term illness scheme, LTI. Under the 1970 Health Act, the Health Service Executive may arrange for the supply, without charge, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people with a specified condition, for the treatment of that condition through the long-term illness scheme. The conditions are: mental handicap; mental illness, for people under 16 only; phenylketonuria; cystic fibrosis; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; diabetes mellitus; diabetes insipidus; haemophilia; cerebral palsy; epilepsy; multiple sclerosis; muscular dystrophies; Parkinsonism; conditions arising from thalidomide; and acute leukaemia. Parkinsonism, acute leukaemia, muscular dystrophies and multiple sclerosis were added to the scheme in 1975. The LTI does not cover GP fees or hospital co-payments.

Other schemes provide assistance towards the cost of approved drugs and medicines for people with significant ongoing medical expenses. People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief officer of the relevant Health Service Executive area. In determining eligibility, the chief officer has regard to the applicant's financial circumstances. Income guidelines are used to assist in determining eligibility. However, where a person's income exceeds the guidelines, a medical card may be awarded if the chief officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. Medical cards may also be issued to individual family members on this basis.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. As the person in question resides in County Sligo, my Department has requested the chief officer of the executive's north-western area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

John Perry

Ceist:

160 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be called for an operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14055/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. As the person in question resides in County Sligo, my Department has requested the chief officer of the executive's north-western area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Health Service Allowances.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

161 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the mobility allowance scheme is means tested; if there are plans to review this qualifying condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14056/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

The mobility allowance is a monthly payment administered by the Health Service Executive, which provides financial support to severely disabled people who are unable to walk or use public transport and is intended to enable them to benefit from a change in surroundings, for example, by financing the occasional taxi journey.

To be eligible to receive the mobility allowance applicants must satisfy the following conditions: be over 16 years and under 66 years — however, an allowance, once granted, will be continued after the age of 66 as long as the other criteria for eligibility are met; be living at home or maintained by a health board in any long-term institution; be unable to walk, even with the use of artificial limbs or other suitable aids, or must be in such a condition of health that the exertion required to walk would be dangerous; inability to walk has to be likely to persist for at least one year; moving of the applicant must not have been forbidden for medical reasons; and be in a condition to benefit from a change in surroundings.

It is a matter for the senior area medical officer in the relevant Health Service Executive area to decide whether the medical criteria are satisfied in each case. Applicants must also undergo a means test to decide eligibility. The administering of a means test for the purpose of eligibility to the mobility allowance is in line with the qualifying conditions laid down by the Department of Social and Family Affairs for eligibility to the allowances paid by that Department. My Department currently has no plans to review this qualifying criteria.

Housing Aid for the Elderly.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

162 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the status of the application for special housing aid for the elderly for persons (details supplied) in County Wexford; when the application will be processed and works commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14087/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. S. Power)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage, deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of the housing aid scheme for the elderly in County Wexford, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's south-eastern area to investigate the matters raised as a matter of urgency and to reply direct to the Deputy.

Accident and Emergency Services.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

163 Mr. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the range of costs charged by accident and emergency departments for victims of traffic accidents who indicate they wish to make a claim for personal injuries against a motor insurance company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14090/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Under the Health (Amendment) Act 1986, the Health Service Executive may impose charges on all patients for treatment arising out of injuries sustained in road traffic accidents where compensation is subsequently payable. The Act does not withdraw eligibility for public hospital services from road traffic accident victims, but allows health boards to recover the costs of all services provided to the them. Following enactment of the legislation my Department directed that charges be calculated on the basis of the hospital's average daily cost. Following legal challenge, the Supreme Court, in its judgment on 11 July 2001, ruled that this costing approach is reasonable, proper and intra vires the Health (Amendment) Act 1986.

Letters were issued by my Department to the health boards outlining the judgment and directing them to charge the average daily cost in all road traffic accident cases. While bills are generally issued in all road traffic accident cases they are only settled where compensation is received and then forwarded to hospitals. Compensation may be significantly reduced in cases where contributory negligence is established. In the event of a person failing to obtain a compensation award, that person will only be liable for the normal statutory and maintenance charges, where applicable.

The administration of the charging system is a matter for the Health Service Executive and my Department has no function in this regard.

Hospital Services.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

164 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 22 March 2005, when a reply will be furnished; the procedures in her Department to ensure that replies to parliamentary questions are furnished within an appropriate timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14095/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I understand that the Health Service Executive's western area has outlined in its letter, dated 27 April 2005, the position on the issues raised by the Deputy in his Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 22 March 2005. My Department has requested the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy concerning the procedures it has in place to respond to parliamentary questions about its responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health, personal and social services.

Hospital Staff.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

165 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 22 March 2005, when a reply will be furnished; the procedures in her Department to ensure that replies to parliamentary questions are furnished within an appropriate timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14096/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I understand the Health Service Executive, western area outlined in its letter dated 27 April 2005 the position regarding the issues raised by the Deputy in his Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 22 March 2005. My Department has requested the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy with regard to the procedures it has in place to respond to parliamentary questions relating to its responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to have delivered on its behalf health, personal and social services.

Accident and Emergency Services.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

166 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of accident and emergency beds available to the HSE in hospitals throughout the State; and the number of patients presenting to accident and emergency annually for the past five years. [14106/05]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

176 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of new acute hospital beds which have come on stream; the number of existing beds which have been freed up as a result of her ten point plan to address the accident and emergency crisis; the location of these beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14242/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 176 together.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf health and personal social services. Accordingly, my Department has requested the interim chief executive of the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputies directly regarding the number of accident and emergency beds available to the Health Service Executive and the number of beds which will be freed up through the implementation of the ten point plan.

Since 2001, funding has been provided to open an additional 900 inpatient beds and day places in acute hospitals throughout the country. Health agencies have informed the Department that at the end of March 2005, 713 of these beds were in place. The Health Service Executive has informed my Department that the remaining beds will come on stream before the end of 2005. The following table shows the number of accident and emergency attendances for the past five years.

	Casualty attendances
2000	1,214,154
2001	1,228,406
2002	1,213,669
2003	1,211,071
2004	1,240,241

Food labelling by its nature encompasses a particularly broad spectrum and in these circumstances officials in my Department are in regular communication with officials in other Departments and agencies to ensure a balanced and co-ordinated approach to labelling issues both at national and international level.

Consumers should be in a position to make food consumption choices which best suit their circumstances and preferences and an appropriate labelling system is a key element to enable this informed choice. In this regard the Deputy may note that I have recently signed a statutory instrument to effect the transposition of EU Directive 2003/89/EC which will facilitate a real improvement in food labelling. The new regulation abolishes the 25% compound ingredient listing exemption and makes it compulsory to list all ingredients in a food with the exception of a small number of particular cases. In addition, from 25 November next it will be compulsory to list on the labelling specified allergens whenever they or ingredients originating from them are used in foods, including alcoholic drinks. This will ensure that consumers suffering from food allergies and intolerances or those who wish to avoid eating certain ingredients for any other reason can identify those ingredients they may need or wish to eliminate from their diet.

At European level the Commission proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nutrition and health claims is nearing completion of First Reading. The proposal specifies conditions for the use of nutrition and health claims made on foods and aims to ensure consumers receive accurate and meaningful information while allowing food producers to use serious and scientifically substantiated claims as a marketing tool.

At national level discussions are ongoing between my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food on the question of the introduction of national measures to require the country of origin to be displayed in respect of beef served in the restaurant and catering sector. We are considering the options available in terms of the legal mechanisms to give effect to such labelling. However, as it will be necessary to consult with the European Commission regarding the proposed measures, I am not in a position to give an indication as to when country of origin labelling will be introduced to this sector.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

170 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of respite places for adults and children with an intellectual disability in counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim and Westmeath, respectively; the waiting list and times for such services for adults and children respectively in each county; the action which is being taken to address this shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14118/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the matter referred to by the Deputy. Accordingly, my Department has requested the executive's national director for primary, community and continuing care to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Opticians Regulations.

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

171 Dr. Cowley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department will permit a person to sell and distribute glasses and prescription lenses through the Internet with the prescription end of this being handled in the United Kingdom; if this is not already permitted, if she will consider allowing the establishment of such a service to enable the public to avail of extremely large savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14127/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Bord na Raharcmhastóirí, the Opticians Board, is the regulatory body for the opticians professions in Ireland. It is a body corporate established under the Opticians Act 1956 and provides for the registration and control of opticians and related matters. The prescription, dispensing and sale of spectacles in this jurisdiction are regulated under the Opticians Acts 1956 and 2003 and the rules made under the Acts by the Opticians Board. Where such activities or one or more of them take place in another jurisdiction, such as in the UK, their regulation would be a matter for the relevant authorities in that jurisdiction and as such would not be a matter within the remit of the Opticians Board.

Infectious Diseases.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

172 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will liaise with a person (details supplied) to develop an all-Ireland strategy to deal with the threat of a potential avian flu outbreak. [14132/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Officials of my Department and representatives of the National Disease Surveillance Centre met their Northern Ireland counterparts last year to discuss issues of mutual interest, including influenza pandemic planning. It was agreed that a further meeting would be held when the Health Service Executive population health management team is in place. It is expected that this meeting will take place in June. I have no plans at present to meet with the Northern Ireland Health Minister, Ms Angela Smith MP, to discuss this issue but will do so if the need arises.

Mental Health Services.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

173 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the budget to the mental health service as a percentage of the total health budget for each year since 1997. [14202/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

The following table shows the budget of the mental health service as a percentage of the total health budget for each year from 1997 to 2004.

1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
€000m	€000m	€000m	€000m	€000m	€000m	€000m	€000m
326,841	347,471	394,546	433,654	497,061	563,690	619,466	716,798
8.96%	8.60%	8.21%	7.73%	7.09%	6.90%	6.82%	7.34%

In 2005, the Estimate for spending on mental health services as set out in the Health Service Executive Vote in the recently published Revised Estimates for Public Services 2005 is €766 million. This equates to 7.1% of the total current Health Service Executive funding of €10.975 billion when account is taken of a once-off technical provision of €217 million arising from the establishment of that Vote.

Suicide Incidence.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

174 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of suicides in 2004 by age and gender. [14203/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Data on mortality are compiled by the Central Statistics Office and published in the annual and quarterly reports on vital statistics. The latest period for which data are available is January to September 2004. These figures,which are provisional, are set out in the tables following.

Table 1
Number of Deaths from Suicide by Age Group and Quarter, January to September, 2004.
Age Group	January to March	April to June	July to September	Total January to September
5-14 years	0	1	0	1
15-24 years	7	29	14	50
25-34 years	14	22	16	52
35-44 years	15	30	10	55
45-54 years	4	31	11	46
55-64 years	8	20	11	39
65-74 years	4	3	4	11
75-84 years	2	4	1	7
85 years and over	0	0	0	0
All Ages	54	140	67	261

Table 2
Number of Deaths from Suicide by Gender and Quarter, January to September, 2004
Gender	January to March	April to June	July to September	Total January to September
Male	40	101	59	200
Female	14	39	8	61
Total	54	140	67	261

Hospitals Building Programme.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

175 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be conveyed by her Department to the Health Service Executive in the matter of approval to proceed to the appointment of a design team for the key oncology and haematology section at Waterford Regional Hospital (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14212/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf health and personal social services.

The HSE service plan for 2005 was recently approved by me and, as required by relevant legislation, laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The detailed capital funding programme for hospitals for 2005 is being finalised in the context of the capital investment framework 2005-09. This process will be concluded in the near future and the HSE will then be in a position to progress its capital programme in line with overall funding resources available for 2005 or beyond. A decision on the appointment of a design team for the proposed oncology-haematology unit at Waterford Regional Hospital will be made in the context of the agreed capital framework for the executive.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for orthodontic services. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's eastern regional area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Questions Nos. 181 to 184, inclusive, answered with Question No. 178.

Infectious Diseases.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

185 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of hospitals in respect of which there have been reports of incidences of MRSA in each of the past three years; the extent to which an investigation took place into the cause in each case; and the subsequent action taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14257/05]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

186 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of cases of MRSA reported in each of the past three years; the degree to which this infection is on the increase; the action taken to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14258/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for infection control including the control of MRSA. Accordingly, my Department has requested the director of the National Hospitals Office to investigate the matters raised regarding the number of hospitals in respect of which there have been reports of incidences of MRSA in each of the past three years, the extent to which an investigation took place into the cause in each case and the subsequent action taken and to reply direct to the Deputy in this regard.

MRSA, methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, is a resistant form of staphylococcus aureus. The health protection surveillance centre, HPSC, collects data on MRSA bacteraemia, also known as bloodstream infection or "blood poisoning", as part of the European antimicrobial resistance surveillance system, EARSS. In 2002, 445 cases of MRSA bacteraemia were notified to the HPSC while 477 cases were notified in 2003. Provisional figures for 2004 indicate that 533 cases of MRSA bacteraemia were notified last year. However, it should be borne in mind that the number of laboratories notifying cases increased in 2004 and thus a direct comparison between these years is probably not valid as it may just reflect the increased number of participating laboratories.

To address the issue of antimicrobial resistance, including MRSA, the strategy for the control of antimicrobial resistance in Ireland, SARI, was launched in June 2001. Since then, approximately €20.5 million in funding has been made available by my Department under the strategy, of which approximately €4.5 million has been allocated in the current year. This SARI funding is in addition to normal hospital funding arrangements on infection control.

In 1995 a Department of Health committee comprising representatives from my Department, consultant microbiologists, specialists in public health medicine, general practice and a representative from the association of infection control nurses produced a set of guidelines for the management of MRSA in acute hospital wards, including specialist units. The implementation and operation of these guidelines in acute hospitals is a matter for those hospitals in the first instance. These guidelines have been widely circulated and include an information leaflet for patients.

The infection control sub-committee of the national SARI committee recently prepared draft guidelines on the control of MRSA in hospitals and community health care settings. The key recommendations cover such areas as environmental cleanliness, bed occupancy levels, isolation facilities, hand hygiene, appropriate antibiotic use and protocols for the screening and detection of MRSA. These draft guidelines, based on the best evidence available internationally, are a key component in the response to MRSA in Ireland. The recommendations, when signed off by the National Hospitals Office of the HSE, will replace guidelines issued by this Department in 1995 on MRSA.

At national level, MRSA bacteraemia has been included since 1 January 2004 in the revised list of notifiable diseases under the infectious diseases regulations. As such laboratories are now legally required to report cases of serious MRSA infection to the departments of public health and the HPSC. The reporting process for MRSA bacteraemia remains the same for now, that is, direct reporting to the HPSC via the EARSS protocol which is done on a quarterly basis. As MRSA bacteraemia is a laboratory diagnosed disease, notification is done per clinical laboratory rather than on a hospital by hospital basis.

Effective infection control measures, including environmental cleanliness and hand hygiene, are central to the control of hospital acquired infections, including drug resistant organisms such as MRSA. The HSE and hospital managers have corporate responsibility for infection control. Infection control, including hand hygiene, is a key component in the control of MRSA. The SARI infection control sub-committee released national guidelines for hand hygiene in health care settings during 2004, which have been widely circulated by the HPSC and are available on the HPSC's website, www.hspc.ie. The ten point plan for accident and emergency which I announced in November 2004 includes provision for dedicated cleaning services and recognises the importance of hospital cleanliness. The National Hospitals Office of the Health Service Executive has identified the auditing and targeting of infection control initiatives and the enhancement of cleanliness of hospitals as priorities in its service plan for 2005.

Mental Health Services.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

187 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the way in which the Mental Health Commission deals with complaints; the criteria it uses when investigating complaints against mental health service providers; and its role in involving the families of patients. [14259/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

I am informed by the Mental Health Commission that, in general, it receives complaints directly from patients or from their families and-or relatives. The Mental Health Commission also receives complaints through third parties, including elected representatives. Complaints can be broadly divided into two main categories: clinical and non-clinical.

I understand that in responding to these complaints, the Mental Health Commission is guided by a number of principles and relevant legislative provisions. The patient's best interest is a primary consideration. This includes the patient's right to confidentiality. In some instances, therefore, complaints received from families cannot be dealt with if the patient declines to give his or her consent to information being shared with another party. If a patient detained under the provisions of the Mental Treatment Act 1945 writes to the Inspector of Mental Health Services seeking a review of the detention order, the inspector makes contact with the treating consultant psychiatrist and seeks documentation on the detention. The inspector then advises the patient of the status of the documentation and detention order. The Mental Health Act 2001, when fully commenced, will introduce a new independent review system for people admitted involuntarily to psychiatric units or hospitals.

I am informed by the Mental Health Commission that the provision of additional information and enhanced communication between the patient, family and service providers can often address the complaints submitted to it. The commission is finalising a model for the handling of complaints by service providers within the mental health services. When the model is finalised discussions will take place between the commission and all the service providers to facilitate the introduction of a comprehensive complaints system within the individual agencies.

Health Services.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

188 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the HSE and the St. John of God service provider will put a care plan in place to assist a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16 and work closely with their family on this matter. [14260/05]

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

189 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the assessment of needs for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and if they will receive the maximum support and care. [14261/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. S. Power)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Accordingly, my Department has requested the national director for primary, community and continuing care at the HSE to investigate the matter raised as a matter of urgency and to reply direct to the Deputy.

Medical Records.

Seamus Healy

Ceist:

196 Mr. Healy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will make urgent inquiries regarding the non-availability of medical records for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14304/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. As the person referred to by the Deputy resides in south Tipperary, my Department has asked the chief officer for the executive's south-eastern area to respond to the Deputy directly.

Hospital Staff.

Dermot Fitzpatrick

Ceist:

197 Dr. Fitzpatrick asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when funding will be made available for the appointment of a second consultant ortho-geriatrician post at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14338/05]

Dermot Fitzpatrick

Ceist:

198 Dr. Fitzpatrick asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when finance will be allocated for the refurbishment of the old surgical A and B wards at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14339/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for services at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's eastern regional area to investigate the matters raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Medical Cards.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

199 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the entitlements of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 by virtue of the full medical card, the over 70 medical card and the doctor only medical card schemes; the differences between the first and second and the first and third schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14343/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services.

People who hold medical cards, including all those aged 70 and over, are entitled to free general practitioner medical and surgical services under the GMS scheme and may also avail of a range of approved prescribed drugs and medicines from community pharmacies.

The doctor visit card entitles people to free general practitioner medical and surgical service under the GMS scheme. People with this card will not be entitled to free drugs and medicines but they will be entitled to avail of drugs and medicines under the drugs payment scheme which ensures that no person or family unit pays in excess of €85 per calendar month.

Inter-Country Adoptions.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

200 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 189 and 200 of 20 October 2004, the position on inter-country adoptions with Belarus; if there is an international agreement between Ireland and Belarus on adoption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14353/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

In January 2005 my Department responded to the group referred to by the Deputy indicating that I was unable to meet it due to the heavy schedule of Government and departmental business at the time. At my request, my Department forwarded the invitation to my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government who has primary responsibility for the issue of waste management.

Medical Cards.

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

204 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when doctor-only medical card application forms will be available to the public. [14357/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the assessment of applications in respect of eligibility for health services. Accordingly, my Department has referred the matter raised by the Deputy to the Health Service Executive's director of primary, community and continuing care for direct reply.

Nursing Homes Inspectorate.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

205 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on establishing an independent inspectorate to check standards in nursing homes, both public and private; the likely cost on an annualised basis of establishing such an agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14367/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. S. Power)

212 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has assessed an application from the Health Service Executive, mid-west region for an extension to the accident and emergency unit at Ennis General Hospital; when she will make a decision on the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14449/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 to 212, inclusive, together.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the development of accident and emergency services in hospitals. Accordingly, my Department has requested the interim chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly about the matter raised.

Cross-Border Projects.

Barry Andrews

Ceist:

213 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Finance the number of EU programmes aimed at peace and reconciliation; the funding which Ireland provides towards their operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14062/05]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border region of Ireland, commonly called PEACE II, is the programme to which the Deputy refers. The aim of this unique EU programme is to promote reconciliation and help to build a more peaceful and stable society in Northern Ireland and the six southern bordering counties, Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. It has a strong bottom-up and cross-Border focus; a minimum of 15% of funds are allocated to cross-Border activities in the public, private and community sectors. PEACE II also concentrates on those areas, groups and sectors which have suffered most from the Troubles. Projects must demonstrate capacity to promote reconciliation and peace-building.

The PEACE II programme has five priorities economic renewal, social integration, inclusion and reconciliation, locally-based regeneration and development strategies, outward and forward looking regions and cross-Border co-operation.

PEACE I ran from 1994 to 1999 and the duration of PEACE II was supposed to be from 2000 to 2004. However, following a joint initiative from the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister the European Council announced its support in June 2004 for an extension of the programme for a further two years to 2006. This extension will bring it in line with other structural fund programmes. The Border region received €106 million between 2000 and 2004 and this was matched with €35 million by the Irish Exchequer.

The EU also provides approximately €15 million each year to the International Fund for Ireland, IFI, which was established by the Irish and British Governments in 1986 to promote economic and social advance and to promote contact, dialogue and reconciliation between Nationalists and Unionists throughout Ireland. The IFI also receives funding from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Wheelchair Access.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

214 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the accessibility of a Garda station (details supplied) in Dublin 12 to persons who are wheelchair-bound; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14126/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Parlon)

As part of the OPW's universal access programme, an accessibility audit is first carried out to determine the level of works required to make a premises fully accessible to all persons. The accessibility audit is requested in the first instance by the relevant Department, in this case the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In the matter of the Garda station in Dublin 12, a request has not been received by the OPW.

Asylum Support Services.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

215 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the details of the settlement reached with the residents of Dublin Road, Kilkenny, relative to the site at Leggetsrath, Dublin Road, Kilkenny, which was leased for use by the RIA; the total legal costs borne by his Department; the total rent paid by his Department; the date the lease ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14201/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Parlon)

I refer to my reply to Question No. 332 of 12 April 2005. The position is unchanged.

Tax Code.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

216 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce measures to allow persons with various illnesses such as diabetes who cannot obtain life assurance, to obtain a house purchase mortgage from a building society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14426/05]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

Section 126 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995, which requires mortgage lenders to arrange mortgage protection insurance, provides for an exemption from this requirement in respect of certain loans, including in subsection 2(b), “loans to persons who belong to a class of persons which would not be acceptable to an insurer, or which would only be acceptable to an insurer at a premium significantly higher than that payable by borrowers generally,”.

The 1987 regulations, which introduced this requirement for building societies, contain a similar exemption in respect of persons who would not be acceptable to an insurer on health grounds.

The decision to grant a mortgage is a commercial decision, at the discretion of the lender, and there are many factors, other than the insurability of the borrower, which would also have to be considered.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

217 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Finance the liability a person has in relation to the payment of capital gains tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13917/05]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer will be chargeable to capital gains tax on her share of the gain, unless she is entitled to retirement relief.

On the transfer of an asset from one spouse to another the spouse acquiring the asset is deemed to have acquired it at the same time and for the same consideration as the other spouse. Accordingly, the chargeable gain is computed by reference to the original cost.

Under section 598 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, an individual who is 55 years or over may obtain retirement relief from capital gains tax on the sale of "qualifying assets". "Qualifying assets" include land used for the purposes of farming carried on by an individual which he/she has owned for a period of at least ten years ending on the date of the sale and which he/she has used for farming throughout that ten year period. As the taxpayer is regarded as having acquired her interest in the land 18 years ago it will treated as a "qualifying asset" providing she has farmed it throughout the period of ten years ending with its sale.

Full retirement relief is available where the proceeds from the disposal do not exceed €500,000. In that case, no tax is charged on the gains arising. If the proceeds exceed €500,000, marginal relief may apply. It should be noted that this limit is an aggregate limit — the relief is limited to an aggregate consideration of €500,000 for all disposals of qualifying assets made after the individual has reached 55 years of age. If the disposal of the property is to a child, and the individual meets the above conditions, the gain is exempt from capital gains tax irrespective of the amount of the proceeds.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

218 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance when a P45 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14039/05]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a form P45 issued to the taxpayer at his home address on Monday 25 April 2005.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

219 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reintroduce a tax incentive scheme to encourage the restoration of derelict buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14043/05]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

222 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider a tax credit similar to the PAYE tax credit to recipients of foreign pensions, in cases in which it is their sole income, to put these pensioners on an equal footing to recipients of Irish contributory pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14122/05]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

Entitlement to the employee PAYE tax credit in respect of a foreign occupational pension in this case is subject to meeting all the following statutory conditions: The foreign pension is chargeable to tax in the country in which it arises and, on payment, is subject to a system of tax deduction at source in that country similar in form to Irish PAYE deductions; the foreign pension is fully chargeable to tax in this State; and the pension, if it arose in this State, would be subject to PAYE deductions.

As the person's pension is neither chargeable to tax nor subjected to any form of tax deduction in the state in which it arises owing due to the provisions of the double taxation agreement between Ireland and the United Kingdom, the above criteria are not met and the employee tax credit is not due.

I have asked my Department, in conjunction with the Revenue Commissioners, to look at the points raised by the Deputy in this case as regards the treatment of such pensions under the law. I will communicate further with the Deputy in due course.

Inland Fisheries.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

223 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has to construct a proper fish pass at Lacken Weir, Kilkenny, in light of the failure of the existing fish pass to function as evidenced in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14198/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Parlon)

The Office of Public Works, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Southern Regional Fisheries Board have carried out a tripartite review of the problems associated with the functioning of the fish pass at Lacken Weir, Kilkenny. The review has established that modification of the existing fish pass will resolve the issue. The modifications required include the extension of the existing pass by about three metres and the construction of a pool below the extended pass and a channel leading to the pass. A draft design for these works is being prepared by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. It is anticipated that the works will be undertaken under safe conditions this summer.

Departmental Properties.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

224 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the date of purchase and the purchase price of properties (details supplied); the cost of maintenance and security on each property to date; if each is not in use and if so, for what purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14199/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Parlon)

The property in County Carlow was purchased by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the reception and integration agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for the sum of €1,333,225. The security and other costs incurred on the property from its acquisition until its transfer to the Department of Health and Children in August 2002 was €176,509.98.

The Commissioners of Public Works, acting on the agency's behalf, purchased the property in County Cork in October 2000 for €3,549,711. The total security and other costs incurred on the property to date are €677,000. The property is the subject of judicial review proceedings.

The Commissioners of Public Works, again acting on behalf of my Department's agency, purchased the property in County Dublin in June 2000 for €9,205,601. The security and other costs incurred on the property to date are €620,000. The commissioners are in negotiations with the Health Service Executive regarding the future use of the property.

Special Savings Incentive Scheme.

The first meeting took place on 8 February 2005. At this meeting Iarnród Éireann stated that Portlaoise was the preferred site of Iarnród Éireann, from a technical and efficiency point of view, for a rail depot to transport beet to Mallow. Subsequent meetings took place at the proposed site of the rail depot in Portlaoise, which were attended by the area manager and senior engineer from Iarnród Éireann. In a subsequent letter to me, Iarnród Éireann outlined that subject to certain conditions, it would be possible to run six trains per day from Portlaoise to Mallow, each with a capacity of 560 tonnes. However on the insistence of Irish Sugar and with the agreement of the Irish Farmers Association it was decided to locate the depot at Milford on the Waterford rail line.

I have spoken to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, and officials in his Department regarding this issue on a number of occasions. On 27 April 2005 I wrote to the Minister to specifically outline my concerns at the hazardous increase in trucks, approximately 400, on the road to transport beet to Mallow in the absence of a rail depot servicing the Carlow factory catchment area. A meeting has been arranged for Thursday, 5 May 2005 between officials from Iarnród Éireann, Members of the Oireachtas from Laois and Offaly and representatives from the Irish Farmers Association to discuss the matter further.

Post Office Network.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

231 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the serious threat to the future of post offices unless action is taken by the Government; the steps the Government is taking to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13929/05]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable rural post office network providing a range of services to meet consumer needs as set out in the programme for Government. This commitment is illustrated by the Government injection of €12.7 million into the network in 2003 to facilitate modernisation measures. The Government has strongly supported An Post initiatives such as the channelling of new utility and banking services through the network. In addition, An Post has introduced the new service delivery models to improve access to and take-up of post office services.

This network is geared towards customer demand in both urban and rural locations. Notwithstanding the commercial remit of the network, there is a clear recognition of the social benefits of a nationwide service. The network must be adaptable to changing circumstances and trends but the core objective of the Government and An Post continues to be the retention of access to post offices services in as many locations as possible in the manner which best meets consumer needs, whether services are provided via post office, postal agencies or the postpoint network. The main business developments in 2004 are the collection of Garda fines scheduled for 2005; Barclaycard credit card payments; 800,000 new bill payment transactions for the ESB; Tele 2 bill payments; and Dublin City Council commercial bin tags payments.

The automated network accounts for over 95% of An Post's counter business. This means that the 1,000 automated offices transact 95% of counter business while 475 non-automated offices undertake 5% of business. Nevertheless, An Post is now moving to undertake a pilot project which would see ten manual post offices automated to gauge the effect on business. Furthermore, An Post will undertake a fundamental reappraisal of the post office network. The objective of this exercise is to build on the existing strengths in terms of nationwide network, strong brand recognition and high footfall and to devise a suite of products and services to meet current and future needs of post office customers. This strategy will provide the road map for future service delivery throughout the network.

The level of remuneration for postmasters-postmistresses is a contractual matter between An Post and the individuals concerned. Contracts in place between An Post and members of the Irish Postmasters Union are of a commercial nature and are based in some cases on the level of transactions carried out by individual offices. The issue of social welfare payments being paid through the post office network is a matter for the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

Postal Services.

John Perry

Ceist:

232 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason up to 300 former employees of An Post have not yet received 7% pension entitlements under the Sustaining Progress agreement; the progress made on the conclusion of the negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13971/05]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The authority to implement pension increases was delegated to An Post, subject to certain conditions, as this activity was considered part of the day-to-day operations of the company. This allowed the company to implement pension increases following pay increases to employees. However, decisions outside the scope of the original delegated authority still require the consent of the Ministers for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Finance.

Following a proposal from the board of An Post to amend the existing pension increase terms of An Post, in this instance, my Department and the Department of Finance undertook a review of the situation. While I fully empathise with An Post pensioners for the position they find themselves in owing to the failure of An Post management and unions to reach agreement on implementation of the recovery strategy, the wider overall policy issues raised by the proposal from An Post also need to be considered.

The existing terms of the An Post superannuation scheme provide for pay parity so that pensions are increased in line with the pay of serving staff. This is in accordance with public service defined benefit pension increase policy generally, pay parity being an integral and well established practice which is widely applied in public service defined benefit pension schemes.

Unfortunately, following examination of the issue and taking into consideration the implications of providing a precedent which could impact adversely on the cost of pensions in the wider public sector and the existing practice of pay parity, increases to pensioners of An Post linked to increases under Sustaining Progress are not possible at this time.

While I understand the frustration of An Post pensioners with the situation, agreement in partnership with An Post unions to the restructuring plan aimed at securing the future of the company and providing sustainable long-term employment for An Post workers is the way forward. I have urged both the unions and the management of An Post to engage fully with the industrial relations mechanisms of the State to agree a way forward for the future of the company and all stakeholders in this matter.

Alternative Energy Projects.

Barry Andrews

Ceist:

233 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has allocated funding for research on wave and tidal energy in 2005. [14059/05]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Sustainable Energy Ireland, established as a statutory agency in May 2002, implements initiatives on renewable energy and energy efficiency, including research, on behalf of my Department. Its renewable energy research, development and demonstration programme aims to stimulate the deployment of renewable energy technologies that are close to market and also to assess and develop potentially successful technologies. The programme provides support for renewable energy product research, development and demonstration, market demonstration of new technologies, resource studies and public good research activities.

Sustainable Energy Ireland has through its renewable energy research, development and demonstration programme commissioned and funded the publication of two major studies in the form of atlases which between them quantify and locate the wave energy and offshore wind energy resources for Ireland. Sustainable Energy Ireland has also part-funded five demonstration-feasibility projects in the wave and offshore wind energy sectors. These include the development of an engineering specification for 1 MW wave energy pilot plant; scale modelling and wave tank testing programme; assessment of inshore Atlantic wave regime; assessment of tidal and marine current energy resources in Ireland; impacts of tidal and wave energy on an all-Ireland electricity system.

Sustainable Energy Ireland commitments in this sector amount to €445,000. It is estimated expenditure in this field will be €194,000 in 2005. In addition to the work being carried out by Sustainable Energy Ireland, technical and research development capabilities in ocean energy are being expanded through a new €1 million contract over three years between the Marine Institute and the hydraulics and maritime research centre in UCC to develop a centre of excellence for wave energy study. The new contract will allow UCC to build up a technical support team in its wave tank facility which provides test facilities for device developers. A protocol for device developments has also been developed with a view to providing a recognised benchmark for ocean energy device standards. This is now being used by device developers and by agencies or financiers who wish to evaluate proposed devices for support.

The Marine Institute has recently applied to the Department for foreshore permission to develop a site in Galway Bay which can be used to assist developers in testing large-scale devices. It is expected that this application will be published for public consultation in the coming weeks. In tandem with these developments Sustainable Energy Ireland and the Marine Institute have commissioned a study by Peter Bacon and Associates on the economic benefits of wave development and it is expected that this study will be published shortly.

Natural Gas Grid.

Barry Andrews

Ceist:

234 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the volume of cast iron piping in the gas pipe network; the cost of replacing and upgrading this piping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14060/05]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

It is an operational matter for Bord Gáis Éireann, under the supervision of the Commission for Energy Regulation, to arrange the safety of its natural gas network and this includes works to upgrade the network or to replace cast iron pipes. I am aware, however, that gas safety is a high priority for Bord Gáis Éireann.

Bord Gáis Éireann has a distribution network in the order of 9,000 km, of which approximately 12% is cast iron. During 2004, Bord Gáis Éireann developed a plan, in conjunction with the Commission for Energy Regulation, to accelerate its mains renewal programme and eliminate all remaining cast iron pipes by the end of 2009. The costs associated with this renewal programme are a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation and Bord Gáis Éireann.

Electricity Generation.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

235 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the subsidy which has been granted under the public service obligations order to a power station (details supplied) in County Mayo for each of the past seven years. [14099/05]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Since 2002 the Commission for Energy Regulation has been responsible for determination of the level of public service order granted for Bellacorrick peat station by virtue of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Public Service Obligations) Order (Amended) 2002, (S.I. 217 of 2002). The Commission for Energy Regulation is obliged under that order, from its commencement date of 23 May 2002, to approve the ESB's estimated additional costs incurred in complying with the public service obligation imposed on the ESB by my Department. It also apportions those costs, recoverable from all final customers of electricity, based on the proportion of maximum demand attributed to each category of accounts such as domestic, small-medium, and large.

The aim of the order is to ensure that Ireland has reasonable self-sufficiency in electricity generation capacity by ensuring that a percentage of the State's generation capacity is fired on indigenous peat to help protect the environment by promoting the use of renewable energy sources.

The public service obligation order requires the board, in its capacity as public electricity supplier to purchase electricity generated from peat and renewable, sustainable or alternative forms of energy. The amount of the levy, which is not a subsidy, is the excess of the board's allowed costs for bought-in and owned peat fired generation and alternative energy requirements over the best new entrant price for electricity. The levy includes an economic return on investment, where relevant, and any other revenue accruing to the board associated directly with peat-fired generation and alternative energy requirements generation schemes.

The commission's decision on the public service obligation charges for 2005 — CER/04/269 — contained, for the first time, a detailed breakdown of the allocation of the levy between the peat stations, peaking capacity and alternative energy requirements-supported plant. This included €1.060 million for Bellacorrick peat station for an estimated four-month operation. This was based on an installed capacity of 20 MW and 38 GW. The 2006 public service obligation calculation will reconcile any changes based on the actual operation of the plant. I am advised by the Commission for Energy Regulation, as the responsible authority in the matter, that a breakdown of the public service obligation charges for preceding years from 2002 onwards has not been published.

Pension Provisions.

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

236 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to ensure that An Post pensioners receive the increases in their pensions. [14121/05]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The authority to implement pension increases was delegated to An Post, subject to certain conditions, as this activity was considered part of the day-to-day operations of the company. This allowed the company to implement pension increases following pay increases to employees. However, decisions outside the scope of the original delegated authority still require the consent of the Ministers for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Finance.

Following a proposal from the board of An Post to amend the company's existing pension increase terms in this instance, my Department and the Department of Finance undertook a review of the situation. While I fully empathise with An Post pensioners for the position in which they find themselves due to the failure of An Post management and unions to reach agreement on implementation of the recovery strategy, the wider overall policy issues raised by the proposal from An Post must also be considered.

The existing terms of the An Post superannuation scheme provide for pay parity, that is, that pensions are increased in line with the pay of serving staff. This is in accordance with public service defined benefit pension increase policy generally, pay parity being an integral and well established practice widely applied in public service defined benefit pension schemes.

Unfortunately, following examination of the issue and taking into consideration the implications of providing a precedent which could impact adversely on the cost of pensions in the wider public sector and the existing practice of pay parity, increases to pensioners of An Post, linked to increases under Sustaining Progress, are not possible at this time. While I understand the frustration of An Post pensioners with the situation, agreement in partnership with An Post unions to the restructuring plan aimed at securing the future of the company, and indeed providing sustainable long-term employment for An Post workers, is the way forward.

I have urged the unions and the management of An Post to fully engage with the industrial relations mechanisms of the State to agree a way forward for the future of the company and all stakeholders in this matter.

James Breen

Ceist:

237 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will review the pension rights of a person (details supplied) in County Clare in order to reflect public service conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14151/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Gallagher)

The Department has been informed by Shannon Foynes Port Company, that the person concerned was a licensed pilot of the former pilotage authority for the Shannon Estuary. He is in receipt of pension benefits from a pilots' benefit fund established on foot of a by-law made under the Pilotage Act 1913 which continued in existence under section 41 of the Harbours Act 1996. Section 41 provides, inter alia, that the company shall ensure that persons in receipt of benefits under such a fund shall continue to receive benefits. Such receipt is subject to the same terms and conditions to which the said fund provided that the receipt of the said benefits was to be subject.

The person concerned has raised the issue of his pension benefits not being index linked. However, the company informs the Department that the by-law which established the fund did not provide for pension benefits to be index linked. The company has confirmed that the pilots' benefit fund is being executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of section 41 of the Harbours Act 1996.

Inland Fisheries.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

238 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the cost of installing a fish counter at Mocollop on the River Blackwater; if the counter functioned at all times since its installation and if he deems it to be worthwhile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14194/05]

John McGuinness

Ceist:

240 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the fish counter on the Suir and Clondulane on the River Blackwater are operating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14197/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Gallagher)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 240 together.

The overall management of the national fish counter programme has been primarily the responsibility of the Marine Institute which has operated directly, or by sub-contracting where necessary, to maintain the objectives of the programme.

The cost of installing the counter at Mocollop on the River Blackwater came to under €89,000. This funding was provided under the final tranche of the national development plan tourism angling measure in 1999. According to the Marine Institute, both this and the counter on the River Suir are hydro-acoustic counters which use echo location. They were two of four purchased in the late 1990s, to use as the basis for an experimental programme on large rivers, which pose particular difficulties with regards to directly quantifying fish runs.

These counters functioned well during testing and received clear acoustic signals. However, this type of counter requires additional technical refinement to calibrate to ensure verifiable salmon counts and to differentiate between various species of fish. This work has not yet been completed and, as a result, both of these counters are being held in storage by the Marine Institute.

The resistivity counter at Clondulane weir on the River Blackwater is a partial counter, providing an index of fish ascending the fish pass at the weir. According to the Marine Institute, this counter was fully functional during the latter half of 2004 and provided a total count of 8,185 ascending and 756 descending fish. However, in November 2004, a non-critical fault within the counter was detected and, as a result, a replacement counter was installed. The original unit was returned to the manufacturers for repair. No data was lost from the counter as a result of this fault.

Since taking up office as Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I have emphasised that I expect the regional fisheries boards and the Marine Institute to collaborate in managing the fish counter programme in the most effective and efficient way possible. In order to achieve this, I have directed the Department to review the arrangements in respect of the operational, data management and quality assurance issues for the national fish counter management programme. I expect this review to be completed so that an enhanced national management programme, including the calibration of the hydro-acoustic counters, will be established within the available resources. It will be carried out by the regional fisheries boards, in partnership with the Marine Institute, from 2005.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

239 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if it was his Department or the Office of Public Works that expressed a preference in 2004 for a denil pass rather than a pond pass as was the plan in 2001 for the work to be undertaken on the Lacken Weir, Kilkenny; the reasoning behind the decision taken; if the cost implications were considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14196/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Gallagher)

While I am aware of the difficulties arising from the works undertaken on the weir on the River Nore in Kilkenny city, this project was undertaken on behalf of, and is, therefore, the responsibility of, the Office of Public Works. The OPW and the consulting engineers involved consulted the engineering division in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Southern Regional Fisheries Board in Autumn 2003 on the proposed fish pass options to be facilitated in the project. Based on the data given to the Department's engineers by the consulting engineers on upstream and downstream water levels during average daily flow conditions, it was recommended that a denil pass be included in Lacken Weir rather than the previously proposed pool pass. The cost implications of the change from a pool pass to a denil pass were not considered significant in the overall cost of the works.

It now transpires that the data provided by the consulting engineers in respect of these water levels was incorrect and that the downstream water level at the entrance to the constructed pass has been found to be lower than required for the normal operation of a denil pass. As a result, the fish pass installed impacted adversely at certain times on the passage of migrating salmon up river earlier this year.

When this matter was discovered, both the regional fisheries board and the engineering division of the Department offered technical expertise to address the problem. The Southern Regional Fisheries Board, in co-operation with the engineers in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Office Of Public Works, has installed a temporary extension to the fish pass to ameliorate the situation and allow for the passage of fish up river.

The engineering division of the Department has designed a permanent remedial scheme, expected to be put in place during low water in the summer months. The cost of the remedial works will be borne by either the Office Of Public Works or its consultant engineers.

Question No. 240 answered with QuestionNo. 238.

Post Office Network.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

241 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the Government is taking steps to bring the post offices that are less than commercially viable within the ambit of the public service obligation; if An Post will be encouraged to expand its banking operations to allow for more flexibility for post office customers in the matter of savings and withdrawals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14298/05]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The Government and An Post share the objective of maintaining a viable nationwide post office network through a strategy of maximising the volume of both public and private sector business handled by the network. Notwithstanding the commercial remit of An Post, the Government recognises the social benefits of maintaining the nationwide post office network. Accordingly, An Post development strategies for the network continue to take full account of these social benefits.

While this is an operational matter for the board and management of An Post, and one in which I have no direct function, I have urged An Post to develop a forward looking strategy for the post office network. That network has been the subject of a number of studies and reviews in recent years. Many of the recommendations arising from these reviews have been implemented, with particular regard to winning new business, including extra banking and new utility business.

It is widely recognised the best strategy to sustain the post office network is for An Post to continue adapting to customer needs, with a view to retaining existing customers, while also developing services to attract new customers. This strategy is already being followed with some success.

Proposed Legislation.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

242 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when it is envisaged that the Maritime Safety Bill 2003, will be enacted in order to enable local authorities to take appropriate measures to control power craft and speed boats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14299/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Gallagher)

I have no function in this matter as the enactment of Bills is a matter for Dáil Éireann.

Broadcasting Legislation.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

243 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the provisions in the Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 to ring-fence moneys for funding programmes produced by the independent sector; the sums of money which have been identified for such programming to date; the works which have been commissioned; if the scheme has attracted the attention of EU scrutiny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14300/05]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The purpose of the Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 was to establish a special fund to encourage private and public broadcasters to include additional programming of a particular character in their programme schedules. The Act provided that the 5% of the net proceeds of the television licence fee should be paid into the fund from 2003 onwards. At the end of April 2005, almost €20.5 million had been paid into the fund. The legislation, enacted in December 2003, provided that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland would have responsibility for drawing up schemes through which the fund could be accessed. During the course of 2004, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland developed and published a draft scheme and consulted widely on it. However, before the scheme can become operational, two formal approvals are required.

Under section 2(1) of the Act, the commission is required to submit a draft scheme to me for approval. The draft scheme was formally submitted for approval to the Department by the commission in December 2004. EU Regulations 659/1999 and 794/2004 require Ireland to formally notify the EU Commission of all aid schemes to ensure compatibility with EU state aid and competition rules. To this end, a copy of the draft scheme was sent to the Commission in mid-January to seek their initial views. Towards the end of March, the Commission indicated that it did not see any major problems with the scheme.

Accordingly, my Department proceeded to formally notify the Commission. Under the procedural regulations, the EU Commission has two months to make a decision, although this period may be extended with the consent of the member state concerned. I await the outcome of the Commission's deliberations.

Inland Fisheries.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

244 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the publication date of a review (details supplied) of inland fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14342/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Gallagher)

I recently received the report from the consultants and am considering its findings. It is my intention to bring this report to Government in the near future and to have it published as soon as possible. Until such time as the report is presented to Government, I am not in a position to report on its recommendations.

Colombia Three.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

245 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if assistance will be given to families of the Colombian Three with translation issues regarding Judge Acosta’s decision at the trial and his judgment; and if the translation of the verdict for the families and the Oireachtas Members who acted as observers at the trial will be facilitated. [13918/05]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

My Department has provided all appropriate consular assistance to the three men in this case, as well as to their families and representatives.

The particular judgment, to which the Deputy refers, acquitted the three men on the more serious charge of providing training for terrorists and convicted them on the lesser charge of travelling on false documents. The latter part of this judgment was not, I understand, contested by the men's legal representatives or their families.

When the judgment on the more serious charge was overturned by the appeal court in Colombia on 16 December 2004, my Department internally translated it to enable a fuller understanding of the reasons for the reversal of the earlier decision. Given that we had done this informal translation, we were happy, so as to be as helpful as possible to the men's families, to make available a copy of the text to a representative of the families. In general, however — this also applies to the earlier court decision — the Department does not provide translations of court decisions. This would normally be a matter for the defence lawyers concerned to arrange.

Human Rights Issues.

John Gormley

Ceist:

246 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason Ireland voted at the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva against a draft resolution on the question of detainees in Guantanamo Bay submitted by Cuba on 14 April 2005, despite the fact that the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 28 October 2004 calling for an impartial and independent investigation of the allegations of torture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13955/05]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The Government has, on a number of occasions, made known its concerns to the US Government regarding the treatment and status of the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. It shares the view of the European Parliament that these detainees should be treated in accordance with the requirements of international human rights and humanitarian law. The Government also recognises the danger posed by terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda. Together with our EU partners, we remain committed to countering all forms of terrorism while upholding the highest standards of international human rights and humanitarian law.

The draft resolution on the detainees in Guantanamo Bay, to which the Deputy refers, was tabled at the Commission on Human Rights, CHR, by the delegation from Cuba on 14 April 2005. The draft resolution was defeated in a vote taken on 21 April 2005, with all EU partners who are members of the commission, including Ireland, voting against, following full and detailed consideration of the issue. The draft resolution was opposed by 22 commission members and supported by eight.

The reasons that Ireland and its partners voted against this draft resolution were given in a statement explaining our vote which was delivered by the Netherlands on behalf of the EU Presidency. This reiterated the EU's condemnation of all acts of terrorism, while emphasising its commitment to human rights and international humanitarian law standards for the Guantanamo detainees. The statement noted that resolutions on the protection of human rights, in the context of the fight against terrorism and of arbitrary detention, already addressed the fundamental issues underlying the Cuban draft resolution. These resolutions are strongly supported in the Commission on Human Rights by the EU.

As regards a request in the draft resolution for the United States to co-operate with the special procedures of the commission, which in effect are special rapporteurs and independent experts on the issues in question, the EU statement recalled the fundamental importance it attaches to full co-operation by all states with these mechanisms. It noted with satisfaction that the United States has already started discussions on the modalities for a visit by special procedures to Guantanamo Bay and indicated that the EU would welcome an early visit. The EU statement also noted that some countries, including Cuba, refuse to allow such visits to their own territories and prisons and called on these countries to change their attitude. In this regard, the EU statement observed that introducing a resolution calling on the United States to act in manner which Cuba refused to do, risks damage to the work and credibility of the commission.

I understand that the United States has facilitated regular visits by the international committee of the Red Cross to Guantanamo Bay. In this regard, the ICRC does not have access to prisons maintained by the Cuban Government. I would welcome an early decision by the United States Government to facilitate a visit by special procedures of the CHR to Guantanamo Bay.

Emigrant Services.

Barry Andrews

Ceist:

247 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans regarding the recommendations made by the task force on policy regarding emigrants; the funding required to implement such recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14061/05]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The task force on policy regarding emigrants produced a very good report with wide-ranging conclusions, covering the full range of emigrant needs. Its recommendations were far-reaching and varied and the implementation of some of these will be, by necessity, on a phased basis over a number of years. Considerable progress has already been made, with action under way on over two thirds of its recommendations. A great many of the recommendations in the report relate to issues of continuing importance which will require ongoing action from all partners, in Government and the voluntary sector, in Ireland and abroad.

Funding for emigrant services has been rising significantly in recent years. Since 1997, funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs, and grants from the DION fund for emigrant welfare in Britain, have increased by some 850%. I was delighted to secure €8.27 million for 2005, an increase of 63% on the 2004 amount. The task force report, which provides a valuable framework for progress, stresses that help should go first and foremost to the vulnerable, the elderly and the marginalised. The increased funding being made available by my Department this year, the vast majority of which will again be directed to organisations providing frontline services to these vulnerable emigrants, will make a huge qualitative and quantitative difference. These organisations are active across the range of critical areas identified by the task force including pre-departure services and frontline advice and counselling to our community living abroad.

The Irish abroad unit is promoting progress on initiatives which build on the task force report. Officials of the unit have had a wide range of meetings in Ireland with Departments and agencies that have a role in the provision of services to emigrants. They have also had meetings with organisations that provide frontline services to Irish people throughout Britain and the US, including with groups supporting Irish people identified by the task force as being in need of special attention and assistance, such as older emigrants, travellers and undocumented Irish people in the US. Close and ongoing exchanges of this type ensure that those in the voluntary sector engaged in the provision of services to our emigrants have an effective channel of communication to the Government. In this way, we can ensure that the needs of our emigrants continue to be accorded the highest priority and that our response is effective and is developed further in the period ahead.

Overseas Development Aid.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

248 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the annual incremental increases agreed by which Ireland would provide 0.7% of its GNP in development aid by 2012 in view of the serious slippage which has occurred in achieving same. [14152/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Mr. C. Lenihan)

The allocation for 2005 provides for an increase of €70 million in Government spending on official development assistance this year. This will bring total Government aid to the developing world to approximately €545 million in 2005, the highest allocation in the 30-year history of the aid programme. The Government has also agreed to provide further increases of €65 million in each of the years 2006 and 2007. These substantial increases mean that over the three years from 2005 to 2007, €1.8 billion will be spent by Ireland on development assistance.

Ceist:

258 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the industries in Mozambique which can sustain full opening up to competition from South Africa; the way in which this can be envisaged as a poverty reduction strategy consistent with the objectives of the Cotonou Agreement. [14162/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Mr. C. Lenihan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 to 258, inclusive, together.

The economic partnership agreements, EPAs, which are to enter into force by 1 January 2008, are an integral element of the legally-binding Cotonou Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific, ACP, states and the European Union.

The EPAs are intended first and foremost as instruments for development to foster the smooth and gradual integration of ACP states into the world economy, with due regard for their own political choices and their own development priorities, thereby promoting their sustainable development and contributing to poverty eradication. They combine trade and wider development issues in a unified framework, while taking account of the specific economic, social and environmental circumstances of each regional group and its component states. I cannot see this approach as constituting a dilution of African sovereignty regarding its economic future. It seems to me that it addresses the particular concern of Ireland and other member states that development and poverty reduction should be the principle objectives of the EPAs.

As far as the impacts of liberalisation of trade are concerned, I draw the Deputy's attention to Article 37(7) of the Cotonou Agreement, which states that the negotiations on the EPAs

. . . shall take account of the level of development and the socio-economic impact of trade measures on ACP countries, and their capacity to adapt and adjust their economies to the liberalisation process. Negotiations will, therefore, be as flexible as possible in establishing the duration of a sufficient transitional period, the final product coverage, taking into account sensitive sectors, and the degree of asymmetry in terms of timetable for tariff dismantlement, while remaining in conformity with WTO rules then prevailing.

Under European Union regulations, it is the European Commission which conducts the EPA negotiations between the EU and six regional groupings of ACP states on behalf of the member states. The Commission provides the Council with regular updates on the progress of the negotiations. While Ireland, like other member states, does not participate in the ongoing EPA negotiations, we are satisfied that the Commission is discharging its mandate in accordance with the provisions of the Cotonou Agreement and in a manner which is sensitive to the particular concerns of the ACP States. As in all trade negotiations, the EPA discussions have brought to light differences of approach between the parties in a number of areas. It is to be hoped that, as the talks progress, these divergences can be resolved in accordance with the principles and objectives underlying the negotiations. Ireland is actively following the developments in the EPA negotiations and will continue to do so.

In Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has primary responsibility for trade policy. An officer of that Department represents Ireland at meetings of the 133 committee, which normally meets once a month at the level of full members. An officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs also attends meetings of the 133 committee on a regular basis. Given the importance for Ireland of trade and trade relations with other countries, including those which are programme countries for Ireland's development cooperation programme, there is regular and on-going contact with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and other Departments, including the Department of Agriculture and Food, in preparing for meetings of the 133 committee and on questions relating to trade in general. Ireland is actively following the developments in the EPA negotiations and will continue to do so.

All of the programme countries in Ireland's bilateral aid programme — Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Timor Leste — are ACP states. In each of these countries, Ireland works in close co-operation with its partner government, other donors, the private sector and civil society to ensure coherence in our approach across a range of sectors. Among the issues discussed are the impact of EU policies, including EPAs, and the wider question of integration of LDCs into the international trading system. This approach will help build the economic infrastructure in these least developed countries, LDCs, which will lead to employment generation and ultimately to long-term sustainable development. The level of detail being sought by Deputy Upton in relation to employment in particular industries in sub-Saharan Africa and other related details are not available to me.

In common with most other countries in the southern Africa region, South Africa is Mozambique's main foreign investor, and strong trade links have developed between the two countries in recent years. It would not be appropriate for me to express a view on which specific industries in Mozambique, or indeed any other third country, could sustain competition from South Africa. Part of our overall engagement with the private sector in sub-Saharan Africa involves working to create a better climate for enterprise development and economic growth and involves efforts aimed at creating a more enabling international environment and improving coherence on trade and agriculture domestically.

Visa Applications.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

259 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if an application for a visitor’s visa by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14268/05]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The visa application referred to by the Deputy, reference No. 1022430, was made in Riga on 21 March 2005 and forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs visa office in Dublin on 23 March 2005. Visas of this kind are not covered by the Department of Foreign Affairs' delegated sanction to issue visas and the application was, therefore, referred to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for decision. The Department of Foreign Affairs database shows that no decision on the application has yet been made by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Sports Capital Programme.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

260 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the maximum support and advice will be given to a football club (details supplied) with its grant; and if assistance will be given to same in resolving the delay in accessing the final part of the grant. [13913/05]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue)

The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis.

A grant of €130,000 was provisionally allocated to the club in question under the 2002 sports capital programme. The grant was subject to the terms and conditions of the programme, which include the requirement that a tax clearance certificate be supplied in respect of each contractor employed on the grant-aided work. To date, €123,500 of this grant has been paid to the club in question. Officials from my Department have confirmed to the club that a tax clearance certificate is required for the contractor who has finished this project. On receipt of this certificate, which is an essential requirement of Government funding, the remaining €6,500 will be released to the club.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

261 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will approve a sports capital grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14098/05]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue)

The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis.

Applications for funding under the 2005 programme were invited through advertisements in the press on 5 and 6 December last. The closing date for receipt of applications was 4 February 2005. All applications received before that deadline, including one from the club in question, are currently being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

262 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will give consideration to an application (details supplied) for sports funding. [14102/05]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue)

The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis.

Applications for funding under the 2005 programme were invited through advertisements in the press on 5 and 6 December last. The closing date for receipt of applications was 4 February 2005. A total of 1,362 applications were received by this date. No application was received before the deadline in the name of the organisation concerned.

All applications received before the closing date are currently being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed. I expect to announce details of the 2006 sports capital programme towards the end of this year. It is open to the organisation in question to submit an application to that programme should it have a project which meets the programme's guidelines, terms and conditions.

Motor Fuels.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

263 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the monthly movements in the price of unleaded petrol and motor diesel here during the past 12 months; and the movements in the spot prices over the same period and in movements of the average European price of these fuels at the petrol pumps. [13941/05]

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

264 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has been tracking the movement of fuel prices at the pumps; if he has satisfied himself that the movement in prices at the pump are justified by the movement in the spot price, taking account of reserves and other factors that might mitigate its impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13937/05]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 264 together.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment does not track the movement of fuel prices at the pumps. The policy of the Government in respect of oil products generally is to promote competition and consumer choice. There is no price control on these products and in common with most other goods and services, price differences are an ongoing feature of the market economy. It is a matter for retailers to explain price differences where they occur and my Department encourages consumers to raise price concerns directly with retailers.

While fuel may not be subject to price control, the Retail Price (Diesel and Petrol) Display Order 1997, which is enforced by the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, requires persons selling diesel and petrol products to specify the price per litre being charged and to display their prices in a clear and prominent manner. The order enables consumers to readily compare prices and purchase their fuel on the basis of an informed choice. If it is the case that prices for petrol are affected by agreements between petrol companies or retailers or by an abuse of a dominant position, the Competition Authority is there to enforce competition law. Any suspected infringements of competition law should be brought to the attention of the Competition Authority.

National Minimum Wage.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

265 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address the concerns of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13952/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Killeen)

The National Minimum Wage Act came into effect in April 2000. Prior to the introduction of the legislation, the national minimum wage commission was appointed by the Government to advise on the introduction of a national minimum wage. The commission examined a number of issues including the social implications of a national minimum wage and the determination, implementation and enforcement of a minimum wage. It recommended that employees under the age of 18 should be entitled to 70% of the national minimum wage. This percentage was recommended to strike a balance between ensuring that young employees are not exploited and ensuring that the rate of pay does not encourage students to leave full-time education.

This recommendation was endorsed by the interdepartmental group on implementation of a national minimum wage which felt that a reduced rate for those under 18 raised important issues for national education and employment policies and required particularly careful consideration. In its report it stated:

The group is of the view that, having regard to the fact that there will always be a certain group of young people entering full time employment before the age of 18, that this group is among the most vulnerable in society and there is need to cater for them in the context of a national minimum wage. Nevertheless, it is also clear that the introduction of a national minimum wage has two possible effects on this group — a possible increase in the supply of such workers attracted by the minimum wage rate to leave education earlier than they would otherwise have done, and a possible reduction in demand for such workers by raising their price to beyond a level which employers were prepared to pay.

The sub-minimum rate for those under 18 was therefore recommended by the national minimum wage commission, endorsed by the interdepartmental group on the implementation of a national minimum wage and was subsequently implemented in the minimum wage legislation.

Community Employment Schemes.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

266 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason no reply has been received for Parliamentary Questions Nos. 189 of 14 December 2004 and 297 of 15 February 2005; and if a reply will issue. [13953/05]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

Community employment, CE, is intended as a labour market work experience programme of pre-determined duration. Participants who leave the programme are replaced on an ongoing basis and thus redundancy does not arise in such cases because the programme position continues to exist. In circumstances where a project closes down, the participants, with their agreement, may transfer to another FÁS-sponsored project to complete their term on CE.

Redundancy is, in the first instance, an issue between the employer and employee. In the exceptional circumstances where redundancy arises, due to the closing down of the project, CE participants may claim statutory redundancy provided they have worked continuously for at least 104 weeks with the same employer. Such claims are made directly to the employer who sponsors the project in the first instance. I am informed by FÁS that during the years 2002 and 2003 the number of participants who were paid statutory redundancy was in the order of 120. The figure for 2004 is estimated by FÁS at being substantially less, particularly as the overall level of places provided on CE increased by approximately 2000 during that year. Finally, I regret the delay in providing the Deputy with the information.

Job Creation.

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

267 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies that were brought or referred to County Kerry by IDA Ireland in 2004; the type of business in which they are engaged; and the number that have decided to invest in the county. [14105/05]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland, including its regions and areas. Ultimately, decisions regarding where to locate, including what areas or sites to visit as potential locations are taken by investors. In 2004 two companies visited the Kerry region, one an ICT company which visited Killarney and Tralee and the other an international services company that visited Killarney. To date, neither company has decided to locate in Ireland.

In addition to targeting potential new projects, IDA Ireland is also working with its existing base of companies in the region with a view to supporting such companies with potential expansions and diversification of activities, which strengthen their presence in the region. During 2004, three expansion projects were announced in Kerry, the details of which are as follows. Dollinger (Ireland) Limited is to be the global centre for production of its compressed air products range. This €1.1 million investment will create over 70 new jobs over the next four years and has resulted in Dollinger re-locating to larger premises. Liebherr Container Cranes Limited is to recruit six highly skilled R&D personnel for a new R&D specialised team. The team, which will be of strategic importance to the parent company and will enhance the facility's role as the centre of control for Liebherr's container crane products, will develop products from concept through to product launch. In addition, any intellectual property developed will be the property of the Irish company. Fujisawa, one of the world's top 30 pharmaceutical companies, announced that it had invested €17 million in the expansion of its Irish operation in County Kerry. The company has a total employment of 280 people and has constructed a 27,000 sq. ft. extension to provide additional production space for the new operation.

At the end of 2004 there were 2,022 people in permanent employment in 21 IDA-supported companies in County Kerry. I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland will bear fruit in terms of maximising sustainable investment and jobs for the people of Kerry.

Work Permits.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

268 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the maximum penalty which can be imposed on an employer for the employment of a person outside of the EEA without a work permit; if, in view of a recent court case in Galway, he intends to review the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14120/05]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

Under section 2(3) of the Employment Permits Act 2003, an employer who employs a non-EEA national without permission is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both. On conviction on indictment, an employer is liable to a fine not exceeding €250,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or both. This legislation is enforced by the Garda national immigration bureau. I have no function in respect of the courts.

The Employment Permits Bill, currently at the final stages of drafting, will introduce additional protections for migrant workers and provide for penalties and proceedings for breaches of these protections.

Job Losses.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

269 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the prospect of re-opening a company (details supplied) and the creation of 100 jobs is receding; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact if the liquidator proceeds with the sale of the machinery at the plant on an ex situ basis, the plant will not reopen; if, in recognition of the importance of the 100 jobs to the region, he will appoint a facilitator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14123/05]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

Shannon Development is the agency responsible for regional economic development in the mid-west region. Plans for the factory site in question are an operational issue for the company and not one in which I have any direct function. However, I understand that Shannon Development have been in contact with the consortium of ex-workers and the liquidator.

It is of the utmost importance that all efforts be made to ensure that the workers who became unemployed through the liquidation of Fitzpack Ltd. are assisted in finding new employment in the region. Shannon Development, as the regional economic development agency, has a role to play in this regard. However, it also has to observe other rules and requirements, such as public procurement requirements and act in an open and transparent manner, when it is dealing in State assets, which is essential in the good operation of any State body. In the circumstances, I have no plans to appoint a facilitator.

It is understood from Shannon Development that it is proceeding with the process of placing the factory building and land within its curtilage on the open market. Consulting engineers have been engaged to advise on what portion of the lands in the vicinity of the building are required in order to ensure that adequate access and services are available for use of the factory. The final decision on the method of disposal to be used — public auction, public tender or private treaty — will be made on the advice of the professional property agents who will be appointed to handle the marketing and sale of the premises. The marketing process is likely to commence shortly and continue through June.

Economic Partnership Agreements.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

270 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Government’s views on the UK paper on the economic partnership agreements being negotiated by the European Commission with 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries; if, in accordance with the concern expressed by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Government will join with the UK and other like-minded Governments with a view to changing the EU position on EPAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14133/05]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

271 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has satisfied himself that consideration of EPAs at the 133 committee meeting of 6 May 2005 gives Ireland and other member states sufficient time to consider the UK paper on EPAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14236/05]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

272 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he supports the view advocated by the UK Government in the context of the EPA negotiations that the EU should propose within the WTO that Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, should be reviewed as suggested by the Commission for Africa, in order to reduce the requirement for reciprocity and increase the focus on development priorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14237/05]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

273 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he supports the view advocated by the UK Government in the context of the EPA negotiations that the EU should offer ACP countries an alternative to an EPA which would provide no worse market access to the EU than is currently enjoyed under Cotonou preferences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14238/05]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

274 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he supports the view advocated by the UK Government in the context of the EPA negotiations that investment, competition and government procurement should be removed from the negotiations unless specifically requested by an ACP regional negotiating group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14239/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. M. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 274, inclusive, together.

EPAs are, first and foremost, instruments for development that will foster the smooth and gradual integration of ACP States into the world economy. Substantive negotiations are currently underway between the EU and ACP states in this regard. As trade is a Union competence, it is the European Commission which conducts the negotiations on the EPAs between the EU and six regional groupings of ACP States on behalf of member states on the basis of an agreed mandate. The Commission provides the Council with updates on the progress of the negotiations.

I have read with interest the recent position paper that sets out the UK view on how best the commitment to put development at the heart of the EPA negotiations can be best delivered. I agree with the basic thrust of an approach to the EPAs which ensure that the needs and concerns of developing countries are taken adequately into consideration during the substantive phase of these negotiations. Indeed, more recently, in the context of the further progression of EPA negotiations, Commissioner Mandelson has indicated that he is putting the EPA process under continuing review, with a new review mechanism to ensure that at every stage in the negotiations that the development dimension is put first. I fully support this approach by the commissioner.

Ireland is actively following the developments in the EPA negotiations process and will continue to do so. In so far as the discussions within the EU Council, including the Article 133 committee, are concerned, Ireland will have full regard to the content of the UK paper. In all of these discussions, we will be insisting that the Commission discharge its mandate in accordance with the provisions of the Cotonou Agreement and in a manner which is sensitive to the particular concerns of ACP states.

Company Closures.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

275 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, further to previous parliamentary questions, his views on the position of some unsecured creditors such as a company (details supplied) in County Kilkenny which as yet have not been paid by the liquidator at IFI; the costs incurred to date by the liquidator; the prospect of payment for those yet unpaid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14294/05]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

The determination of any payments due to creditors of IFI is a matter solely for the liquidator. The position of unsecured creditors can only be determined by the liquidator when all the assets of the company have been realised and all liabilities established. In this regard, I understand that the liquidator has made considerable progress in realising the assets of the company and establishing the full extent of its liabilities. The liquidator has indicated that he hopes to complete the liquidation process later this year.

At this stage, the main production sites at Arklow and Cork remain the principle assets yet to be realised. It is understood that contracts have been signed for the sale of the Arklow site and the sale is due to close later this month. Discussions have also been taking place with a number of parties about the Cork site. It is a matter solely for the liquidator to determine whether to accept any particular offer made.

Ceist:

282 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications where the Personal Injuries Assessment Board has executed its discretion under section 17 of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 not to arrange for the making of any assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14458/05]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 to 282, inclusive, together.

Some of the information regarding issues raised by the Deputy in his questions is available on the PIAB's website at www.piab.ie and is updated regularly. In this regard, the latest figures available on the number of applications to PIAB for assessment of quantum indicate that, at 21 April 2005, 19,099 calls had been received, 898,206 website hits had been recorded and a total of 7,196 applications for assessment had been made. These are broken down as follows: 1,879 employer liability applications; 2,204 public liability applications; and 3,113 motor accident applications.

However, many details requested by the Deputy relate to operational matters for which the chief executive officer of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board holds responsibility. Further information is, however, currently being collated by the PIAB and will be made available to me shortly. I will ask the PIAB to make this information available to the Deputy. I also understand that the PIAB will be releasing this information publicly.

Regarding the funding of the PIAB, the Exchequer has provided funds of €5.5 million for the set up and running costs of the PIAB in the years 2003 and 2004. A further €2.5 million has been provided for in the Department's 2005 Estimates. The PIAB is expected to be self funding by year end 2005.

I am satisfied that the statutory obligations relating to all applications received by the PIAB have been met. My understanding is that data relating to the first 25 assessments will be released to the public shortly. These awards have been made within nine months of the relevant respondents consenting to assessment, as required by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003.

With regard to volumes, the PIAB expects to assess in the region of 10,000 cases per annum when fully operational. The PIAB started handling all personal injury cases in the country from 22 July 2004. As it approaches its first anniversary next July, it will be on target with current applications standing at 7,196. This is all the more significant bearing in mind that the natural flow of claims into the PIAB was slowed by the acceleration of approximately 16,000 cases into the litigation route prior to the PIAB commencing operations. I am very pleased with the operation of the PIAB to date.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

283 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has had their rent subsidy reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/05]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

Rent supplements are provided through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Rent supplements are subject to a means test and are normally calculated to ensure that an eligible person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his or her family circumstances, less a minimum contribution — currently €13 per week — which a recipient is required to pay from his or her own resources.

In addition to this minimum weekly contribution, each recipient is also required to contribute any additional assessable means he or she has over and above the appropriate supplementary welfare allowance rate towards his or her rent. Up to €60 of additional weekly income is disregarded in the rent supplement means test in respect of participation in approved training courses, to ensure that a person gains overall as a result of taking up such an opportunity.

The Dublin and mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that the amount of rent supplement in payment to the person concerned was reduced to take account of an increase in the level of her assessable household income. In addition to her one-parent family payment, the person concerned is now in receipt of a weekly training allowance of €148.80. Taking account of this additional income, and allowing the appropriate €60 disregard, the person concerned is in receipt of the correct amount of rent supplement for her circumstances. Her income before rent supplement is €316.90 per week and she is also in receipt of an additional €60.70 per week in rent supplement.

Family Support Services.

Richard Bruton

In August 1986, Craig Gardner Consultants were commissioned to examine the major payment systems in my Department with a view to establishing where they were most at risk and to advise on cost effective measures to keep these risks to a minimum. The consultants submitted three reports containing a number of recommendations covering operational and organisational arrangements and about protecting the schemes from abuse. The final report was submitted in November 1987.

The main recommendations covered internal working arrangements and the manner in which services were delivered. In particular, the consultants recommended a greater emphasis on local service and control, the examination of identity issues and the introduction of new payment methods. Since then the Department has gone through a major reorganisation which has allowed for a more focused approach to fraud and control. This reorganisation included the establishment in 1991 of a regional structure, a dedicated control division in 1992 and the setting up of separate control units in each of my Department's scheme sections. There has also been an increase in the number of staff involved in control work generally.

Throughout the 1980s the rapid introduction of information technology facilitated the move from manual to computerised systems to support the administration of the Department's schemes and the elimination of cash payments in local offices. This allowed my Department to take a more focused, co-ordinated and effective approach to control of schemes by enabling data from a variety of sources to be cross checked and potential irregularities isolated and investigated.

The services operated by the network of local and branch offices have expanded significantly since the Craig Gardner reports. Claims for pre-retirement allowance and farm assist are processed locally and currently the one-parent family payment scheme is being localised. A facility is also available to register and to certify ongoing entitlement to claims for disability benefit. In addition, all applications for personal public services numbers, formerly the revenue and social insurance number, are processed through the network of local and branch offices. A comprehensive information service is also provided in these locations for customers.

There has also been an increased emphasis on liaison and co-operation with external organisations to support my Department's control activities. In this context, my Department has put an extensive legal framework in place to support the sharing of data with other prescribed organisations for the purposes of controlling the entitlement and payment of benefits. Information is obtained and acted upon on an ongoing basis from a range of organisations including the Revenue Commissioners, FÁS, the Health Service Executive and other Government Departments. For example, commencement of employment data received from the Revenue Commissioners and details of full-time registered day time students from third level institutions is matched against social welfare databases to identify cases where there is a possible overlap between the employment or college attendance period and the social welfare payment. Cases identified with open claims are referred to the relevant areas for investigation.

In addition, there is regular contact between my Department and the social security authorities in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The level of co-operation between my Department and all these organisations is kept under continuous review with a view to enhancing it where appropriate.

Another initiative involved the setting up of a joint investigation unit, comprising inspectors from my Department's special investigation unit and the Revenue Commissioners, to use their combined legal powers to ensure that employers comply with their PAYE-PRSI obligations and to identify customers working and claiming benefit. My Department's control strategy, published in 2003, is based on a four pronged approach to the control of schemes, namely, prevention of fraud and error at the initial claim stage, early detection through effective review of claims in payment, measures to deter fraud and the pursuit and recovery of overpayments.

The introduction of systematic risk analysis of major schemes is a key element of the approach to tackling fraud and abuse. Furthermore, surveys of schemes are undertaken to establish baseline levels of fraud and abuse and my Department is committed to undertaking at least two such surveys annually. All cases of fraud are considered for prosecution. A policy on prosecution was published in early 2003 which has resulted in increased numbers of cases being prosecuted. In 2004, 503 cases were submitted for prosecution compared with 405 and 245 respectively in respect of the previous two years.

David Stanton

Ceist:

287 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the new or additional legislative provisions which have been adopted in the past ten years to assist in preventing and deterring fraud; and the incidence of cases identified to which any such new provisions relate. [13968/05]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The following anti-fraud initiatives were enacted in the last ten years. Section 22 of the Social Welfare Act 1998 amended the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993 to provide that persons who fail to provide information to the Minister about persons or class of persons, as may be prescribed, shall be guilty of an offence.

Section 26 of the Social Welfare Act 1999 amended section 212 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993 by conferring more specific powers on social welfare inspectors regarding inspection and taking copies of records found on inspection of premises, removing and retaining such records and securing records for later inspection. Social welfare inspectors were also given power to summon the occupier of the premises, or an employer on the premises, to attend at an office of the Minister or other premises for clarification of any questions consequent on inspection, by notice in writing. A social welfare inspector may be accompanied by Garda when performing any power conferred under that section and, if accompanied by Garda, may stop any vehicle suspected to be used in course of employment or self employment and may question and make inquiries of any person in the vehicle or require him to produce any employment records in his possession.

Section 28 of the Social Welfare Act 1999 amended section 224 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993 to allow a prosecution for a summary offence under that Act to be brought at the suit of the Health Service Executive and the Collector General. It also provided that civil proceedings under that Act may be taken by or against the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Section 17 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2005 amended section 224(a) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993 to extend the period under which a prosecution may be taken from six to 18 months, commencing on the date on which evidence sufficient to justify the institution of that prosecution comes into the possession of the Minister. The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Control Provisions) Regulations 1997, S.I. No. 155 of 1997, consolidated existing regulations and introduced an extension of the notification of commencement of employment requirement to the meat processing industry. They also extended to PLC students the requirements applying to some institutes of higher education to provide information to the Minister at the start of each academic year in respect of each person registered as a student at that institution.

The amendment contained in section 22 of the 1998 Act was used to extend these provisions to private colleges or schools which do not receive funding or validation from the Department of Education and Science or other bodies. The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Control Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 1998, S.I. No. 468 of 1998, refer. The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Control Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2001, S.I. No. 327 of 2001, extended the obligation on employers to maintain on-site records to the construction industry. These measures were designed to facilitate the detection of potential fraud and abuse.

While the specific nature of the fraud or abuse detected is recorded in all cases in terms of the outcome of investigations, records are not maintained in such a way as to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

David Stanton

Ceist:

288 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of employers who have been compelled to repay benefits, pensions, allowances, assistance or supplements, in accordance with section 219 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, fraudulently obtained as a result of an employer’s failure to maintain records as required by the Act, each year since the provision was enacted; and the amount repaid in each year. [13969/05]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The aim of my Department's control policy is to prevent fraud and abuse. A key aspect of control policy is deterrence and effective debt management is seen as an integral part of the deterrent approach.

Use of section 219 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 1993 as a method of overpayment recovery, in appropriate cases, is one element of my Department's debt management policy. Under this section, where an employer fails to maintain proper and complete wage records detailing the employment details of it's employees and where, due to that failure, an employee receives a benefit, pension, assistance or allowance payment to which he/she would not otherwise be entitled, the employer is liable to repay the full amount of that benefit, pension, assistance or allowance.

Based on available records, the number of employers in respect of whom overpayments have been assessed under section 219 and the amounts paid from 1999 onwards are detailed in the table. Details of payments made by employers under section 219 prior to this are not available.

Year	Number of Employers	Total Amounts (Euro)
1999	24	120,712.55
2000	42	101.583.49
2001	33	65,403.55
2002	45	101,760.52
2003	45	107,204.69
2004	40	86,098.13
2005 (to date)	18	35,969.90

Social Welfare Code.

David Stanton

Ceist:

289 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the Reach agency has considered the question of cards for social welfare and related purposes; if so, the recommendations or proposals which were made in this matter; and when these recommendations were first made. [13975/05]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The development of a public service card was one of a number of objectives set for the Reach agency at the launch of the Reach initiative in 1999 and 2000. The objectives included the establishment and use of the personal public service, PPS, number as the common customer identifier and the development and acceptance of the public service card as the citizen's key to services.

Reach pursued the public service card objective through a programme of research and analysis of international best practice in the use of cards and, following preliminary consultations with Government Departments, developed a rationale for furthering the development and deployment of a public service card in the Irish public services context. The rationale provided foundation material for the Government approval in 2004 to develop the current SAFE initiative, which is jointly managed by client identity services in my Department and the Department of Finance.

During this period, the Reach agency was also mandated to develop and implement the public services broker. The refocusing of Reach's priorities in that time facilitated the development of the complex and significant broker project, the first phase of which is to go live shortly. Reach continues to work with client identity services to build and extend identity services to support access to services through the public services broker.

Reach has participated in the steering group established to progress the SAFE initiative, which is developing a set of business principles to form a standard for a public service card. The SAFE initiative has recently completed the initial phase of its work and proposals will shortly be prepared for Government relating to this which will also address future phases of work, including convergence issues and a communication and consultation programme.

David Stanton

Ceist:

290 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of the existing social service cards which were issued in each of the years 1992 to date; and when the decision to issue such cards was first proposed and agreed with the Department of Finance. [13976/05]

David Stanton

Ceist:

291 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the types of function for which the existing social service cards are currently used or have been used in earlier years, either for his Department purposes, for the purposes of payment of benefit by An Post or for any other purpose formally supported by State agencies and organisations such as voting; and if he will give an indication of the levels of each type of usage in each year since they were first issued. [13977/05]

David Stanton

Ceist:

292 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the consultations which have occurred with other Government Departments and other State agencies on the types of usage that might be appropriate for the existing social service cards or equivalent cards, in each of the years 1992 to date. [13978/05]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 to 292, inclusive, together.

In 1991, responsibility for the allocation of RSI numbers, which were subsequently renamed personal public service, PPS, numbers in 1998, transferred from the Revenue Commissioners to my Department. In 1991, it was proposed by my Department and agreed with the Department of Finance to replace the cardboard registration card with the more modern social services card. This card, which shows the client's name and PPS number on the front, has a magnetic stripe on the back which contains the PPS number, sex and date of birth of the client.

The number of social services cards issued in each year since 1992 is set out in appendix 1. On its introduction it was intended that the card would be used as a permanent and durable record of a person's PPS number. The card was also to provide customers with secure access to electronic information transfer, EIT, payments via the post office network. These are the only uses to which the card has been put since its introduction. The social services card does not formally support any other uses.

The number of customers using the social services card for the EIT method of payment is set out in appendix 2. The yearly numbers of EIT transactions made using the social services card is set out in appendix 3. No discussions with other Government Departments have taken place specifically on the types of usage that might be appropriate for the social services card since 1992. However, discussions have taken place on the more substantive issue of an integrated approach to public service delivery, including the role a card could play as a means to facilitate this integration.

Work has also taken place on the development of the legal and operational basis for the unique identifier, the PPS number, and on the progression of the initiative in the context of the e-government modernisation programme. In June 2004, the Government approved proposals for the development of a framework for public service cards using the personal public service, PPS, number as a unique identifier. An interdepartmental group is currently working on developing this framework, which is known as SAFE — standard authentication framework environment. The report on its first phase of work is currently being prepared.

Appendix 1
Year
1992	74,781
1993	295,195
1994	465,861
1995	399,505
1996	226,394
1997	227,520
1998	326,572
1999	289,428
2000	249,559
2001	289,562
2002	356,000
2003	188,854
2004	151,202

Appendix 2
Month	No. of customers on EIT
December 2002	143,578
December 2003	141,586
December 2004	133,332
March 2005	134,120

Appendix 3
Year	No. of transactions
1998	8,210,165
1999	8,392,638
2000	7,003,733
2001	6,626,419
2002	6,901,212
2003	7,032,649
2004	6,661,462

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

293 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the payment of old age pensions by means of pension books at post offices is to be replaced by electronic funds transfers to banks. [14023/05]

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

294 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in the event of old age pension books being replaced by electronic funds transfers, this facility will be made available at the post offices. [14024/05]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 294 together.

Current payment options for old age pensions include payment at post offices by means of a pension order book and direct payment to customers' bank, building society or post office savings accounts. My objective is to ensure that a range of payment options is available to customers and that service is continually improved by providing access to the wide range of payment options and new services and facilities now available.

I recently announced a comprehensive review of my Department's payment systems. The purpose of the review is to identify a system for the future that will respond most effectively to the individual needs of customers and deliver a service that is flexible and cost effective. This review will have regard to current trends and offerings in the financial services sector and the rapid advances in card based technologies. It will also take account of Government policy to facilitate the greater use of electronic payment systems in the economy in the interests of developing a world class payments environment in Ireland.

The increased use of electronic systems and card based technologies opens up possibilities for improved service and greater efficiency in payment delivery generally in the future. I recently met with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, who is the Minister responsible for An Post, to discuss these possibilities and their future role in payment delivery in post offices.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

295 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to reform the rent allowance system, in particular contacts with other Government Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14125/05]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, provides for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent to assist an eligible person who is unable to provide for his or her accommodation costs from his or her own resources and who does not have accommodation available from any other source.

A significant number of people have come to rely on rent supplements on a long-term basis over the years. In July 2004, the Government announced a new initiative to meet the long-term housing needs of rent supplement recipients. The new system will see local authorities assume responsibility for meeting long-term housing assistance needs, including the needs of those people on rent supplements for 18 months or longer. These needs will be met through a range of approaches, including the traditional range of social housing options, the voluntary housing sector and, in particular, a new public private partnership type rental accommodation scheme. A total of €19 million has been transferred from my Department's Vote to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Vote this year to help finance this initiative.

The new arrangements are currently being implemented in seven local authorities. My Department and the Health Service Executive are actively assisting the local authorities and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in this process. That Department has appointed programme managers to assist the lead authorities with the implementation of the new arrangements. Thereafter, these managers will be available to support other authorities during the implementation period. Regional and local implementation groups in the seven lead authority areas have been established to ensure effective ongoing liaison and co-operation locally between housing authorities, Health Service Executive areas and other agencies.

It is expected that the lead local authorities will transfer the first eligible rent supplement recipients to the rental accommodation scheme in May 2005. The new arrangements will be initiated in all local authority areas by the end of 2005. Almost 30,000 households who have been in receipt of a rent supplement payment for 18 months or more and are likely to be supported under the new rental assistance arrangements in due course.

Rent supplements are available through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in determining entitlement in individual cases.

In general, people in full-time education are excluded from receiving assistance, including rent supplements, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. However, there is statutory provision for continued payment of rent supplement to eligible people, generally over age 21 years, who wish to resume full-time education in approved courses through the back to education allowance or VTOS schemes, subject to satisfying the other standard conditions of the rent supplement scheme.

The Dublin and mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that it became aware that the person concerned is a full-time student in the course of a routine review of her entitlements. As she is not participating in either the back to education allowance or VTOS schemes, she does not satisfy the statutory conditions for retention of rent supplement.

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

300 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly raised in correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the reason a social welfare payment from the UK is included in a means test for the old age non-contributory pension; the steps he plans to take to rectify the discriminatory practices in regard to the old age non contributory pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14410/05]

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

301 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will award the full old age non-contributory pension to Irish persons who are in receipt of any social welfare payment as outlined in his Department’s information leaflet SW60; if he will end the discriminatory practice of including a social welfare payment from another State in means testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14412/05]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together.

It has not been possible in the time available to examine comprehensively the details of the case mentioned by the Deputy. I will write to him shortly in regard to this matter.

Departmental Funding.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

302 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will take urgent steps to make the necessary funds available to enable a centre (details supplied) to remain open after 30 years of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14413/05]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The centre concerned is one of a number of organisations which are funded under my Department's scheme of grants for the development and promotion of information and welfare rights. Since its establishment in 1975, the centre has been funded exclusively by State agencies, including the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with my Department taking over direct funding in 1995. Annual funding has increased progressively over the years and my Department provided €215,000 to the centre in 2004.

I am fully cognisant of the valuable role which a community-based legal advice service such as the centre concerned can play in the delivery of a comprehensive and cost-effective legal advice service for citizens. However, I am satisfied that my Department is not, in the long term, the most appropriate source of funding for this service having regard to the fact that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has primary responsibility for funding legal aid services. Social welfare queries dealt with by the centre in 2004 represented less than 5% of its annual business.

I have, therefore, written to my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, regarding future funding of the centre as an integral part of its legal aid services and I will be following this up with him as a matter of urgency.

In the meantime, I am increasing their funding for 2005 to €360,000. This will allow for a breathing space between now and the end of the year during which a solid, long-term strategy can be assembled that will ensure the centre can continue its work into the future.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

303 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the rent allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14416/05]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The position remains as advised in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 284, which I answered for the Deputy on 8 March 2005. The Dublin-mid-Leinster area of the Health Service Executive has advised that it has no record of an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. If the person concerned wishes to apply she should contact the community welfare officer at her local health centre who will assess her situation and determine her entitlement.

Driving Tests.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

304 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Transport the reason the mobile unit that is used for the theory test for learner drivers cannot be brought to Erris in County Mayo, obviating the need for persons to travel to Ballina. [14425/05]

Public Transport.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

307 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding public transport services in the Artane, Beaumont and Coolock areas in Dublin 5. [13982/05]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

The provision of Dublin Bus services and any decision by Dublin Bus to alter any of its services are part of the day-to-day responsibilities of that company.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

308 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in supplying additional buses to Dublin Bus under the national development plan; if he is aware that the non-provision of same is preventing Dublin Bus from providing 15 additional buses to serve the Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge and Lucan areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14046/05]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

Significant investment has been made to date under the national development plan, NDP, in acquiring new buses for Dublin Bus. In addition, significant Exchequer funding has been provided for a new depot for these buses. As a consequence, the capacity of the fleet has been increased by nearly 25% since 1999 and the company is now carrying approximately 150 million passengers per annum. Some 418 buses have been purchased by Dublin Bus since 1999 with the assistance of Exchequer and EU funds.

I am informed by Dublin Bus that in 2004 the company carried approximately 94,000 passengers per weekday in the morning peak, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

315 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the amount allocated in each year since 1997 for the provision or enhancement of bus corridors in Dublin. [14130/05]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

The amounts allocated for each year since 1997 for the provision or enhancement of quality bus corridors in Dublin are as follows:

Year	Amount Allocated €
1997	1.5 million
1998	3.7 million
1999	8.6 million
2000	17.8 million
2001	23.4 million
2002	15.1 million
2003	18.6 million
2004	28.1 million

Funding for the QBCs is provided through the Department of Transport's traffic management grants scheme which is administered by the Dublin Transportation Office. I have allocated €40 million to the traffic management grants scheme for 2005 and I understand that the DTO steering committee has decided to allocate 85% of this amount for the design, development and implementation of bus priority schemes in 2005.

Road Safety.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

316 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Transport if trucks will be fitted with wing mirrors to ensure that drivers can see pedestrians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14150/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Mr. Callely)

Developments at EU level will result in new heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, having to comply with higher standards in regard to the fields of vision of drivers. EU Directive 2003/97/EC, which harmonises the rules relating to the type-approval of devices for indirect vision, including mirrors and camera-monitors, on motor vehicles and of vehicles equipped with these devices, provides, inter alia, for an extension of the field of vision so as to address the issue of blind spots. These enhanced requirements should lead to a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries involving pedestrians and cyclists due to the driver’s inadequate field of vision. The directive requires all new HGVs entering into service from 26 January 2007 to meet the revised standards for field of vision set in the directive.

The directive was transposed into Irish law through the European Communities (Mechanically Propelled Vehicle Entry into Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, which were made on 20 December 2004. Subject to practical engineering constraints and the agreement of the European Commission, it is my intention to require existing vehicles of the types covered by the directive to be retrofitted with the necessary mirrors and/or cameras and monitors.

In the meantime, drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles in a public place should be aware of the statutory requirements in road traffic law to drive with reasonable consideration for other persons and with due care and attention.

Road Traffic Offences.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

317 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Transport the plans he has to ensure that penalty points are endorsed on the licence record of a person; if it is acceptable that it may take several months for the penalty to be recorded; if this is fair to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14166/05]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

The Road Traffic Act 2002, which provides the legislative basis for the introduction and operation of the penalty points system, contains specific provisions governing application of such points on the licence record of an individual. Section 5 of the Act provides that where penalty points are to be endorsed on a record, a notification of that endorsement must be issued to the licence holder involved. The notice sets out in particular the basis for the endorsement of the points. Section 7 of the Act provides that, save in very limited and quite specific instances, the operative date for penalty points is 28 days from the date of the notice issued under section 5. This date is referred to in the Act as the appropriate date.

The provisions in the 2002 Act, in regard to the appropriate date, recognise that as a result of the endorsement of penalty points a person may face the application of an automatic disqualification from driving. Section 3 of the Act establishes that where a person accumulates at least 12 penalty points, he or she will be disqualified for a period of six months. If penalty points were to be applied from the date of the commission of the offence in the first instance or from the date of the payment of the fixed charge, a person could be faced with the prospect that they would have already been disqualified in advance of any notification being sent to that effect. This would in turn create the situation that a person would be open to a charge of driving when disqualified where they had driven in the period between the commission of the original offence or the payment of the charge and the date of the notice.

Proposals being developed by my Department for the regulation and quality assurance of driving instruction will involve a test of the competence of individual instructors. A working group comprising representatives of my Department and of instruction interests has formulated the design of the standards that a driving instructor must meet.

I am considering what arrangements will be put in place to oversee implementation of the standard in the context of the establishment of the driver testing and standards authority. The Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill 2004 is at Second Stage. It is not possible at this stage to determine the likely cost to the Exchequer, if any.

Rail Services.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

322 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if Irish Rail will provide time slots to accommodate two sugar beet trains from the Portlaoise depot to Mallow in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14418/05]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

I wish to advise the Deputy that this is a day-to-day operational matter for the company concerned.

Public Transport.

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

323 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on his meeting with the South Dublin Chamber of Commerce based in Tallaght; will the proposal receive his special attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14451/05]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

I held a very useful meeting with the South Dublin Chamber of Commerce on 27 April during which I received its transport policy paper. The meeting dealt with the full range of transport issues in the South Dublin area and beyond. In the light of the announcement by the Minister for Finance in his budget statement of agreement in principle to a ten year capital investment envelope for transport, work is under way in my Department on a ten-year transport investment plan.

The draft plan takes account of the work already done on investment priorities under the current capital envelope to end 2009 and of the various strategic studies already completed by my Department and its agencies. The matter is currently under consideration by the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, housing and PPPs. I will bring proposals to Government in due course once the Cabinet committee has concluded its work. In this context, I will give careful consideration to the various proposals that the South Dublin Chamber of Commerce has put forward.

Haulage Industry.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

324 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on his Department’s inspectorate for the haulage industry; the remit of the inspectorate; the number of inspectors in same; the number of inspections carried out in each of the past five years; the number of drivers who have been found to be non-compliant in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14570/05]

Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Mr. Callely)

The road haulage division of my Department includes an enforcement section that is responsible for the enforcement of operator licensing regimes for both bus and road haulage operators and of drivers' hours rules in the road transport sector.

There are currently nine transport officers engaged full time on enforcement of these rules. Transport officers enforce the rules through roadside checkpoints, in co-operation with the Garda Síochána, and visits to operator premises. Details of the inspections carried out on operators, both at their premises and at the roadside, and the tachograph offences detected in respect of drivers in the past five years are set out in the table below.

Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Operators Inspected	4,038	2,485	3,706	4,010	4,157
No. of detected Tachograph Offences by drivers*	2,924	4,226	4,298	3,436	4,502

*Figures are not available for the number of drivers who have committed offences; in some cases a driver may have committed a number of offences.

Rural Social Scheme.

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

325 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo could not participate in the rural social scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13914/05]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern)

I have dealt comprehensively with this issue in the House already. I refer the Deputy in particular to my replies to Questions Nos. 24, 27 and 37 of 14 April 2005.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

329 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the Government’s negotiating position regarding the EU review of disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14247/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The proposed redefinition of disadvantaged areas is one element of a EU Commission proposal on support for rural development in the 2007-13 period. The proposed redefinition responds to the European Court of Auditors' criticism, endorsed by the European Parliament, of the current system. The suggested new methodology is based on natural conditions, notably soil and climatic factors. The socio-economic criteria that were taken into account to designate the current eligible areas would no longer apply.

At meetings of the Council of Ministers, I stressed that this is an extremely important and sensitive issue. Other member states have adopted a similar position. The Commission has accepted that the proposal presents difficulties for member states. However, a revised compromise text circulated by the Presidency on 27 April did not propose any changes to the original text in so far as the disadvantaged areas are concerned. I will continue to seek a solution that is equitable and in Ireland's interests.

Farm Retirement Scheme.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

330 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to implement the recommendations of the Joint Committee report on the ERS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14248/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I received the committee's report formally on 7 April and my officials are currently examining it. This report arises from an investigation by the committee of a complaint by a group representing retired farmers. Department officials provided a comprehensive formal written response to the complaint and attended a meeting of the committee in July 2003 to answer questions from members. The report covers a range of issues, including taxation, which is outside my remit. I will address the issues shortly in a formal response to the committee.

I am naturally anxious that the early retirement scheme delivers maximum benefits to retired farmers. However this is an EU-funded scheme and I am constrained by the regulations under which it was introduced. I have to point out that the same group of retired farmers made an identical complaint to the European Commission, which did not uphold it. The Commission concluded, in other words, that my Department is administering the scheme correctly and in accordance with the governing EU regulations.

The Department has recently conducted an expenditure review of the current early retirement scheme and copies were laid before the House on 13 April. The expenditure review process was established by the Department of Finance in 1997 in the context of the strategic management initiative. The purpose of the review of the early retirement scheme is to analyse systematically whether it is meeting its objectives and to inform future decisions regarding priorities on expenditure programmes. The Department's review includes a number of conclusions and recommendations that will help to inform my response to the report of the joint committee.

Single Payment Scheme.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

331 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans for cross-compliance under the single farm payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14249/05]

Payment details for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 in respect of this herd owner were contained in a statement of his provisional entitlements issued by my Department to him on 1 February of this year.

The Department has issued a duplicate of that statement together with a review form to the herd owner.

Single Payment Scheme.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

335 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will address the EU single payment entitlements of farmers who inherited holdings during or since the reference years; if so, the nature of the action being taken, including instances in which, during or after the reference years, the inheritor of a farm switched from dairying to dry stock; if regard is being taken of the fact that the entitlements have not been clarified, although the date for the submission of applications to the national reserve has almost passed; her estimate of the entitlements which will accrue to the farmers in question; the number of farmers involved; if, for the situations in which some may not qualify under the existing single payment regime, she has made or proposes to make an entitlements case based on years subsequent to the current reference period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13944/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Under the EU regulations governing the single payment scheme, farmers, who inherited holdings during or since the reference years from those who had entitlements established for them, may also inherit those entitlements. The farmers concerned should each complete an inheritance form in order to get the entitlements registered in their own names.

The completed form together with supporting legal documentation should be sent to my Department's single payment office at Government Buildings, Portlaoise. To date, the Department has received some 13,919 applications in respect of the inheritance-only and the inheritance and new entrant combined measures and a further 2,341 applications were received in respect of the new entrant-only measure. To date, 13,292 applicants have been notified of the final decision in respect of their applications, while a further 1,1757 applicants have been requested to submit the required legal documentation such as grant of probate, letters of administration etc. to support their applications.

Farmers who sold their milk quota into the milk quota restructuring scheme between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003 and who converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under the livestock or arable aid schemes would have been payable in respect of the years 2000 to 2002, may apply to the national reserve under category C for an allocation of entitlements. Application forms have been available for the national reserve since mid- December 2004 and the closing date for receipt of completed applications is 16 May 2005. Farmers who have already applied under the inheritance measure and whose case is under query may apply to the national reserve if they meet the eligibility conditions for the reserve. It is not necessary to know the outcome of the inheritance application before one applies to the national reserve under category C as it will be the extent to which the farmer has converted his enterprise which will be assessed.

The Department is at present processing some 16,500 national reserve applications already received. In view of the number of applications received and the documentation which must be obtained from some farmers, it is not possible at this stage to indicate the number or value of entitlements which will be allocated from the reserve.

EU Council Regulation 1782/2003 introducing the single payment scheme stipulates that entitlements may only be based on the three reference years of 2000, 2001 and 2002. It also allows for the use of 1997, 1998 and 1999 in the case of hardship. The regulation does not provide for using any year subsequent to 2002 in the calculation of the single payment.

I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that the Department has no option but to adhere to the regulations governing the scheme.

Grant Payments.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

336 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a REP scheme payment. [13946/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Payment dated 28 April 2005 has issued in this case.

Single Payment Scheme.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

337 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the application for single payment for a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13947/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The person named submitted an application for consideration in respect of the new entrant measure of the single payment scheme.

Following processing of the documentation received it was deemed that it is more beneficial financially to have the entitlements established in her husband's name transferred rather than the new entrant measure. A letter outlining the position has issued to the person named today requesting the completion of an application form in respect of the inheritance measure. When this application has been processed a statement of provisional entitlements will issue to the person named.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

338 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she proposes to seek the designation of the remaining 16% of County Monaghan as severely handicapped; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14042/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The classification of all of County Monaghan as "more severely handicapped" has cleared all the hurdles in Brussels, as was announced last week by my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith.

I am extremely pleased at this news which meets a commitment made to the social partners in Sustaining Progress. The agreement of the European Commission to my Department's proposals means that some 750 farmers in the 322 townlands involved in County Monaghan will receive the higher €88.88 per hectare more severely handicapped rate of payment from 2005 on as compared to the lower €76.18 less severely handicapped rate per hectare which they have been receiving up to now.

These 750 beneficiaries farming around 12,500 hectares will receive between them an additional €160,000 each year as a result. Assuming they are eligible for compensatory allowances, all they have to do this year to qualify for the higher payment rate is complete their single payment application form in exactly the same way as they would have completed it if they were still only going to receive payments at the lower rate.

Farm Retirement Scheme.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

339 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the recommendations of the report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on early retirement from farming will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14045/05]

The person named submitted applications for consideration in respect of inheritance and new entrant measures of the single payment scheme. Following processing of her application it was deemed that she did not meet the criteria for a person commencing a farming activity during the reference years as it commenced in February 2003. An application form for consideration in respect of the national reserve has been forwarded to the person named if she considers she meets the criteria.

I am pleased to advise that she was notified that the application for consideration in respect of inheritance after the reference period was successful and the inherited entitlements will be transferred to her. An official from my Department has contacted the person named and advised her of the position. A statement of provisional entitlements outlining the amended position will issue to the person named immediately. However the person named should ensure that a single payment application form is submitted prior to the closing date of 16 May 2005 to activate and utilise the transferred entitlements. The 16 May closing date also applies in the case of the national reserve applications.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

343 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding a force majeure appeal in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14088/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The person named applied for consideration of force majeure exceptional circumstances on 21 January 2004. Following consideration of his application for force majeure exceptional circumstances by the single payment unit and the independent single payment appeals committee, force majeure was applied in this case. It was agreed that the year 2002 will be excluded and the years 2000 and 2001 will be used to establish single payment entitlements for the person named. A letter notifying the person named of this decision issued on 1 November 2004.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

344 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of entitlements under single payments to persons (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14091/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The person involved in this case submitted applications for consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme. Additional information to substantiate the applications was requested and duly submitted on 13 April 2005. Following examination of the documentation the person involved has been notified that his new entrant application has been rejected as he had established no entitlements during the reference period 2000 to 2002. However, the notification of the decision also included an application form for consideration in respect of the national reserve measure. Completed application forms should be returned prior to the closing date of 16 May 2005.

I am pleased to advise however, that the inheritance application has been accepted and the entitlements gifted to the person named are to be transferred. A provisional statement of entitlements will issue to the person named immediately outlining the amended position.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

345 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the entitlements which will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary under the single payment scheme; if circumstances peculiar to this case will be taken into consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14131/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

An application for consideration under the force majeure exceptional circumstances measure of the single payment regulations was submitted by the person named on 6 February 2004. The person named has been notified that the circumstances outlined by him do not satisfy the criteria for force majeure exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. The person named has been advised that he can appeal the decision to the independent single payment appeals committee which will carry out a full review of the circumstances outlined.

Milk Quota.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

346 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the legislation which governs the transfer of milk quota; when this legislation was last changed; the regulations which deal with the matter; if and when these regulations were last changed and if so for what purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14165/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Milk quota regulations form part of European Union agriculture policy and, accordingly, the various Community regulations are transposed into Irish law by way of statutory instrument in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities Act 1972. The last amendment to these regulations came into effect on 1 April, 2005 under the European Communities (Milk Quota) (Amendment) Regulations 2005, SI 177 of 2005. The purpose of this amendment, inter alia, was to allow for the transfer of quota within families without the transfer of land in certain circumstances. This exceptional provision facilitates the consolidation of quota within families, so improving the viability of existing enterprises. It also allows the retiring dairy producer to continue to farm the amount of lands needed to activate entitlements in the single payment scheme.

I also provided that quota attached to lands purchased from 1 April 2005 must stay attached to those lands until 31 March 2009, the effect being that where quota lands are bought in the 2005-06 quota year, the quota must stay attached to lands for the same length of time as applied to quota lands bought in the 2004-05 quota year.

Bovine Disease Controls.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

347 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason her Department is ceasing or suspending the herd number of temporarily out of stock livestock owners; if the action is improper, and possibly illegal interference in the herd ownership rights of the farming community; the EU and Irish regulations which empower her Department to suspend a herd number in cases in which a farm is only temporarily cleared of stock; the number of farmers, by region and year, from whom in such circumstances herd numbers have been withdrawn; the reason the herd number of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo was deactivated without prior notice or consultation; if it will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14218/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

A herd number is an administrative device used by my Department to identify and register owners or keepers of animals, particularly for the purposes of disease control and the implementation of the annual TB and brucellosis round tests. It has been the practice of my Department for some time when there are no bovine animals held under the herd number for a period to suspend the herd number so that testing under the bovine disease eradication programmes is not scheduled for such no-stock herds. Where a farmer who has maintained the eligibility conditions for a herd number wishes to restock the same holding with cattle within a short time, the herd number is re-activated on receipt of notification to the DVO by the farmer concerned.

The suspension of the herd number from a bovine disease eradication perspective does not preclude the farmer from applying for other schemes if eligible for such and has no implications for ownership rights.

The situation regarding the person indicated is that, in the course of checks on all untested herds due for test, the district veterinary office in Sligo received confirmation from the nominated private veterinary practitioner of the herd owner in question that he had no stock on his farm at the time. Accordingly, his herd number was suspended. A letter was sent to the herd owner on 4 March 2005 explaining that his herd number was being suspended as he had no cattle on his holding at present. He was advised that whenever he should decide to restock, he should make contact with the district veterinary office and his old herd number would be re-activated. He was further advised to contact any of the veterinary officials in the DVO should he require any clarification in relation to this matter. Data relating to the number of farmers, by region and year, from whom in such circumstances herd numbers have been withdrawn are not readily available.

Grant Payments.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

348 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to amend qualification for the single farm payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14164/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

In accordance with Article 33 (1) of European Council Regulation 1782/2003 governing the single payment scheme, farmers shall have access to the scheme if they have been granted a payment in the reference period under any livestock premia and or arable aid schemes; they have received a holding or part of the holding by way of inheritance, from a farmer who met the conditions referred to; or they have received a payment entitlement from the national reserve or by transfer. Since the rules governing the eligibility to the single payment are already prescribed under EU legislation, my Department has no authority to amend them.

The agreement of the mid-term review of Agenda 2000 was a balanced one which addressed Ireland's principle objectives. Amongst these objectives was the preservation of the financial benefits achieved under the Agenda 2000 agreement and the establishment of a policy framework that will allow farmers and the agrisector the flexibility to adapt to evolving consumer and market demands.

The objective of the European Council regulation which governs the current early retirement scheme is structural reform through the provision of a financial incentive to older farmers to retire early to facilitate their replacement by younger farmers who are considered more likely to improve the economic viability of the holding. The regulation sets down minimum requirements that must be met but enables individual member states to set additional conditions.

The upper off-farm income limit for transferees is not a provision of the EU regulation. It was included in the current scheme to make it more likely that qualifying transferees would be younger farmers, with a greater commitment to farming, who are most likely to remain within the rural community and to continue in farming into the future. If the upper off-farm income limit were removed, it would increase the likelihood of holdings passing to transferees whose primary source of income was from non-farming and possibly urban activity and who would be less likely to retain a commitment to farming in the longer term. Their presence would in turn reduce the amount of land available to young farmers trying to make their future in farming.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

352 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her officials have considered the recommendations contained in the report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on the early retirement scheme; if she will implement the recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14360/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I received the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee formally on 7 April. I have asked my officials to consider the recommendations contained in the report, having due regard to the terms and conditions both of the early retirement scheme itself and of the European Commission regulations under which both the current and previous schemes were introduced.

Bovine Diseases.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

353 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action her Department is taking to reduce the incidence of botulism in bovine animals within the vicinity of poultry farms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14419/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Botulism is not a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animals Acts. However samples from animals may be submitted for testing to my Department's central veterinary laboratory or regional veterinary laboratories at the discretion of a private veterinary practitioner or on request by a herd owner through his or her private veterinary practitioner.

Bovine botulism can be contracted by contact with contaminated decomposing organic material such as poultry litter which contains poultry carcass material and which has been spread on land grazed by cattle. The spreading of animal by-products, for example, litter containing poultry carcass material, on land is prohibited under Regulation EC No. 1774/2002. Manure from egg laying hens may be spread on pasture as there is no evidence that it presents a risk of botulism in cattle.

While human beings may be affected by botulism, it should be noted that the specific toxins implicated in the conditions in humans are not those associated with the condition in cattle. The risk to human health from consumption of milk or meat from cattle on farms with cases of botulism, therefore, appears to be remote.

Ceist:

357 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of local food co-operatives in operation here; the measures her Department intends to take to encourage the establishment of more local food co-operatives to facilitate access to food in disadvantaged areas and to address the issue of food poverty and the lack of affordable food for those on low incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14558/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 357 together.

As Minister for Agriculture and Food I have no role in direct provision of food or in the planning of food distribution outlets or in providing general income support for those on low incomes. Primary responsibility for driving the social inclusion agenda, including the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion, lies with my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

Grant Payments.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

358 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of herdowners who have entitlement under the new single farm retirement scheme. [14559/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The number of herdowners who have entitlements established under the single payment scheme is 136,983.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

359 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of persons who opted for long-term land leases that overlapped the reference period and who have no entitlement. [14560/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

My Department does not have this information.

Farm Retirement Scheme.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

360 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of persons who have availed of the farm retirement scheme each year since its inception. [14561/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Details of the number of participants who joined the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming, which closed to new applicants on 31 December 1999, and the current scheme introduced in November 2000, in each year since their inception, are set out in the following table.

Year ended	Number
31 December 1994	1,962
31 December 1995	2,198
31 December 1996	1,795
31 December 1997	1,796
31 December 1998	1,305
31 December 1999	1,608
31 December 2000	41
31 December 2001	805
31 December 2002	809
31 December 2003	525
31 December 2004	275

World Trade Negotiations.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

361 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the development which has taken place in regard to the WTO; the significance of such developments or preliminary discussions from the Irish and European viewpoint; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14571/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Intensive negotiations concluded in August 2004 in agreement on a framework setting out the general outline and content of a new WTO agreement. The detailed implementation of this framework is the subject of ongoing negotiation at technical and political level and are likely to conclude at the next ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December 2005.

The main elements of the framework agreement from the EU and Irish perspectives are as follows. EU decoupled direct payments which are non-trade-distorting will qualify for inclusion in the WTO green box category of domestic supports and will, therefore, be exempt from reduction in the future. While the framework agreement provides for substantial improvements in market access, WTO members may self-select an appropriate number of sensitive products for special treatment in so far as tariff protection on imports is concerned. All forms of export supports, not just EU export refunds, will be reduced in parallel or subjected to disciplines, thereby ensuring EU exporters will not be at a competitive disadvantage on third country markets.

I am satisfied that the framework agreement secured the benefits to EU and Irish farmers of the mid-term review of the CAP and represented a satisfactory outcome from Ireland's point of view.

Sheep Imports.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

362 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the extent of sheep imports in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14572/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Imports of sheep for slaughter at export plants in this jurisdiction amounted to 357,939 head in the last 12 months, or approximately 11% of slaughterings at all export plants. All these originated in Northern Ireland. Small numbers are also imported for breeding purposes from various countries.

Food Labelling.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

363 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the success or otherwise of her efforts to discourage misleading relabelling of meat and meat products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14573/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

There are a number of pieces of legislation governing the labelling of meat and meat products. The general labelling regulations covering among other things all food sold in Ireland require that the information be given clearly, accurately and in a language understood by the consumer. This legislation comes within the remit of the Department of Health and Children. My Department is responsible for policy regarding legislation on the labelling of specific products including beef and poultry meat.

The labelling of beef is governed by EU regulations which were introduced in 2000. These require operators involved in the marketing of beef to label their product with a reference code to enable the beef to be traced back to the animal or group of animals from which it was derived; the approval number of the slaughterhouse and the country in which it is located; the approval number of the de-boning hall and the country in which it is located; and an indication of the origin of the animal from which the beef was derived.

For the purpose of these regulations, marketing means all aspects of beef production and marketing up to and including retail sale. These labelling requirements, which are compulsory in all member states, apply to the marketing of beef within the community regardless of whether that beef was produced within the community or in a third country. Where beef is imported into the Community from a third country and not all the above details are available, that beef must at a minimum be labelled as "Origin: non-EC" along with an indication of the third country in which slaughter took place.

My Department introduced two regulations on the labelling of poultry meat at the beginning of last year. The first of these regulations requires poultry meat, both loose and pre-packaged, originating in a country outside the EU to bear an indication of the country of origin when offered for sale in a retail premises. The second requires information regarding class, price per unit weight, condition and slaughterhouse details in respect of loose poultry meat, that is, non-prepackaged, to be provided to the consumer. Heretofore, while these labelling indications have been compulsory for pre-packaged poultry meat, it had not been a requirement to provide this information for poultry meat sold loose.

In addition to the above mentioned action, a working group within my Department is examining the labelling legislation for each of the meat sectors to identify any deficiencies, from a consumer viewpoint, in the labelling regulations for those commodities. Responsibility for the enforcement of all this legislation is now centralised with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and any instances of misleading labelling should be reported to that authority. I am satisfied that where it is shown that the regulations referred to above are not being complied with that the appropriate action to remedy the problem is being taken by the relevant agency.

Food Industry.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

364 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the dramatic difference between the prices paid to the producer and those charged to the consumer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14574/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The prices received by producers and obtained in retail establishments are determined by the process of negotiation within the marketplace. The level of supply of a certain product, the degree of competitiveness within a sector and the level of consumer demand will all influence the final price received by the producer.

Similarly, the prices received by retail outlets are dependent on a range of influences. The location of retailers, transport costs, the degree of processing and refinement of the product and other similar factors all have an impact upon the final pricing of foodstuffs. To find out more about this process, the consumer liaison panel has invited tenders to assess data sources on the price of food in Ireland. This has been done with a view to devising a model for monitoring food prices and the share of these prices absorbed at different stages of the supply chain. A research organisation has been chosen and their findings will be published in late 2005.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

365 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the extent to which the food industry here is keeping pace with international developments in the area of pre-cooked, frozen and oven-ready products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14575/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The prepared consumer foods sector plays a significant role in the economy with annual output of €2.6 billion, exports of €1.3 billion and direct employment of 16,000. The sector is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of the Irish food industry, with growth at about 10% per annum. The prepared consumer foods sector is comprised of almost 200 companies out of a total of 700 food processing enterprises in Ireland and 75% of exports go to the UK.

The implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In October 2004, Ireland submitted an action programme to the European Commission for further implementation of the nitrates directive. In December the Commission conveyed its view that the action programme was not complete and did not comply with the requirements of the directive or with the judgment of the European Court of Justice against Ireland, which had been delivered in March 2004.

Subsequently my Department worked closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the preparation of an initial response to the Commission. This response was sent on 20 April. I understand that a revised action programme, on which my Department has been consulted, will be sent to the Commission very shortly. Ireland has also submitted proposals for derogation arrangements which would allow farmers to operate, under appropriate conditions and controls, at a higher level of intensity.

Until agreement is reached with the European Commission on the terms of the action programme and the derogation arrangements, the full implications cannot be known with certainty. However, studies already undertaken by Teagasc indicate that the great majority of farmers are already operating below the general limit of 170 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare per annum specified by the directive. A proportion of dairy specialist producers are operating above that level. However, the vast majority of these are operating below 250 kg per hectare, and the proposals already made to the Commission for derogation arrangements would accommodate such farmers.

The nitrates action programme may have implications for the intensive farming sector, particularly in terms of the utilisation of the manure produced by intensive pig and poultry units, and accordingly I have asked my officials to examine how these may be mitigated. It remains my objective, and it is also the objective of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to reach agreement on an action programme that meets the objectives of the nitrates directive in terms of safeguarding water quality while also minimising the burden of compliance that the agreement will place on farmers and safeguarding the future of the commercial farming sector.

Food Safety Standards.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

370 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if all meat imports into this country are rigorously inspected to prevent the importation of disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14580/05]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

374 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has satisfied herself that the production, slaughter and processing of all imported meat and poultry has been subjected to best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14584/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 374 together.

Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including meat and meat extracts, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under harmonised legislation a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the member states to ensure that animal products are produced to standards that guarantee the safety of food and the protection of human and animal health. The application of these standards in the member states is monitored by the Food and Veterinary Office of the EU.

It is a requirement that animal products imported from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, member states. All such imports must come from third countries or areas of third countries approved for export to the EU. To be an approved third country, it must appear on a list drawn up and updated on the basis of EU audits and guarantees given by the competent authority of the exporting country; have veterinary controls equivalent to those applicable in the EU, particularly in terms of legislation, hygiene conditions, animal health status, veterinary medicines controls, zoonoses controls and other food law; and have in place a residues programme approved by the European Commission.

The animal products must be sourced from establishments that are approved and must bear an EU approved health mark. Exporting establishments must have standards equivalent to the requirements for EU export establishments; effective control systems and supervision by the competent authorities; and traceability and labelling in accordance with the systems approved by the FVO and accepted and notified to the EU member states. The FVO carries out inspections to ensure that only establishments that meet hygiene and health standards equivalent to those operating within the EU are approved. Where the FVO considers that public health requirements are not being met, an establishment may be removed from the EU approved list. If outbreaks of animal diseases occur in a third country, approval to export to the EU is suspended for the infected regions of the country or the whole country, as appropriate, until the disease risk has been eliminated.

Importers of animal products must be registered with my Department. They are required to give advance notice of importation and, following import, are required to keep records of importation available for inspection by the Department for a period of three years. Imported animal products must be accompanied by the appropriate commercial documentation showing country and approval number of the establishment of production and, in the case of meat and meat extracts imported from third countries, a health certificate conforming to the models set down in EU legislation.

While there is free movement for trade within the EU, all consignments from third countries must first be landed at a border inspection post, or BIP, that has been approved by the FVO and must undergo documentary, identity and physical checks. These latter are carried out at frequencies laid down in EU law. In Ireland, BIPs approved for the processing imports of animal products are located at Dublin Port and Shannon Airport. The FVO carries out monitoring and inspection of each member state's BIPs to ensure the conditions for import of animal products into Europe, provided under the harmonised legislation, are being correctly applied. Once it has been established that imported animal product has met all the required conditions, it is released for free circulation within the community. Copies of the BIP clearance document and the health certificate must accompany the consignment to its destination. Imports failing to comply with these veterinary control checks may be detained for further examination. If non-compliance is established, they are returned to the exporting country or destroyed.

Where there are concerns with regard to the effectiveness of controls being operated in an approved third country, the Commission, in consultation with the standing committee on animal health and the food chain, may introduce specific controls by means of a safeguard measure to ensure the protection of human and animal health. Safeguard measures limiting or banning the export of animal products from EU countries or regions of countries may also be implemented where, for example, the conditions of an animal disease outbreak could seriously affect production and trade in animal products in the EU.

Food Industry.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

371 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which she proposes to enhance the marketing of Irish beef and lamb at home and overseas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14581/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

In recent years, the focus of the Irish beef and sheepmeat industry has been to broaden and expand its market reach at EU retail level. For beef this has meant shifting its orientation away from international commodity markets and into the higher priced internal EU marketplace. Effective promotion by Bord Bia and marketing by the industry has ensured a presence for top quality Irish beef and lamb in the key European markets. This includes supply arrangements with multiples and the main retailers in the UK, France, Italy and the Netherlands.

The overall marketing approach is to build continually on the reputation of Irish meat as a high quality and safety assured product based on a natural, extensive and well controlled production sector at farm level. The new beef quality assurance scheme is now operational and Bord Bia will shortly be promoting the scheme to encourage the widest possible uptake. A strong interest in Irish beef and lamb has been generated by building its reputation through the media, by chefs' endorsements and the creation of demand from premium chefs and restaurants in each of these markets. The main goal of our marketing strategy is to increase retail market penetration and to invest in growing awareness of Irish beef and lamb. This is being achieved by building relationships with key customers, product promotions and image building of the brand.

Cereal Sector.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

380 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the future of cereal growing here; her plans to develop and expand in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14591/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The year 2005 marks one of the most significant developments in the recent history of Irish farming as policy shifts from production supports to the decoupled single payment scheme. The new Common Agricultural Policy regime will allow Irish cereal farmers greater freedom to farm, giving many producers the opportunity to tailor their enterprises to meet consumer and market demand and to reflect their own strengths, individual preferences and aspirations. Improved efficiency of production at farm level will be important to maintain incomes and to ensure that the volume of output is maintained to support the processing sector. The maintenance of an efficient and viable cereals sector is of the utmost importance. In addition to providing an income for growers, it provides the livestock sector with an important source of feedstuffs. It is desirable to maintain the current level of production to avoid over-dependence on imported grain and I am satisfied that, subject to weather conditions, production will continue at the 2 million tonne average.

Early indications show a drop in the sowing of winter cereals this year, with early estimates suggesting that winter sowings are back by up to 25% in some areas. This situation involved a combination of bad weather experienced during peak sowing time last autumn, uncertainty concerning entitlements following decoupling, and farmers reconsidering their conacre options in the light of the new single payment scheme.

My Department continues to operate a range of services aimed at improving the efficiency, quality and viability of cereal production. These services include seed certification, seed testing, recommended lists of varieties etc. In addition, Teagasc provides comprehensive research, training and advisory services for cereal producers. The value of all these support services is reflected in the fact that Irish cereal producers have consistently achieved some of the highest yields in the world and I am satisfied the outlook for cereal growing in Ireland is quite positive and Irish cereal producers are well positioned to meet the competitive challenges ahead.

Departmental Strategy Statements.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

381 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her strategic short, medium and long-term plans for the agriculture sector. [14592/05]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I regard short-term plans as those to be completed by year end, medium term strategies as those encompassed by the Department's three year statement of strategy and longer term plans as those relating to the issues set out in the Agri-Vision Report 2015.

Ceist:

385 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will meet a group (details supplied) at his earliest convenience to reconsider an application for child care support. [13927/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together.

I understand that an application for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006 was submitted by the group in question to my Department some time ago.

As the Deputy may be aware, each application for funding undergoes a thorough assessment by Area Development Management Limited, ADM, which has been engaged to carry out the day-to-day administration of the programme on my behalf. Following this assessment all applications are then considered by the programme appraisal committee, PAC, which is chaired by my Department, before I make a final decision regarding funding.

This project proposal was one of a number submitted to develop child care services in Templemore. I understand that in this case the PAC was unable to recommend the project to me for funding as it did not adequately meet the criteria of the EOCP with regard to the levels of service provision being proposed. Specifically, it was considered that the planned project did not represent good value for money as it proposed a limited range of service types and operating hours, and did not propose to offer a full day care service. The service will provide two sessional services running from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon and from 12.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m., thus providing part time child care places only. The project which was selected for capital support under the EOCP last December offered a broader range of services for a larger number of children.

I have been informed by the child care directorate of my Department that the group referred to here has recently appealed my decision not to grant funding. ADM Limited will re-assesses the application in the light of this appeal and will take full account of any additional information which the group may wish to offer in support of its application and of local need. Following this re-assessment the outcome will be considered by the PAC, which will also take into account any of the additional information supplied that may be relevant, before making a recommendation to me regarding funding. The group concerned will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible. In the interim, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on this application or to meet with the group.

Garda Vetting Procedures.

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

386 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that students taking up postgraduate courses in Nottingham University for teaching require a certificate of good conduct from here; if such students will receive the necessary documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13928/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that police certificates of character are issued solely for the purpose of obtaining a visa from non-national embassies and consulates. These certificates are issued locally by Garda superintendents.

In tandem, the Garda central vetting unit, GCVU, carries out criminal record vetting in respect of prospective full-time employees of the Health Service Executive and in certain designated agencies funded by the executive.

Although persons in the situation referred to by the Deputy cannot currently avail of this Garda vetting regime, it is envisaged that a phased extension of the vetting arrangements to relevant groups will take place. To this end, a working group was established to examine the issue.

The working group submitted its final report in March 2004, and the report has since been published in electronic form on my Department's website. On the basis of this report, my colleague, Deputy Brian Lenihan, Minister of State with special responsibility for children, has announced the provision of additional staff resources for the GCVU to enable the Garda Síochána's vetting services to be extended.

Ceist:

400 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Abbeyleix area of County Laois for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 under each headline, including the total recorded and detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14035/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 to 400, inclusive, together.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick Garda sub-districts are included in the Garda district of Portlaoise, that Tullamore and Edenderry Garda sub-districts are included in the Garda district of Tullamore, that Birr and Ferbane Garda sub-districts are included in the Birr Garda district and that Abbeyleix is a Garda district headquarters.

I can further inform the Deputy that each of the ten headline offences listed in the following tables contain different individual offences and these can be found in more detail in the relevant Garda Síochána annual reports for the years in question. It is important to note that the statistics provided for 2004 are provisional and are, therefore, subject to validation and change.

Table 1
Headline offences recorded and detected for Birr Garda district from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0
Assault	3	3	11	10	27	26	18	16	18	15
Sexual Offences	4	2	13	8	9	6	15	7	8	6
Arson	6	2	0	0	2	2	3	1	4	3
Drugs	1	1	6	6	4	4	4	4	9	9
Thefts	82	42	104	34	187	59	211	65	163	55
Burglary	88	36	68	17	107	25	111	30	113	37
Robbery	1	0	0	0	3	1	1	1	1	1
Fraud	5	2	21	21	9	7	9	6	14	12
Other	0	0	1	0	4	3	9	8	8	7
Total	190	88	225	97	352	133	382	138	338	145

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.

Table 2
Headline offences recorded and detected for Tullamore Garda district from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Assault	21	19	31	28	58	54	43	40	61	58
Sexual Offences	12	11	41	37	39	29	17	7	16	13
Arson	6	3	8	5	2	0	9	6	12	4
Drugs	26	26	26	26	28	28	28	25	26	23
Thefts	221	117	243	150	390	181	429	198	413	186
Burglary	236	74	210	67	215	58	192	34	239	61
Robbery	9	8	8	5	11	5	9	5	9	5
Fraud	23	21	44	36	61	48	41	40	48	43
Other	4	3	7	6	11	9	9	9	40	40
Total	559	283	618	360	815	412	777	364	864	433

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.

Table 3
Headline offences recorded and detected for Portlaoise Garda district from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Assault	21	20	30	24	51	47	28	26	41	31
Sexual Offences	7	7	29	27	12	8	13	7	4	4
Arson	3	0	2	1	6	4	8	3	7	2
Drugs	10	10	38	38	37	35	51	51	61	61
Thefts	253	131	266	117	517	221	616	267	509	247
Burglary	187	29	253	71	299	69	208	51	229	46
Robbery	6	3	6	1	18	9	7	2	5	1
Fraud	47	45	70	68	59	57	25	18	57	51
Other	5	5	6	6	9	4	8	6	10	6
Total	540	251	700	353	1,008	454	965	432	923	449

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.

Table 4
Headline offences recorded and detected for Abbeyleix Garda district from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Assault	2	2	20	17	15	7	16	13	15	10
Sexual Offences	3	3	2	1	8	6	3	2	4	4
Arson	2	0	2	1	3	1	6	4	2	0
Drugs	2	2	1	1	1	1	11	11	1	1
Thefts	38	14	53	10	87	34	114	21	124	28
Burglary	87	3	90	10	93	9	135	12	120	10
Robbery	2	0	1	1	0	0	3	1	5	2
Fraud	4	2	14	9	5	2	3	3	6	3
Other	3	3	5	4	3	0	4	3	3	2
Total	143	29	188	54	215	60	295	70	280	60

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.

Residency Permits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

401 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding residency status and family re-unification in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14038/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I refer the Deputy to the written reply I gave to Parliamentary Question No. 160, reference 9900/05, on Thursday, 24 March 2005.

An application has been received in my Department from the person concerned seeking permission to remain in the State on the basis of her parentage of an Irish born child under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005.

Applications are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible and, in so far as is possible, in order of receipt. Given the number of applications being processed, it is expected that the processing of the application from the person concerned will be completed within the next few weeks. This scheme does not make any provision for persons granted permission to remain to be joined by family members from outside the State.

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

402 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork for naturalisation. [14041/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 10 February 2004.

The average processing time for such applications is currently 24 months. On the basis of the current average processing time, therefore, it is likely that the application of the individual concerned will be finalised in early 2006.

I will inform both the applicant and the Deputy as soon as I have reached a decision on this application.

Registration of Title.

John Perry

Ceist:

403 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an application (details supplied) with the Land Registry office will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14051/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application under section 49, acquisition of title by virtue of long possession, of the Registration of Title Act 1964 which was lodged on 4 February 2004 — dealing No. D2004SM001110A refers.

Ceist:

409 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Crumlin Garda station area for each year from 1997 to 2004; the personnel strength by rank for each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14085/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 404 to 409, inclusive, together.

I have made inquiries with the Garda authorities regarding the information requested by the Deputy. The information requested is set out in the following tables.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the tables show the headline crime by groups from 2000 to 2004 for the Garda districts of Crumlin, Clondalkin, Kevin Street and Terenure. Kilmainham Garda station is included in the Kevin Street Garda district figures. Ballyfermot Garda station is included in the Clondalkin Garda district figures and Sundrive Road Garda station is included in the Crumlin Garda district figures. Comparable statistics for the years 1997 to 1999 are not available.

The personnel strength for each Garda station is set out in the following tables for the years 1997 to 2004.

Table 1
Headline offences recorded and detected for Crumlin Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	0	0	2	2	11	6	8	6	0	0
Assault	33	18	76	47	103	68	95	58	71	46
Sexual Offences	14	13	17	5	62	45	43	31	30	18
Arson	37	13	51	7	68	3	44	7	55	3
Drugs	52	52	50	50	43	43	64	63	40	40
Thefts	517	188	636	187	815	217	763	333	795	268
Burglary	490	163	584	180	592	93	583	110	502	87
Robbery	80	43	84	32	70	25	74	21	60	18
Fraud	12	8	35	21	60	28	35	22	45	27
Other	5	3	21	10	31	19	35	18	26	13
Total	1,240	501	1,556	541	1,855	547	1,744	669	1,624	520

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.

Table 2
Headline offences recorded and detected for Clondalkin Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	0	0	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1
Assault	70	49	128	89	152	99	99	55	94	59
Sexual Offences	12	8	32	26	76	48	56	41	28	14
Arson	36	5	71	7	44	3	70	3	51	4
Drugs	81	81	97	97	135	135	121	121	94	94
Thefts	1047	338	1183	330	1240	305	1142	326	1063	216
Burglary	460	128	523	107	664	126	680	110	536	64
Robbery	166	81	144	68	112	41	109	20	72	17
Fraud	17	11	16	9	55	22	75	56	131	107
Other	24	11	36	19	50	32	41	23	49	27
Total	1913	712	2232	754	2530	812	2394	756	2119	603

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.

Table 3
Headline offences recorded and detected for Kevin Street Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	3	2	2	2	4	4	4	2	4	4
Assault	28	18	87	50	148	88	113	84	101	42
Sexual Offences	26	17	30	17	54	38	25	11	26	6
Arson	27	1	26	4	26	3	26	1	25	3
Drugs	89	89	148	147	191	191	167	167	227	227
Thefts	1260	338	1412	491	1492	367	1424	256	1267	202
Burglary	556	204	584	244	584	109	668	132	723	134
Robbery	182	42	213	59	196	52	204	58	168	51
Fraud	10	5	56	45	48	27	48	33	46	28
Other	8	7	20	12	36	23	32	20	39	15
Total	2,189	723	2,578	1,071	2,779	902	2,711	764	2,626	712

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.

Table 4
Headline offences recorded and detected for Terenure Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Assault	20	12	35	21	56	25	68	45	43	25
Sexual Offences	11	3	15	4	32	14	42	26	26	10
Arson	12	2	14	0	14	2	17	1	31	5
Drugs	11	11	13	13	14	14	21	21	18	18
Thefts	840	191	834	240	911	267	874	253	854	186
Burglary	684	189	675	235	722	92	782	100	727	64
Robbery	59	30	50	19	65	16	71	20	55	18
Fraud	14	5	29	20	53	37	22	11	44	27
Other	4	3	10	5	12	9	7	2	11	6
Total	1,657	447	1,675	557	1,879	476	1,905	480	1,809	359

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.

Table 5
Personnel strength of Kevin Street Garda Station for the years 1997 to 2004.
Year	Superintendent	Inspector	Sergeant	Garda
1997	1	5	14	104
1998	1	4	15	102
1999	1	5	15	92
2000	1	5	17	93
2001	1	5	18	93
2002	1	6	19	91
2003	1	6	17	93
2004	1	6	14	98

Table 6
Personnel strength of Ballyfermot Garda Station for the years 1997 to 2004.
Year	Superintendent	Inspector	Sergeant	Garda
1997	1	4	10	57
1998	1	3	11	56
1999	1	3	11	51
2000	1	3	12	61
2001	1	2	11	61
2002	0	0	11	62
2003	0	1	13	64
2004	0	1	11	64

Table 7
Personnel strength of Crumlin Garda Station for the years 1997 to 2004.
Year	Chief Superintendent	Superintendent	Inspector	Sergeant	Garda
1997	1	2	5	14	64
1998	1	2	5	17	60
1999	1	2	4	15	61
2000	1	2	5	14	62
2001	1	2	4	17	62
2002	1	2	4	17	64
2003	1	2	3	18	58
2004	1	2	3	20	61

Table 8
Personnel strength of Terenure Garda Station for the years 1997 to 2004.
Year	Superintendent	Inspector	Sergeant	Garda
1997	0	0	10	39
1998	0	0	10	39
1999	1	4	10	45
2000	1	3	10	53
2001	1	4	11	50
2002	1	4	15	64
2003	1	4	12	70
2004	1	4	11	75

Table 9
Personnel strength of Sundrive Road Garda Station for the years 1997 to 2004.
Year	Superintendent	Inspector	Sergeant	Garda
1997	0	0	8	46
1998	0	0	9	48
1999	0	1	7	44
2000	0	1	8	47
2001	0	1	8	49
2002	0	1	6	50
2003	0	1	7	53
2004	0	1	7	57

Table 10
Personnel strength of Kilmainham Garda Station for the years 1997 to 2004.
Year	Superintendent	Inspector	Sergeant	Garda
1997	0	1	16	58
1998	0	2	17	68
1999	0	1	18	82
2000	0	1	18	78
2001	0	1	15	60
2002	0	0	16	60
2003	0	0	14	59
2004	0	0	15	66

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

410 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of public order offences and violent assaults reported to the Garda in 1997, 2000 and in the most recent year for which data are available in each of the Garda districts within the Dublin metropolitan area; and the detection rate for these offences in each case. [14092/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

It has not been possible to compile the information requested in the timeframe allowed. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded directly to the Deputy at the earliest opportunity.

Garda Stations.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

411 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Garda stations comprising each of the Garda districts within the Dublin metropolitan area. [14093/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the Garda stations that form part of each of the Garda districts within the Dublin metropolitan region are as follows:

District	Stations
“A” District	Kilmainham Kevin Street
“B” District	Pearse Street Harcourt Terrace Harcourt Square
“C” District	Store Street Parking Fines Office
“D” District	Bridewell
“E” District	Donnybrook Irishtown
“F” District	Dún Laoghaire Dalkey Kill-O-The-Grange Cabinteely
“G” District	Crumlin Sundrive Road
“H” District	Santry Whitehall Ballymun Dublin Airport
“J” District	Raheny Howth Clontarf
“K” District	Blanchardstown Cabra Finglas
“L” District	Ballyfermot Clondalkin Rathcoole
“M” District	Tallaght Rathfarnham
“N” District	Bray Shankill Enniskerry Greystones
“P” District	Terenure Rathmines
“Q” District	Lucan Ronanstown Leixlip
“R” District	Coolock Malahide Swords
“U” District	Mountjoy Fitzgibbon Street
“W” District	Blackrock Stepaside Dundrum

Probation and Welfare Service.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that Roscommon and Strokestown Garda subdistricts are included in the Garda district of Roscommon. Elphin and Boyle Garda subdistricts are included in the Garda district of Boyle. Ballaghaderreen and Castlerea are in the Castlerea Garda district. Ballinasloe Garda district includes parts of County Roscommon and County Galway. Each of the ten headline offences listed in the following tables contains different individual offences and these can be found in more detail in the relevant Garda annual reports for the years in question. It is also important to note that the statistics provided for 2004 are provisional and are, therefore, subject to validation and change.

Furthermore, I understand from the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the Roscommon-Galway East Garda division as at 28 April 2005 was 252 — all ranks. The establishment of a full-time Garda station in the south Roscommon area would necessitate the deployment of Garda personnel on indoor administrative duties and that such personnel can be utilised more effectively in providing a visible Garda presence on outdoor policing duties.

Headline offences recorded and detected for Roscommon Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	1	1	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	0
Assault	16	16	16	12	22	17	15	7	15	7
Sexual Offences	17	17	3	3	15	9	7	2	46	39
Arson	2	1	5	4	5	1	6	1	3	0
Drugs	2	2	2	2	1	1	0	0	0	0
Thefts	64	25	86	33	145	28	154	47	138	40
Burglary	48	27	47	19	65	11	48	9	67	13
Robbery	1	1	1	1	4	1	0	0	1	1
Fraud	25	22	25	21	38	24	20	16	8	4
Other	4	1	3	2	7	4	3	1	5	3
Total	180	113	188	97	303	96	254	84	283	107

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional-operational and liable to change.

Headline offences recorded and detected for Boyle Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Assault	0	0	7	6	12	9	11	5	5	3
Sexual Offences	1	1	1	0	28	24	6	2	9	3
Arson	3	1	2	2	2	0	0	0	1	0
Drugs	0	0	3	3	3	3	4	4	0	0
Thefts	66	24	51	10	71	22	49	9	142	92
Burglary	24	14	25	11	38	14	38	8	51	13
Robbery	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0
Fraud	19	18	6	2	25	19	3	3	18	14
Other	0	0	3	2	0	0	2	2	3	2
Total	116	61	98	36	180	92	114	33	229	127

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional-operational and liable to change.

Headline offences recorded and detected for Castlerea Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Assault	13	12	12	11	15	12	25	15	20	14
Sexual Offences	5	5	4	2	9	8	5	4	7	1
Arson	2	0	1	0	4	1	3	0	2	0
Drugs	1	1	3	3	2	2	9	8	8	8
Thefts	59	24	50	15	105	38	80	15	54	9
Burglary	20	5	31	10	43	12	40	17	31	7
Robbery	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	0
Fraud	19	16	14	13	12	12	66	64	1	0
Other	0	0	2	1	2	0	1	0	1	1
Total	120	64	118	56	193	86	230	123	124	40

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional-operational and liable to change.

Headline offences recorded and detected for Tuam Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0
Assault	7	7	31	29	30	24	26	19	30	18
Sexual Offences	2	2	11	9	8	6	8	2	9	4
Arson	2	1	5	3	0	0	5	2	1	0
Drugs	3	3	0	0	6	6	3	3	3	3
Thefts	73	26	85	38	170	65	146	43	141	50
Burglary	67	29	57	24	79	17	55	16	39	8
Robbery	0	0	1	1	1	0	1	0	1	1
Fraud	8	7	44	40	32	27	8	4	5	3
Other	0	0	3	3	4	3	4	2	3	1
Total	162	75	237	147	332	150	256	91	232	88

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional-operational and liable to change.

Headline offences recorded and detected for Ballinasloe Garda District from 2000 to 2004*
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Assault	7	7	26	23	29	26	14	12	24	21
Sexual Offences	3	3	3	2	6	2	3	1	7	4
Arson	2	0	4	2	7	3	0	0	2	1
Drugs	9	9	14	14	9	9	13	12	6	6
Thefts	78	43	98	44	175	78	143	59	150	60
Burglary	56	25	71	37	66	25	58	25	54	17
Robbery	1	1	1	1	1	0	2	2	0	0
Fraud	17	14	21	13	23	20	7	3	23	15
Other	5	5	2	2	7	5	4	2	7	7
Total	178	107	240	138	323	168	245	117	273	131

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional-operational and liable to change.

Garda Strength.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

420 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to ensure the Garda has sufficient resources to enforce road traffic laws, particularly on national motorways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14147/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The establishment of a Garda traffic corps was announced on 23 November 2004 and the strategic review of traffic policing was also published on that date. An assistant commissioner traffic was appointed on 22 February 2005. He has been tasked with implementing the recommendations contained in the strategic review of traffic policing encompassing a number of resource areas including human, transport and speed detection equipment. Implementation will be over a three and a half to four year period. I am informed that the strength of the Garda traffic corps over the next four years will be as set out as follows:

Year	Number
2005	563
2006	805
2007	1,030
2008	1,200

This expansion of the staffing resources of the traffic corps will occur in tandem with the overall expansion of the Garda force to 14,000 members over that period. All personnel assigned to the new traffic corps will have completed the standard training programme. It is important to remember that all gardaí have responsibility, inter alia, to enforce road traffic laws as and when breaches of road traffic laws occur.

Resources will be deployed in built-up areas, on non-urban regional and local roads, national roads and motorways, in order to achieve the six strategic objectives for road traffic policing identified in the strategic review of traffic policing, namely, contribute to reducing road fatalities and casualties; improve traffic flows; enforce road traffic legislation effectively and consistently; enforce road transport and haulage legislation effectively and consistently using available technologies; provide appropriate policing support and response to the national development plan provisions relating to traffic and transport; and provide a systematic and structured road traffic collision investigation service, and provide accurate, timely and sufficiently detailed information to key stakeholders.

426 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 14 April 2005, the reason a person who was legitimately approved for a back to work scheme by the Department of Social and Family Affairs should, as a result, be victimised by having their application for naturalisation refused on the grounds that they received a payment from the State; if his attention has been drawn to the basis and purpose of the back to work scheme, that is a work supportive initiative; if it is his intention to respond negatively to any person who qualifies for this scheme in the future; if non-nationals should be deprived of such schemes in the future; if his action is in accord with international human rights requirements; the number of applications for naturalisation he has refused on this or a similar basis; if he intends to apply this rule in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14284/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

No international human rights norms require the granting of Irish citizenship to Romanian citizens simply on the basis of their residence in the State. Even where a non-national has been granted refugee status, and is thus acknowledged as a person who is unable to seek the protection of his or her country of origin, the 1951 Geneva Convention imposes no obligation regarding the conferral of citizenship, notwithstanding the fact that it does impose obligations on the State to allow the person in question to reside here. The policy as outlined in my response to the parliamentary question to which the Deputy refers has been the policy operated by successive Ministers for many years. As I indicated in that response, an exception is made in the case of refugees and stateless persons.

The person to whom the Deputy refers is neither a refugee nor a stateless person. He entered the State in 1997 and applied for asylum. That application was unsuccessful as was the subsequent appeal. It was open at that stage to the person concerned to leave the State but he chose to stay and obtained permission to remain, as an exceptional measure, on 25 August 1999. Permission was granted, notwithstanding the fact that he was not self-sufficient and the form of permission granted exempted him from the employment permit requirement, thus placing him at an employment related advantage over many thousands of non-EEA national workers who entered the State under the employment permit regime and did not claim asylum.

Ceist:

431 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the Templeogue area, Dublin, for each year from 2000 to 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14309/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 to 431, inclusive, together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following tables show the headline offences by group from 2000 to 2004 in Tallaght and Crumlin Garda districts. The Firhouse and Ballycullen areas are part of the Tallaght district. The Greenhills and Templeogue areas are part of both the Tallaght and Crumlin districts.

Table 1
Headline offences recorded and detected for Tallaght District 2000 to 2004
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	3	2	3	3	6	4	1	0	2	2
Assault	56	35	146	100	213	139	189	123	183	86
Sexual Offences	29	21	87	64	191	151	111	23	91	32
Arson	39	4	53	9	47	6	54	9	74	8
Drugs	47	47	139	139	115	115	77	77	73	73
Thefts	1,390	498	1,585	709	1,878	757	1,855	754	2,409	859
Burglary	703	170	827	182	975	140	746	77	1041	93
Robbery	190	82	215	72	188	62	158	43	172	45
Fraud	58	53	86	75	66	33	85	58	57	31
Other	29	16	55	32	56	31	61	39	80	58
Total	2,544	928	3,196	1,385	3,735	1,438	3,337	1,203	4,182	1,287

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional-operational and liable to change.

Table 2
Headline offences recorded and detected for Crumlin District 2000 to 2004
Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	0	0	2	2	11	6	8	6	0	0
Assault	33	18	76	47	103	68	95	58	71	46
Sexual Offences	14	13	17	5	62	45	43	31	30	18
Arson	37	13	51	7	68	3	44	7	55	3
Drugs	52	52	50	50	43	43	64	63	40	40
Thefts	517	188	636	187	815	217	763	333	795	268
Burglary	490	163	584	180	592	93	583	110	502	87
Robbery	80	43	84	32	70	25	74	21	60	18
Fraud	12	8	35	21	60	28	35	22	45	27
Other	5	3	21	10	31	19	35	18	26	13
Total	1,240	501	1,556	541	1,855	547	1,744	669	1,624	520

*Statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.

Juvenile Offenders.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

432 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of places available in the Dublin area for children who are out of control, and who have received custodial sentences from the courts; the number of residential places provided in each year over the past ten years; the existing waiting lists for such places for persons who have gone through the courts system and who are under the age of 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14310/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

Responsibility for the provision of spaces for young offenders committed to custody when they are under the age of 16 years lies with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science. I have general responsibility for the provision of spaces for persons committed to custody once they are 16 years of age or over. However, while offenders under the age of 15 years cannot be committed to a prison under any circumstances, 15 year old male offenders and 15 and 16 year old female offenders can be committed to a prison falling under my area of responsibility in exceptional circumstances. This can occur only in cases where the court certifies under the provisions of sections 97 and 102 of the Children Act 1908 that the young person is so unruly or depraved of character that he or she cannot be detained in a place of detention provided under Part V of the Act.

St. Patrick's Institution is a closed institution reserved in law exclusively for male offenders aged 16 to 21 years and has bed capacity for 220 prisoners, a figure which has increased from one of 172 in the mid-1990s. In addition, each of the prisons in the State can accommodate persons aged 17 years and over. As the prison system must accommodate all those committed to its custody from the courts, it does not, therefore, operate on a waiting list system.

With these provisions in mind, 19 male offenders aged 16 years of age were in custody on 3 May 2005. Each of these persons was detained in St. Patrick's Institution. In addition, 49 male offenders aged 17 years of age were in custody on that date. Their whereabouts are set out in the following table. On the same date no female juveniles were in the prison system.

Prison	Remands	For Trial	Trial & Remand	Sentenced	Total
Castlerea	0	0	0	1	1
Cloverhill	2	0	0	0	2
Cork	0	0	0	5	5
St. Patrick’s	2	0	1	38	41
Total	4	0	1	44	49

In the Dublin area, it is hoped to provide a new children detention centre as part of the planned new prison complex to replace the current institutions on the Mountjoy site, including St. Patrick's Institution. As regards facilities outside Dublin, I have announced that the new prison complex to replace Cork Prison will also include a stand-alone children detention centre to accommodate both male and female offenders aged 16 and 17 years of age.

Asylum Applications.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

433 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision is likely in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [14362/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The person concerned, an Angolan national, arrived in the State on 31 July 2003 and applied for asylum. His application was refused by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed by letter dated 15 February 2005 that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him. He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons he should be allowed to remain temporarily in the State; leaving the State before an order is made or consenting to the making of a deportation order. This person's case file, including all representations submitted, will be considered under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, and section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996, prohibition of refoulement. I expect the case file to be passed to me for decision in due course.

Garda Stations.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

434 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the Garda station at Ballinhassig, County Cork, has not been replaced other than by temporary accommodation which is now rat infested and rotten; if his attention has been drawn to the substantial increase in population in the area; and the position regarding a new Garda station. [14437/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am aware that the Garda authorities have made proposals regarding Ballinhassig station, which involve the utilisation of part of the existing site. A prefabricated building was erected on the site and some work will be required to this building in the near future. However, I am advised by the Garda housing section that it has received no requests in regard to rat infestation. I assure the Deputy that the provision of a permanent station will be progressed as quickly as overall priorities within the Garda building programme and the availability of financial and other resources allow.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

435 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the Garda station at Dunmanway, County Cork, has not been refurbished and repaired; the position in relation to plans for same; and when the work will be carried out. [14438/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

There are plans to refurbish Dunmanway Garda station. I am informed by the Office of Public Works that the refurbishment works were contingent on the acquisition of a portion of the adjoining site at the rear of the station. I am also advised by the board that protracted negotiations for the acquisition of this land have proved difficult and the OPW is now reviewing its options. I can assure the Deputy that the matter is being pursued as a matter of urgency.

Departmental Correspondence.

Gerard Murphy

Ceist:

436 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he intends to make a decision in the case of a person (details supplied). [14439/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

My Department wrote to the person's solicitor setting out the position in this case on 29 April 2005. A decision in the case will be made as soon as possible following receipt of a reply to that letter.

Refugee Status.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

437 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the refugee status of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14440/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

separate standards for off-line and on-line environments will only create serious problems for society in the longer term. However, liability issues in the internet gambling area are likely to be as complex as in other areas of internet activity. In an internet environment, special consideration would have to be given to both the liability and protection of the player. With internet operations, the provider may not be within the jurisdiction and may be providing a service which may be legal where the service is being hosted, but illegal where the service is being accessed. This is not an unusual phenomenon in internet services. The logistical not to speak of legal difficulties of dealing with this situation and of enforcing the law at player level are enormous. Attempts to fix liability at internet service provider level are also fraught with difficulties.

The range of illegal uses of the Internet and the enforcement difficulties associated with such use were also examined in the first report of the working group on the illegal and harmful use of the Internet published in 1998. While that report did not examine the specific problems associated with gambling on the Internet, many of the conclusions reached in the report are valid for the gambling area.

Under a code of practice and ethics agreed by the Irish Internet service provider industry in 2002, material or services that are illegal under Irish law will not be carried on Irish servers, and if such is found they will be removed immediately under agreed protocols.

DNA Databank.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

441 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the absence of a DNA databank is hampering the efforts of the Garda in the investigation and detection of serious crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14459/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

A national DNA databank would be of great assistance to the Garda Síochána in the detection of crime and I support the introduction of such a database. It is my intention to draw up proposals for the establishment of a DNA database which would, having regard to constitutional requirements and the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights, permit as extensive a databank as possible. As I previously indicated to the House, the Law Reform Commission is examining the issues surrounding the establishment of a DNA databank. The commission has published a consultation paper on the subject and the final report is awaited. I look forward to examining the report and, in due course, bringing forward my proposals in this regard.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

442 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in publishing draft proposals on the establishment of a DNA databank; if progress on all of his other initiatives await the publication of a Law Reform Commission report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14460/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

It is my intention to draw up proposals for the establishment of a DNA databank which would, having regard to constitutional requirements and the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights, permit as extensive a databank as possible. As I previously indicated to the House the Law Reform Commission is examining the issues surrounding the establishment of a DNA databank. The commission has published a consultation paper on the subject and the final report is awaited. I look forward to examining the report and, in due course, bringing forward my proposals in this regard.

The Deputy raises the question of whether all my other initiatives await the publication of a Law Reform Commission report. It is not clear to which initatives the Deputy is referring. I can say, however, that in circumstances where the Law Reform Commission is considering a particular subject I think it is, in general, prudent to await the outcome of such considerations before bringing forward proposals.

Garda Operations.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

443 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of a directive or notice which has been issued to members of the Garda informing or requesting them to create summonses by hand rather than through the PULSE system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14461/05]

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

444 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Garda has encountered problems in seeking to have summonses processed through PULSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14462/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 444 together.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that a directive issued arising from the enactment ofS.I. 167/2005 which created a new summons format. This requires a change to be made to PULSE. The new format will be introduced in PULSE as soon possible after the format has been agreed with the Courts Service. In the interim I am advised by the Garda authorities that urgent summons can be processed by hand.

Irish Prison Service.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

445 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for the use of gardaí in the event that prison officers go on strike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14463/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

449 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will identify the auctioneer or agent referred to in the minutes of the meeting of the Mountjoy site replacement committee on 18 January 2005 who approached the Prison Service with details of Thornton Hall Farm at Kilsallaghan before Christmas 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14472/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The agent referred to by the Deputy was acting on a professional basis on behalf of the vendor of the Thornton Hall site. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to identify this individual by way of reply to a parliamentary question.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

450 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of the preliminary discussions held between the auctioneer or agent acting on behalf of the Mountjoy site replacement committee and the auctioneer or agent referred to in the minutes of the meeting of the Mountjoy site replacement committee on 18 January 2005 who approached the Prison Service with details of Thornton Hall Farm at Kilsallaghan before Christmas 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14473/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The minutes of the Mountjoy site selection committee have been published and are in the public domain. I understand that a person associated with a local residents association has secured leave from the High Court for a judicial review of the decision to select the site and, accordingly, it would be inappropriate for me to comment in relation to the negotiations which took place.

The information required by the Deputy regarding funding allocated to the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, for the years 2001-05 inclusive, is set out in the table below.

Year	Asylum Seeker Accommodation Allocation	Administrative Allocation PAY	Administrative Allocation NON-PAY
	€ million	€ million	€ million
2001			0.82
2002	83.8	1.7	0.96
2003	76.5	1.9	0.85
2004	83.6	2.1	0.81
2005	71.1	2.2	1.22

The administrative and staffing costs of the RIA are funded from subhead D1 of the Department's Vote, which covers a number of different asylum and immigration service divisions. Prior to 2002, the Department of the Environment and Local Government made payments to proprietors for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services. Prior to 2002, RIA pay expenditure was not accounted for separately from the other areas of asylum and immigration. Figures for 2005 are estimated.

Garda Deployment.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

454 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will examine the possibility of approving two additional gardaí to service the Fethard area of County Tipperary owing to a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour. [14562/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Fethard Garda station as at 3 May 2005 was one sergeant and one garda. I am further advised that local Garda management is satisfied with the current policing arrangements in the Fethard sub-district.

Regarding Garda resources generally, I am very pleased that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis in line with An Agreed Programme for Government commitment in this regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government and its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force.

The Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources. In this context, the needs of the Fethard sub-district will be fully considered within the context of the needs of Garda districts and sub-districts throughout the country. Clearly the additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies in particular areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences, but it will be possible to address other priorities as well, such as the need to significantly increase the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties as part of the new Garda traffic corps. I have already promised that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties but will be put directly into frontline, operational, high-visibility policing where they will have a real impact.

Schools Building Projects.

Dinny McGinley

Ceist:

455 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount spent to date on the development of the all-Irish education centre planned for Ballyvourney, County Cork. [13910/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The project to which the Deputy refers has incurred costs of €372,000 to date.

Site Acquisitions.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

456 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will confirm authorisation for the purchase of the site for a new school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13911/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The property management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is continuing to explore the possibility of acquiring a site for the school referred to by the Deputy. A technical report on a number of possible sites has been submitted by the OPW and is being assessed by my Department. Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to identify specific sites to be acquired. However, this information will be placed on my Department's website when the relevant acquisitions have been completed.

Grant Payments.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

457 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the youth affairs grant application of a project (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13923/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

An application for funding under the special projects for youth scheme has been submitted to the youth affairs section of my Department on behalf of the project referred to by the Deputy. My Department is at present giving consideration to this request and to all other applications made for youth work funding in 2005 having regard to the overall level of financial resources available for the youth sector. A decision will be given in this case as soon as possible.

School Staffing.

Paddy McHugh

Ceist:

458 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in County Galway will retain its fourth mainstream assistant class teacher; if the position of a temporary shared resource teacher at the school will be made permanent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13930/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule agreed between my Department and the education partners. In accordance with the staffing schedule, the staffing of the school for the school year 2004-05 is a principal and four mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 116 pupils at 30 September 2003.

In addition, the school has the services of a learning support teacher and two full-time resource teacher posts, one of whom is allocated on a temporary basis. My Department will finalise the staffing schedule for the 2005-06 school year shortly and thereafter notify school boards of management. According to data submitted to my Department by the board of management, the enrolment on 30 September 2004 in the school referred to by the Deputy was 104 pupils. The staffing for the 2005-06 school year will be determined on the basis of this figure and in accordance with the agreed staffing schedule.

As outlined in primary circular 19/02, an independent appeals board was established to adjudicate on appeals from boards of management on mainstream staffing allocations in primary schools. The appeals board operates independently of the Minister and my Department and its decision is final. Appeals must be submitted to primary payments section, Department of Education and Science, Athlone, on the standard application form, clearly stating the criterion under which the appeal is being made after the schedule for the 2005-06 school year has issued.

A revised system for allocating resource teachers and learning support teachers was announced last year and a review of this system is taking place with particular reference to its impact on small and rural schools. I expect this review to be completed shortly in time to be implemented for the next school year. The position regarding the level and nature of the school's special education teaching posts will be clarified at that point.

Special Educational Needs.

David Stanton

Ceist:

459 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has received an application for special support for a person attending a primary school (details supplied); if this essential support will be in place by September 2005 when this person starts in a mainstream national school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13931/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports. Seventy one special educational needs organisers, SENOs, have been recruited and will be a focal point of contact for schools and parents. My Department officials have been informed by the NCSE that the matter has been referred to the local SENO. The SENO will make contact with the school authorities regarding the matter.

Schools Building Projects.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

460 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science when an application for extension of two classrooms and a general purpose room will be approved for a school (details supplied) in County Louth; the stage of consideration this application is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13954/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The application for an extension at the school to which the Deputy refers has been examined in the school planning section of my Department and agreement has been reached with the school authority with regard to the schools long-term accommodation needs. Progress on the application is being considered in the context of the school building programme from 2005 onwards.

School Staffing.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

461 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if an additional resource teacher will be allocated to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12 as well as additional funding for a caretaker. [14025/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The school referred to by the Deputy has the services of a full-time resource teacher for Traveller pupils. The school has submitted an application for an additional resource teacher post for Traveller pupils in the school. A decision on the application will be conveyed to the school as soon as the application has been considered.

My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of full-time secretaries and caretakers in primary schools under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. This scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created. This scheme has been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme now referred to as the ancillary services grant.

The ancillary services grant provides additional funding for primary schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. The scheme does not provide for the linking of the grants to any particular pay scale and is flexible by nature, giving boards of management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided. The school referred to by the Deputy receives grant assistance towards the provision of secretarial and caretaking services under this scheme.

The amount of grant paid to an individual school is determined by the enrolment in the school. The standard rate of grant was increased from €102 to €127 per pupil in 2004 and was further increased to €133 per pupil this year. Accordingly, the school referred to received €15,162 by way of grant assistance under the ancillary services grant scheme on the basis of the school's enrolments in 2005. My Department has no further funds at its disposal from which additional moneys can be made available to schools towards the cost of secretarial or caretaking services.

The level and extent of services provided is a matter for the school authorities who, through the discretion afforded by the scheme, apply diverse arrangements for secretarial and caretaking services as resources permit. It is a matter for each school to decide how best to apply the funding to suit its particular needs. The question of increasing the rate of the ancillary services grant in future will be considered in the context of available resources and priorities within the education sector. The school has the services of one permanent resource teacher and a shared learning support teacher, which is 0.8 of a post.

Educational Projects.

Pat Carey

Ceist:

462 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science the resources, financial and otherwise, which are provided by her Department to a village project (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the services which are provided in return by the project to the education sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14103/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The Village Project is a community-based day assessment service that offers a comprehensive assessment to young people from the Finglas, Ballymun and surrounding areas. The Village Project was funded by my Department until 1 January 2004 when responsibility for funding this project transferred to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. My Department continues to provide the services of a full-time teacher to the project.

Grant Payments.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

463 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science, further to Question No. 349 of 28 October 2004, if the amount of £47,000 has been paid to Kilkenny County Council relative to condition No. 2 of planning approval 99/121; if so, when the infrastructure outlined in condition No. 2 will be provided; if not provided, if she will demand a repayment of the contribution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14128/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I understand that the works specified in condition No. 2 of planning approval 99/121 have not yet been carried out by Kilkenny County Council. The contribution of £47,000, which was subsequently reduced to £30,000, has not yet been paid by my Department. Officials in my Department's school building section are pursuing the matter with Kilkenny County Council. I have arranged for my officials to keep the Deputy advised of developments.

Site Acquisitions.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

464 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the overall review of primary educational infrastructure in the Santry and Whitehall areas of Dublin 9 now under way as a result of an application by a school (details supplied) for a new school; when this review commenced; when it will be completed; the personnel who are undertaking it; its terms of reference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14144/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

468 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has received a report from the local inspector on the proposed amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14210/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education.

The board has indicated that a total of 17,878 new cases were opened during 2004. These refer to children who had significant absences from school and about whom there was concern. I understand that actions by the board resulted in 8,616 of these cases being closed by the end of December 2004 leaving 9,262 on hands in January 2005.

Following the Deputy's previous parliamentary question in relation to this case, my Department received the details required from NUI Maynooth to review the circumstances of the case.

My Department has now completed its review of the case and has recently notified Dublin City Council of its decision.

Schools Amalgamation.

Seamus Healy

Ceist:

475 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14305/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The school planning section of my Department is assessing the rationalisation of national schools in County Tipperary, which includes the school to which the Deputy refers. My Department has requested the local inspector to provide long-term projections for both schools to establish the extent of accommodation which will be needed to facilitate the amalgamation. In addition, a technical inspection has been carried out on the existing buildings to determine which, if either, would be suitable to act as a host for the new school. A greenfield site solution will be necessary if a host does not emerge. The technical report will be available in my Department shortly.

In the meantime, the project has been assessed in accordance with the agreed prioritisation criteria for large-scale projects and it has been assigned a band 1.4 rating, that is, rationalisation. It will be considered for commencement of architectural planning when the various strands have been pulled together in terms of the long-term projected enrolment and a proposed accommodation solution.

University Statutes.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

476 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the conditions that must be met to allow for the alteration of university statutes, in cases in which such alteration might have an implication for public service retirement age; if consent for any such alteration must be received from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14344/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The Universities Act 1997 provides for a mechanism for amendment of statutes relating to superannuation schemes. That process involves a proposal for amendment from the governing body which, before it can be effective, the Higher Education Authority must approve with my consent and the consent of the Minister for Finance.

In considering whether to give approval or consent, due regard must be had to the conditions of service, including those which relate to retirement age, which prevail within the public service.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

477 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has received an application for the extension of tenure in respect of a position at a university (details supplied); if so, if she has considered such application; if a recommendation for such extension has been issued by the governing body of the institute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14346/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

On 22 April 2004, the secretary of the Higher Education Authority wrote to the Ministers for Finance and Education and Science seeking their consent to an amendment by way of statute to University College Cork's superannuation scheme. This would have allowed for an extension of the term of office of the president of that institution. On 4 November 2004, the Minister for Finance advised that he was not in a position to approve the proposal as presented, and the matter was remitted to the Higher Education Authority for consideration.

I understand that on 9 March 2005, the governing body of University College Cork submitted a revised statute to the Higher Education Authority. My consent has not as yet been sought to any further proposal in the matter.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

478 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in deciding to provide by order for additional institutions in respect of which former residents are entitled to make applications under the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002, she has confined herself to considering only those institutions owned and managed by religious congregations that had made contributions to the special account established under that Act and were party to an indemnity agreement with the State in respect of civil liability for child abuse in those institutions; if so, the reasons for that decision; if she has sought or received legal advice on such an approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14361/05]

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

480 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in deciding to provide by order for additional institutions in respect of which former residents are entitled to make applications under the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002, she has confined herself to considering only those institutions owned and managed by religious congregations that had made contributions to the special account established under that Act and were party to an indemnity agreement with the State in respect of civil liability for child abuse in those institutions; if so, the reasons for that decision; if she sought or received legal advice on such an approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14450/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 480 together.

Section 4 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 enables additional institutions, in which children were placed and resident and in respect of which a public body had a regulatory or inspection function, to be added to the Schedule to the Act.

Since the enactment of the legislation, my Department has received correspondence from both individuals and survivor groups identifying a number of additional institutions that may be eligible for inclusion in the Schedule. Accordingly, consultations have taken place between my Department and other Departments which may have provided a regulatory function in the operation of these facilities in order to ascertain the case for their inclusion under the Act.

While inquiries have not yet been completed in respect of all institutions, I signed an order on 9 November 2004 which provided for the inclusion of 13 additional institutions in the Schedule.

Further consultations are taking place on a number of institutions and I will consider the position of these institutions when this process has been completed. As part of that consultation process my Department is exploring with the trustees-management of some institutions the possibility of a contribution being made by them towards the redress scheme.

I can assure the Deputy, however, that any decision to include an additional institution will not be made conditional on a contribution being forthcoming and the question of obtaining legal advice on such a condition does not therefore arise. Nonetheless, it is desirable to explore the issue before a final decision is made.

Special Educational Needs.

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

479 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science the arrangements for a second level school place being made for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [14444/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has been established as an independent statutory body with responsibilities as set out in the National Council for Special Education (Establishment) Order 2003.

With effect from 1 January 2005, the NCSE, through local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, is responsible for processing resource applications for children with special educational needs. Where a pupil with special educational needs enrols in a post-primary school, it is open to the school to apply to the local SENO for additional teaching support and-or special needs assistant support for the pupil.

The precise model of provision made available will depend on the assessed needs of the pupils involved. Some students are capable of attending ordinary classes on an integrated basis with additional teacher and-or special needs assistant support. In other cases, placement in special dedicated classes or units attached to the school may be the more appropriate response. Such special classes operate at significantly reduced pupil teacher ratios. For example, a special class catering for children with a mild general learning disability would have a support rate equating with a maximum pupil-teacher ratio of 11 to one. A class catering for children on the autistic spectrum would be supported at a pupil teacher ratio of six to one. Students attached to these special classes may be facilitated in attending ordinary subject classes on an integrated basis wherever possible.

Question No. 480 answered with QuestionNo. 478.

Teaching Qualifications.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

481 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science the process by which a person appeals a decision made by the Registration Council for recognition of their qualifications for the purpose of admission to the Register of Intermediate Secondary School Teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14569/05]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The Registration Council is the statutory body responsible for the recognition of qualifications for the purpose of teaching in secondary schools.

Decisions of the council are based on established assessment criteria and on a detailed examination of all documentation submitted in support of each application.

The council will advise disappointed applicants of the reasons their individual qualifications were not considered suitable for teaching purposes. Where a shortfall in qualifications is identified and additional information in respect of that shortfall is supplied, the council will re-examine the application.

If the Deputy has a particular case in mind and supplies me with details, I can arrange for a more detailed response which will issue directly to him.

Decentralisation Programme.

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

482 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Defence, further to Question No. 493 of 26 April 2005, the number and various grades of staff employed in that branch of his Department; the number and various grades who have applied for transfers to Roscrea; the progress to date in securing a suitable location; when the movement of staff to Roscrea will begin and when it is expected to be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14292/05]

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

As the Deputy will be aware, in the context of the White Paper on Defence, the Government decided to decentralise the Civil Defence branch of my Department to Roscrea, County Tipperary.

Of the 18 staff currently serving with the Civil Defence board, 13 staff, in the following grades, have indicated a willingness to relocate to Roscrea: director general — one; assistant principal — two; higher executive officer — five; executive officer — two; clerical officer — two; and technical officer — one.

To date, there have been 111 applications for transfer to Roscrea, in the following grades: assistant principal — five; higher executive officer — ten; executive officer — 22; staff officer — four; and clerical officer — 70.

The Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision of official accommodation for Departments, has issued tenders for the fit-out of a leased building in Roscrea, and a contract has been placed. The contract is expected to take six months to complete.

Part of the staff of the Civil Defence board has already been moved to temporary accommodation in Roscrea since 10 September 2004.

Aircraft Landings.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

483 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence if he has had requests to permit the landing and parking of private helicopters at military locations; if so, his response to same; if not, the way in which he will view such a request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14293/05]

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

Requests for permission to land privately owned aircraft, including helicopters, are occasionally received by my Department. Such requests, usually relating to Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, are dealt with on a case by case basis and permission may be granted, subject to operational, security, administrative etc. considerations.

Defence Forces Deployment.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

484 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the use of members of the Permanent Defence Force in the event that prison officers go on strike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14466/05]

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

For operational reasons it would be inappropriate of me to comment on this matter.

Motor Taxation.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

485 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the vehicles registration office in Shannon will return a copy of a registration book to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [13949/05]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Correspondence from the person in question was received at my Department's offices in Shannon on 22 April 2005 seeking return, for insurance related purposes, of a vehicle licensing certificate which had earlier been surrendered. The document has been returned to the vehicle owner.

Compulsory Purchase Orders.

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

486 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will consider changing the regulations to allow a person who wishes to go to arbitration under CPO for road restructuring to hold on to the offer that has been made to them by the local authority as the minimum to be received in compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14363/05]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

My Department has no proposals to amend legislation governing the compulsory purchase of property in the manner outlined in the question. A property arbitrator has full discretion to determine the amount of compensation to be paid in any given case having regard to the statutory rules for assessing such compensation, and is not required to take into account any offer that previously may have been made by the acquiring authority. A person may retain legal, valuation and other professional advisers in dealing with a notice to treat for the purchase of property. Professional fees reasonably incurred in dealing with a notice to treat are recoverable as part of a property owner's compensation.

Seanad Reform.

Pat Carey

Ceist:

487 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if consideration has been given by the Government to the extension of the Seanad franchise to graduates of DCU and the University of Limerick (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14365/05]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Report on Seanad Reform — April 2004 by the Seanad Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform sets out comprehensive recommendations for further consideration and action concerning the composition, functions and future role of Seanad Éireann. The report includes proposals for new arrangements surrounding the nomination and election of Senators, involving radical reform of the vocational panel system to allow for broader enfranchisement, rolling renewal of the Seanad, the introduction of direct popular elections for some or all of the Seanad seats and a widening of the electorate for the higher education constituency.

At the Taoiseach's request, I have agreed to chair an informal all-party parliamentary group to establish the extent of cross-party agreement on the report's recommendations and to advance, with consensus, proposals for the implementation of Seanad reform. I have written to party leaders and am awaiting nominations for the informal all-party group, which I intend to convene shortly in order to advance the recommendations in a timely and inclusive manner.

Private Rented Accommodation.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

488 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the timescale for resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants referred to arbitration with the Residential Tenancy Board. [14036/05]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

My Department has no function in the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. This is the statutory responsibility of the Private Residential Tenancies Board established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, which specifically provides that the board shall be independent in the performance of its functions. There is a general objective in the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to have disputes resolved speedily and specific time limits relating to the various elements of the dispute resolution process are prescribed in rules made by the board under the Act.

In relation to cases that are referred to adjudication by the board, the adjudicator must furnish a report within 14 days of making a determination. However, no overall time limit is provided as the total time required is subject to variation depending on the circumstances of the case and whether an appeal is made to a tenancy tribunal and the High Court.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

These measures include the progressive roll-out of segregated household collection of dry recyclables — kerbside green bin collection services — to more than 560,000 households, or some 42% of all households in the State. The number of bring banks has doubled since 1998 and now stands at approximately 1,700, with more being provided on an ongoing basis. The number of civic amenity sites has nearly doubled with approximately 60 in place. Some recycling centres are at earlier stages of development. The mandatory obligation under the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations 2003 on those placing packaging on the market to segregate specified packaging waste, including aluminium, fibreboard, glass, paper, plastic sheeting, steel and wood arising on their premises and have it collected by authorised operators for recycling is widely accepted to be contributing to a significant increase in the recycling rates for these materials in the commercial sector. The successful producer-responsibility initiatives for packaging waste, farm plastics and construction and demolition waste will be extended to other areas such as tyres, newsprint, end-of-life vehicles and electrical and electronic equipment. The development of markets for recyclable materials is to be taken forward under the aegis of a market development group which was established in July 2004.

Biodegradable municipal waste is now to be targeted for major improvements in recycling and a national strategy on biodegradable waste to guide efforts in this area will be finalised later this year. The changeover to pay-by-use waste charging systems, which commenced in January, will enable householders to reduce their waste charges by increasing their recycling rates, thereby minimising the need for waste to be collected for disposal.

Significant progress has been made in increasing recycling levels in Ireland in recent years. The latest figures available on municipal waste generation, recovery and disposal are contained in the national waste database interim report for 2003, published by the Environmental Protection Agency in December 2004. According to the report, the recycling rate in the municipal waste stream has advanced to 28.4% in 2003, up from 20.7% in 2002. I envisage that further improvements in our recycling efforts will continue to be made as a result of the ongoing implementation of the local and regional waste management plans.

Radon Gas Levels.

John Curran

Ceist:

492 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will consider the reintroduction of the radon remediation grants scheme; the likely funding required for such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14316/05]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Government, through the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, has over the years committed significant resources to assessing the extent of the radon problem throughout the country and to increasing public awareness of radon. While the provision of Exchequer grant assistance for radon remediation works or radon detectors is not envisaged, effort will continue to be directed at improving information to householders to enable them to address monitoring or remedial requirements effectively and economically.

During the years 1992 to 1999, the RPII carried out a national survey of radon in domestic dwellings aimed at assessing the extent of the radon problem in homes. The survey involved the measurement by the RPII of radon for a 12-month period in a random selection of homes in each 10 km by 10 km grid square throughout the country. The RPII's website contains a comprehensive map of the high radon areas in Ireland as well as the report of its national survey of radon in homes.

In February 2002, my Department published a booklet, Radon in Existing Buildings — Corrective Options, advising designers, builders and home owners on remediation options for reducing radon in existing houses to or below the national reference level. Upgraded building regulations, introduced in June 1997, require all new houses which commenced construction on or after 1 July 1998 to incorporate radon protection measures. My Department has recently published an updated edition of technical guidance document C — TGD-D — on part C of the building regulations, site preparation and resistance to moisture, incorporating enhanced radon prevention measures for new buildings commencing on or after 1 April 2005. This new guidance document is aimed at ensuring that the 1997 radon protection measures are carried out more effectively.

In recent months, the RPII has undertaken several initiatives to further heighten awareness of radon in Ireland. In November 2004, the RPII hosted the third national radon forum in Dublin to raise awareness of radon as a health risk. Earlier this year, the RPII published a revised version of its booklet, Radon in Homes, and also published a booklet in October 2004, Understanding Radon Remediation; A Householders Guide. The RPII also plans to distribute an information poster on radon for display in libraries, medical centres and other public areas advising people to have their homes checked for radon. Both the RPII and my Department will continue to use all appropriate opportunities to raise public awareness of radon and to encourage householders with radon concentrations above the national reference level to undertake remediation works.

Housing Grants.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

My Department has encouraged local authorities to undertake public private partnerships for the delivery of social and affordable housing, providing that this route offers value for money. Most of the contracts entered into to date are in the form of partnering arrangements with developers to deliver social and or affordable housing on local authority lands with private housing also being permitted as part of the arrangement. In the case of affordable housing, the arrangement can involve the sale of the land with conditions attached regarding the affordable housing to be provided.

As the mix of development can vary with some also including commercial or community facilities, information on the exact level of private funding is not obtained by the Department. Generally, these arrangements result in social and affordable housing being provided at much reduced or, in some instances, at no cost to the Exchequer and in an improved social mix. For example, the regeneration of Fatima Mansions is being pursued through a public private partnership arrangement involving the provision of 150 units of rented accommodation, 70 affordable units and approximately 300 private units. In this case, it is expected that the redevelopment will be Exchequer neutral on the basis that the land costs for the private units will fund the provision of social units as well as the provision of significant community facilities.

Public private partnership arrangements are being developed within the sector with other forms of public private partnerships likely to play a role in the future. These include swapping land for housing units as part of the implementation of the Sustaining Progress affordable housing initiative and the provision of accommodation through new rental accommodation scheme.

Housing Policy.

John Curran

Ceist:

497 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to implement the recommendations of the recent NESC report on housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14322/05]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

The Government is giving detailed consideration to the findings of report No. 112 of the National Economic and Social Council, Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy, and other recent reports with a bearing on housing issues. The NESC report provides an important analysis of the Irish housing system and an agenda for the future development of policy. Importantly, the report recognises that the general thrust of existing policy is well directed. My Department is addressing the issues raised in the report and the merits of new measures that may be desirable both in the short and more medium terms. These matters will be considered by Government shortly.

Homelessness Strategy.

John Curran

Ceist:

498 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to implement the strategy on homelessness; the cost of implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14323/05]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

The Government's integrated strategy on homelessness was launched in 2000 and its homeless preventative strategy in 2002. Under the terms of the integrated strategy, homeless fora, representative of the statutory and voluntary homeless sectors, were established at local authority level and, under their aegis, homelessness action plans were adopted and are in the process of being implemented. These developments have resulted in the provision of a wide range of additional accommodation and services for homeless persons. People who sleep rough have been enabled to access emergency accommodation and homeless persons have been facilitated to move out of emergency accommodation into accommodation more suitable to their needs. Increased levels of day care facilities, together with specific provisions to meet the needs of people with addiction problems or who are sleeping rough as well as homeless ex-offenders, have been put in place.

While the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons is the responsibility of local authorities, my Department recoups to them 90% of their expenditure in this area. Details of amounts recouped since the implementation of the integrated strategy are set out in the following table.

2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
€ 15.8 million	€31.7 million	€42.9 million	€49.2 million	€45.7million

Local authorities meet the balance of 10% of the costs from their own revenue while the care costs associated with these services are provided by the health boards.

An independent review of the implementation of the integrated and preventative homelessness strategies and their associated action plans is under way and the outcome of the review will help to inform future developments in this area.

Social and Affordable Housing.

John Curran

Ceist:

499 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding provided for the construction of social and affordable housing in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005; the way in which the increase compared with the increase in house prices over those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14324/05]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

The total amount of funding, Exchequer and non-Exchequer, for the construction or acquisition of social and affordable housing in 2002 to 2005 and the percentage changes in house prices over the same period are set out in the following table. This includes capital spending on regeneration and traveller accommodation.

	Total Funding	Exchequer component of total funding	House Prices (national)
Year	€ ,000	% change	€ ,000	% change	New (% change)	Second-Hand(% change)
2002	1,474,022	23.3	973,228	25.3	8.3	10.5
2003	1,418,275	-3.8	909,197	-6.6	13.4	16.3
2004	1,349,022	-4.9	925,307	1.8	10.6*	10.0*
2005 (provisional)	1,799,341	33.4	1,128,222	21.9

*The % change is calculated using the year-on-year changes in house prices as published in the September Quarterly Housing Statistics Bulletin, the latest quarter for which statistics are available.

Fluctuations in funding between 2002 and 2004 are explained in part by variation in the levels of commitments brought forward between years which affected Exchequer funding and varying demands for shared ownership loans which impacted on non-Voted capital spending. In addition, savings of some €40 million, which arose in 2004 across the range of housing capital programmes, were carried forward into 2005 from 2004 under the new multi-annual capital envelope arrangements.

The level of funding available in 2005 under the various housing programmes will ensure that the needs of in excess of 13,000 households will be met through the various social and affordable housing measures. The Government will continue to promote strong programmes of social and affordable housing for those who cannotprovide for their own accommodation by other means.

John Curran

Ceist:

500 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the proportion of social housing allocated to persons living alone; the average cost of such housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14325/05]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. B. O’Keeffe)

John Curran

Ceist:

504 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on lowering the voting age to 16 for local elections; if such a move would be cost neutral; if not, the likely additional costs arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14329/05]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

In accordance with electoral law, a person must be 18 years of age to vote at local elections. This is consistent with the position in most countries, including the EU member states. While electoral law is subject to ongoing review, there is no proposal at present to reduce the voting age in Ireland. There is no information available on the likely cost implications of any such proposal.

Planning Issues.

John Curran

Ceist:

505 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will establish a rezoning review board to scrutinise rezoning decisions; the likely cost of such a body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14330/05]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Land use and zoning decisions are generally local government functions in other jurisdictions. Subsidiarity in the taking of decisions at the lowest appropriate level is a principle which has been endorsed at international and national level. I consider, therefore, that efforts should continue to be directed at making local responsibility for zoning in Ireland operate to high standards of probity and efficiency; rather than to make all zoning decisions subject to central supervision and review. The key challenge is to ensure openness, probity, fairness and efficiency in the operation of the planning system.

A significant proportion of households already have kerbside collection of dry recyclables. At the end of 2003, the most recent period for which national data is available, 563,681 households had a dry recyclable collection, comprising more than 40% of households in the State, and this will have further increased in the intervening period. My Department is not in a position to estimate the cost of rolling out kerbside collection to all remaining households as collection costs vary significantly depending on location.

I am pleased at the continuous improvements in the levels of recycling being achieved. Approximately 28% of municipal waste is now being diverted from landfill, which is a substantial improvement on the situation in 2001 when it stood at under 10%. Kerbside collection has a key part to play in this, but I also remain committed to enhancing the network of bring centres and civic amenity sites which often accept materials that cannot be put in a green bin and which all householders can use.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

511 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will approve the selected tender for the Straffan sewerage scheme in County Kildare to enable work to commence on same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14340/05]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Work on the sewage collection system in Straffan forms part of the lower Liffey Valley sewerage scheme which is included in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-06 as a scheme to commence construction this year. In December 2004, my Department approved Kildare County Council's proposals to proceed with the Straffan element in advance of the rest of the lower Liffey Valley scheme with a view to the works being carried out in conjunction with planned road improvements. The council's report on tenders for the Straffan works is under consideration in my Department and is being dealt with as quickly as possible.

Housing Grants.

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

512 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position whereby a person applies to their local authority for a disabled person’s grant to install heating in their home and is informed that this work cannot be grant aided under the scheme unless it is carried out with other major works; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many ill and elderly persons who own their own homes are not in a position to meet the cost of such work; if he proposes to put in place another scheme to grant aid the installation of heating; and if he will clarify the position in relation to existing applicants under this scheme who applied, in some cases, over one year ago, for grant aid to install heating and who have now been informed that they cannot be approved. [14358/05]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

The provision of appropriate heating systems is eligible for funding under both the disabled person's and essential repairs grant schemes. Decisions on the type and extent of work which may be grant aided in individual cases are matters for the local authorities who are responsible for the administration of the schemes.

Under the terms of the special housing aid for the elderly scheme, which is operated by the Health Service Executive, provision of a suitable heating system appropriate to the needs of the elderly person in the context of the other improvements and repair works to a dwelling may also be funded. In addition, in July 2004, my Department introduced a new central heating programme to assist local authorities in providing central heating facilities in their rented dwelling which lack them. The scheme has been extended for a further period in 2005.

The disabled person's grant scheme, like other housing grant schemes operated by my Department, is intended to assist persons in the provision of additional accommodation or in carrying out works of adaptation, but is not designed to cover the full cost of works for all applicants. Local authorities may provide reconstruction loans to qualified applicants who have difficulty in obtaining finance to meet the balance of the cost.

The administration of the disabled person's grant scheme is a matter for the local authorities within the framework laid down in statutory regulations which, as far as practicable, is designed to give an appropriate level of flexibility at local level. The basic requirements for obtaining a disabled person's grant are that the work for which it is sought is, in the opinion of the local authority, reasonably necessary for the purpose of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a disabled member of the household and that the terms of the disabled person's grant scheme, as adopted by the local authority, are complied with.

Waste Management.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

513 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will establish a common approach or guidelines to be adopted by local authorities in relation to the consideration of applications for waste collection permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14359/05]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

A single local authority is nominated within each waste management region to operate the regulation of waste permits on behalf of all local authorities within that region. It is a matter for each nominated collection permitting authority to determine under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2001 (as amended) the conditions which may be attached to a waste collection permit granted by it arising from consideration of applications submitted to them. My Department has no direct function in this matter.

However, the office of environmental enforcement has engaged, in consultation with my Department, consultants to carry out a review of the waste permitting system. The scope of the study includes a review of waste collection permitting regulations and recommendations on possible changes to the existing legislation as well as the development of an accompanying training programme aimed at ensuring uniformity of practice amongst the local authorities. Based on this work, I hope to be in a position to publish draft regulations for public consultation in the near future.

Planning Issues.

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

514 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there are statutory requirements for local authorities to complete transport analysis and traffic modelling reports on a new roadway being proposed under Part 8 of the public consultation and local authority decision-making process. [14424/05]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The public consultation requirements laid down by Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 do not make mandatory provision for the completion of a transport analysis. Nevertheless, I would expect all local authorities to be guided on this matter by the National Roads Authority's national roads project management guidelines and its design manual for roads and bridges which require, as part of the planning and design process, the computation of traffic reports dealing with origin and destination, data, traffic volumes and traffic management.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

515 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the water schemes which are approved for the current year; and the number which are in progress in County Tipperary. [14563/05]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Details of the major water and sewerage schemes approved for funding nationally and in north and south Tipperary local authority areas are set out in my Department's water services investment programme 2004-06, which is available in the Oireachtas Library. In addition, a block grant allocation of €1.6 million and €1.1 million has been notified to North Tipperary and South Tipperary county councils, respectively, in respect of their devolved rural water programmes. Details of progress on schemes may be sought from the relevant local authorities.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Wednesday, 4 May 2005

Food Agency Co-operation Council.

Richard Bruton

Single Farm Payment.

Phil Hogan

Farm Safety.

Dan Boyle

Ministerial Visit.

Donie Cassidy

Eamon Gilmore

Seán Ryan

Food Industry.

John Curran

Genetically Modified Organisms.

Ciarán Cuffe

EU Directives.

Liz McManus

Jim Glennon

Live Exports.

Róisín Shortall

Food Safety Standards.

Bernard J. Durkan

Grant Aid.

Damien English

Animal Welfare Bodies.

Paddy McHugh

Farm Household Incomes.

Bernard J. Durkan

World Trade Negotiations.

Joe Sherlock

Animal Feedstuffs.

Jim O'Keeffe

EU Directives.

Mary Upton

Single Payment Scheme.

Michael Noonan

Farm Retirement Scheme.

John Perry

Farm Safety.

Emmet Stagg

Emmet Stagg

Milk Production Partnerships.

Billy Timmins

Farmer Numbers.

Mary Upton

Genetically Modified Organisms.

Liam Twomey

Paul McGrath

Energy Requirements.

Eamon Ryan

EU Directives.

Jimmy Deenihan

Sugar Quota.

Phil Hogan

Simon Coveney

Live Exports.

Paddy McHugh

Forestry Sector.

John Gormley

Food Imports.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

World Trade Negotiations.

Olwyn Enright

Food Labelling.

Olivia Mitchell

Grant Payments.

Pádraic McCormack

Food Industry.

Jimmy Devins

Departmental Agreement.

Olwyn Enright

Sheepmeat Prices.

Joe Sherlock

Farmers Markets.

David Stanton

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 May 2005