Written Answers.

116 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to ensure that industrial action is avoided with the Irish Nurses’ Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6199/07]

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

128 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken to address the concerns of the Irish Nurses’ Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6200/07]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

361 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which she proposes to address the issues raised by the nursing organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6516/07]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

365 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which she has met or expects to meet with the nursing organisations with a view to addressing the issues raised at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6520/07]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

366 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which she expects be in a position to meet the issues raised by the nursing organisations having particular regard to the need to achieve industrial peace and ensure the delivery of services to the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6521/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 95, 99, 105, 115, 116, 128, 361, 365 and 366 together.

The issues of nurses' pay and working hours have been fully processed through the State's industrial relations structures and procedures — the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. While health service management have accepted the Labour Court Recommendation, the Irish Nurses Organisation and Psychiatric Nurses Association state that they have neither accepted nor rejected this Recommendation and have instead served notice of industrial action. Discussions regarding impending industrial action have been led by the Health Service Executive — Employers Agency. These discussions form part of the process of established industrial relations practices and procedures. Officials from my Department have been included in these discussions as appropriate and have ensured that I have been fully briefed on the issues.

Social partnership agreements have created and sustained the conditions for economic growth over the last decade and significantly enhanced the position of employees in the public and private sector. The Government has agreed with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions a basis on which pay and conditions for the public service as a whole should be managed and the second Benchmarking Body has been established to provide an objective means of assessing the appropriate pay for particular groups or professions. However, the Irish Nurses Organisation and Psychiatric Nurses Association are refusing to co-operate with the current Benchmarking process which is reviewing the pay of public servants and is due to report in the second half of 2007. The INO and PNA have so far declined to sign up to the new national partnership agreement — Towards 2016. Instead both unions lodged eight cost increasing claims for improvements in pay and conditions. The additional cost of these claims would be almost €1 billion per annum. The Unions are also seeking retrospection estimated to cost in excess of €500m.

These claims were lodged during the lifetime of the Sustaining Progress Agreement which prohibited cost increasing claims. Both unions had signed up to Sustaining Progress and their members had received increases of 13.16% under this agreement, in addition to Benchmarking increases of between 8% and 16%.

The claims lodged by the Unions were the subject of an in depth examination by the Labour Court which issued its Recommendation last November. The Court did not recommend concession of the major cost increasing pay claims. Instead the Court urged the Unions concerned to reconsider their position with regard to Benchmarking so as to have their pay claims examined through that process.

In relation to the claim for a reduction in working hours from 39 to 35 hours per week, the Court recommended that the parties should jointly explore the possibility of initiating an appropriate process aimed at achieving major reorganisation of working arrangements and practices within the health service generally. The Court also stated that such an initiative should take account of and support existing development involving other groups. It held the view that if such a programme of change could be successfully implemented, the efficiencies, cost savings and other benefits accruing may allow this claim to be processed within a reasonable timeframe to be agreed between the parties.

The Benchmarking Body is due to report in the second half of the year and is in a position to review the issues that the nursing unions feel strongly about. I believe that a solution to the current dispute can be found within the context of the Labour Court Recommendation and the prevailing national agreements. In this regard I arranged for exploratory discussions to be held between all the parties concerned at the offices of the HSE-Employers Agency on 19 January 2007. While I understand the discussions provided clarity as to the respective positions of the parties the meeting adjourned without agreement on the way forward.

The Deputy will be aware that the first graduates from the nursing degree programme qualified in 2006 and the vast majority accepted posts and remain in employment in the public health service. There is no evidence to suggest that 75% of graduates have left Ireland.

It remains the Government's view that Benchmarking is the appropriate mechanism to resolve the pay issues. Management have offered to enter into discussions on an appropriate process aimed at achieving major reorganisation of working arrangements and practices within the health service generally and remain available for further discussions within the context of the Labour Court Recommendation and the prevailing national agreements. I would ask the INO and PNA to give further consideration to the Recommendation of the Labour Court and to make the case on behalf of their members, as other nursing unions have done, before the Benchmarking Body.

Hospital Accommodation.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

92 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of fully operational inpatient beds in each public acute hospital at the end of 2006; the number of day patient beds in each public acute hospital at the end of 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6231/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

In 2001, the year of the publication of Health Strategy, the average number of in-patient beds and day places available in the 53 public acute hospitals was 12,145. At the end of 2005, this figure had increased by 1,199 to a total of 13,344, involving an additional 719 in-patient beds and 480 day places. This expansion of capacity by 300 beds and places a year on average is one of the fastest in recent decades.

During 2006 the Health Service Executive undertook an extensive survey of capacity across all acute hospitals, including in-patient beds, day beds and other treatment placements, on a speciality by speciality basis. I understand that the HSE intends to publish the results of the survey in March 2007 and to make copies available to members of the Oireachtas.

Hospital Services.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

93 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the findings of a report into the current provision of maternity services which said that the 22 maternity units around the country facilities are significantly substandard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6254/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I take it the Deputy is referring to the recent report by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the future of maternity and gynaecology services in Ireland. The report sets out the Institute's views on a range of issues, including, for example, the need to develop clinical maternity networks throughout the country. The report also points to what the Institute sees as deficiencies in service provision. Clearly the report points to the need for significant changes in work practices and clinical cover by consultants on site. These issues are at the centre of the new consultants contract which is to be discussed with consultants' representatives in the coming weeks.

The Health Service Executive is responsible for the provision of maternity and gynaecology services and will have regard to the Institute's findings in developing these services.

Information Communications Technology.

John Perry

Ceist:

94 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to establish information technology links between primary and secondary care settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6192/07]

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

155 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce information technology links, such as discharge letters, to improve communication with general practitioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6195/07]

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

167 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to establish information technology links between out-patient departments and general practice facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6194/07]

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

193 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to establish information technology links between hospital laboratories and general practice facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6193/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 155, 167 and 193 together.

There have been significant advances in the deployment of ICT in healthcare in recent years but there remains significant scope to further expand the use of ICT. In order to support this approach, capital funding of €490 million is being provided for Health Information and Communications Technology under the National Development Plan 2007-2013.

The Primary Care Strategy included a commitment to provide improved ICT infrastructure for primary care teams. This was reaffirmed in the National Health Information Strategy.

In 2004, my Department and the HSE jointly led the preparation of an ICT Strategy for Primary Care. This will be used to inform the HSE's ICT development plans for the primary, community and continuing care sector. The HSE already supports computer links between hospitals and primary care providers, including GPs. The message types supported include laboratory results, radiology results, discharge letters and outpatient department appointments.

At present in excess of 1,000 GPs transmit and receive over 3 million electronic messages annually. The HSE intends to build upon the experience gained in these projects to further enhance and support electronic links between primary and secondary care.

Question No. 95 answered with QuestionNo. 91.

Hospital Services.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

96 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce routine screening for urea electrolytes, creats and liver abnormalities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6196/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I have no plans to introduce routine population screening for urea electrolytes, creats and liver abnormalities. If there is clinical suspicion of liver or kidney disease then it is good clinical practice to conduct these tests. However, there is currently no evidence to support population screening for these diseases.

My Department continues to keep evidence and practice in other countries under review and is actively considering the most appropriate ways to monitor new developments in screening and how they should be evaluated.

John Deasy

Ceist:

97 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children the services currently being provided at Monaghan General Hospital; the changes she will make to the provision of services in the short and long term; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6221/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Service Executive advises that Monaghan General Hospital provides the following range of services:

General Medicine

Day Surgery

Gynaecology (Out-Patient And Day Gynaecology)

High Dependency/Special Care/Coronary Care

Day Services

Treatment Room Services

Out-Patient Services

Radiology Services

Pathology Services

Physical Medicine Services

Ante Natal Services

The HSE has established a Steering Group and a North East Project Group to oversee a programme designed to improve safety and standards across the acute hospital network in the North East Region, including Monaghan arising out of the report by Teamwork Management Services.

In line with the Teamwork report, it is planned to have one major regional centre in the North East, supported by local hospitals and care centres at a number of locations, including Monaghan. The regional hospital will provide emergency and trauma services on a 24 hour basis. It will also provide planned specialist procedures that are complex and require the facilities of a large regional hospital. Local hospitals, including Monaghan, will provide services which meet the majority of patients needs including day and urgent care services.

Led by the HSE's National Hospitals Office, the Steering Group has representation from key stakeholders such as clinicians and primary care providers. The Project Group is being led by a Consultant Surgeon from outside the region. The process is being supported by ten Clinical Network Leads who have been tasked with overseeing the full range of planned care services to be provided at the local hospitals, including Monaghan.

The HSE has given me an assurance that, in progressing the re-organisation of services, there will be no discontinuation of existing services until suitable alternative arrangements have been put in place.

Infection Control.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

98 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of infection control staff recruited in each of the past ten years; the locations of the staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6226/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Health Service employment is reported through the Health Service Personnel Census which collates employment levels in the Health Service Executive, Voluntary Hospitals and certain Disability Services.

The information in relation to the number of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Infection Control employed in the public health services is set out in the following tabular statement. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that there are about four times as many staff employed in this grade now compared to the end of 1996.

It is important to note that other staff are also involved in the area of infection control e.g. antibiotic liaison pharmacists and surveillance scientists. A breakdown of the numbers employed in these grades is not available from the Personnel Census. However, the HSE is currently recruiting additional antibiotic liaison pharmacists and surveillance scientists.

Clinical Nurse Specialists, Infection Control Employed (1997-2006)
Location	end-1997	end-1998	end-1999	end-2000	end-2001	end-2002	end-2003	end-2004	end-2005	end-2006
Bantry Acute Unit										0.85
Central Services (MHB)									1	1
Central Services (SHB)									3.37	3.79
Cherry Orchard Hospital, Ballyfermot	1
Community Care, (Cork Area 3)										1
Community Care (Dublin, Area 3)									1	1
Community Care (Kerry)							1	2.15	1.65	1.59
Community Care (Westmeath)							1	0.99
Cork University Hospital	0.5	0.5	1.17	2	2.5	1.5	3.46	3.46	5.44	10.73
Federated Voluntary Hospitals	1
James Connolly Memorial Hospital (Blanchardstown)	1
Letterkenny General Hospital	1	1	1	1		1
Mallow General Hospital										1
Mater Misericordiae Hospital	1	1
Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar				1
Mayo Psychiatric Services									0.72	0.72
Mercy Hospital, Cork		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway				1
Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar				1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise						1	1	1	0.85	0.82
Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore	1	1	1	1		0
Naas General Hospital										1.5
National Rehabilitation Hospital							1	1	1	1
Our Lady of Lourdes	1	1	1	1
Our Lady’s General Hospital, Navan								0.87	0.87	0.87
Our Lady’s Hospice, (Harold’s Cross)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	0
Our Lady’s Hospital, (Crumlin)						3	3			4
Peamount Hospital (Newcastle)						0.5			0.5
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hosp. (Dublin)					1	1	1		1	1
Sligo Regional Hospital	1	1	1	1
St. Canice’s Hospital								1	2	1
St. James’s Hospital	1	1	1
St. John’s Hospital, Limerick						1	1	1	1	1
St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny	1	1	1	1
St. Mary’s Day Hospital								1
St. Mary’s Hospital, Cappagh							1	1	2	2
St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire					1	1	1	1	1	1
St. Vincent’s Hospital, Elm Park								3	3	4
Tallaght Hospital								1.5	1.5	2
Tralee General Hospital	1	1	2	2	2		1	1.7	2.83	4.71
Unified Maternity and Neo-Natal Services, Cork										1
Total	12.5	10.5	11.17	14	9.5	13	18.46	23.67	32.73	49.58

Note: December 2006 figures are provisional.

Source: Health Service Personnel Census.

Question No. 99 answered with QuestionNo. 91.

Data Collection.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

100 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on calls for a national audit system to allow for statistical comparison between hospitals around the country to monitor for anything that may be amiss; her further views on the need for collection and publication of national and regional statistics on procedures and outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6253/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Bill 2006, which is currently before the Oireachtas, provides for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). This Bill represents a crucial element of the Reform Programme and is a new departure for the health services. For the first time, we are creating a body whose purpose will be to set quality standards and monitor enforcement of standards in an open and transparent way. It is essential that mechanisms and structures are in place to audit that quality together with an independent system for continuous performance review to ensure consistently high standards.

The functions of the Authority will be to:

Set standards on safety and quality for all services provided by the HSE and service providers on behalf of the HSE, and private nursing homes, with the exception of mental health services which are covered by the Mental Health Commission and the Inspector of Mental Health.

Monitor compliance with the standards it sets and advise the Minister and the HSE on the level of compliance.

Undertake investigations as to the safety, quality and standards of services where the Minister believes that there is serious risk to the health or welfare of a person receiving services.

Carry out reviews to ensure best outcomes/value for money for the resources available to the HSE.

Operate accreditation programmes of health and personal social services in both the private and public health sectors.

Carry out assessments of health technologies, including drugs and medical devices.

Evaluate information available on services provided by the HSE and other service providers and on the health and welfare of the population, identify information deficiencies, and advise the HSE and the Minister accordingly.

Set standards (including governance arrangements) for the HSE and service providers in relation to information and data in their possession on health and personal social services and on the health and welfare of the population and advise the Minister and the HSE on the level of compliance with the standards.

I am confident that, working with the HSE, HIQA will play a key role in improving the quality of hospital services and outcomes for patients.

Mental Health Services.

Damien English

Ceist:

101 Mr. English asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of the community based multidisciplinary community mental health teams; the location of these teams; the number and type of staff vacancies that remain to be filled on these teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6246/07]

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

"A Vision for Change" the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, which was launched in January 2006, recommends that mental health services within each mental health catchment area are provided through multidisciplinary community mental health teams. The Report considers that over 320 community mental health teams are required to service the mental health needs of adults, children and adolescents, persons with an intellectual disability, older persons etc. Teams should include input from psychiatry, nursing, social work, clinical psychology and occupational therapy. "A Vision for Change" also recommends that research should be undertaken to establish how many services currently have effective community mental health teams. Currently not all mental health staff are deployed within such teams.

Implementation of "A Vision for Change" is a matter primarily for the HSE. The HSE established an implementation group in July 2006 to ensure that mental health services develop in a synchronised and consistent manner across the country and to guide and resource service managers and clinicians in making the recommendations in "A Vision for Change" a reality.

As part of the work of the implementation group proposals for the recommended catchment areas are being considered. In addition an audit of mental health staff covering all disciplines and grades is being conducted which, when completed, will facilitate the deployment of staff within multidisciplinary teams.

In 2006 funding was provided for 18 additional consultant-led adult multidisciplinary teams, 14 team enhancements and 8 child and adolescent teams. In 2007 funding was also provided to the HSE for the development of a further 8 child and adolescent community mental health teams.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

102 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on criticisms on the lack of progress of the mental health policy, A Vision for Change; the position regarding that document’s recommendations and their implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6272/07]

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

106 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce routine screening to detect blood pressure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6188/07]

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

171 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce routine screening to detect heart disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6190/07]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 171 together.

Since 1999 the Government has committed over €60 million towards the implementation of the strategy "Building Healthier Hearts" the current national strategy for heart disease. While mass screening of the population for heart disease and blood pressure was not a recommendation in the Strategy, responsibility for risk assessment and the subsequent identification and management of those at higher risk was.

Heartwatch, a pilot programme in general practice for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, was established in 2002 in partnership with the former health boards, the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Irish Heart Foundation and has enrolled over 14,000 patients. This programme continues to be provided by the Health Service Executive.

My Department is engaging with the Health Service Executive in an audit and review of the implementation of the current Cardiovascular Strategy. The Department is aware of emerging evidence on hypertension screening and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These issues will be considered in the context of the current review and the possible development of a new Cardiovascular Strategy.

Mental Health Services.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

107 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of the 12 to 13 mental health catchment area teams recommended in A Vision for Change that have been established and are working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6237/07]

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

Implementation of the individual recommendations of "A Vision for Change", the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy is a matter primarily for the Health Service Executive.

The HSE has informed my Department that it is currently considering proposals for the possible configuration of the recommended catchment areas. The proposals are being considered in the context of current administrative boundaries, location of existing acute facilities, geography, population and transport and other infrastructure. It is anticipated that 15 new catchment areas will be formed. The HSE expects to announce the new catchment areas next month and the implementation process will then begin.

Drugs Classifications.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

108 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will prepare legislation providing for the State to adopt a similar classification of drug substances to the British system where drugs are grouped on the basis of their harmfulness to the person and to society as recommended by the Drug Policy Action Group. [41983/06]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I am aware of the report of the Drug Policy Action Group "Criminal Justice Drug Policy in Ireland" to which the Deputy refers.

I understand that the UK system divides different kinds of illegal drugs into three categories, or classes. These classes (A, B and C) carry different levels of penalty for possession and dealing. Class A drugs are those considered most harmful and are subject to the most severe penalties, including up to seven years in prison for possession and up to life in prison for dealing.

Under our Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988, drugs are classified in 5 Schedules according to the level of controls applicable to them, which in turn depends on the degree to which the drugs have a legitimate medical use, and the degree to which they have potential for abuse. Drugs in Schedule 1 have no legitimate medicinal use and it is an offence to supply or possess them. Drugs in Schedules 2 and 3 have a legitimate medicinal use but are prone to abuse and are the subject of prescription, supply, manufacturing, import and export controls. Drugs in Schedules 4 and 5 have lesser abuse potential and are subject to lesser controls.

Under our Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984, the various offences that have been created have penalties associated with them depending on the seriousness of the offence. These range from up to life imprisonment in the case of serious crimes involving drugs to the lowest penalties, which are available in the case of the possession of cannabis for personal use. Thus the current means of classification under Irish law allows the Courts an appropriate basis for dealing with drug crime and it is unnecessary to adopt the UK approach in this area.

Damien English

Ceist:

112 Mr. English asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of home help hours delivered for each of the years 1997 to 2006; the allocation of hours per county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6245/07]

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

Home help services are provided by the HSE in order to assist people to remain in their own home and, in many cases, to avoid the necessity of residential care. The Home Help Service by its nature is a flexible service which responds to clients' needs. As a result, therefore, the level of service required in individual cases will fluctuate from time to time. There is a continuing demand for home helps because of the increased number of older people.

There has been significant and sustained investment in this service over the past number of years. The investment package in 2006 provided a sum of €30m which equated to a total of 1.75m additional home help hours in a full year. An additional €21m was allocated in 2007 for further expansion of home help services with the planned delivery of an additional 780,000 hours. This continued investment in the Home Help service comes on top of a baseline budget of €156m or 9.1m hours. The total budget in 2007 for Home Help services (not including those delivered as part of home care packages) is now €207m.

In 2006 there was an increase from the 2005 baseline monthly average of 758,000 to a monthly average of 952,000. This will further increase in 2007. These figures are not inclusive of the additional 620,000 hours of home help which were delivered in respect of home care packages.

Prior to the establishment of the HSE, varying practices had developed in relation to the operation of the Home Help service across the country, including various means of recording data. The multiplicity of statutory and voluntary providers supplying these critical services to both older people, as well as people with disabilities, operated in very different ways. This makes the provision of comparable data more difficult. The HSE has informed the Department that figures are now being recorded in a standardized format across all areas. The following table outlines Home Help hours on a county basis for 2006.

Home Help Hours January-December 2006
Dublin Mid-Leinster	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June	July	August	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Dún Laoghaire	4,496	4,534	5,039	5,223	5,287	6,996	7,102	6,996	7,081	7,338	8,434	7,829	76,355
Dublin South East	8,399	8,318	8,885	9,801	10,038	11,161	10,807	9,624	9,680	10,146	10,691	10,940	118,490
Wicklow	19,577	19,971	24,981	21,270	21,646	24,691	22,656	24,291	24,440	20,915	23,320	26,205	273,962
Dublin South City	11,616	11,799	13,361	12,562	12,418	14,082	14,140	12,162	15,341	13,591	13,904	15,923	160,899
Dublin South West	10,848	11,826	11,879	12,438	12,392	13,059	13,675	13,396	13,371	13,768	14,104	15,056	155,812
Dublin West	18,361	16,555	19,390	19,403	17,783	20,330	20,312	21,211	20,001	22,888	20,549	24,846	241,629
Kildare / West Wicklow	32,094	31,683	34,073	32,233	32,349	39,778	32,818	32,837	41,225	33,237	33,109	41,384	416,820
Laois / Offaly	16,222	17,043	28,566	25,213	24,835	21,273	27,355	22,179	22,723	23,434	27,058	27,058	282,959
Longford / Westmeath	19,944	24,771	26,166	23,907	24,503	24,564	23,082	23,199	22,745	22,021	23,834	21,474	280,210
	141,557	146,500	172,340	162,050	161,251	175,934	171,947	165,895	176,607	167,338	175,003	190,715	2,007,137

Home Help Hours January-December 2006
South	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June	July	August	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
North Lee	92,006*	46,638	47,444	48,361	47,969	48,039	48,149	49,528	50,878	50,166	49,235	49,312	627,724
South Lee	72,011*	37,662	39,134	39,400	39,154	39,669	41,091	41,680	41,660	41,562	40,792	40,838	514,655
North Cork	63,255*	31,187	32,930	33,911	33,113	34,178	34,272	35,858	36,783	37,898	37,650	39,368	450,401
West Cork	43,404*	22,086	23,713	23,437	22,943	22,782	23,607	23,193	23,344	23,219	23,146	22,445	297,317
Kerry	110,718*	57,759	60,712	59,359	58,504	60,848	60,640	59,216	62,759	61,889	63,876	63,861	780,140
South Tipp	30,724	30,724	34,473	31,212	33,871	33,906	34,206	35,455	34,895	36,503	35,432	35,400	406,801
Carlow / Kilkenny	16,963	15,848	18,684	16,379	17,967	18,182	18,182	19,080	17,940	19,294	18,665	18,665	215,849
Waterford	16,604	16,690	16,748	17,380	19,622	17,342	17,002	17,174	17,114	18,018	17,584	18,014	209,292
Wexford	19,560	20,184	19,972	19,952	19,828	19,884	20,018	19,980	21,914	22,248	22,893	24,082	250,515
	465,245	278,778	293,810	289,390	292,971	294,829	297,166	301,164	307,287	310,798	309,271	311,985	3,752,693

*Four pay periods combined.

Home Help Hours January-December 2006
Dublin North East	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June	July	August	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Louth	25,461	27,137	28,924	28,546	28,878	28,849	30,525	28,656	28,852	28,550	53,402	39,136	376,916
Cavan/Monaghan	38,006	39,884	41,216	42373	41846	45351	43,657	43,246	44,480	45,485	46,479	48,039	520,062
Meath	24,919	26,216	26,943	26,969	26,878	38,437	26,152	24,710	30,831	35,712	36,353	44,610	368,730
Dublin North West	16,599	14,733	20,279	16,582	18,367	19,462	19,865	21,867	23,885	23,906	26,259	26,654	248,458
Dublin North Central	36,293	35,788	40,916	37,716	38,609	46,175	41,844	42,755	48,000	45,450	46,554	45,807	505,907
Dublin North	29,454	29,476	40,949	33,456	32,976	49,585	42,695	42,453	50,614	48,224	47,918	49,913	497,713
	170,732	173,234	199,227	185,642	187,554	227,859	204,738	203,687	226,662	227,327	256,965	254,159	2,517,786

Home Help Hours January-December 2006
West	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June	July	August	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Limerick	31,670	30,549	37,351	31,232	35,345	34,843	34,255	38,794	35,931	36,694	37,446	36,380	420,490
Clare	17,764	16,561	17,836	17,507	17,426	17,691	18,017	19,894	18,237	19,797	24,480	19,906	225,116
North Tipperary	22,905	21,747	24,427	22,056	25,299	24,638	24,165	26,710	26,619	28,745	29,853	30,368	307,532
Sligo/Leitrim	39,179	38,762	42,376	40,763	42,159	41,988	44,220	42,995	43,507	43,157	41,777	43,169	504,052
Donegal	50,122	46,674	52,411	47,889	50,789	50,049	54,261	54,201	54,987	56,297	56,032	58,201	631,913
Galway	33,240	32,260	33,397	33,450	35,277	36,411	37,017	38,358	39,911	42,321	42,258	42,571	446,471
Mayo	35,062	36,438	35,120	38,099	35,504	38,005	38,779	37,995	40,062	37,416	39,791	39,732	452,003
Roscommon	12,128	13,278	12,768	12,897	11,944	12,652	12,127	12,888	14,455	15,774	16,143	18,323	165,377
	242,070	236,269	255,686	243,893	253,743	256,277	262,841	271,835	273,709	280,201	287,780	288,650	3,152,954

*It is important to note that the hours identified in each month are dependent on the pay returns within the HSE areas within the month. Some months will include two pay periods while others will include three / four pay periods. On this basis the quarterly returns give the more accurate position in terms of average monthly figures being provided while for instance individual months such as January may give a higher figure as an additional pay period may be included.

In addition, returns in respect of voluntary service providers may be subject to some minor adjustment due to the reporting time frame.

Mental Health Services.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

113 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the land and facilities owned by mental health services that have been or are in the process of being sold; the amount they were sold for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6248/07]

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

177 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the psychiatric hospitals that have been closed since the launch of A Vision for change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6247/07]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 177 together.

"A Vision for Change", the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy recommends that plans be drawn up for the closure of all psychiatric hospitals. The HSE has stated that it anticipates the closure of psychiatric hospitals and the reinvestment of the proceeds to take place on a phased basis. It has also emphasised that hospitals can only close when the clinical needs of the remaining patients have been addressed in more appropriate settings as recommended in "A Vision for Change".

The assessment and realisation of the full economic value of psychiatric hospital buildings and lands is the responsibility of the HSE and this process is underway.

Health Services.

David Stanton

Ceist:

114 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in developing the new health services for older people and people with disabilities as announced in budget 2007; the amount of money allocated to date for these services; the number of new home care packages, home help hours, respite, residential and day care places created since the announcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6182/07]

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

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there has been significant progress in developing services in these important areas. In Budget 2007 the Government allocated an extra €255m for services for older people and an extra €75m for disability services.

The Government's commitment to the development of a comprehensive range of services for older people has been clearly demonstrated by the significantly increased resources made available in recent years. Budget 2007 provides €255m for developments over 2007 and 2008. This includes €82m for the development of home support and community based services, €88m for additional public and private long stay beds and €85m to support considerable improvements in nursing home subvention rates in 2007.

In relation to Disability services, work is underway to provide extra residential, respite and day care places and personal assistance/home support hours. These improvements include 255 new residential places, 85 new respite places and 535 new day service places. There will be 80 new residential places for people with a Physical and Sensory Disability and 250,000 additional hours of personal assistance/home supports. Implementation of these developments have commenced and will continue during 2007.

The HSE has set targets for each of the new service developments and these will be tracked closely throughout the year. Figures for January have not yet been collated by the Health Service Executive, but these will become available as the year progresses.

Questions Nos. 115 and 116 answered with Question No. 91.

Parliamentary Questions.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

117 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of parliamentary questions received by her Department during 2006; the number of these transferred to the Health Service Executive; the number of questions transferred to the HSE that remain unanswered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6230/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

In 2006 the Ministers of State and I answered a total of 5,991 Parliamentary Questions. Of this total, 3,494 Parliamentary Questions tabled were appropriate for reply, in whole or in part, by the Health Service Executive under its statutory remit and replies have issued to 3,368 (96%) of these Questions. The HSE has informed my Department that its Parliamentary Affairs Division is actively pursuing the preparation of replies to the remaining 126 Questions.

Hospital Staff.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

118 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the need for the appointment of a senior consultant cardiologist at Kerry General Hospital and the need for a new accident and emergency department at Kerry General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6285/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

119 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation facing children with verbal dyspraxia; the waiting list times for speech therapy around the country; the reason a child with verbal dyspraxia and a learning disability is excluded from receiving speech therapy due to the learning disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6265/07]

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

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Insurance.

John Gormley

Ceist:

120 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason she did not act immediately on the advice from the HIA in relation to a possible loophole regarding risk equalisation payments for new entrants; her views on whether ignoring that advice means that a group (details supplied) and future so called new entrants will not have to pay risk equalisation payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6293/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The question of whether companies entering the health insurance market by acquiring the business of an existing operation could avail of the three year exemption for new entrants was raised by the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) in July 2006 as part of the information collection phase of its study of competition in the market. At that point the HIA and the Competition Authority were undertaking a joint study of this issue. It appeared at that time that a company entering the market by acquiring the business of an existing undertaking could gain an exemption in a manner not intended by the Oireachtas when it enacted the legislation. However the Government's capacity to bring forward amending legislation at that time was circumscribed by the constitutional challenge to the risk equalisation scheme then before the courts. The High Court judgement in that case was not delivered until the end of November.

Following delivery of the judgement advice was sought on the matter. The advice confirmed that the potential loophole identified by the HIA did exist and I am taking further advice on that issue.

The Deputy will understand that I am unable to comment on any particular commercial transaction as I am not privy to the details of any agreement entered into by the companies concerned. However I can confirm that the Government remains committed to the maintenance of a community rated health insurance market and to ensuring that consumers in this market benefit from effective competition.

Hospital Waiting Lists.

Liam Twomey

Ceist:

121 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people waiting for radiotherapy treatment in each Health Service Executive area; the length of these waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6239/07]

Liam Twomey

Ceist:

166 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of linear accelerators delivered to date under the radiation oncology services plan; the location of this technology; if it is fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6240/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 166 together.

It is my objective and that of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to see the earliest delivery of the Government's National Plan for Radiation Oncology. I am determined that the HSE will deliver on this Plan in 2011 as originally scheduled. The Board of the HSE is considering how best to procure the radiation oncology facilities and associated equipment, including procurement by PPP, within this timetable. This is a challenging timetable and I will provide the HSE with the necessary support and approvals to deliver on it.

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter raised.

Health Insurance.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

122 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans, in view of the recent reports from the Health Insurance Authority and the Competition Authority, for health insurance here and for the policy of risk equalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6283/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I welcome the reports from the Competition Authority and the Health Insurance Authority on increasing competition in the private health insurance market. The two reports have produced a wealth of useful information and analysis. I am in the process of studying the recommendations made in the two reports. I am also awaiting a report from the Market Review Group which has been asked to examine the rate of return that can be made in the Irish health insurance market and related issues. This group is expected to report at the end of March. When I have had the opportunity to examine all of the recommendations in these reports I intend to bring forward proposals to introduce any reforms which I think are necessary to make the market function more efficiently.

Hospital Services.

Dinny McGinley

Ceist:

123 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to develop hospital services in the north east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6219/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote.

The HSE has established a Steering Group and a Project Group to oversee a programme designed to improve safety and standards across the acute hospital network in the North East Region. The decision was taken having regard to the issues raised in the report prepared for the HSE by Teamwork Management Services — "Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards — An Action Plan for Health Services in the North East" and taking account of the findings of the report into the death of Mr Patrick J Walsh.

Led by the HSE's National Hospitals Office, the Steering Group has representation from key stakeholders such as clinicians and primary care providers. The Project Group is being led by a Consultant Surgeon from outside the Region.

The Teamwork Report makes a number of short, medium and long-term recommendations. It concludes that the present system, where five local hospitals deliver acute care to relatively small populations, is exposing patients to increased risks and creating additional professional risks for staff. The Report highlights the need to develop a high quality and responsive emergency and planned service, in line with international standards, by developing local services within existing hospitals and other local centres supported by a new Regional Hospital.

The Teamwork Report recommends a three strand action plan in order to provide easily accessible and sustainable local and regional services which are based upon international quality standards;

The development of local services, with the existing five hospitals and primary and community care providers playing central roles,

The development of a new regional acute hospital,

The development of a series of clinical networks which bind these local and regional services and are centred around the needs of patients, including networks for Emergency Care, Surgery and Critical Care.

The HSE has given me an assurance that, in progressing the implementation of this report, there will be no discontinuation of existing services until suitable alternative arrangements have been put in place.

Hospitals Building Programme.

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

124 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the timeframe in relation to the proposed children’s hospital; if she is satisfied that she will be able to proceed with the plan to locate the hospital at the Mater in view of opposition from Our Lady’s children’s hospital, Crumlin; when the decision will be made with regard to proposals for paediatric accident and emergency units to be located around the city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6279/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The decision by the Government to locate the new National Paediatric Hospital at the Mater has recently been re-affirmed. The development of the hospital is being overseen by a joint HSE/Department of Health and Children Transition Group and the project is proceeding as planned.

The next stage of the process involves the preparation of a high level framework brief for the new hospital. The brief is being developed for the Transition Group by Rawlinson Kelly & Whittlestone Ltd (RKW), an established UK-based health care planning company. RKW will be advising on a range of issues which will help to inform the design of the new hospital. They will be advising, for example, on the preferred model of care, on the core services to be delivered at the new hospital, and on the additional range of services to be provided outside of the main hospital. In this context RKW have been requested to advise, as a priority, on the range of services which should be provided outside of the main hospital through the urgent / ambulatory care service, taking account of international best practice in the planning of children's hospital services.

RKW is consulting widely in the course of its work, and in this context the input of all stakeholders will be of benefit in ensuring the delivery of our shared objective of providing a world-class hospital for the children of this country.

Question No. 125 answered with QuestionNo. 90.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

126 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce routine screening to detect cervical cancer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6189/07]

Joe Costello

Ceist:

130 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm reports of 30,000 backlogged smear tests waiting to be examined here and reports that these backlogged tests are to be sent to Dallas, Texas to be processed; her views on plans for a national cervical cancer screening programme and that without the means to process tests a national programme is meaningless; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6269/07]

Shane McEntee

Ceist:

135 Mr. McEntee asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people waiting for cervical smear tests in each hospital; the waiting time for results of cervical smear tests in each hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6243/07]

Shane McEntee

Ceist:

144 Mr. McEntee asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to ensure the rapid turnaround of cervical smear testing results; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6244/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 126, 130, 135 and 144 together.

An effective national cervical screening programme will result in a substantial reduction in the incidence of cervical cancer. It is my objective to have such a programme rolled out, beginning late this year, based on an affordable model. For that purpose, on 1 January 2007, I established a National Cancer Screening Service which amalgamates BreastCheck and the Irish Cervical Screening Programme.

The total allocation to the new Service is €33m; this is a 71% increase on the 2006 allocation to the Programmes. This includes additional funding of €5m for 2007 to the Service to commence roll out of the Cervical Screening Programme. Significant preparatory work is well underway involving the introduction of new and improved cervical tests, improved quality assurance training and the preparation of a national population register. The plan is to have cervical screening managed as a national call/recall programme via effective governance structures that provide overall leadership and direction, in terms of quality assurance, accountability and value for money. All elements of the programme, call/recall, smear taking, laboratories, colposcopy and treatment services will be quality assured, organised and managed to deliver a single integrated service.

I am aware of reports of delays in obtaining results of cervical smears. These delays have not arisen under the Irish Cervical Screening Programme but relate to smears referred by General Practitioners to hospital laboratories, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. The HSE has informed my Department that it has reviewed hospital services, including cytology, and is planning on the basis of a 4 week turnaround time in reporting. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the issues raised.

Hospital Services.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

127 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with the Health Service Executive regarding the deployment and delivery of hospital services in the north-east region; if she will accede to the united call of the community of County Monaghan for the full restoration of services to Monaghan General Hospital including 24/7 medical and surgical cover; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6288/07]

Dinny McGinley

Ceist:

190 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans for the future development of Monaghan General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6220/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 190 together.

The HSE has established a Steering Group and a North East Project Group to oversee a programme designed to improve safety and standards across the acute hospital network in the North East Region, including Monaghan. The decision was taken having regard inter alia to the issues raised in the report prepared for the HSE by Teamwork Management Services — "Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards — An Action Plan for Health Services in the North East".

In line with the Teamwork report, it is planned to have one major regional centre in the North East, supported by local hospitals and care centres at a number of locations, including Monaghan. The regional hospital will provide emergency and trauma services on a 24 hour basis. It will also provide planned specialist procedures that are complex and require the facilities of a large regional hospital. Local hospitals, including Monaghan, will provide services which meet the majority of patients needs including day and urgent care services.

Led by the HSE's National Hospitals Office, the Steering Group has representation from key stakeholders such as clinicians and primary care providers. The Project Group is being led by a Consultant Surgeon from outside the region. The process is being supported by ten Clinical Network Leads who have been tasked with overseeing the full range of planned care services to be provided at the local hospitals, including Monaghan.

The HSE has given me an assurance that, in progressing the re-organisation of services, there will be no discontinuation of existing services until suitable alternative arrangements have been put in place.

Question No. 128 answered with QuestionNo. 91.

Medical Cards.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

129 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of full medical cards issued for each of the years from 1997 to 2006; the number of general practitioner visit only cards issued per year since the introduction of this card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6229/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Details of the numbers of medical card holders are provided to my Department by the Health Service Executive's (HSE), Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS). The following table shows the number of medical card holders for each year from 1997 to date, together with the number of GP visit card holders for 2005, 2006 and to date. There are a number of contextual factors which must be taken into account in interpreting this data.

The Health Strategy Quality & Fairness committed to making improvements in the income guidelines in order to increase the number of persons on low incomes eligible for the medical card and to give priority to families with children. In November, 2004 I set out my priorities for new health initiatives in 2005 including the provision of medical cards to an additional 30,000 people and GP visit cards to 200,000 people. Funding of €60 million was provided to the HSE for these measures. The two initiatives were intended to assist those on low and moderate incomes in accessing GP services and to help remove disincentives to people taking up work or progressing to better paying work. Following the enactment of the necessary legislation and the conclusion of negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation, the first GP visit cards were issued by the HSE in November, 2005.

Taking holders of medical cards and GP visit cards together, some 1.287m persons (30.2% of the national population) now have access to general practitioner services free of charge.

In recent years there have been significant improvements to the way in which people's eligibility for medical cards and GP visit cards is assessed. Since the start of 2005, the income guidelines used in the assessment of medical card applications have increased by a cumulative29%. Other significant changes in 2005 mean that, on a standardised basis nationally, assessment is now based on an applicant's and spouse's income after tax and PRSI, and takes account of reasonable expenses incurred in respect of rent or mortgage payments, child-care and travel to work. Initially the GP visit card guidelines were 25% higher than the medical card guidelines however in June, 2006 I agreed with the HSE to further increase the income guidelines for GP visit cards and they are now 50% higher than those used for medical cards.

The HSE (and before 2005 the health boards) have undertaken a substantial programme of work in recent years to improve data quality in the GMS client database. For example, in 2003 and 2004, work carried out by the health boards led to a deletion of approximately 104,000 inappropriate entries where, for example, there were duplicate entries for the same person, the expiry date on the card had passed, the person had moved away or was deceased. This exercise did not involve any reduction in the actual number of people who held medical cards but rather resulted in a more accurate picture of the number of individuals in receipt of GP services under the GMS Scheme.

Year	Number of people holding medical cards
June 1997	1,244,459
December 1997	1,219,852
December 1998	1,183,554
December 1999	1,164,187
December 2000	1,148,055
December 2001	1,199,454
December 2002	1,168,745
December 2003	1,158,143
December 2004	1,148,914
December 2005	1,155,727
December 2006	1,219,829
February 2007	1,227,577

Year	Number of people holding GP visit cards
December 2005	2,716
December 2006	47,550
February 2007	59,406

Question No. 130 answered with QuestionNo. 126.

Influenza Pandemic.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

131 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children the recommendations from the national pandemic influenza plan; the measures in place to ensure the implementation of guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6276/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The purpose of the National Pandemic Influenza Plan is to limit the effects of a potential pandemic and to inform the public about pandemic influenza, explain what the Government and the health services are doing to prepare for a possible pandemic, and give information on what members of the public need to do if there is a pandemic. The plan will be updated on a regular basis to reflect the most up to date advice of the Pandemic Influenza Expert Group and international developments.

The health service response is based on eight core elements: communications strategy, telephone hotline, responsibilities of the public, surveillance, antiviral drugs, pandemic vaccine, reorganisation of health services, and essential supplies. Significant funding has been allocated to develop contingency plans — €9.3 million in 2005 and €19.3 million in 2006 and 2007. Most of this investment has been put towards the national stockpile of medicines and supplies.

The development of a robust emergency plan based on the National Pandemic Influenza Plan is a priority for the Health Service Executive in 2007. The HSE National Service Plan sets out key deliverables for the development of specific emergency plans for an influenza pandemic across all directorates and functions. In particular these plans should address:

For the National Hospitals Office: bed capacity, ventilation capacity, role of private hospitals, ambulance transport requirements;

For Primary, Community and Continuing Care: redeployment of staff to support care settings and supports;

For Population Health: plans for surveillance, contact tracing, and management of cases.

All directorates and functions across the HSE are required to address the issue of redeployment of staff to manage essential services and business continuity issues. In addition, National Procurement will manage the purchase, storage and distribution of the National Stockpile of Medicines and Supplies. Human Resources will manage the industrial relations agenda arising from the pandemic influenza plan. ICT will design, scope and implement the information technology solutions required, for example around the telephone hotline.

The implementation of the HSE pandemic influenza plan will be monitored by my Department through the service planning process.

The National Pandemic Influenza Plan concentrates on the health response to pandemic influenza but also provides some advice on the planning which must take place across all sectors of society. In this context, my Department established a Standing Inter-Departmental Committee in 2006 to provide advice on non-health areas of public policy or public services to ensure a coordinated cross-Government response. In addition, my Department is considering legal issues arising from the public health management of pandemic influenza. This work will be a priority in the Department's Business Plan for 2007.

Hospital Waiting Lists.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

132 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children her Department's policy with regard to the acceptable waiting time for an appointment to see a consultant following referral; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that patients have to wait over six months for an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5761/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

My objective is to reduce waiting times as much as possible for patients. With this in mind, in 2005, I asked the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) set up a number of out-patient pilot projects to seek to reduce waiting times for patients on public hospital waiting lists. 17 hospitals responded and the pilot programme operated successfully; arranging appointments for 4,500 in the last quarter of 2005. The initiative was expanded in 2006 with 22 public hospitals, from across all regions, referring patients to 13 private hospitals for first-time out-patient consultations. Nine specialties participated and over 10,000 patients had been provided with out-patient appointments by the end of 2006. The NTPF proposes to expand the programme again in 2007 and expects to offer appointments to at least 9,500 persons. I am very pleased with the success to date of the out-patient programme.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Jim O'Keeffe

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

The Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, entitled ‘A Vision for Change', was launched in January 2006 and provides a framework for action to develop a modern, high quality mental health service over the next 7 to 10 years. It recommends the provision of two child and adolescent community multidisciplinary mental health teams per 100,000 of the population.

In September 2006, there were 45 child and adolescent mental health teams spread throughout the country. Additional funding was provided in 2006 and 2007 for the development of an additional 16 teams and the enhancement of existing teams.

A full multidisciplinary child and adolescent mental health team comprises 12 members and includes the following disciplines: consultant psychiatrist, non-consultant hospital doctor, psychiatric nurse, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, clinical psychologist, social worker, child care worker and team secretary.

The HSE now has responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services including child and adolescent mental health services.

Hospital Services.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

140 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if the performance monitoring unit of the NHO has completed a report into its treatment capacity survey; if this report will be published soon; the expected contents of this report; the cost of the survey and report and the timelines involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6262/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

During 2006 the Health Service Executive undertook an extensive survey of capacity across all acute hospitals, including in-patient beds, day beds and other treatment placements, on a speciality by speciality basis. I understand that the HSE intends to publish the results of the survey in March 2007 and to make copies available to members of the Oireachtas. My Department has asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy in relation to the cost of the survey and the timelines involved.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

141 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on implementing a database to contain the details of children diagnosed with intellectual, social or physical disabilities that will require special intervention, therapeutic, or educational care in order that service provision may be forward planned to meet their needs as they arise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6305/07]

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

As the Deputy may be aware the National Intellectual Disability Database and the National Physical and Sensory Disability Database are in operation to ensure that information is available to enable my Department, the HSE and the non-statutory agencies throughout Ireland to provide appropriate services designed to meet the changing needs of people with disabilities.

The databases are intended to provide a comprehensive and accurate information base for decision making in relation to the planning, funding and management of services for people with disabilities and can help to set priorities based on an evaluation of the needs of the population receiving or requiring disability services.

Section 13 of the Disability Act, 2005 imposes significant requirements on the HSE to keep and maintain detailed records in relation to the provisions of Part 2. The information to be collected includes:

the numbers and identities of people to whom assessments and services were provided;

the services provided and the persons providing them;

the aggregate needs identified in assessment reports which have not been included in service statements;

the numbers of applications for assessment and the number of assessments completed;

the numbers of people to whom services have not been provided and the age and disability categories of such persons.

As outlined in the Sectoral Plan of my Department which was published in July 2006, Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 will commence for children aged less than 5 years with effect from 1st June 2007. From this date it will be the responsibility of the HSE to compile the above information and submit it to the Minister each year, indicating what additional services are required to meet identified needs, what the ideal timeframe for delivery of such services would be and the estimated costs involved. The report must be published by the HSE within one month of its submission to the Minister.

Question No. 142 answered with QuestionNo. 133.

Departmental Funding.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

143 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding to be given to groups supporting those with acquired brain injury; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland has the lowest number of medical rehabilitation consultants per capita; the waiting times for 2006 for the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6282/07]

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

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 144 answered with QuestionNo. 126.

Pathology Services.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

145 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when the report into pathology services is due for publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6266/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I take it that the Deputy is referring to the review of pathology services which was commissioned by the Health Service Executive. My Department has therefore requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Palliative Care.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

146 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the recommendations that have been implemented arising from the report of the National Palliative Care Committee 2001; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6280/07]

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

The Department of Health and Children, the HSE and the voluntary sector are actively involved in planning for the development of palliative care services in line with the recommendations in the report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care (2001). Funding is being provided for the development of such services on an incremental basis in line with the recommendations in the report and in the context of available resources and workforce planning across the health service.

Since October 2001, almost €22 million has been invested in palliative care services. Funding of €13 million (€9m in 2006, €4m in 2007) was provided by the Government for palliative care in Budget 2006. A further €5 million has been allocated in Budget 2007, to develop the service. This funding is being used to improve palliative care services in consultation with the newly established Regional Development Committees and in line with the recommendations made in the report of the National Advisory Committee.

A Baseline Study, on the recommendations contained in the Report was carried out and published in March 2006. It tracks services on a regional basis against the recommendations of the 2001 Report. The Study indicates that there are regional variances across the country in the provision of hospice/specialist palliative care. The Government is committed to working with the HSE and other key stakeholders to address the issues raised in the Baseline Study and to develop palliative care services throughout Ireland. The Government's commitment to further developing palliative care countrywide with particular reference to the Baseline Study is reiterated in Towards 2016.

Health Insurance.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

147 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has received advice in the past regarding other means of introducing risk equalisation which would involve every company having the same proportion of high risk patients; and if in her view this would be a fairer system and easier to administer. [6295/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Variations on the proposal suggested by the Deputy have been made in the past. However they have been dismissed on the grounds that they are impractical given the requirement for open enrolment in the Irish health insurance regulatory framework.

Obesity Task Force.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

148 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the implementation of the National Task Force on Obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6184/07]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

151 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the recommendations of the task force on obesity have not been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6302/07]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 151 together.

Obesity is a major public health problem both for Ireland and for our European neighbours. The National Taskforce on Obesity published a report in 2005 containing 93 recommendations to halt the rise in levels of overweight and obesity.

The Taskforce recognises that a multi-sectoral approach is necessary, involving other state agencies and government departments and real engagement of the public and private sectors to implement all of the report's recommendations. My Department is currently finalising proposals for the development of a mechanism which will facilitate inter-sectoral working on the prevention of chronic diseases including obesity.

The Health Service Executive has established a Working Group to implement the health sector recommendations of the Task Force on Obesity for which the HSE has the lead responsibility and for which €3 million has been allocated. In 2006 eight additional posts focussed on obesity were secured and a number of new initiatives commenced and are continuing.

In relation to the surveillance and monitoring of obesity, funding has been provided by the HSE to UCD to record height and weight in children at school entry point as part of the Lifeways cohort. The development of a national database to monitor prevalence trends of growth, overweight and obesity was also funded. The HSE is working with the Irish Universities Nutritional Alliance to research food and nutrition in children and its determinants. Funding was also allocated to the Irish Heart Foundation to progress the Action for Life physical activity programme and to undertake a project on marketing of foods to children.

National Guidelines for community based practitioners on prevention and management of childhood overweight and obesity were published and launched in December. Training for primary and community based practitioners on patient centred skills in addressing overweight and obesity was also funded. New growth charts for children were developed.

The Health Service Executive is working with the Community Games Association to integrate Health Promotion as a strategic priority in their strategic plan. This plan addresses Nutrition and physical Activity as well as other key health promotion topics. The partnership with the Education Sector is progressing. The HSE has also developed a strategic alliance with the Irish Sports Council, and have part-funded the Local Sports Partnerships to promote Physical Activity.

Mental Health Services.

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

149 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of involuntary admissions to approved centres that took place in November and December 2006 in terms of psychiatric healthcare; the number of the admission orders relating to these admissions that led to a full review by a mental health tribunal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6234/07]

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

204 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases where admission orders were revoked in regard to the reviews by tribunals under the Mental Health Act 2001, in respect of involuntary admissions in November and December 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6235/07]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 204 together.

In the first two months following the full commencement of the Mental Health Act 2001, i.e. November and December 2006, there were 207 involuntary admissions to approved centres. In the same period, a total of 175 mental health tribunals were held. 151 mental health tribunals affirmed the involuntary admission/renewal orders and 24 mental health tribunals revoked the involuntary admission/renewal orders. It is important to note that the total number of tribunals held in this period includes tribunals held for both patients who had, on 1 November 2006, been detained under the Mental Treatment Act 1945 and patients who were involuntarily admitted to an approved centre under the Mental Health Act 2001 in November and December 2006.

Section 28 of the Act allows for the discharge of patients by the responsible consultant psychiatrist if he or she is of the opinion that the patient no longer has a mental disorder. The consultant psychiatrist must notify the patient concerned and his or her legal representative of the entitlement to have his or her detention reviewed by a mental health tribunal if he or she so indicates to the Mental Health Commission within 14 days of the date of his or her discharge. During November and December 2006, 249 involuntary admission or renewal orders were revoked before the hearing of the mental health tribunal occurred. It is important to note that these included a number of patients who had been detained under the Mental Treatment Act 1945.

The Mental Health Commission has published activity statistics relating to involuntary admissions and mental health tribunal hearings on its website and will update this information on a monthly basis.

Hospital Services.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

150 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of available beds at Peamount Hospital; the number of beds currently being used; her plans for these beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6257/07]

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

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 151 answered with QuestionNo. 148.

Food Labelling.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

152 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on the enforcement of country of origin labelling within the catering trade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3553/07]

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

Officials in my Department liaise with officials of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on an ongoing basis and regular meetings are held to discuss a wide range of issues. Any issues which arise in relation to the enforcement of food legislation, including breaches of labelling legislation are discussed, where necessary.

Ambulance Service.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

153 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps being taken to introduce a comprehensive ambulance navigation system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5758/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Nursing Home Charges.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

154 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applications made to the health repayment scheme for the reimbursement of nursing home charges which were taken illegally; the number of repayments made to date; the cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6227/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The health repayment scheme is administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in conjunction with the appointed Scheme Administrator KPMG/McCann Fitzgerald.

The HSE has informed the Department that over 25,000 forms have been submitted to the Scheme Administrator applying for repayments and these applications are being processed at present. The timeframe for repayment is predicated primarily on whether the applicant is alive as living people who were wrongly charged will be prioritised to receive repayments. It is estimated that there are now in the region of 14,000 people within this category, approximately 10,000 of whom have already applied.

The HSE has advised that offers of repayment commenced in November 2006 and that the first payments issued in December 2006 with further payments continuing on an ongoing basis. The HSE has indicated that over €19 million has been repaid to date in respect of 894 payments and that the average repayment is approximately €21,000. In addition, the Scheme Administrator has issued a further 1,537 letters to individuals outlining the calculation of the amount of repayment due on the basis of their applications. The Scheme Administrator is awaiting acceptance of these offers which amount to over €32 million. It is expected that the bulk of payments to estates will commence later in the Spring. Provision has been made for applications to be received up to 1 January 2008.

Question No. 155 answered with QuestionNo. 94.

Hospitals Building Programme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

156 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the terms of reference given to the firm or firms of consultants during the evaluation of the case for the relocation and expansion of the National Children’s Hospital; if due regard and consideration was given to the previous and long-standing policies in respect of the MANCH group of hospitals; if these prior commitments are being honoured in the context of the current proposal; if access, site location and the actual size of the site were deemed to be of major importance originally or now; if the present proposals meet any, all or none of the criteria in relation to the MANCH group; if the site adjacent to the Mater Hospital was deemed suitable at that time; if a comparison was made between the two sites on the grounds of parking availability and the total area of land available for the development in respect of each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6176/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

In late 2005, the Health Service Executive (HSE), at my request, undertook a review of tertiary paediatric services. McKinsey & Company were engaged by the HSE to advise on the future strategic organization of tertiary paediatric services in line with best practice and in the best interests of children.

The resulting report — "Children's Health First" — International best practice in tertiary paediatric services: implications for the strategic organization of tertiary paediatric services in Ireland — was presented to the HSE in February 2006. It included a number of key recommendations:

The population and projected demands in this country can support only one world class tertiary paediatric hospital

It should be in Dublin, and should ideally be co-located with a leading adult academic hospital (i.e. should be within a practical walking distance of such a hospital)

It should also provide all the secondary (i.e. less complex) hospital needs of children in the Greater Dublin area

It should be supported by a strategically-located urgent care service.

A Task Group was established in February 2006 to advise on the optimum location of the proposed new hospital. The Task Group invited the six major Dublin hospitals, including the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital (Tallaght Hospital) to make submissions.

The Task Group engaged in extensive consultations with, inter alia, the three existing paediatric hospitals. Each of the paediatric hospitals expressed strong support for the development of a single paediatric hospital, and emphasized the crucial need for decisions in relation to the new hospital to be taken urgently. Consultant representatives reiterated their commitment to move to the new hospital regardless of its location, a point which appears to have been lost in recent debate.

Proposals were also received from a number of private hospitals, property developers and site owners. However, none of the proposals presented by the private interests satisfied the key requirement of co-location with an adult academic teaching hospital.

The Task Group concluded that each of the six sites demonstrated the feasibility of accommodating the proposed new paediatric hospital. However, it was the Task Group's view that Connolly Hospital, St. Vincent's University Hospital and Tallaght Hospital did not offer the same breadth and depth of tertiary services to complement the paediatric hospital as the three other hospitals, and on this basis they were ruled out as co-location options.

Following detailed assessment of the three remaining sites in relation to the criterion of ease of access, the Group considered that Beaumont was significantly less suitable than St. James's or the Mater in terms of ease of access, particularly for the children in the greater Dublin area who would have to use the hospital for less complex care. Consequently, subsequent assessment focused on St. James's and the Mater hospital sites.

Based on further assessment, the Task Group recommended that the new National Paediatric Hospital should be developed on a site to be made available by the Mater Hospital.

The Task Group's report and its recommendations were endorsed by the Board of the HSE in June 2006. At its meeting on 8th June 2006, the Government strongly endorsed the recommendation of the Board of the HSE, in line with the recommendation of the Report of the Task Group, that the new National Paediatric Hospital be developed as an independent hospital on a site to be made available by the Mater Hospital. The Government has recently reaffirmed this decision.

The Government mandated the HSE to move forward with the development of the new hospital and its associated urgent care centres, and to explore any philanthropic proposals in relation to its development.

A joint HSE/Department of Health and Children Transition Group was subsequently established to advance the development of the national tertiary paediatric hospital.

The next stage of the process, which is being overseen by the Transition Group, involves the preparation of a high level framework brief for the new hospital. The brief is being developed for the Transition Group by Rawlinson Kelly & Whittlestone Ltd (RKW), an established UK-based health care planning company. RKW will be advising on a range of issues which will help to inform the design of the new hospital. They will be advising, for example, on the preferred model of care, on the core services to be delivered at the new hospital, and on the additional range of services to be provided outside of the main hospital. In this context RKW have been requested to advise, as a priority, on the range of services which should be provided outside of the main hospital through the urgent / ambulatory care service, taking account of international best practice in the planning of children's hospital services.

RKW is consulting widely in the course of its work, and in this context the input of all stakeholders will be of benefit in ensuring the delivery of our shared objective of providing a world-class hospital for the children of this country.

Health Service Systems.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

157 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the position of the PPARS and FISP computer system; the plan of action for PPARS arising from the PPARS review committee; the remaining business issues; the position regarding these issues; the timelines and budget forecasts for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6249/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The PPARS system is currently operational in six of the former health board areas and in one major Dublin hospital. It provides human resource information for in excess of 70,000 employees and is used to pay 30,000 employees.

The report produced by the Health Service Executive's PPARS Review Committee in September 2006 recommended that, prior to reaching any conclusion on the most appropriate long-term approach to the provision of a comprehensive solution for the HSE's HR and payroll requirements, it would be necessary to maximise the effectiveness of the system in the existing implementation sites and to clearly define the HSE's requirements for the future. This work is now well underway and I understand that it will be concluded by June 2007 and will include a business case and an action plan for the delivery of the HSE's national HR and Payroll solution.

In relation to financial system solutions, the HSE has also been examining the most effective means of meeting its requirements in the context of its new unified structure.

I am referring the Deputy's question to the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive so that a comprehensive answer to the detailed issues raised can be provided.

Hospital Procedures.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

158 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cancelled elective operations in each area in 2006 and 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6256/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Staff.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

159 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the INO proposal for a 35 hour week for nurses; the approximate cost of this measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6297/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Irish Nurses' Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association lodged a claim in December 2005 for a reduction in the working week from 39 to 35 hours per week. The Unions are seeking 39 hours pay for 35 hours work. It is estimated that an additional 4,000 nurses would have to be recruited to maintain existing levels of service if this claim were to be conceded. The increase in the hourly rate would also lead to an increase in the cost of overtime, premium pay and agency nurses. It is estimated that the additional cost in nursing pay terms of conceding this claim would be approximately €250m per annum. This figure does not include the additional superannuation costs associated with employing 4,000 additional staff. If additional suitably qualified staff were not available and the shortfall had to be made up by the overtime and/or agency nursing the costs would be even higher.

The majority of staff in the public health service — approximately 73,000 out of a total of 106,000 staff — currently work a 39 week. Grades who work a 39 hour week include non consultant hospital doctors, emergency medical technicians, social care professionals, health care assistants, catering staff, engineering staff, and others. In the wider public service, groups such as the gardaí and prison officers work 39 or more hours per week.

The claim for a reduction in the working week was one of eight claims heard by the Labour Court on 20 June 2006. A Recommendation (LCR 18763) issued on 9 November 2006. In relation to this claim the Court stated that concession of this claim at this time would have profound consequences for both health care delivery and costs unless effective countervailing measures could be put in place. The Court did recommend that the parties should jointly explore the possibility of initiating an appropriate process aimed at achieving major reorganisation of working arrangements and practices within the health service generally. The Court also stated that such an initiative should take account of and support existing development involving other groups. It held the view that if such a programme of change could be successfully implemented, the efficiencies, cost savings and other benefits accruing may allow this claim to be processed within a reasonable timeframe to be agreed between the parties.

I would emphasise that the Labour Court Recommendation has been accepted by the Health Service Employers but regrettably the Unions have stated that they neither accept or reject the Labour Court Recommendation. I arranged for exploratory discussions to be held between all the parties concerned at the offices of the HSE-Employers Agency on 19 January 2007. The employers indicated their willingness to engage in the process recommended by the Labour Court. While I understand the discussions provided clarity as to the respective positions of the parties the meeting adjourned without agreement on the way forward. I would urge the INO/PNA to give further serious consideration to the Labour Court Recommendation.

Hospital Services.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

160 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce routine screening to detect osteoporosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6186/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

In 2006 the Health Service Executive (HSE) established an expert group to develop a national strategy for osteoporosis and falls. The issue of screening in relation to osteoporosis is being examined by this group.

Routine screening of the general population for osteoporosis is not common practice in Europe. All possible approaches are being considered by the HSE group and recommendations will be based on international evidence of best practice.

Industrial Relations.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

161 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had regarding the proposed industrial action by members of IMPACT in the health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6290/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I have not had discussions with IMPACT about this matter. The National Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016, which was concluded last June provides a comprehensive process for managing industrial relations in the health services. Employers expect trade unions to adhere fully to the terms of Towards 2016 and to fully utilise the industrial relations provisions of the agreement including the State's industrial relations machinery. IMPACT as a signatory to Towards 2016 is bound by the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Youth Services.

David Stanton

Ceist:

162 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date on the development of the National Recreation Policy for Young People; when she expects to publish the policy; the funding allocated by her Department in 2006 and 2007 for the development of youth cafés or other youth drop-in centres; her views on the recreation facilities available to young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6181/07]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

The publication of the National Recreation Policy for Young People has been approved by Government and its launch is expected to take place in the near future. Essentially, the policy provides a strategic framework for the promotion of positive recreational opportunities aimed principally at young people aged 12 to 18. It includes seven core objectives incorporating a series of corresponding actions for priority implementation by various Government Department and Agencies who will have a crucial role to play in their delivery within the overall framework of the national policy.

The policy adopts an evidence-based approach and makes proposals to address issues which emerged from a public consultation process which was undertaken by the Office of the Minister for Children (OMC) to give all interested parties, including young people, a chance to have a say in the development of the policy.

One of the key aspects of the policy is the provision of more recreational facilities and in particular, the establishment of youth cafés, identified by young people as their single biggest need. The policy recognises that youth cafés, similar to the GAF in Galway, offer great potential for providing a wide range of developmental, educational and information programmes to young people and that the provision of such services within these settings will require a cross-Departmental and inter-Agency collaborative approach through a formal partnership process.

Some provision has been made from within the Vote of the Office of the Minister for Children to support the implementation of the policy in its initial stages. Other Departments and Agencies will also have a role to play and details will be made available on publication of the policy.

Food Labelling.

John Deasy

Ceist:

163 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps she is taking to ensure that country of origin labelling is clear and transparent to the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3569/07]

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

EU food labelling legislation is harmonised by Council Directive 2000/13/EC, as amended. That directive — as amended — has been transposed into national legislation by the European Communities (Labelling, Presentation and Advertising of Foodstuffs) Regulations 2002 to 2005. These regulations apply to the labelling of pre-packaged foodstuffs for sale to the ultimate consumer, or for supply to mass caterers, and are based on the principle that food labelling should not mislead consumers.

Labelling rules are designed to inform consumers so that they can make informed choices. Currently, origin labelling is not required for pre-packaged food unless its absence misleads the consumer. Thus, for example, where other particulars such as a flag or a map other than that of the country of origin are displayed on a label, the true country of origin must be clearly declared to ensure that the consumer is not misled as to the true origin or provenance of the food.

Discussions have now commenced on the review of the European horizontal food labelling legislation and country of origin labelling will be considered in this context. Following consideration of the responses received to the national consultation undertaken last year by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on foot of a European Commission consultative document, and following discussions with the Department of Agriculture and Food, my Department's position is that consideration should be given to the extension of food labelling legislation to provide for a clear indication of the country of origin for all meat and products made substantially from meat.

Pharmacy Regulations.

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

164 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with the Health Service Executive regarding their refusal to negotiate with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union on fees for services; her views on the HSE’s interpretation of the Competition Act 2002 in this regard; if she will encourage dialogue between the IPU and HSE to resolve this dispute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6291/07]

Joe Sherlock

Ceist:

205 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has received correspondence from pharmacists expressing great concern that they may no longer be represented by the IPU; her plans to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6271/07]

Liam Twomey

Ceist:

333 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Health and Children when she expects negotiations between the Health Service Executive and IPU will recommence; if she has satisfied herself that the approach being taken by the HSE is appropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6313/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 164, 205 and 333 together.

In 2005, a process was begun to examine all aspects of the drugs supply chain with a view to achieving greater value for money in the pricing and supply of drugs and medicines to the health services and the GMS and community drugs schemes, consistent with patient safety and continuity of supply. This process was agreed by the Cabinet Committee on Health. A joint HSE/Department of Health and Children negotiating team was put in place to advance this process.

In mid-2006, the negotiating team reached agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) and the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers in Ireland (APMI). Discussions then began with the wholesaler representative body, the Pharmaceutical Distributors' Federation (PDF), as part of the agreed process on supply to community pharmacies and the health services. However, PDF advised the State that a legal issue precluded it from negotiating a new margin for distribution to community pharmacies. The negotiating team then obtained legal advice, which subsequent legal advice to the Department confirmed, that this issue also had implications for negotiations with community pharmacists.

The position is as follows. Section 4(1) of the Competition Act, 2002 prohibits all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices which have as their object or effect the restriction or distortion of competition, including agreements to fix prices, unless the agreement, decision or concerted practice meets certain conditions. Those conditions are not met in this case. Wholesalers and pharmacy contractors are undertakings. PDF and the IPU are associations of undertakings under Section 4(1) of the Act; the coming together of wholesalers under PDF or pharmacy contactors under the IPU to negotiate prices would be a breach of Section 4(1). Entering into an agreement, making a decision or being involved in a concerted practice in contravention of Section 4(1) is a criminal offence and would expose those parties, their directors, managers and officers to the risk of criminal prosecution.

In light of these factors, it is not possible for the HSE to engage in negotiations with PDF or the IPU in relation to fees or margins. The HSE has written to all community pharmacy contractors, setting out the position in relation to these issues in detail. The negotiating team is now examining how best to address this issue for pharmacy contractor services. However, negotiations must comply with the law. To this end, the team has engaged with the IPU, has set out the legal position and clarified the situation in relation to contract negotiations. The team is currently considering, in the context of the legal position, proposals from the IPU with a view to agreeing a process for contract review that would comply fully with competition law. A meeting has been arranged with the IPU at which these issues will be discussed. It is hoped that this ongoing dialogue will allow this matter to be resolved.

With regard to IPU representation of pharmacists, both my Department and the HSE recognise the IPU as the collective representative body for its members. There is, and will continue to be, ongoing dialogue with the IPU, within the constraints of the legal advice provided. I wish to see that dialogue continuing in a constructive manner.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Joe Callanan

Ceist:

165 Mr. Callanan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the model of care for children’s services in County Galway arising out of the implementation of the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 has yet to be implemented; the nature of that plan; when she anticipate it’s full implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5759/07]

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

The Government launched the National Disability Strategy, in 2004 as a framework of positive action measures to support the participation of people with disabilities in Irish society. Two new pieces of legislation — the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004 and the Disability Act, 2005 form an integral part of this Strategy, along with the suite of six sectoral plans, launched in 2006.

One of the most important aspects of my Department's sectoral plan is the arrangements for commencing Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which provides a statutory entitlement to an independent assessment of health and education needs, a statement of the services (Service Statement) which it is proposed to provide, and the right to pursue a complaint through an independent redress mechanism if there is a failure to provide these entitlements.

Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 will be commenced on a national basis (including Galway) in respect of persons of different ages as follows: for children aged less than 5 years — with effect from 1, June 2007; for children aged 5 years to 18 years — in tandem with the implementation of the EPSEN Act 2004; for persons aged over 18 years — as soon as possible but no later than 31, December 2011.

Services for adults and children will continue to be enhanced progressively over the next number of years. The commitment by the Government to provide a Multiannual Investment programme of some €900m over the period 2006-2009 for disability support services recognises the need to build capacity in the health services to deliver on these obligations.The bulk of this funding, around €720m, is being spent in the health services. I have allocated €100m in 2006 and a further €100m in 2007 for the continuing development of services for people with a disability.

Question No. 166 answered with QuestionNo. 121.

Question No. 167 answered with QuestionNo. 94.

Vaccination Programme.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

168 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay on the part of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee in making a decision on the introduction to the routine childhood immunisation schedule of the vaccine for pneumococcal disease; the discussions she has had on this matter; the action she proposes to take to expedite the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6292/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Ireland's recommended immunisation programme is based on the guidelines of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. These guidelines are prepared with the assistance of an active committee from associated disciplines in paediatrics, infectious diseases, general practice and public health.

I understand that the inclusion of the pneumococcal vaccine in the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme is being considered by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee as part of its review of the immunisation guidelines. My Department has been advised that a recommendation will be made within the next few months. My Department and the Health Service Executive will be guided by the expert advice from NIAC in this regard.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

169 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the roll out of BreastCheck around the country, per centre, and the latest cost estimates of each centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6267/07]

Ceist:

192 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the renegotiation of the contract for hospital consultants; the discussions she has had with the Health Service Executive in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6287/07]

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

195 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made to reach the targets that she set with regard to the consultant contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6268/07]

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

201 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of the talks with consultants; if the category two contract will continue; the main changes she envisages for the common contract; and the approximate salary she envisages for public only consultants. [6296/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 176, 192, 195 and 201 together.

As the Deputies may be aware talks between management and the medical organisations representing medical consultants (Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) on a new consultant contract resumed in November 2006 on the basis of a formula devised by the independent chairman, Mr. Mark Connaughton. Further documents were tabled by management but difficulties were encountered, however, in these negotiations due to objections by the medical organisations to arrangements adopted by the Health Service Executive in relation to Category II Consultant appointments.

On 25th January 2007 the chairman issued a report to the parties that conveys his opinion that in order for constructive talks to take place: there should be an unequivocal agreement between the parties that there would be unconditional negotiations for a defined period of time; an agreed agenda must be drawn up by the parties; outline responses must be exchanged in writing between the parties on the various issues; a mechanism must be established to deal with issues arising in relation to the current contract; the parties should be represented by smaller teams; confidentiality should be observed by all parties; and the framework within which any agreement could be concluded should be worked out in greater detail.

Both parties have agreed to reconvene negotiations. These talks are scheduled to begin today. Both I and officials of my Department have been in regular contact with the Health Service Executive regarding the negotiations. Issues such as the retention of the Category II post will be dealt with in the talks process. In relation to the costing of the new contract — this will undertaken by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. This body has reviewed the salaries of medical consultants for a number of years and thus has the experience and expertise required to set the appropriate level of remuneration for a new consultant contract. Finally I am pleased that the negotiations have recommenced today.

Question No. 177 answered with QuestionNo. 113.

Mental Health Services.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

178 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that there has been full co-operation from all professional staff in regard to all sections of the Mental Health Act 2001 which came into force in November 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6236/07]

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

The Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive and the Mental Health Commission worked closely together to ensure the successful implementation of the Mental Health Act 2001. The HSE established a National Steering Group supported by a Liaison Team to prepare for the full implementation of the Act. These groups worked closely with mental health service managers, clinicians and service users to ensure the smooth transition to the legislative environment. I am informed that there has been a high level of co-operation from all professional staff in regard to the operation of the Mental Health Act 2001.

Health Services.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

179 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on IMPACT’s recent criticisms of the running of the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6281/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I wish to state at the outset that I do not accept IMPACT's criticisms of the running of the health service. The Health Reform Programme is an ambitious programme which tackles reform across the spectrum including structures, legislation, services, eligibility and HR/IR. Obviously this is an enormous challenge with the ultimate intention of improving services to patients, and one which will require our continuing commitment over a number of years. Nevertheless, there has been significant progress, for example, the HSE and the Office of the Minister for Children have been established, and my Department has been restructured. Major advances have also been made in modernising and strengthening the regulatory framework underpinning service delivery and patient care.

The Health Bill 2006 will establish The Health Information Quality Authority on a statutory basis. HIQA will provide an independent review of quality and performance, and its analysis will inform policy development within my Department. It will also undertake health technology assessments and will evaluate information on health and social services and the health and welfare of the population and advise both myself and the HSE on deficiencies identified. The Bill will extend the remit of the Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services to provide for older people and for people with disabilities.

The Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance was established and has been asked to report to me by mid-2008 with proposals in a number of areas including more effective reporting of adverse incidents, a system of licensing of public and private providers of health care and a clearer role for patients and carers in giving feedback on the care received. The Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 provides for the statutory registration of a range of allied health professionals and will underpin the delivery of safe and high quality services to members of the public. Consideration of appointments to the Health & Social Care Professionals Council is now at an advanced stage.

The Medical Practitioners Bill 2007 provides for an enhanced and modern system of regulation of the medical profession in Ireland. It is in the interests of patients and doctors alike that a modern, accountable and efficient system of regulation is in place. The provisions within the Medical Practitioners Bill will achieve that goal.

Legislation enabling Nurse Prescribing has been enacted, and Regulations have been drafted and notified to the EU in order to make its introduction a reality in 2007. More broadly, considerable work has been done in preparing draft new legislation to update the existing regulatory framework for the nursing profession.

There has also been significant progress relating to service delivery, for example, up to 100 Primary Care Teams are now coming on stream in a number of areas around the country, enabling the Primary Care Model to be demonstrated in action while allowing practical experience to be gained from the process involved in developing these teams and providing expanded services in the community.

In relation to Acute Hospitals/Services there is a broad objective to ensure that people are not inappropriately admitted to hospital and where admission is appropriate that the patient stay is for the minimum period necessary and the outcomes are the optimum that can be achieved for the patient. This objective is being achieved via targeted improvements in A&E Services/ Departments plus capital investment, out of hours GP co-operatives, and improved waiting times for most common surgical procedures.

In regard to older people, €55 million was allocated in Budget 2006 towards the ongoing provision of home care packages and community supports into 2007. Funding of €88 million was provided for public and private beds for long-term residential care, over the period 2006/2007, including €6 million to strengthen nursing home subvention.

In addition, in relation to the implementation of the Disability Act, the multi-annual investment programme provides for cumulative investment of €900 million in services for people with disabilities over the period 2006 to 2009.

The aforementioned examples are just some aspects of the reform programme. I do not suggest that the programme is complete, or that service delivery is where we want it to be. However, while recognising the challenges that face us, we should also recognise the progress that has been made.

Chronic Illnesses.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

180 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of children with asthma here; the percentage increase in asthma cases in the last decade; the steps she is taking to deal with the issue. [6304/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Asthma is not a notifiable disease and consequently, detailed information on its incidence in the general population is not routinely available. From the research available in this country, however, asthma is a common childhood condition with approximately 10% having experienced an attack of asthma. Similar to other European countries, the level of asthma has increased and is now approximately 20% in young teenagers.

There are a variety of risk factors for asthma including environmental and genetic factors. Ireland's involvement included the European Union's Joint Research Council initiative on childhood asthma and the co-ordination of an EU approach under the Irish Presidency of the European Union in 2004. Ireland has participated in international prevalence studies on asthma and there is ongoing work on the development of information systems on asthma.

In recent years, the Health Research Board has funded a number of proposals relating to asthma and respiratory disease. Legislation on smoking at work has also provided greater protection from toxic tobacco smoke which contributes to asthma.

National Patient Database.

John Perry

Ceist:

181 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to establish a national patient database; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6191/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You underlines the importance of the availability of good quality health information in order to achieve the various goals, including better health for everyone, high performance and responsive and appropriate care delivery. The actions necessary to improve the quality and availability of health information are set out in the National Health Information Strategy (NHIS). In line with NHIS recommendations, the Health Bill 2006 provides for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) which will have a key role in health information development in terms of setting standards, evaluating the information currently available, identifying gaps and deficiencies and advising on appropriate priority developments. The issue, therefore, of the need or otherwise for the establishment of databases along the lines suggested in the question will be one for consideration, in the first instance, by the new Authority.

Departmental Inquiries.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

182 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children when the redress scheme for the patients of Dr. Michael Neary will begin; the criteria for compensation; the definition of injury in these cases; if mental or emotional trauma will be a factor in determining eligibility for compensation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6260/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Inquiry into peripartum hysterectomy at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda chaired by Judge Maureen Harding Clark S.C. was established by the Government in 2004 following the decision of the Medical Council to remove Dr Michael Neary from the Register of Medical Practitioners after finding him guilty of professional misconduct.

Following the publication of the Inquiry Report in February 2006, Judge Clark was requested by the Government to advise on an appropriate scheme of redress arising from the findings of the Report. Judge Clark was also requested to advise on a mechanism for ensuring maximum recoupment from wrongdoers and indemnifiers of any monies payable under an agreed redress scheme; including the estimated cost of the scheme. I will shortly be bringing Judge Clark's proposals to the Government for consideration and decision.

Care of the Elderly.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

183 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding that will be available to those suffering from dementia in 2007; where will this funding be allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6275/07]

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

The development of Services for Older People is a priority for the Government. This is reflected in the funding committed to services for older people in Budgets 2006 and 2007. Last year, the Government funded the largest ever expansion in services for older people with a full year cost of €150m. This year a full year package of €255m has been allocated for services for older people. This gives a total of over €400m added to services for older people over two years.

Government policy in relation to older people is to support people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and, where this is not possible, to support access to quality long-term residential care. This policy approach is renewed and developed in the latest partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

There is a complementary link between Government policy in the area of the care of older people and in care for people with dementia. Both policies stress the need to provide support in dignity and independence, through the provision of appropriate services to the people concerned and their carers. The Government is fully committed to providing such support and service improvement, including the expansion of community and residential care services for people with Dementia. This commitment was reflected in the additional funding of approximately €109 million in Budget 2006 and €82 million in Budget 2007 which was allocated to community supports for older people including those with dementia. These supports include Home Care Packages, Home Help Scheme and Respite Care.

The additional funding provided for Home Care Packages and the Home Help Scheme will further enhance the supports available to families caring for people with dementia at home. In 2006 a total of 2,000 extra Home Care Packages were provided at a full year cost of €55 million (prior to this date only 1,100 packages had been in operation on a pilot basis). A similar increase in the number of packages will be provided in 2007, benefiting some 4,000 people. An additional €21 million was provided for 2007 to fund the cost of some 780,000 additional home help hours in 2007. This brings the total funding allocated to home helps to approximately €171 million per annum.

Among the areas where funding has been provided are day care and respite care which are an integral part of delivering a comprehensive community service for older people. Day care and respite care offer respite for family members and/or carers and provide social stimulation in a safe environment for older people with mild forms of dementia. The provision of an additional €9 million in a 2006 allowed for 1,325 additional places per week in these centres together with additional programmes for specific needs such as activity therapy. It also means that many day care centres can increase the number of days per week they open. Additional funding of €3.5 million provided in Budget 2007 will cater for a further 1,100 day places per week in day care centres.

The Government's sustained high level of investment in healthcare has enabled the completion and commissioning of numerous new facilities in both the acute and the non-acute sectors. This year, the sum available for expenditure in health under the Health Service Executive's capital plan is €559.5 million and over the period of the National Development Plan the figure is €4.9 billion.

The HSE has responsibility for the planning and management of capital projects in the health sector, including the development of services for people suffering from dementia. The Department of Health and Children received the Health Service Executive's Capital Plan for 2007 on 17 January 2007. The Plan is presently being evaluated with a view to its approval by my Department and the Department of Finance. The Health Service Executive will announce details of the approved capital programme following this process.

Departmental Reports.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

184 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the recommendations on the task force on alcohol have not been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6303/07]

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

There were 78 wide ranging recommendations emerging from the 2004 Strategic Task Force on Alcohol (STFA) Report. Responsibility for their implementation fell across a broad range of Government Departments and Agencies. The Government approved the implementation of the recommendations and the various Ministers were asked to pursue implementation of the recommendations appropriate to their Departments.

Some progress has been made in relation to the recommendations, for example: random Breath Testing was introduced in 2006; the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 responded to a number of recommendations of the Commission on Liquor Licensing and the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol. It contains a number of provisions on the serving of alcohol to intoxicated customers, the prohibiting of "happy hours" and the restriction of children at certain times and circumstances from licensed premises; a Voluntary Code of Practice on Alcohol Advertising has been agreed between the Department of Health and Children and the drinks, media and advertising industries. This addresses many of the concerns in relation to the placement of alcohol advertisements. The establishment by the drinks industry of Central Copy Clearance Ireland addresses the issue of the content of alcohol advertisements. A Monitoring Body has been established to oversee the implementation of and adherence to the Voluntary Code and will report to the Minister in the Spring 2007; in relation to community mobilisation resources have been allocated to the Health Service Executive to support the development of community mobilisation projects. The Government recently approved the allocation of €940,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support 17 community based projects aimed at tackling Alcohol Related Harm; the Responsible Server Training Programme was developed in association with the Drinks Industry Group. This programme is now being delivered by the hospitality training body FAILTE; the Health Service Executive continues to roll out alcohol awareness campaigns which are effective in developing media attention, generating public awareness of the issue in addition to developing programmes, initiatives and disseminating a range of relevant materials; and research projects have been undertaken and continue to be undertaken to monitor and inform alcohol policy decision-making.

Sustaining Progress Working Group on Alcohol.

Further impetus was added to the implementation of the Task Force recommendations with the establishment in July 2005 of a Working Group under the Sustaining Progress Special Initiative on Alcohol and Drugs Misuse. Its aim was to mobilise stakeholders through social partnership to achieve a targeted and measurable reduction in alcohol misuse. Their Report entitled "Working Together to Reduce the Harms Caused by Alcohol Misuse" was published in June 2006 and it agreed on a programme of actions to deliver targeted results in relation to underage drinking, binge drinking and drink driving. The report included recommendations on issues such as community mobilisation, workplace alcohol policies, advertising, labelling and education and awareness. An Implementation Group has now been established to monitor and report on progress on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report. The Implementation Group's membership comprises key stakeholders in Government Departments and Agencies and the Social Partners and is expected to report by the end of 2007.

This Department along with the Health Service Executive (HSE) are working closely together to advance the recommendations of the Sustaining Progress Working Group. In parallel the Department and the HSE have undertaken to review progress on the implementation of the STFA recommendations and to provide a co-ordinated response to the continuing problems associated with problematic alcohol use in Ireland.

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

185 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason she has not implemented a report (details supplied) on the regulation of alternative practitioners; when it will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6301/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists was launched in May of last year. The Report makes a number of recommendations in relation to the sector, including the regulation of therapists. The Report noted that "the complementary and alternative therapy community in Ireland is a very disparate one with a broad range of levels of expertise, training and level of association with other practitioners and/or international organisations." It goes on to say that compared with other countries Ireland is at an early stage of forming solid frameworks of associations and federations with which to link and to govern the sector.

The Report makes a number of recommendations on future measures for strengthening the regulatory environment for complementary therapists. These range from a working group to examine statutory registration for a small number of therapies to facilitated workdays and symposia for different therapies to develop greater unity and harmonisation.

Facilitated work days are being organised at present for some of the therapy groups and it is hoped to start these in February–March of this year. It is expected that a number of different therapy associations will come together to undertake a process of harmonisation and development. This will lead to greater unity in the complementary therapy sector and within each individual therapy. It is hoped that the facilitated work days will encourage agreement between different groups for each therapy on common basic standards of practice, education and training. It is also expected that greater unity within the sector will provide a common voice for individual therapies and a common source of information for public, thereby making it easier for consumers to make a judgement on complementary therapies and therapists.

At the same time as the launch of the report, an Information Guide for the public on Complementary Therapy was also launched. This is in keeping with my belief that providing information for consumers of complementary therapy services will play an important part in protecting public safety. The leaflet was prepared following concerns that patients who have a serious illness should be aware of the importance of consulting their doctor even if they are attending a complementary therapist. The leaflet will help people to choose wisely to safeguard their health and its key message is that if people have a condition which could need medical treatment they should visit their doctor first.

Primary Care Services.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

186 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of money invested in the years 2002 to 2006 in relation to the primary care strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6259/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Primary Care Strategy aims to develop services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, home helps, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others.

It has been estimated that up to 95% of people's health and social services needs can be properly met within a primary care setting and the establishment of new Primary Care Teams can contribute greatly to enhancing community based health services.

Wider implementation of the Primary Care Strategy will focus on developing new ways of working and of reorganising the resources already available to the health service in line with the service model described in the Strategy. This whole-system approach to implementation means change will be required in many sectors in the health service, and not solely within primary care itself.

The HSE received an additional €16m in funding in 2006 to enable the establishment of up to 100 Primary Care Teams in development, to provide for the establishment of additional GP training places and to enhance GP out-of-hours co-ops. A further €25m is being provided in 2007 to meet the full year costs of the 2006 developments and to enable a further 100 Primary Care Teams in development to be established. This is in addition to development funding already provided of €5m in 2002, €2m in 2003 and €5m in 2005 and brings the total additional revenue funding specifically related to the Primary Care Strategy to €53m. Capital funding of €2.725m and €1.8m in respect of ICT supports was provided to support the development of the initial ten "pilot" primary care teams approved in 2002. It should be noted that new and existing funding provided under other headings will also be used to support the development and delivery of services in line with the principles of the Strategy.

Health Services.

Joe Sherlock

Ceist:

187 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children the effects recent EU decisions will have on emergency services in the Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6270/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Care of the Elderly.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

188 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the difficulties experienced by elderly people in public nursing homes in accessing chiropody services; the position regarding provision of chiropody services to elderly people through the medical card; her position on top up fees charged by chiropodists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6263/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

There is no statutory obligation on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide chiropody services to GMS patients; however in practice arrangements are made to provide these services. Before the establishment of the HSE the nature of the arrangements for chiropody and the level of service provided was a matter for individual health boards and so a degree of variation in practice developed over time. Priority is usually given to certain groups of people, including people who are medical card holders aged 65 years and over. In several regions the service is provided by private chiropodists by arrangement with the HSE.

I consider that it is inappropriate for private chiropodists who are providing services on behalf of the HSE to charge patients a top-up fee, and I have conveyed this view formally to the HSE. My Department requested the HSE to review the fee arrangements in place for the provision of chiropody services, with a view to ensuring that such additional fees will no longer be levied on persons in receipt of this service. While considerable work has taken place to develop arrangements which would ensure that no top-up charges are applied, it is necessary to ensure that any such arrangements and the process by which they are arrived at comply with the terms of the Competition Act 2002. In this context legal advice is at present being sought in relation to the permissibility of negotiating contractual fee arrangements with organisations representing self-employed health professionals.

My Department is currently preparing legislation to clarify and update existing legislation on eligibility for health and personal social services. The Bill will define specific health and personal services more clearly; define who should be eligible for what services; set out clear criteria for eligibility; establish when and in what circumstances charges may be made and provide for an appeals framework.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for chiropody services, it is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy in relation to access to chiropody services for elderly people in public nursing homes. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Chronic Illnesses.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

189 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures she will take to reduce the prevalence of diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6183/07]

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

My Department published the Report of the Working Group on Diabetes, "Prevention and Model for Patient Care" in early 2006 and the Health Service Executive has been working actively to progress the recommendations of the Working Group.

Following the publication of the Report, the recommendations have been considered by the Management Team of the Primary, Community and Continuing Care Directorate. The Management Team has identified the following priorities for Primary, Community and Continuing Care Services:

To audit and assess current provision in the local health areas and the Administrative Areas;

To identify Best Practice;

The Development of local registers;

The identification of high risk patients;

Development of the working arrangements between the HSE and the voluntary sector;

The further roll-out of the screening programme for diabetic retinopathy;

The Chief Executive of the HSE has identified the establishment of Expert Advisory Groups as a major step in the Reform programme which is about making things better for the people using our services. The purpose of the Expert Advisory Groups (EAG) is to bring the expertise of the clinical and health community and the voice of patients, clients and service users to a more influential role within the HSE. These EAGs will play an influential role in crafting a strategic vision of their areas of focus.

The HSE established an Expert Advisory Group on Diabetes in October 2006. This group has identified a number of priority issues which it will focus on initially and that will be incorporated into a wider strategy for implementation in relation to Diabetes Care.

In addition my Department and the HSE are working to put in place a series of measures to manage the health impacts of chronic disease generally in the population.

These measures include: the development of a comprehensive, integrated chronic disease policy framework which will view chronic disease as a continuum with "upstream" action on the avoidable cause of disease, disability and premature death as well as "downstream" action to improve the health and quality of life of those already suffering from the condition; comprehensive patient registration systems; the development of shared care models for each condition under a disease management programme; the development and use of evidence-based clinical guidelines for each condition; a Self-Care Management Programme; evaluation Protocols.

Question No. 190 answered with QuestionNo. 127.

Question No. 191 answered with QuestionNo. 90.

Question No. 192 answered with QuestionNo. 176.

Question No. 193 answered with QuestionNo. 94.

Departmental Funding.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

194 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to provide additional funding for dedicated services on domestic violence in view of the continuing extent of this problem and the funding difficulties facing many support organisations and refuges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41939/06]

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

The Violence Against Women sector was given an increase of €4.5m in the 2007 Estimates, bringing the total budget to €16.5m. The allocation of the increased budget is currently being determined by the HSE. This Department met with the HSE recently to discuss the allocation of funding in this area and a further meeting is to take place next week with the Directors of the two main NGO networks in this area, the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland and the National Network of Women's Refuges and Support Services.

Two early decisions have been taken. Firstly, Women's Aid has been allocated an extra €70k to develop its helpline service and, secondly, allocations will be made to meet shortfalls experienced by membership organisations of the two networks named above. An audit is ongoing in the HSE to determine the funding requirements within this sector. The outcomes of this audit, together with needs identified by the two national networks, will inform the HSE in the optimum allocation of the remainder of the increased allocation.

Question No. 195 answered with QuestionNo. 176.

Question No. 196 answered with QuestionNo. 90.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

197 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of the promised funding for the cancer strategy that has been spent; the areas it has been spent on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6264/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The aim of the National Cancer Control Strategy, which was published in June 2006, is to reduce our cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality rates relative to other Member States of the European Union. This Government is committed to investing significantly in the implementation of the Strategy. I have made available an additional €20.5m this year for cancer control.

This is an increase of 74% on the comparable 2006 investment and includes €3.5m to support the initial implementation of the HSE National Cancer Control Programme. The Programme will manage, organise and deliver cancer control on a whole population basis. It will have a strong emphasis on prevention and early detection, integrated across primary, hospital, supportive and palliative care. The Service Plan of the HSE for this year sets out the detailed deliverables of the Programme. This includes the establishment of the leadership team to implement the Programme, including the Director of the Programme and key medical leaders at network level. I have allocated an additional €3.25m this year to support the implementation of the National Plan for Radiation Oncology. This will support the appointment of additional Consultant Radiation Oncologists, Specialist Registrars and support staff. The National Cancer Registry has been allocated an additional €0.4m this year and €0.35m has been allocated to the Health Research Board for All-Ireland-NCI Cancer Consortium activities, including a cancer biobanking initiative and further support for the clinical trials initiative.

Evidence based population based screening programmes are an essential element of the Strategy. I established a National Cancer Screening Service Board on 1 January this year. The total allocation to the new Service is €33m, a 71% increase on the funding available in 2006. This includes €8m which has been allocated this year for the roll out of the national breast screening programme to the West and South which will commence this Spring and €5m to commence the roll out of a national cervical screening programme later this year. The Service will also advise on the implementation of a national colorectal screening programme.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

198 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce routine screening to detect prostate cancer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6187/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Evidence based population based screening programmes are an essential element of the National Cancer Control Strategy which was published last June. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is establishing a National Cancer Control Programme to manage, organise and deliver cancer control on a whole population basis. The Programme will have a strong emphasis on prevention and early detection, integrated across primary, hospital, supportive and palliative care.

In relation to screening for prostate cancer, the National Cancer Forum has recommended that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend the introduction of a population based prostate screening programme in this country. The Forum has recommended that this issue should be reassessed when the results are available from randomised trials currently being conducted.

This position is consistent with the Recommendations adopted by the European Union which advocate the introduction of cancer screening programmes which have demonstrated their efficacy having regard to professional expertise and priority setting for healthcare resources. The proposals do not provide for specific recommendations in respect of screening for prostate cancer.

Appropriate treatment for men diagnosed with prostate cancer is available at major hospitals throughout the country. Any man who has concerns in relation to prostate cancer should contact his GP who will, where appropriate, refer him to the appropriate services in his area.

Question No. 199 answered with QuestionNo. 90.

Cancer Incidence.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

200 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on WHO reports that 13% of lung cancer cases here are caused by radon gas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6274/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Based on the recent studies in relation to radon exposure, the WHO has established an International Radon Project (IRP) in which over 20 countries, including Ireland have formed a network of partners to identify and promote programmes that reduce the health impact of radon. The IRP will be issuing detailed recommendations on radon risk reduction which will be examined by my Department in due course.

The vast majority of lung cancer deaths, including those deaths that are linked to radon, are among people who smoke, and non-smokers are at a low risk of contracting the disease. Programmes aimed at smoking cessation will help to maintain this fall in smoking rates among adults and will give rise to a significant reduction in the lung cancer deaths in future years. The Office of Tobacco Control support my policy by discharging a variety of functions including conducting research into tobacco and communicating the findings, organising a national inspection programme and enforcing the tobacco control laws generally.

However the priority is to continue with the identification and remediation of homes with higher concentrations of radon to ensure that the current figures can be lowered.

Question No. 201 answered with QuestionNo. 176.

Hospital Staff.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

202 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of radiographers that have been recruited in each of the hospitals since 2001; the number of radiographer vacancies in each of the hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6241/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Over 120,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Insurance.

John Gormley

Ceist:

203 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has read the report from the Adelaide Hospital Group regarding the introduction of universal health insurance; her views on whether such a system would end the two tier system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6294/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I have seen the report produced by the Adelaide Society recommending the introduction of a universal health insurance scheme. The report makes a very welcome contribution to the debate on the best way to finance our healthcare needs. The Adelaide Society is to be congratulated on taking the initiative and producing such a report. Previous Governments have examined the question of moving from a healthcare system financed from general taxation to one funded by universal health insurance or universal social insurance. These Governments came to the conclusion that we should continue to finance healthcare from general taxation.

This Government is committed to ensuring that patients with similar needs are treated equally and while I agree that we need to have a debate on the issues raised in the Adelaide report, I believe that our priority now is to consolidate the reform process which is already in train.

In this regard, work is underway on a new legislative framework to provide for clear statutory provisions on eligibility and entitlement for health and personal social services. The aim is to produce a clear set of statutory provisions that ensure equity and transparency and to bring the system up to date with developments in service delivery and technology that have occurred since the Health Act 1970.

Question No. 204 answered with QuestionNo. 149.

Question No. 205 answered with QuestionNo. 164.

Question No. 206 answered with QuestionNo. 90.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

207 Ms Burton asked the Taoiseach the number of civil servants within his Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6695/07]

The Taoiseach

Since the introduction of the decentralisation programme, 10 former members of staff from my Department have been assigned to decentralised posts. The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Finance is responsible for the overall decentralisation programme. The Deputy will also be aware that there are no proposals to decentralise my Department or any of the bodies under its aegis.

Stardust Inquiry.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

208 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding his efforts to assist the Stardust families. [6045/07]

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

209 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will support the Stardust relatives in their efforts for a proper inquiry; and if the new evidence or the new interpretation of this evidence will be included in a public inquiry. [6357/07]

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

237 Mr. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the response he has given to the request by the Stardust Relatives Committee to reopen the inquiry into the events of the 14 February 1981 in view of the new dossier of evidence and assessment which they have compiled. [6388/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 208, 209 and 237 together.

The Victims Committee has been advised that an external and independent examination of their submission is to be carried out by an eminent legal person. The arrangements for this examination are the subject of ongoing communication with the Committee's solicitor and will hopefully be agreed in the short term.

The Deputies will also be aware that further assistance is being provided with respect to the identification of the five unidentified victims and that every effort is being made to facilitate the families concerned during this process.

Road Traffic Accidents.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

210 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 16 months after a tragic collision in Quigleys Point, County Donegal, in October 2005, resulting in the deaths of five young people (details supplied) the families are waiting for the completion of the investigation; the reason for the lengthy delay; and if he will assure the Houses of the Oireachtas that he will do all he can to ensure that these families will not have to wait much longer for closure. [5994/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

A reply issued from my office to the Deputy, in relation to the correspondence referred to, on 13 February, 2007.

Closed Circuit Television Systems.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

215 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will support a group (details supplied) in Dublin 9 with their application to Pobal for a community based closed circuit television scheme in order to deal with anti-social behaviour issues; and if he will work with other relevant Departments on this matter. [6047/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

In June 2005 I launched the Community Based CCTV Scheme to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. The Scheme offers two types of funding:

Stage 1 offers a pre-development grant of up to €5,000 to enable qualifying applicants investigate the need for CCTV in their area and to complete a detailed proposal, for submission under Stage 2.

Stage 2 is a direct Application Process for organisations who consider that they can develop and deliver a CCTV Programme immediately. It enables communities to avail of grant aid funding of up to €100,000 from this Department to install a CCTV system in their area. In addition, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has given a commitment to provide successful applications from RAPID areas with a further grant to a maximum of €100,000 subject to the total grant-aid from both Departments not exceeding €200,000 or 100% of the capital costs of the project, whichever is the lesser.

Pobal have been engaged to administer the Scheme on behalf of my Department. A new round of funding under the Community Based CCTV Scheme was advertised on 1 December 2006. The closing date for applications has been set at 28 February 2007. I have been informed by Pobal that no application has been received by them to date from the Group in Dublin 9 referred to by the Deputy.

All application documentation is published on the websites of both Pobal and the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform. The documentation for the Scheme has been revised to be more user-friendly and also to take account of the requirements of section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

Deportation Orders.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

216 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the application to have the deportation order revoked for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6048/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I refer to my reply to the Deputy to Question 80, 9th November 2006 concerning this case. The person concerned, a Ukrainian national who has indicated he is married to an Estonian national residing in Ireland. It is open to him to make an EU Treaty Rights Visa Application to his nearest Irish Embassy/Consulate under the European Communities (Free Movement Persons) Regulations 2006.

In relation to his request for the revocation of his deportation order the order remains extant until such time as his EU Treaty Rights Visa Application is processed.

Residency Permits.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

217 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the residency application of a person (details supplied). [6054/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I understand that the Immigration Division of my Department has been in contact with the person concerned, informing him of the decision regarding his application for permission to remain in the State.

Drug Seizures.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

218 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of illegal drug seizures in the north Leitrim area for each year in the period since 2001 to date in 2007; the quantity and type of illegal drugs seized in each operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6057/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows drug seizures by drug type and quantity, for Manorhamilton Garda District for 2001/2007 inclusive.

I can assure the Deputy that a key ongoing objective of the Government's National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 is to reduce access to all drugs, particularly those drugs that cause most harm, to young people and the enforcement of the law relating to drugs continues to be a key element in the Government's policing priorities as reflected in An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan for 2007.

Drug seizures for Manorhamilton Garda District for 2001/2007.
Year	Drug Type	Quantity	No. of Cases
2007	No seizures analysed to date in 2007
2006*	Cannabis	2,913 grams	5
	Diamorphine	0.284 grams	2
	Diazepam	392 tablets	1
	MDMA	10 tablets	1
2005	Alprazolam	90 tablets	1
	Cannabis	1.432 grams	1
	Cannabis Resin	154.418 grams	9
	MDMA	0.518 grams 16 tablets	1
2004	MDMA	13 tablets	1
2003	Cannabis Resin	72.192 grams	6
	Cocaine	0.655 grams	1
	MDMA	5 tablets	1
2002	Cannabis Resin	6.72 grams	3
2001	Cannabis Resin	112.84 grams	7
	Flunitrazepam	1 tablet	1
	MDMA	0.18 grams 52 tablets	1

** Figures provided for 2006 are provisional pending the publication of An Garda Síochána's Annual Report for 2006.

Garda Youth Diversion Project.

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

219 Mr. O’Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to fund a separate Garda youth diversion project for an area (details supplied) in Dublin 24; his views on the serious need for this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6062/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am committed to the continuing development and, as resources permit, the expansion of Garda Youth Diversion projects. It is my intention to ensure that 100 schemes will be established nationwide before the end of 2007. The locations for establishing new Garda Youth Diversion Projects are selected on the basis of factors including the level of juvenile crime in the area and the number of young people referred to the Juvenile Diversion Programme.

I can confirm a proposal has been received by the Garda Commissioner to establish an additional Garda Youth Diversion Project in the area referred to by the Deputy. I am informed that this proposal will be considered shortly in the context of the further expansion of the programme in 2007.

Garda Deployment.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

220 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí based at thestation at Clonmany, County Donegal; the number of gardaí serving the parish of Clonmany. [6079/07]

Tánaiste and 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 (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,000 following the attestation of 299 new members on Thursday, 16 November, 2006. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,298 (or 21.5%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. The combined strength (all ranks), of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training as at the 31 December 2006 was 14,068. Furthermore, I should say that in December, 2006 as part of a package of anti-crime measures, the Government approved the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000. The accelerated intake of 275 new recruits per quarter into the Garda College will continue until this target is met. The Garda Budget now stands at €1.4 billion, an 11% increase on 2006 and a 96% increase since 1997 in real terms.

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of Clonmany Garda Station which covers the Parish of Clonmany on 16 February, 2007 was 2 (all ranks). Clonmany Garda Station forms part of Buncrana District. The personnel strength of Buncrana District on 31 December 2006 was 86 (all ranks).

I should add that it is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within Divisions. These personnel allocations are determined by a number of factors including demographics, crime trends and other operational policing needs. Such allocations are continually monitored and reviewed along with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy. This ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources, and that the best possible service is provided to the public.

The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the Clonmany area will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda Stations throughout the country.

Residency Permits.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

221 Mr. Noonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on an application for family reunification for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6082/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

Prison Building Programme.

Shane McEntee

Ceist:

225 Mr. McEntee asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an assessment was undertaken of the R130 road which is the access road to the proposed Thornton Hall prison site; the persons who undertook the assessment; if the circumstances of the local school (details supplied) were included in the assessment; if a copy of the environmental impact assessment to support the case that the R130 road was suitable for access to the prison site will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6154/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The site at Thornton Hall was the subject of a detailed assessment and report carried out by Clifton Scannell Emerson Associates, Consulting Engineers which was completed in January 2005.

This report, which was considered by the site selection committee, recommended that primary road access to the site would be via the existing R130 subject to some improvements to the existing junction arrangements. The circumstances of the school were fully considered in this assessment.

The planning and consultation procedures for the prison development at Thornton Hall are set out in the Prison Bill 2006 currently before this House. These procedures will require the publication of an Environmental Impact Statement which will address all the relevant issues including the proposed access arrangements and all of the relevant background information including detailed traffic surveys etc.

This Environmental Impact Statement will be published and members of the public will have the opportunity to comment.

Tax Code.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

226 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is assistance available either in the form of financial reimbursement or tax credits for small companies who have employees on jury duty to cover the burden of paying the employee and paying other staff to cover the employees work; the way a small company is expected to cover these additional costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6160/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

There is no provision in the Juries Act, 1976 for the payment of expenses to jurors or their employers from State funds. When policy underlying the Act was being formulated, consideration was given to the matter of expenses but it was decided that expenses should not be paid as performance of jury service was considered to be a basic civic duty which arose relatively infrequently as far as the individual is concerned. That policy has been retained by successive Governments.

Equality Authority.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

227 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on Amnesty International’s demand that the recommendations made by the Equality Authority in its 2005 report, Implementing Equality for Carers, should be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6169/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

Amnesty International's Action Briefing on Mental Health Policy of October 2006 deals primarily with issues concerning mental health, which is a matter more appropriately addressed to the Minister for Health and Children.

One of the recommendations in Amnesty's document is a call for the implementation of the recommendations made by the Equality Authority in its 2005 report, "Implementing Equality for Carers". Of the recommendations made in the Equality Authority's report, three are relevant to my Department. Recommendation 6.4 asks that government departments and state agencies should support and implement equality proofing of policies and programmes which should include a specific focus on carers, driven by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Equality Authority through the Equality Proofing Working Group. The Group, on which the Equality Authority is represented, is to examine the issue under its work programme.

Recommendations 6.6 and 6.7 ask for amendments to the current equality legislation.

Recommendation 6.6 asks for a review and change of the definition of carers under the family status ground in the equality legislation. The Equality Authority asks that a new definition should encompass the full diversity of carers, resident and non-resident and providing continuing or intermittent care, and reflect and support models of shared caring alongside any focus on a primary carer.

Recommendation 6.7 asks for further development of the equality legislation to include a positive duty on the public sector to have due regard to equality. It also asks for the equality legislation to be extended to include a requirement on all employers and service providers

to make reasonable accommodation across all grounds, including carers, as is currently the situation with the disability ground;

to pursue a planned and systematic approach to promoting equality and combating discrimination, and

to give due consideration to the flexible working arrangements requested by employees who have caring responsibilities.

Equality legislation is kept under constant review by my Department. The specific issues raised in the report above by the Equality Authority and endorsed by Amnesty International are issues which would have to be addressed by the social partners. In this context I should point out that one of the key Government commitments in the national partnership agreement "Towards 2016" is the development of a National Carer's Strategy. This strategy, which will focus on supporting informal and family carers in the community, will be developed by the end of 2007. All relevant Departments and agencies will be involved in the strategy and there will be appropriate consultation with the social partners.

Garda Training.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

228 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of the formal module on mental health in their training or in-service curricula for An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6171/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

National Women’s Strategy.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

229 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of the national strategy for women prepared by his Department; if this makes a link between women’s mental health and equality in this strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6172/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The National Women's Strategy is currently being finalised with a view to bringing it to Government very shortly. The Strategy contains measures in relation to mental health within the theme on Ensuring the Well-Being of Women.

Road Traffic Offences.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

230 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of motorists who have been detected to date for drink driving under the new mandatory alcohol testing regime; the number of motorists who have been prosecuted and convicted under this offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6173/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

In view of the nature of the question and in order to supply the details requested by the Deputy it is necessary for the Garda authorities to make enquires in each Garda Division. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Visa Applications.

John Curran

Ceist:

231 Mr. Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps open to a person (details supplied) who married an Irish person in Belarus on 16 September 2006 to secure a visa to enter and live here. [6180/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Moscow on 22nd November, 2006. The decision to refuse the application was taken on 12th January, 2007.

The application was refused based on the immigration history of the person in question. Details of the appeals process is available on my Department's website (www.justice.ie).

Citizenship Applications.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

232 Mr. Deenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on the application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for citizenship by naturalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6351/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department in August 2006.

Applications received in the second half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 9,000 applications awaiting processing before that of the person in question. It is likely that the processing of the application will commence in the second half of 2008.

I will inform the Deputy and the applicant when I have reached a decision on the application.

Residency Permits.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

233 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in the case of a person (details supplied); and if the family will be given the maximum support. [6356/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 40 and 43 on 15 February, 2006.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

234 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a review on an application for family reunification will be completed in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; if, in view of the fact that the reason for refusal has been addressed and the persons concerned have been married face to face, on 10 October 2006, he will process the appeal as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6358/07]

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number and type of vehicles currently available for use by members of An Garda Síochána are as follows:

Cars	Vans	Bikes	4×4’s	M/Buses	Lorries	Total
1639	245	209	92	56	6	2247

The Garda Fleet is currently undergoing a major investment programme and an expansion in specific areas which will target organised crime, public order and traffic in particular. The total spend for 2006 on the purchase of 1,378 new vehicles to upgrade the fleet was €27.45 million resulting in the renewal of over half of the entire Garda fleet in just a single year. Further investment is planned for this year including the purchase of additional motorbikes which will make a significant contribution to traffic law enforcement.

The more detailed information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Garda Authorities and I will revert directly to the Deputy when it is to hand.

Sex Offenders Register.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

239 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures being taken to ensure effective post release supervision of sex offenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6421/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The Sex Offenders Act, 2001 which commenced on 27 September 2001 sets out the notification obligations on persons convicted of a range of sexual offences against both children and adults. A convicted sex offender must notify his/her name(s), date of birth and current home address to the Garda Síochána within seven days of the conviction for the sexual offence concerned or, where the offender is sentenced to imprisonment, from the date of full release from prison.

Thereafter, the offender must notify the Gardaí of any change of name or address within seven days of that change. Notification of any address where the offender spends either as much as seven days or two or more periods amounting to seven days in any twelve month period must also be given to the Gardaí.

The provisions of the Act extend to any sex offenders entering this jurisdiction from abroad who have an obligation to register in their own countries or who have been convicted abroad of an offence comparable to one covered by the Act.

Additional measures contained in the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 makes it mandatory for a convicted sex offender to inform their employer or future employer of their conviction if their job entails having unsupervised access to children. The Act also allows for a Chief Superintendent of An Garda Síochána to request the Court to make a Sex Offender Order, whereby a sex offender can be prohibited from behaving in a particular way, where such behaviour is perceived by the Court as having a potential danger to the welfare of children. It should be noted that Garda clearance is now required for potential employees in a number of occupations which entail access to, or authority over children.

If the court imposed an order for post-release supervision, Part 5 of the 2001 Act obliges the convicted person to undergo supervision by the Probation Service for a specified period and to comply with such conditions that are specified therein. Offenders who are subject to a post release supervision Order are managed on a one-to-one basis by a Probation Officer. Should a sex offender fail to comply with obligations as outlined in the Act, the offender is guilty of an offence and subject to a fine and/or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months.

I can advise the Deputy that my Department through the Probation Service provides funding to a community based sex offender programme specifically for convicted sex offenders who abuse children. I can further advise that the Probation Service has two officers directly involved in the delivery of adolescent sex offender programmes in both North and South Dublin. In addition, the Service is involved in the management and organisation of a community based adolescent sex offender programme based in the west of Ireland.

I also wish to advise the Deputy that in advance of release, there are three forms of direct therapeutic intervention available to prisoners serving sentences for sexual offences which assist in their personal rehabilitation and relapse prevention. These are:

individual counselling from the Irish Prison Service's Psychology Service and from the Probation Service

the Sex Offender Programme which has been in operation since 1994; and

one-to-one interventions by visiting psychiatrists who provide support to prisoners.

Before an offender is released from prison, the Prison Service must inform him/her that they are subject to the notification requirement of the Act. Ten days before the date of release, the Prison Service must inform the Garda Síochána that s/he is being released.

There is a system in place whereby Child Care Managers in the Health Service Executive are informed, by the Senior Probation Officer, of the impending release of sex offenders from prisons irrespective of whether the offence is against a child or adult. The Child Care Manager is provided with the date of release, details of the offence committed and address of the offender following release.

A ‘Protocol for the sharing of information on the management of sex offenders between the Probation Service and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI)' was signed by the Heads of both Organisations in March, 2006. That protocol established mutual arrangements for the management of sex offenders, subject to supervision by the respective Services. This protocol facilitates best practice and effective case management of sex offenders between jurisdictions by enabling exchange of relevant information on a structured and agreed basis.

In additional, I also wish to advise the Deputy that on 27 November, 2006 I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on information sharing arrangements between Ireland and the UK relating to sex offenders.

The MOU was negotiated between my Department and the Home Office, with input from the Northern Ireland Office. It relates to information about persons travelling between Ireland and the UK and who are subject to sex offender notification requirements in their own jurisdiction. This covers sex offenders travelling between any of the legal jurisdictions in these islands. The rationale for the Memorandum is that such information will be shared between police forces for the purposes of protecting the public from the risks presented by sex offenders — whether paedophile or otherwise — and investigating serious sexual offences. The transmission of any information necessary to achieve these purposes is covered.

As a result of the MOU, the exchange of such information between the Garda Síochána and British police forces, which of course has already been taking place for some time, is now being put on a formal footing. The information will now be shared as a matter of course.

This Memorandum of Understanding is another example of the close relationship between Ireland and the UK and in particular between the two parts of this island. It is also the most recent example of the benefits which accrue to both sides through cooperation and coordination in the areas of criminal justice and law enforcement.

As the MOU provides, its use and effectiveness will be kept under review, and I am confident that full use will be made of its potential by the police forces of all our jurisdictions.

A Registered Sex Offender Advisory Group has been established consisting of representatives of An Garda Síochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Northern Ireland Office. As part of its work, this Group evaluates the potential for sharing information, examining the registration criteria in both jurisdictions for sex offenders and identifying areas for further co-operation.

The provisions of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 are kept under constant review by my Department with a view to ensuring the Act is operating in an efficient and effective manner.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

240 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that local Garda stations are fully and promptly informed of all convicted sex offenders moving into their area; if he is satisfied that Garda monitoring of convicted sex offenders post release is as effective as it should be; and the additional measures, that will or should be considered. [6422/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The Sex Offenders Act which commenced on 27 September 2001 sets out the obligations on persons convicted of a range of sexual offences against both children and adults. A convicted sex offender must notify his/her name(s), date of birth and current home address to the Garda Síochána within seven days of the conviction for the sexual offence concerned or, where the offender is sentenced to imprisonment, from the date of full release from prison.

Thereafter, the offender must notify the Gardaí of any change of name or address within seven days of that change. Notification of any address where the offender spends either as much as seven days or two or more periods amounting to seven days in any twelve month period must also be given to the Gardaí.

If the offender intends to leave the State for a period of seven days or more s/he must inform the Gardaí of this fact and the address at which s/he intends to stay and also notify the Gardaí of his/her return. If s/he did not intend to stay away for more than seven days but did, s/he must inform the Gardaí within a further seven days.

The provisions of the Act extend to any sex offenders entering this jurisdiction from abroad who have an obligation to register in their own countries or who have been convicted abroad of an offence comparable to one covered by the Act.

Part 4 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 provides that it is an offence for convicted sex offenders to apply for, or to accept, work or to offer services, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of unsupervised access to, or contact with, children or mentally impaired persons, without informing the employer or organisation of his/her conviction for a qualifying sexual offence.

It is an offence to fail to comply with the notification requirements. The penalty is imprisonment for up to 12 months or a fine of €1,900 or both.

The courts can also sentence an offender who has been found guilty of an offence under the schedule of offences in the Act to a period of statutory supervision under the Probation and Welfare Service on their release from prison.

Before an offender is released from prison, the Prison Service must inform him/her that they are subject to the notification requirement of the Act. Ten days before the date of release, the Prison Service must inform the Garda Síochána that s/he is being released.

The Garda Síochána has in place a system for the monitoring of persons subject to these requirements. The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit monitor and manage the notification provisions. The information on persons who are subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 is maintained at a central location.

There are nominated Garda Inspectors in each Garda Division who are notified by the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit when a sex offender, who is subject to the requirements of the Act, is resident in their Division. These inspectors are responsible for the monitoring of such offenders.

On 27 November, 2006 I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on information sharing arrangements between Ireland and the UK relating to sex offenders.

The MOU was negotiated between my Department and the Home Office, with input from the Northern Ireland Office. It relates to information about persons travelling between Ireland and the UK and who are subject to sex offender notification requirements in their own jurisdiction. This covers sex offenders travelling between any of the legal jurisdictions in these islands. The rationale for the Memorandum is that such information will be shared between police forces for the purposes of protecting the public from the risks presented by sex offenders — whether paedophile or otherwise — and investigating serious sexual offences. The transmission of any information necessary to achieve these purposes is covered.

As a result of the MOU, the exchange of such information between the Garda Síochána and British police forces, which of course has already been taking place for some time, is now being put on a formal footing.

As the MOU provides, its use and effectiveness will be kept under review, and I am confident that full use will be made of its potential by the police forces of all our jurisdictions.

A Registered Sex Offender Advisory Group has been established consisting of representatives of An Garda Síochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Northern Ireland Office. As part of its work, this Group evaluates the potential for sharing information, examining the registration criteria in both jurisdictions for sex offenders and identifying areas for further co-operation.

The provisions of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 are kept under constant review by my Department with a view to ensuring the Act is operating in an efficient and effective manner.

Restorative Justice.

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

241 Mr. O’Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to establish the working group on restorative justice; his views on the particular interest in this initiative in Tallaght where there is a very successful restorative justice service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6430/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

As the Deputy will be aware, I view Restorative Justice as an important element in the way we deal with offending behaviour. I am committed to fostering and developing further such initiatives over time. We must, of course, learn from the experience of how restorative justice has worked both here in Ireland — in Tallaght and Nenagh — and also look to international developments so that future expansion of the restorative justice model will be guided by best practice. I can advise the Deputy that I will be making an announcement regarding a review of Restorative Justice in the coming weeks.

Stolen Property.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

242 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the value of property stolen and recovered in each of the past five years. [6432/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the years 2002 to 2005 is available in the relevant Garda Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Following the submission to me in 2004 of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, I decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act, 2005 consequently makes provision for this and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. Following the setting up of the necessary technical systems and auditing of the data from which the statistics are compiled, I am pleased to note that the CSO is now compiling and publishing criminal statistics and has published provisional headline crime statistics for the third and fourth quarters of 2006. In addition, it has compiled and published a series of quarterly and annual statistics for the period starting with the first quarter of 2003. I understand that the CSO are examining how the crime statistics published might be expanded and made more comprehensive. I have requested the CSO to provide the information sought by the Deputy, in relation to 2006, directly to him.

Asylum Applications.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

243 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Romanians who had section 3 leave to remain applications pending prior to 1 January 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6445/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

244 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Bulgarians who had section 3 leave to remain applications pending prior to 1 January 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6446/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

245 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Romanians who had application for permission to remain, not section 3, still pending prior to 1 January 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6447/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

246 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Bulgarians who had applications for permission to remain, not section 3, still pending prior to 1 January 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6448/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 246, inclusive, together.

I understand the Immigration Division of my Department are currently considering an interdepartmental report. They will be in touch with the applicant in due course.

Drug Seizures.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

250 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the quantity, type, and street value of illegal drugs, seized in the Arklow area, County Wicklow for the years 2005 and 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6509/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the drugs seized, by type, quantity and approximate street value for the years 2005 and 2006 for Gorey Garda District, which includes the area of Arklow.

Garda Drug Seizures — Gorey Garda District 2005-2006
Drug Type	Quantity	Estimated Street Value
		€
2006 *
Amphetamine	706.782 grams 1 tablet	10,616
Cannabis	4.961 grams	10
Cannabis Resin	236.635 grams	1,656
Cocaine	17.285 grams	1,209
Diamorphine	3.632 grams	726
Diazepam	154 tablets	1,540
MDMA	202 tablets	2,020
2005
Amphetamine	15.233 grams	228
Cannabis	3.642 grams	7
Cannabis Resin	1389.189 grams	9,724
Cocaine	51.838 grams	3,628
Diamorphine	45.183grams	9,036
MDMA	112 tablets	1,120
Methylamphetamine	29.376grams	440

* Figures provided for 2006 are provisional pending the publication of An Garda Síochána's Annual Report for 2006.

Road Traffic Offences.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

251 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 438 of 31 January 2007, if he is in a position to provide a complete answer. [6649/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that housing estates not yet taken in charge by local authorities are a public place for the purpose of enforcement of road traffic legislation. The taking in charge by the local authority of estates is not a prerequisite for the prosecution of offences under road traffic legislation. I am further informed that offences which are contingent on by-laws being put in place by local authorities are not enforceable in advance of the bye-laws being made as they are not yet deemed to be offences.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

252 Ms Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of civil servants within his Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6693/07]

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

Under my Department's Decentralisation Programme, around nine hundred posts are scheduled to transfer from twelve agencies to seven locations around the country.

To date, one hundred and thirteen civil servants from within my Department have been re-assigned to provincial locations. By the second half of this year, we will have a presence in all seven locations when over four hundred posts will have moved. This will account for 46% of my Department's overall target with three years of the programme still to run.

During this phase of my Department's programme, thirteen people have transferred from a non-Dublin office for training, spending on average eight weeks in Dublin for that purpose.

The information sought by the Deputy in respect of staff who transferred prior to their decentralisation assignment cannot be compiled without the usage of a disproportionate amount of staff resources which would not be warranted.

Tax Code.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

253 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Finance if there are circumstances under which a lower rate of stamp duty is payable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6389/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

I understand the Deputy is seeking information on the terms of the stamp duty relief for farm consolidation.

Stamp duty relief in respect of exchanges of farmland between two farmers for the purposes of consolidating each farmer's holdings was introduced in the Finance Act 2005. Because of the limited take-up of farm consolidation relief in the 18 months since its introduction, it was decided in the recent Budget to extend the relief to qualifying exchanges of land where only one farmer is consolidating his/her holding. In such cases both farmers would qualify for relief, provided both farmers meet all other conditions of the relief.

However, one of the main difficulties with the take-up of this relief relates to the requirement to exchange land between two farmers. Therefore, in further consultation with the my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, and the farming industry, it has been decided to put forward an amendment at Committee Stage of the 2007 Finance Bill to introduce a new relief where only one farmer acquires and disposes of qualifying land within an 18 month period from the first qualifying transaction. Relief would be applied on the difference in the consideration, where the land acquired is greater in value than the land disposed of. Where the consideration for the disposal is greater or equal to the consideration for the acquisition, there would be no stamp duty liability.

As with the existing relief, under the new arrangements the farmer must farm and retain the land acquired and the land being exchanged must be approved by Teagasc as having consolidated the farm concerned.

However, commencement of the new relief will be dependent on State Aid approval from the European Commission.

Garda Stations.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

254 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the fact that the sale of the existing Garda barracks in Buncrana, County Donegal appears imminent, he will assure the elderly residents and young parents who rely on access to the site in order to have oil delivered to their homes that this practice can continue under any sale agreement that may transpire. [5988/07]

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

No decision has been taken as yet to dispose of the Garda station in Buncrana, Co. Donegal.

The position regarding access to adjoining properties by nearby residents is that ad hoc local permission was granted by An Garda Síochána from time to time as a "gesture of goodwill" to access their properties through the Garda station property. No legal rights way exist on the said property.

If the Garda station is considered surplus to requirements in the future it will be offered for sale on the open market. It will then be a matter between any new owner of the property and the nearby residents to agree access issues of the land referred to.

Tax Code.

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

255 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Finance the reason, in view of the fact that in recent years capital allowances were extended to include not just hotels but also guesthouses, holiday hostels and holiday camps, the caravan and camping sector are not included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6068/07]

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

257 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the capital allowance regime in the Finance Bill 2007 to include the 112 registered caravan and camping parks to enable these businesses to compete on an even playing field with the rest of the tourist accommodation providers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6087/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 257 together.

Section 34 of the Finance Act 2005 introduced a number of changes to the capital allowance regime for hotels, guesthouses, holiday hostels and holiday camps. Guesthouses and holiday hostels were specifically brought into the capital allowances regime for the first time. Also, the entitlement to the capital allowances was provided for the first time on the basis of buildings being registered in the appropriate Fáilte Ireland register.

Following the Finance Act 2005 changes, the Revenue administrative practice of granting capital allowances in respect of buildings and structures erected in registered caravan parks was reviewed in consultation with my Department and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. As a result of these deliberations, the Revenue Commissioners decided that retention of a non-statutory scheme on behalf of caravan parks was not appropriate and decided to withdraw it with effect from 1 January 2006. Allowances in respect of expenditure incurred before that date are not affected.

It should be noted that some of the expenditure that would typically be incurred by these caravan park operators may be eligible for the "plant and machinery" capital allowances but this would not generally include any buildings or structures.

I have no plans at this time to extend the existing regime of capital allowances to registered caravan and camping parks. However, I will bear this matter in mind for future consideration.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

256 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance the number of civil servants who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6075/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

One Hundred and twelve (112) staff of the Department of Finance have decentralised to Tullamore and a further eleven (11) have accepted offers of decentralisation. Of those in Tullamore, ninety-one (91) moved to my Department to decentralise to Tullamore. The data available in my Department on the previous careers of these staff do not indicate in all cases the previous locations of staff or whether or not they had an earlier transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer. However, nineteen (19) of these staff came to Dublin for training prior to moving to Tullamore. The total time spent in Dublin was six hundred and seventeen weeks (617), giving an average period of thirty two (32) weeks.

The data in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department are not currently available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 257 answered with QuestionNo. 255.

Flood Relief.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

258 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Finance if he will allocate finance to ensure drainage and maintenance of bogland at Kilmanahan, Castlegarden and Kilfane, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6088/07]

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

The areas referred to do not form part of any drainage scheme for which the Commissioners of Public Works have responsibility.

I recently announced that the Commissioners would work with Local Authorities to try to address flooding that has resulted in damage to homes or other premises, including farming enterprises, subject to certain criteria. Any approach for works in these areas that would meet these criteria would be considered.

Freedom of Information.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

259 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance if there is a backlog within the Freedom of Information Commissioners Office in dealing with FOI appeals; the length of the wait incurred due to this backlog; the reason for the back log; and when extra staff will be appointed to deal with same. [6094/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

I am informed by the Office of the Information Commissioner that at the end of 2006 there were 301 cases awaiting decision in that Office. A backlog arose during the early years of the Office when, due to a combination of factors, the rate of receipt of applications for review exceeded the rate at which decisions could be issued. The number of cases on hands reached a high of 796 at the end of 2003 and now stands at 301. The Office intends to reduce this figure significantly further during 2007.

The length of time taken to deal with each application received by the Office depends on the complexity of the issues on which decisions are required and the volume of records involved. However, in 2005 (the latest year for which figures are available) 68% of cases were completed within 3 months, compared to 60% and 59% in 2004 and 2003 respectively.

My Department does not have any request on hands from the Office of the Information Commissioner for the appointment of additional staff to that Office.

Road Network.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

260 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to tarring the road from the Clogheen side leading to the Swiss Cottage in Cahir, County Tipperary to enable it to reopen for the coming season. [6095/07]

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

This private road referred to is unsuitable for visitor vehicular traffic and no car parking facilities exist on that side of the river. In any event the area by the entrance to the Swiss Cottage will form part of the works area for the repair of the bridge and access therefore would not be safe for visitors.

Pension Provisions.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

261 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Finance when Office of Public Works pensioners will receive the increase in their pensions which has been outstanding for a considerable period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6117/07]

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

Pensions payments for non-established (industrial) staff are made by the Pay Master General's Office in line with general pay increases, based on data provided by individual Departments and Offices. The vast majority of the c. 1,600 Office of Public Works staff concerned (i.e. c. 94%) have already had their pensions revised in line with the latest pay increase awarded to the State industrial sector, effective from the 1st of June 2006. It is anticipated that data for all remaining staff will be furnished to the Pay Master General's Office by late March 2007. Due to the nature of the pension scheme, all of the pensions for industrial staff have to be calculated manually and on an individual basis. This is complicated and time consuming work involving inter alia, inclusion of calculations on items as diverse as clothing allowances, housing emoluments and overtime. The work is being done as quickly as resources, including overtime utilisation, permits.

The next set of pay increases and consequent pension revisions, due from the 1st of December 2006, is contingent on the outcome of the verification process for State industrial employments, which at present is being considered by the Civil Service Performance Verification Group.

Tax Code.

Seán Ardagh

Ceist:

262 Mr. Ardagh asked the Minister for Finance his views on including an amendment to the Finance Bill 2007 to include rents paid by local authority tenants in the private rented accommodation relief. [6341/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

As the Deputy will be aware, Section 473 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides tax relief at the standard rate of tax (20%), up to certain specified maximum amounts, to individuals who pay for private rented accommodation that is used as their sole or main residence.

However, tax relief is not available in respect of tenancies held from Local Authorities. Responsibility for rent schemes was devolved to local authorities in August 1986. The principles governing rent schemes are broadly as follows:

the rent payable should be related to income and a smaller proportion of income should be required from low income households

allowances should be made for dependent children including those under 21 years of age in full-time education

a contribution towards rent should be required from subsidiary earners in the household

provision should be included for the acceptance of a lower rent than that required under the terms of the scheme in exceptional cases where payment of the normal rent would give rise to hardship and

appropriate local factors should be taken into account including the costs of the maintenance and management of the stock of rented dwelling and the adequacy of the rental income to meet such costs.

Within these broad principles, authorities have discretion as to the types of income to be taken into account in the assessment of rents and how to deal with hardship cases, poverty traps and any other anomalies that arise in individual cases. By definition, local authority rents should reflect ability to pay. They bear no relation to economic rents in the private sector.

Local authority rents are heavily subsidised at present. In my view, it would not be appropriate, on the one hand, to provide subsidised housing to a person, at a rent which takes full account of ability to pay, and also offer a further subsidy through the tax system. Furthermore, among the other advantages which local authority tenants enjoy are greater security of tenure vis- a- vis the wider rental sector and the right to buy the property at a market discount.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

263 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Finance if he has proposals to reduce the VAT rate on the purchase by local communities of defibrillators; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the training and the subsequent use of defibrillators can prevent loss of life, and that defibrillators now cost over €4,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6373/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

The position is that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. In relation to the issue of reducing VAT rates for a certain category of consumer, the position is that the rate of VAT which applies to a particular good or service is determined by the nature of the good or service, and not by the status of the consumer.

Under the VAT Directive, Member States may retain the zero rates on goods and services which were in place on 1 January 1991, but cannot extend the zero rate to new goods and services. As the majority of defibrillators were not subject to the zero rate on 1 January 1991 it is not possible to apply the zero rate to the supply of such products. Implantable defibrillators are subject to the zero rate.

In addition, Member States may only apply the reduced VAT rate to those goods and services which are listed under Annex III of the VAT Directive. While Annex III does include the supply of medical equipment for the exclusive personal use of a disabled person, it does not include defibrillators for general use. The reduced rate cannot be applied to the supply of defibrillators.

Therefore the only rate of VAT that can apply to the supply of defibrillators is the Standard VAT rate of 21%.

Shane McEntee

Ceist:

264 Mr. McEntee asked the Minister for Finance if there is provision for exemption from the payment of stamp duty when there are very exceptional medical circumstances that require the purchase of a new home adapted to the special needs of a young child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6382/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

Stamp duty is a tax on certain documents, generally legal documents, used in transferring property or in creating rights for the parties concerned. The stamp duty code generally does not provide exemptions based on an individual's particular circumstances and introducing such a provision would represent a significant departure from normal stamp duty rules. However, I have been advised by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government that a scheme of disabled persons grants is operated by local authorities with capital provision from that Department. These grants are designed to meet the needs of persons who are either physically handicapped or are suffering from severe mental handicap or severe mental illness. Where a new dwelling is being bought or built a maximum grant of €12,700 is payable. In the case of adaptation of an existing dwelling, 90% of the approved cost of the works is available up to an effective maximum grant of €20,320. Full details of the scheme and the conditions applicable are available from the local authority in whose area the dwelling is situated.

I would point out that there is no stamp duty on the purchase of new residential property for owner-occupiers where the dwelling is not greater than 125 square metres and complies with certain conditions in relation to building standards. If the property is over 125 square metres, stamp duty is charged on the site value or one quarter of the total value of the property (whichever is the greater).

You will appreciate that stamp duty is a significant contributor to the Exchequer and stamp duty receipts allow for a broader tax base than would otherwise be possible. These receipts form an important element of State revenues which permits Government spending on services such as health and education.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

265 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Finance the position of tax breaks and related issues on the new scheme for the Shannon River Basin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6390/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

Section 26 of the Finance Bill 2007 introduces a new pilot tax based scheme for tourism facilities in the mid-Shannon area. The scheme is aimed at encouraging the development of new tourism infrastructure, or the refurbishment of existing tourism infrastructure, in that area. The list of qualifying areas which are to be designated on a district electoral division basis is included in a new Schedule 8B to the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 which is replicated below. The qualifying period for the scheme will be 3 years from the date of its commencement which will be done by way of Ministerial order. Relief will be available by way of accelerated capital allowances over 7 years for qualifying construction and refurbishment expenditure incurred in the qualifying period. In the case of refurbishment the qualifying expenditure must exceed 20 per cent of the market value of the property before work commences. In areas which are not in the BMW region only 80 per cent of construction and refurbishment expenditure will qualify for relief. The nature of the tourism infrastructure buildings and structures which may qualify under the scheme will be set out in guidelines to be issued by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in consultation with the Minister for Finance. While relief will be available over 7 years there will be a 15-year holding period in order to avoid a clawback of allowances given. Existing restrictions on the sideways set-off of excess capital allowances against non-rental income for passive investors will apply as will the restriction on the use of specified reliefs by high-income individuals which is effective from 1 January 2007.

Projects wishing to avail of relief must get approval in advance (for which an application must be made within 1 year of the commencement of the scheme) and also must get formal certification after completion. This approval and certification will be given by a special board established for the purposes of the scheme and will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, in consultation with the Minister for Finance. Certain buildings such as those that facilitate gaming or gambling are specifically excluded from the scheme, as are licensed premises (but not restaurants). Accommodation facilities that are provided as part of a qualifying project may qualify for relief to the extent that expenditure on such facilities does not exceed 50 per cent of the overall expenditure on the project or such lower percentage as may be specified in the guidelines for the type of project involved. This is subject to the over-riding condition that qualifying expenditure on accommodation facilities may not exceed qualifying expenditure on non-accommodation facilities. The scheme will be notified to the European Commission under the new regional aid block exemption guidelines.

"SCHEDULE 8B

Section 372AW.

Description of Qualifying Mid-Shannon Areas

PART 1

Description of qualifying mid-Shannon areas of Clare

The District Electoral Divisions of Ayle, Ballynahinch, Boherglass, Caherhurley, Cappaghabaun, Carrowbaun, Cloonusker, Coolreagh, Corlea, Derrynagittagh, Drummaan, Fahymore, Feakle, Inishcaltra North, Inishcaltra South, Killaloe, Killokennedy, Killuran, Kilseily, Lackareagh, Loughea, Mountshannon, O'Briensbridge, Ogonnelloe and Scarriff.

PART 2

Description of qualifying mid-Shannon areas of Galway

The District Electoral Divisions of Abbeygormacan, Abbeyville, Ballinasloe Rural, Ballinasloe Urban, Ballyglass, Ballynagar, Bracklagh, Clonfert, Clontuskert, Coos, Derrew, Drumkeary, Drummin, Eyrecourt, Kellysgrove, Killimor (Portumna rural area), Kilmacshane, Kilmalinoge, Kilquain, Kiltormer, Kylemore, Laurencetown, Leitrim, Lismanny, Loughatorick, Marblehill, Meelick, Moat, Pallas, Portumna, Tiranascragh, Tynagh and Woodford.

PART 3

Description of qualifying mid-Shannon areas of Offaly

The District Electoral Divisions of Ballycumber, Banagher, Birr Rural, Birr Urban, Broughal, Cloghan, Clonmacnoise, Derryad, Doon, Drumcullen, Eglish, Ferbane, Gallen, Hinds, Hunston, Killyon, Lumcloon, Lusmagh, Mounterin, Moyclare, Shannonbridge, Shannonharbour, Srah and Tinamuck.

PART 4

Description of qualifying mid-Shannon areas of Roscommon

The District Electoral Divisions of Athleague East, Athleague West, Athlone West Rural, Ballydangan, Ballynamona, Castlesampson, Caltragh, Cams, Carnagh, Carrowreagh, Cloonburren, Cloonown, Crannagh, Creagh, Culliagh, Drumlosh, Dysart, Fuerty, Kilcar, Kiltoom, Lackan, Lecarrow, Lismaha, Moore, Mote, Rockhill, Roscommon Rural, Roscommon Urban, Scregg, Taghmaconnell, Thomastown and Turrock.

PART 5

Description of qualifying mid-Shannon areas of Tipperary

The District Electoral Divisions of Aglishcloghane, Ardcrony, Ballina, Ballingarry (in Borrisokane rural area), Ballygibbon, Ballylusky, Ballymackey, Ballynaclogh, Birdhill, Borrisokane, Burgesbeg, Carrig, Carrigatogher, Castletown, Cloghprior, Clohaskin, Cloghjordan, Derrycastle, Finnoe, Graigue (in Borrisokane rural area), Greenhall, Kilbarron, Kilcomenty, Killoscully, Kilkeary, Kilmore, Kilnarath, Knigh, Lackagh, Lorrha East, Lorrha West, Mertonhall, Monsea, Nenagh East Urban, Nenagh Rural, Nenagh West Urban, Newport, Rathcabban, Redwood, Riverstown, Terryglass, Uskane and Youghalarra.

PART 6

Description of qualifying mid-Shannon areas of Westmeath

The District Electoral Divisions of Athlone East Rural, Athlone East Urban, Athlone West Urban, Ardnagragh, Auburn, Ballymore, Bellanalack, Carn, Castledaly, Doonis, Drumraney, Glassan, Killinure, Moate, Mount Temple, Moydrum, Muckanagh, Noughaval, Templepatrick, Tubbrit, Umma and Winetown."

Decentralisation Programme.

Michael Collins

Ceist:

266 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Finance the status of the building project in Newcastle West, County Limerick, where the Office of the Revenue Commissioners are to locate as part of the decentralisation programme; and the status of the planning application to Limerick County Council to erect the new buildings. [6411/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

I am informed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) that a site for the new decentralised offices in Newcastle West was purchased from Limerick County Council in 2005. In common with other projects in the Decentralisation Programme, following receipt and evaluation of Expressions of Interest, tenders for the proposed building were invited by the OPW from a number of contractors on a design/build basis and a preferred tenderer was identified.

A planning application was lodged by the preferred tenderer with Limerick County Council in October 2006. In December 2006, additional information was requested by the Council in relation to the foul sewer, the site boundaries and the front elevation of the proposed building. Also requested by the Council was a comprehensive historical study and comprehensive record drawings and a photographic study relating to certain existing buildings which were on the site at the time of purchase. In the interests of moving the project forward, the OPW is assisting the preferred tenderer in providing the additional information. It is expected that the additional information will by submitted to the Council this week and a decision on the planning application will be due within four weeks of the date the additional information is lodged.

On receipt of a satisfactory planning permission, the OPW will endeavour to have the working drawings and other necessary documents completed by the preferred tenderer with a view to a contract being placed and work commencing on site at the earliest possible date.

National Development Plan.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

267 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of spending under the National Development Plan 2002 to 2006 in the south and east region on a project and county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6451/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

The National Development Plan/Community Support Framework (NDP/ CSF) 2000-2006 is an integrated investment plan and strategy for economic and social development for Ireland. The Plan is delivered through seven Operational Programmes (OPs), the Economic and Social Infrastructure OP, the Employment and Human Resources OP, the Productive Sector OP, the Southern and Eastern (S&E) Regional OP, Borders, Midland and Western (BMW) Regional OP, the PEACE OP and the Technical Assistance OP. Each of these OPs has a Monitoring Committee which meets twice yearly to monitor the ongoing implementation of the Programme. There is also an overarching NDP/CSF Monitoring Committee which is chaired by my Department and this Committee also meets at least twice a year.

Progress on the NDP/CSF is monitored and reported on a regional basis, that is, for the BMW and S&E regions.

My Department reviews and generally monitors implementation of the NDP/CSF on this basis from information submitted by the Operational Programme Monitoring Committees but does not monitor expenditure at county level. However, the NDP/CSF information website (www.ndp.ie) provides information on certain projects categorised on a county basis and the Deputy may wish to refer to that website for information on projects in particular counties. Furthermore, my Department does not maintain data on the status of individual projects under the NDP/CSF as this is a matter for individual Departments and Agencies who are responsible for project funding and, where appropriate, project implementation.

The most recent information for expenditure in the S&E Region is from the December 2006 reports to the NDP/CSF Monitoring Committee which relate to the period January 2000 to end June 2006 and is set out in table 1. A total of €35 billion has been invested in the region to end June 2006. Of this amount €30 billion represents Exchequer and EU sources. Based on the most recent information available, it is expected that total expenditure will exceed the original forecast for the region by €1 billion with the Exchequer and EU component exceeding forecast by over €3.5 billion.

Table 1 — Total Estimated Expenditure in Southern and Eastern Region from January 2000 to end June 2006
NDP/CSF 2000-2006
Expenditure in Southern and Eastern Region — € millions
Year	Total Expenditure (Public, Private & EU)	of which Exchequer & EU
2000	3,827	3,284
2001	5,204	4,415
2002	5,787	4,869
2003	5,975	5,058
2004	5,836	5,094
2005	5,927	5,321
2006 (to end June)	2,566	2,039
Total to end June 2006	35,122	30,080
Forecast to December 2006	38,900	33,078
Forecast to end of Plan	40,075	33,629

Flood Relief.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

268 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Finance if he will request the Office of Public Works to provide a detailed report explaining their refusal to carry out dredging of the River Tolka between the Luke Kelly Bridge and the bridge at Alfie Byrne Road, Dublin 3 in view of the fact that this section has been a source of major flooding in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6460/07]

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

The Office of Public Works is undertaking the works on the River Tolka in Dublin City on behalf of Dublin City Council, on foot of the recommendation from the detailed River Tolka Flooding Study Report, which was completed by consultants for the City Council. The study did not contain any recommendations for dredging the channel in this area.

It is our information that the flooding which occurred there, came from upstream in the Distillery Road area, flowed down the roads toward the East Wall area and did not come directly from the river in this area. Flood protection works have now been carried out in the Distillery Road area and OPW and the City Council are satisfied that these works will prevent flood waters escaping from the channel up to the design event which has been catered for, i.e.a flood with a 1% probability of being exceeded in a given year.

Local Authority Staff.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

269 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps to have the employment cap lifted which has been imposed upon local authorities who wish to employ additional staff, in order to enable them to provide the services that are required and to carry out additional duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6653/07]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

The Government has, since December 2002, followed a policy under which the growth in public service employment has slowed substantially overall and has been reversed in several areas. The Government will continue to control and regulate numbers employed in the public service within agreed ceilings. Organisations can recruit staff within the overall ceiling which has been agreed for their sector. It is a matter for each individual Department and sector of the public service and relevant Minister to set priorities to give effect to this policy.

As I stated in my Budget speech last December, the policy is not being implemented indiscriminately. The Government has consistently taken the line that priority must be given to frontline and essential services.

Child Care Services.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

270 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of child care places and child care training places that will be created in County Monaghan under the upcoming national action plan for social inclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6140/07]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

The new National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016, which I understand is to be launched later this week, incorporates the childcare target already set out in Towards 2016, that is, an infrastructure will be developed to provide quality, affordable childcare and an increase in the number of childcare places (of all types) by 100,000 over the period to 2016. The National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) will create 50,000 of these places.

It is intended that, between now and the end of 2010, the NCIP will respond to identified local needs for childcare and that resources under the programme will be targeted in a way which meets these needs. Therefore, the number and type of childcare places which will be created in a particular county will be determined having regard to local demand and changing demographic patterns.

In addition to the NCIP, targets for childcare training places have been set under the National Childcare Training Strategy with 17,000 childcare training places to be delivered during 2006-2010. At the moment, childcare training is delivered by a number of providers including FÁS, VECs and some third level institutions. As well as qualifications for people new to the sector, the Training Strategy will have to take into consideration the professional development of people already working in the sector. How training will be delivered in County Monaghan and throughout the country will be dependent on a number of factors, including the number of people already working in this sector, their existing qualifications and the capacity of training providers within the area. As in the case of childcare provision, rather than allocating training places by county, it is intended that the training places will be delivered on the basis of need.

To date, some €15 million has been allocated to County Monaghan in grants under the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010 and its predecessor, the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP). This includes €1.5 million in funding to Monaghan County Childcare Committee which has a key role in the co-ordination of local quality childcare provision, including addressing gaps in childcare training provision in the county. Over 1800 childcare places are being supported in County Monaghan under the EOCP, including almost 1,050 new places created under the programme.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

271 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of child care places and child care training places that will be created in County Cavan in the upcoming national action plan for social inclusion; andif she will make a statement on the matter. [6141/07]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

The new National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016, which I understand is to be launched later this week, incorporates the childcare target already set out in Towards 2016, that is, an infrastructure will be developed to provide quality, affordable childcare and an increase in the number of childcare places (of all types) by 100,000 over the period to 2016. The National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) will create 50,000 of these places.

It is intended that, between now and the end of 2010, the NCIP will respond to identified local needs for childcare and that resources under the programme will be targeted in a way which meets these needs. Therefore, the number and type of childcare places which will be created in a particular county will be determined having regard to local demand and changing demographic patterns.

In addition to the NCIP, targets for childcare training places have been set under the National Childcare Training Strategy with 17,000 childcare training places to be delivered during 2006-2010. At the moment, childcare training is delivered by a number of providers including FÁS, VECs and some third level institutions. As well as qualifications for people new to the sector, the Training Strategy will have to take into consideration the professional development of people already working in the sector. How training will be delivered in County Cavan and throughout the country will be dependent on a number of factors, including the number of people already working in this sector, their existing qualifications and the capacity of training providers within the area. As in the case of childcare provision, rather than allocating training places by county, it is intended that the training places will be delivered on the basis of need.

To date, some €11 million has been allocated to County Cavan in grants under the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010 and its predecessor, the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP). This includes €1.5 million in funding to Cavan County Childcare Committee which has a key role in the co-ordination of local quality childcare provision, including addressing gaps in childcare training provision in the county. Since 2004, the Cavan County Childcare Committee has offered more than 30 training courses attended by over 350 participants. Almost 1600 childcare places are being supported in County Cavan under the EOCP, including almost 950 new places created under the programme.

Mental Health Services.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

272 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress on the recommendation in A Vision for Change that mental health service providers should draw up service user involvement policies and create suitable forms to ensure they are implemented; the detail of such forms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6170/07]

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

The report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, "A Vision for Change", was launched in January 2006. The Government is committed to the full implementation of "A Vision for Change" and has accepted the report as the basis for the future development of mental health services. The report contains a number of recommendations relating to the involvement of service users as active participants in the planning and delivery of mental health services.

Implementation of the individual recommendations of "A Vision for Change" is a matter primarily for the HSE. The HSE established an implementation group in July 2006 to ensure that mental health services develop in a synchronised and consistent manner across the country and to guide and resource service managers and clinicians in making the recommendations in "A Vision for Change" a reality. I have been informed by the HSE that they plan to publish a Progress Report and outline the proposed implementation programme over the life of "A Vision for Change" in the near future.

In recent years significant funding has been provided to support the work of advocacy groups in the mental health area. These groups include the Irish Advocacy Network, Schizophrenia Ireland, Grow, Steer, Aware, Mental Health Ireland and Bodywhys. In recognition of the key role of advocacy related to hospital admission and detention, peer advocacy is now available at all psychiatric acute admission sites, many community service sites and the Central Mental Hospital.

In January 2007, the HSE launched the National Service User Executive for mental health services, in line with the recommendations of "A Vision for Change". This group will ensure mental health service users have a meaningful and significant input into shaping the future development and direction of mental health services. The National Service User Executive will offer advice and make recommendations to the HSE and the Department, play an active role in service design and delivery, as well as promoting the role of service users throughout the mental health services.

Health Services.

John Ellis

Ceist:

273 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will be called for orthodontic treatment. [6349/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Grant Payments.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

274 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason an EOCP grant has been withheld from a group (details supplied) in County Cork; and if this grant will be restored. [6400/07]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children.

The group in question were approved an indicative amount of €250,000 in capital grant assistance under the EOCP in November 2005, towards the purchase and fit out of a premises for use as a childcare service. As the Group had difficulty in securing a premises, their application did not progress to contract stage and draw down of the grant. As a result, the Group was unable to meet the contractual deadline of 31 December 2006 for EOCP grant applicants and it was necessary to advise them in January 2007 that the indicative funding approved for their project had been withdrawn and, for the same reason, it was not possible to consider their request for additional capital funding for the project, as requested by them in October 2006, under the EOCP.

I understand that the Group was also advised that it is open to them to have their previous application admitted into the NCIP and that, subject to confirmation from them that they wish this to be the case, account will be taken of all relevant preparatory work undertaken by them as part of the EOCP process.

Industrial Relations.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

275 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with the Health Service Executive regarding impending industrial action by the Irish Nurses Organisation, the Psychiatric Nurses Association and by IMPACT workers in the health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6546/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

281 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of posts unfilled to date for the roll-out of the next phase of the primary care strategy; and the number of posts that will be required for allied health professionals in County Louth in order to roll-out the next phase of the primary care strategy. [5964/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Primary Care Strategy aims to develop services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, home helps, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others.

It has been estimated that up to 95% of people's health and social services needs can be properly met within a primary care setting and the establishment of new Primary Care Teams can contribute greatly to enhancing community based health services.

The HSE received an additional €10m in funding in 2006 to enable the establishment of up to 100 Primary Care Teams in development; a further €22m is being provided in 2007 to meet the full year costs of the 2006 developments and to enable a further 100 Primary Care Teams in development to be established.

The Government has committed under the Towards 2016 agreement to the establishment of 300 Primary Care Teams by 2008; 400 by 2009; and 500 by 2011. A review of these targets will be undertaken in 2008.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Mental Health Services.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

282 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made regarding the provision of hospital beds for minors with acute mental health problems in County Louth. [5965/07]

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

Research has shown that counselling gives women extra time and space to reflect on their decision regarding their pregnancy. If a woman has more time to come to terms with her pregnancy, this makes the option of abortion less likely.

I understand that the CPA and the organisation concerned are at present in communication regarding the question of continued funding for the organisation based on the terms of their service agreement. I do not consider it appropriate that I should make any further comment on the matter pending the outcome of these discussions.

Hospital Accommodation.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

286 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children her Department’s policy in relation to the provision of hospital beds in north Dublin to meet the population needs; the level of acute hospital beds available; the number deemed required to meet the population statistics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5978/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Service Executive is currently undertaking a national review of acute bed capacity needs. This review will help to inform decisions on bed capacity needs for all regions, including North Dublin. My Department has asked the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE to reply to the Deputy in relation to the issues raised.

Care of the Elderly.

Hospitals Building Programme.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

293 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children when she will announce projects which have been approved under the Health Service Executive programme of capital works for 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6013/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

My Department received the Health Service Executive's Capital Plan for 2007 on 17 January 2007. The Plan is presently being evaluated with a view to its approval by my Department and the Department of Finance. The Health Service Executive will announce details of the approved capital programme following this process.

National Treatment Purchase Fund.

David Stanton

Ceist:

294 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount expended each year and to date in 2007 on the National Treatment Purchase Fund since the fund was established; the number of operations and procedures that have been undertaken through the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6014/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) was established in April 2002 to treat public patients who had been longest waiting on surgical in-patient waiting lists. The NTPF became a statutory body in May 2004.

A number of initiatives in recent years are aimed, inter alia at ensuring that services for children and young people are delivered in an effective, efficient and coordinated manner.

The Office of the Minister for Children (OMC) was set up to bring greater coherence to policy making for children. Children now have a stronger voice on issues that affect them through my attendance at cabinet meetings. The OMC focuses on harmonising policy issues that affect children in areas such as early childhood care and education, youth justice, child welfare and protection, children and young people's participation, research on children and young people and cross cutting initiatives for children.

The OMC is responsible for implementing the National Children's Strategy (2000-2010); implementing the National Childcare Investment Programme (2006-2010); developing policy and legislation on child welfare and child protection; and implementing the Children Act (2001).

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Again, the purpose of having one body with responsibility for services at a national level is to ensure the delivery of services in an effective, efficient and coordinated manner.

In the context of the implementation of the Children Act, 2001 the Health Service Executive is involved with the Irish Youth Justice Service, the Garda Juvenile Liaison Service, the Probation Service and the Courts Service in the co-ordination of services for young people.

The HSE also has a key role in the National Implementation Group established under the Partnership agreement "Towards 2016" which hopefully will lead to improved co-ordination of services to children and young people in each county.

The Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) which is operating on an administrative basis since 1999 currently concentrates on the child care area, in particular on the inspection of Health Service Executive (HSE) operated residential child care facilities and has also undertaken pilot inspections of foster care services. The Inspectorate play a crucial role in ensuring a quality assured system of care for children and young people who are in the care of the state. Legislation and standards have been developed in this area and it is essential that the services are monitored to ensure that they meet these requirements and that any deficiencies are identified and corrected. The SSI publish an annual report on the findings from inspections and informs the HSE, other bodies involved in the provision of services for children and young people, and the public on the standard of care in children's residential centres. The SSI will be established on a statutory basis under the provisions of the Health Bill 2006 and its remit will be extended.

In addition to the aforementioned significant developments, a National Policy for Children's Services is being developed by the Office of the Minister for Children and will be published in 2007. The principle of having social services provided on the basis of the child being supported within the family, within the local community will be at the core of the national policy.

Nursing Home Subventions.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

300 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the location where money was spent in relation to the funding (details supplied), on a regional basis for the past six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6043/07]

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

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

The Government's sustained high level of investment in health care has enabled the completion and commissioning of numerous new facilities in both the acute and the non-acute sectors. This year, the sum available for expenditure in health under the Health Service Executive's capital plan is €559.5 million and over the period of the NDP the figure is €4.9 billion.

The HSE has responsibility for the planning and management of capital projects in the health sector, including the development referred to in the Deputy's question. The Department of Health and Children received the Health Service Executive's Capital Plan for 2007 on 17 January 2007. The Plan is presently being evaluated with a view to its approval by my Department and the Department of Finance. The Health Service Executive will announce details of the approved capital programme following this process.

Infectious Diseases.

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

304 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of prevalence of the hospital bug clostridium difficile; the hospitals in which this bug is present; the action required to eradicate same; the number of people known to have become infected; the number who have died as a consequence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6058/07]

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

347 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent of the prevalence of the clostridium difficile bacteria in hospitals here; and the measures she is taking to prevent patients becoming infected. [6376/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 347 together.

Clostridium difficile is not a notifiable disease and, as a result, it is difficult to quantify the extent of infection in the health care system. However, Clostridium difficile infection was examined in the Third Prevalence Survey of Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs) in acute hospitals in 2006. The survey found that thirty-six patients had Clostridium difficile representing 0.5% of patients studied. Clostridium difficile infection increases with age and is eight times more common in patients over 65 years compared to those under the age of 65 years. The emergence of more virulent strains of Clostridium difficile which is partly due to over use of antibiotics underlines the importance of strict antibiotic stewardship in our health care system.

Currently, acute hospitals collect information on HCAIs at a local level and there is no national surveillance scheme that collects comparable data. The appointment of infection control nurses, surveillance scientists and antibiotic pharmacists is necessary to commence a national surveillance programme and some of these staff are already in place and the HSE are currently recruiting additional staff in this area.

It is difficult to identify the number of fatalities attributable to Clostridium difficile as many people also have significant co-morbidity factors.

Measures to control the emergence and spread of HCAIs are necessary because there are fewer options available for the treatment of resistant infections and because these strains spread amongst vulnerable at-risk patients. The prudent use of antibiotics underpins any approach to the control of antibiotic resistant bacteria. This, together with good professional practice and routine infection control precautions, such as hand hygiene, constitute the major measures in controlling and preventing healthcare-associated infection.

While many HCAIs are not preventable, we can make every effort to reduce the rates of infection and to treat them promptly when they occur.

Hospital Waiting Lists.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

305 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting times for patients to be transferred to Beaumont Hospital, neurosurgical department, following requests from other hospitals; if her attention has been drawn to the lack of beds in Beaumont to accommodate seriously ill patients who have been recommended for transfer to this specialist unit by other specialists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6069/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Service Executive has the operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, and is therefore the appropriate body to provide the specific information requested by the Deputy. My Department has asked the Executive's Parliamentary Affairs Division to reply directly to the Deputy in this regard.

The Health Service Executive recently published a Review of Neurosurgical Services in Ireland, prepared by the former Comhairle na nOspideal. The Report recommended that the future development of safe, high quality neurosurgical services in Ireland would be best served by a two-pronged approach:

1. Increased capacity in Dublin and Cork;

2. Improved access to neurosurgical units, including transport and telemedicine facilities for referring hospitals.

The Report also identified a clear need for significant investment in neurosurgical services, and the planning and commissioning of such services on a national basis. Additional funding of €4m has been provided in 2007 to support the development of neurosciences, including neurosurgery services.

The HSE is committed to progressing the recommendations of the Report to ensure the development of neurosurgical services in Ireland in line with international best practice.

Health Services.

Any such damage, if it occurred, should be brought to the attention of the Dental Council as the appropriate statutory regulatory body for complaints of that nature.

Community Care.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

309 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Health and Children if the reasons for the refusal of an application for domiciliary care allowance are only available to the applicant under the Freedom of Information Act 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6090/07]

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

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

310 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Health and Children if the report published by the orthodontic review body was accompanied by a minority report; if so, if the minority report was published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6091/07]

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

354 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children when the report of the orthodontic review group will be published; if she will ensure that the minority report and submissions will be included as part of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6419/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 354 together.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) established an Orthodontic Review Group in 2006. The terms of reference for the group were:

to review the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee Reports;

to examine the recommendations within the operational remit of the HSE and to establish their status;

to conduct an analysis of the HSE's existing orthodontic delivery structure and capacity.

Based on that analysis, to make recommendations in that regard;

the recommendations thus made to be costed and a time-frame for their implementation proposed.

The Review Group has finalised its report and it has been approved by the HSE Management Team. I have, in the past week, received a copy of the report and am considering its recommendations. The minority report was not included in the copy of the Review Group Report which I received. I understand the Review Group Report has not yet been published.

Nursing Home Charges.

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

311 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people who have applied for refunds under the health repayment scheme; the expected cost; the length of time it will take to finalise the repayments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6096/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The health repayment scheme is administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in conjunction with the appointed Scheme Administrator KPMG/McCann Fitzgerald.

The Government launched the National Disability Strategy, in 2004 as a framework of positive action measures to support the participation of people with disabilities in Irish society. Two new pieces of legislation — the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004 and the Disability Act, 2005 form an integral part of this Strategy, along with the suite of six sectoral plans, launched in 2006.

One of the most important aspects of my Department's sectoral plan is the arrangements for commencing Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which provides a statutory entitlement to—

an independent assessment of health and education needs,

a statement of the services (Service Statement) which it is proposed to provide, and

the right to pursue a complaint through an independent redress mechanism if there is a failure to provide these entitlements.

Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 will be commenced on a national basis (including Galway) in respect of persons of different ages as follows:

for children aged less than 5 years — with effect from 1, June 2007.

for children aged 5 years to 18 years — in tandem with the implementation of the EPSEN Act 2004.

for persons aged over 18 years — as soon as possible but no later than 31, December 2011.

Services for adults and children will continue to be enhanced progressively over the next number of years. The commitment by the Government to provide a Multi-Annual Investment programme of some €900m over the period 2006-2009 for disability support services recognises the need to build capacity in the health services to deliver on these obligations.The bulk of this funding, around €720m, is being spent in the health services.

I have allocated €100m in 2006 and a further €100m in 2007 for the continuing development of services for people with a disability.

Medical Cards.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

315 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children if general practitioners are restricted from treating medical card holders for their first five years of practice; and if so, the reason for this policy. [6105/07]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

316 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive limits the number of general practitioners allowed to treat medical card holders at any one time, and therefore a GP who wishes to begin treating medical card holders must wait until a GP currently treating medical card holders ceases to do so; and if so, the reason for this policy. [6106/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together.

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) 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 selection and recruitment of general practitioners to provide services under the contract to persons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. Entry to the GMS Scheme for general practitioners is normally through open competition and interview following advertisements in national and medical newspapers. All suitably qualified persons may apply for these positions.

The HSE is required, under the terms of the agreement negotiated with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), when deciding to fill a vacant GP patient panel or to create a new patient panel, to take account of the potential viability of such a panel under a range of headings including:

The number of GMS patients on the list

The age/sex profile of the patients on the list

The geographic area in which the practice is situated

The number and age profile of the GMS doctors in the area, and their list sizes

The private practice profile of the area in question, including the ratio of private to public patients in the area.

The population size in the area and surrounding areas.

The factors advanced by the applicant doctor in support of his/her application.

The particular public health needs of the area in question.

Under the terms of further agreements reached in the context of the extension of medical card coverage to all persons aged 70 and over, and the introduction of the GP visit card, arrangements were made permitting GPs who at that time did not hold a GMS contract to obtain a contract in respect of providing a service to such patients, with an option to become eligible for a full GMS contract in due course.

Under the terms of the agreements with the IMO, the number of persons whose names may be placed on a GP's panel may not exceed 2,000 save where the HSE, in exceptional circumstances, and after consultation with the IMO, decides to apply a higher limit.

I regard these existing arrangements as unnecessarily restrictive and it is my wish, therefore, that new contractual arrangements which are to be developed for the provision of publicly funded general practitioner services should ensure that HSE contracts are open to all suitably qualified and equipped doctors.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

317 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the general practitioner in Tyrrelstown Medical Centre is prevented from treating medical card patients, despite being the sole GP for approximately 5,000 people, of whom many are low income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6107/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. This includes operational responsibility for the selection and recruitment of general practitioners to provide services under the General Medical Services Scheme. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Nursing Home Charges.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

318 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding payment to a person (details supplied) under the national repayment scheme. [6108/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

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

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Services Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

James Breen

Ceist:

322 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children the action she will take to address the shortage of speech therapists and occupational therapists in the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6150/07]

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

A particular priority for my Department and the Department of Education and Science in recent years has been the expansion of the supply of therapy graduates, including speech and language therapists and occupational therapists. In response to concerns regarding labour shortages, my Department commissioned a report from Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates on current and future supply and demand conditions to 2015 in the labour market for speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists (Bacon Report).

The report was published in 2001 and arising from its recommendations additional courses in speech and language therapy and occupational therapy providing 75 places in each discipline were established in three universities. UCC, NUIG and UL each established courses in both speech and language therapy and occupational therapy with 25 places on each of the 6 courses. The first cohort of graduates from the UL masters level courses in both speech and language therapy and occupational therapy courses graduated in 2005 and the first cohort from the bachelor degree programmes in both disciplines in UCC and NUIG will graduate this year. This investment represents an increase in training capacity of 300% in speech and language therapy and 240% in occupational therapy. The total number of speech and language therapy and occupational therapy training places now stands at 100 and 103 respectively, the level at which the Bacon Report recommended as being sufficient to meet current and future demand to 2015 for both professions.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Services For People With Disabilities.

James Breen

Ceist:

323 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children the action she will take to improve the service for children and adults with autism in view of the unacceptable levels of service currently available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6151/07]

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

As the Deputy may be aware, a sum of €75m for revenue purposes was provided to the Health Service Executive for Disability Services in the 2007 Budget. This sum incorporates the 2007 element of the Government's multi-annual investment programme for the National Disability Strategy. This Strategy is committed to enhancing, among other services, the level and range of multi-disciplinary support services to adults and children with an intellectual, physical and sensory disability and those with autism.

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Services Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Mental Health Services.

James Breen

Ceist:

324 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to erase the waiting list for children to be seen by the child guidance clinic of the Mater Hospital, in view of the fact that priority cases are currently waiting for over one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6152/07]

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

The Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy, "A Vision for Change", was launched in January 2006. It provides a framework for action to develop a modern, high quality mental health service over the next 7 to 10 years.

In 2006, a sum of €26.2 million was allocated for the development of mental health services in line with "A Vision for Change". A further sum of €25 million has been allocated in 2007 to continue this development. A significant amount of this year's funding, €7.95 million, is for the development of child and adolescent psychiatric services. This funding will bring about significant improvements in community, hospital-based and early intervention services. Existing multi-disciplinary teams will be enhanced and new child and adolescent mental health teams developed.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. The Executive is, therefore, the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Nursing Home Charges.

Niall Blaney

Ceist:

325 Mr. Blaney asked the Minister for Health and Children if an application under the health repayment scheme will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6153/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Service Executive has responsibility for administering the Repayment Scheme and the information sought by the Deputy relates to matters within the area of responsibility of the Executive. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.

Hospital Services.

James Breen

Ceist:

326 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people on the waiting list for ultra sound scanning in Ennis General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6155/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular question raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

James Breen

Ceist:

327 Mr. J. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children the criteria used for people who are waiting for ultra sound scanning at Ennis General Hospital; if patients referred by general practitioners receive appointment before those referred by consultants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6156/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular question raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

328 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the diabetic allowance was cut for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; if it will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6159/07]

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

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Departmental Properties.

In March 2006, I appointed an independent monitoring group to monitor progress on the implementation of all the recommendations in "A Vision for Change". In addition, the Health Service Executive recently established an implementation group to ensure that mental health services develop in a synchronised and consistent manner across the country and to guide and resource service managers and clinicians in making the recommendations in "A Vision for Change" a reality. Both of these Groups will play an important role in ensuring that the recommendations are implemented in a co-ordinated and timely manner.

The Health Service Executive now has responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including health promotion programme development and implementation. The National Office for Suicide Prevention is planning, in conjunction with voluntary organisations, a national mental health promotion campaign to impact on the stigma of mental health and to encourage help seeking. The campaign is currently being developed and is to be launched in the coming months.

Question No. 333 answered with QuestionNo. 164.

Acquired Brain Injuries.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

334 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children her proposals to bring services for persons with acquired brain injury up to an acceptable standard (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6314/07]

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

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Services.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

335 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is proposed to provide public radiotherapy services on-site at Waterford Regional Hospital as part of the Health Service Executive’s plan to build a radiation oncology facility there; if radiotherapy will be delivered on-site within the proposed major oncology development at WRH; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6317/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The development of radiation oncology at Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH) is an integral part of the Government's National Plan for Radiation Oncology. This will be part of a major oncology development at WRH, including the provision of a 20 bed oncology day ward. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that it is not intended to provide this development under its co-location initiative at the hospital.

It is my objective and that of the HSE to see the earliest delivery of the Plan in the best interests of cancer patients throughout the country. In December last year I met with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the HSE and discussed the timelines for the delivery of the National Plan. The HSE is examining options to speed up the pace of delivery and will make recommendations to me shortly. In the interim, a service level agreement was signed on 1 February between the HSE and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre Whitfield Clinic in County Waterford. This will support the referral of public patients for radiation oncology treatment pending the commissioning of the radiation oncology centre at WRH.

Medicinal Products.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

336 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether there is a link between the departure from Ireland of the worlds largest pharmaceutical manufacturer (details supplied) and the upcoming price reductions on 1 March 2007. [6318/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Deputy will be pleased to know that my department and the Health Service Executive concluded negotiations in 2006 with pharmaceutical manufacturers, including the company referred to by the Deputy, on important new agreements setting out the pricing and supply of medicines for the Irish health service.

These agreements provide increased value for money for the State and the consumer through a reduction in the price of existing drugs and medicines coming off patent and through the use of a wider basket of countries for pricing new drugs. Over the period of the agreements, which run to 2010, it is expected to achieve savings of the order of €300 million across the GMS and community drugs schemes, and in the cost of drugs to hospitals, through off-patent price cuts of 35% for drugs with substitutable alternatives. In addition to the savings quantified, there will be further savings as generic manufacturers respond to the lower price of branded drugs. This will allow the State to invest in new and innovative treatments for the benefit of Irish patients.

There will also be savings through the use of a wider basket for pricing new medicines, along with two price reviews for new medicines over the term of the agreements. The new basket includes some traditionally lower priced countries, including Spain and Belgium, which will benefit the consumer over the medium term. Finally, for the first time, reimbursement of new drugs in Ireland can now be informed by pharmacoeconomic assessment, in line with other EU countries.

These agreements are the first stage in a process approved by the Cabinet Committee on Health to examine all aspects of the drug delivery system, from the manufacturer to the patient, in order to achieve greater value for money from the State's spending on drugs and medicines and in the operation of the drugs schemes, consistent with patient safety and continuity of supply.

Investment decisions are a commercial matter for the company concerned. There has been no indication by the company concerned to my department that there is any connection between this negotiated agreement and the event referred to by the Deputy.

Services For People With Disabilities.

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

337 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the Development Plan 2007 to 2012 devised by Aspire, The Aspergers Syndrome Association of Ireland, which aims to address the deficiencies that currently exist as regards services for people with Aspergers syndrome; and if she will make funding available to enable implementation of this plan. [6322/07]

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

As the Deputy may be aware, a sum of €75m for revenue purposes was provided to the Health Service Executive for Disability Services in the 2007 Budget. This sum incorporates the 2007 element of the Government's multi-annual investment programme for the National Disability Strategy. This Strategy is committed to enhancing, among other services, the level and range of multi-disciplinary support services to adults and children with an intellectual, physical and sensory disability and those with autism.

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Services Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 338 answered with QuestionNo. 285.

Child Care Services.

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

339 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding proposals to financially assist the childhood development initiative in Tallaght West; if her attention has been drawn to the importance of this project for the local community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6360/07]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

The Tallaght West project, A Place for Children. Tallaght West is a strategy built on strong community engagement, with a focus on improving the health, safety and learning of the children of the area.

In 2006 I announced the Government's commitment to co-fund an innovative programme of prevention and early intervention for children. This Prevention and Early Intervention Programme is being run for a five-year period and will have a fund amounting to €36 million in total, half of which will be provided by Government and half by The Atlantic Philanthropies. The Programme is being managed by my Office, the Office of the Minister for Children (OMC) and administration of the fund is also overseen by it.

Three projects (Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiative, Young Ballymun and Northside Partnership) were invited to submit proposals to the OMC under the Programme. I am pleased to confirm that the three projects, including Tallaght West CDI were successful. An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern T.D. will announce the signing of service level agreements between the OMC and the three projects at An Cosán, Tallaght West on Friday 23rd February 2007.

The Prevention and Early Intervention Programme will examine innovative methods for improving outcomes for children in an integrated way. The intention is to ensure that local services connect effectively with one another, making them more focused on the multiple needs of children and families. The strategy will also provide for some new services and the re-orientation of existing services in the identified area to meet the specified needs of the community. Apart from the impact on the community in Tallaght, the monitoring and evaluation of this and related projects should help to guide the development of services into the future.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

340 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of families to whom payments for respite care for children with autism were made during 2005 and 2006. [6361/07]

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

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

341 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children the criteria or limitations in place in terms of the respite carers accepted for children with autism. [6362/07]

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

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Services Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Services.

Dinny McGinley

Ceist:

342 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to sustain and upgrade cancer service in Letterkenny General Hospital; and the arrangements being made to provide radiotherapy for cancer patients in Donegal and the north west. [6367/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

346 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 will be supported in their request for a medical card; and if assistance will be given on this matter. [6371/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In 2005 the GP visit card was introduced as a graduated benefit so that people on lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card would not be deterred on cost grounds from visiting their GP.

Since the beginning of 2005 substantial changes have been made to the way in which people's eligibility for a medical card is assessed and these apply equally to the assessment process for a GP visit card. The income guidelines have been increased by a cumulative 29% and in addition allowance is now made for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of mortgage/rent, childcare and travel to work costs. In June 2006 I agreed with the Health Service Executive a further adjustment to the assessment guidelines for GP visit cards and these are now 50% higher than those in respect of medical cards.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for these benefits, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has therefore requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 347 answered with QuestionNo. 304.

Water Fluoridation.

John Gormley

Ceist:

348 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a material safety data sheet for the agent (details supplied) used in compulsory water fluoridation; the cost of compulsory water fluoridation here for 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6383/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The material safety data sheet for fluorosilicic acid, as requested by the Deputy, is available on the fluorosilicic acid supplier's website: http://www.chemifloc.ie/msds/MSDSFluorosilicic Acid.pdf

The Deputy's question about the cost of water fluoridation in 2006 relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Services.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

349 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children when a support team will be put in place to assist the consultant dermatologist at the Mid-West Regional Hospital in order that they can arrange their work more effectively and reduce the waiting time for patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6384/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular question raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Organ Retention.

John Gormley

Ceist:

350 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the exact location of the 54 boxes of documentation presented to her by Anne Dunne, SC on 31 March 2005; when Parents for Justice Limited can view the entire contents of these 54 boxes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6385/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

When Ms Anne Dunne SC presented her report on post mortem practice to me in March 2005, I was advised by the Attorney General that it could not be published for legal and natural justice reasons. Some sections of the report were released on 18 July 2006 in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Acts from Parents for Justice. However, in the light of the legal advice available to me, I have no plans to publish the full report.

The 54 boxes which comprise the report and appendices are stored in Damastown, Dublin 15 at the premises of Glenbeigh Records Management, who are contracted to provide secure offsite document storage for the Department.

Drug Safety.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

351 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has satisfied herself that the Irish Medicine Board has adjudicated correctly on the licensing, use and safety of a drug (details supplied). [6399/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Depo Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) has been authorised as a contraceptive medicinal product in Ireland since 1996. The Irish Medicines Board considers that the overall benefit/risk profile for Depo Provera is favourable, in the context of its recommended use. Benefit/risk assessment for specific patients must of course also be considered on an individual basis, taking account of any relevant medical history, risk factors etc. The Board will continue to review the safety information in relation to Depo Provera and all other medicinal products authorised for use in Ireland and will take appropriate regulatory action as necessary.

Food Labelling.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

352 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason, further to Parliamentary Question No. 376 of 13 February 2007, commissioning research on Irish consumers’ interpretations of GDA labelling compared with traffic light food labelling would not help her Department play a properly informed role in the development of a consumer friendly EU wide approach to nutrition labelling; the way her Department proposes to play a meaningful role in facilitating such a development without being aware of how Irish consumers interpret GDA or traffic light labels; and if she will make a statement on the matter of her views on evidence based policy making. [6412/07]

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

As indicated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 376 of 13 February 2007, it is my Department's view that clarity in front of pack labelling needs to be achieved through the development of a consumer-friendly, EU wide approach to nutrition labelling, given our concerns that current front of pack may be contributing to consumer confusion.

My Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) are focusing efforts on the labelling reform process currently underway in the European Union, where front of pack labelling will be examined. As a first step it is important that the concept of front of pack labelling be fully considered; such considerations include, inter alia, the objectives of such labelling, whether it should be provided on a mandatory or voluntary basis, the nutrients which might be included and the basis of such labelling (100g/100ml or serving size). It is only following these considerations that the merits and demerits of different approaches e.g. traffic lights / GDA based schemes can be examined, and progress on a harmonised approach achieved.

The Irish position on the review is informed by responses received to the national consultations on the ‘Review of Food Labelling Legislation' and ‘Nutrition Labelling: Review of Technical Issues' which were undertaken by the FSAI last year, and other labelling research undertaken by Government Departments and agencies. Officials of my Department are also in regular contact with officials in other Government Departments and agencies in order to ensure that the broad Irish position is represented at the discussions.

While I have no proposals at present to commission research on the lines suggested, I do not rule out the possibility that it may be worthwhile to consider such research at some later stage.

Health Services.

Michael Collins

Ceist:

353 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of resources made available by the Health Service Executive for the eye clinic in Newcastle West; and if there has been a reduction in same or plans to increase the level of service. [6413/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

358 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the outcome of a meeting held on 30 January 2007 between residents and the HSE regarding the use of a property (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if the HSE has decided on a use for the property; if so, if she will outline that use and future plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6461/07]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

The Government's sustained high level of investment in healthcare has enabled the completion and commissioning of numerous new facilities in both the acute and the non-acute sectors. This year, the sum available for expenditure in health under the Health Service Executive's capital plan is €657 million.

The HSE has responsibility for the planning and management of capital projects in the health sector, including the development referred to in the Deputy's question. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Accommodation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

359 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the full extent of the bed shortfall at all public hospitals here with particular reference to addressing those hospitals which have been forced to utilise hospital trolleys in lieu of beds in the past five years; her plans to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6514/07]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

371 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason so many public hospitals have been forced to use hospital trolleys often in corridors, to accommodate patients in the past five years; when she expects to identify the cause or causes of such lack of accommodation. [6526/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 371 together.

There has been a significant increase in acute bed capacity in recent years. The average number of in-patient beds and day places in public acute hospitals has increased by approximately 1,200 since 2001, the year of the publication of the Health Strategy.

The increase is continuing. For example, in the current year the Health Service Executive (HSE) has indicated that it will be commissioning over 100 additional beds across the following hospitals — Galway, Tullamore, St. Vincent's, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin and Wexford. We are also creating a further 1,000 public beds through the building by the private sector of private hospitals on the sites of public hospitals, thereby freeing up additional beds for public patients. The provision of the 1,000 beds will result in no direct capital cost to the Exchequer as the capital costs will be met by the private sector.

Improving the delivery of Accident and Emergency services is the Government's top priority in health. Our objectives are to reduce the numbers waiting for admission, the time spent waiting for admission, and the turnaround time for those who can be treated in A & E and do not require admission. The HSE continues to report significant improvements in the number of patients in A & E departments who are awaiting admission to an acute bed as compared with the same period last year. The average number of patients awaiting admission during December/January was more than 50% lower than the equivalent period twelve months ago.

In terms of A & E capacity the HSE has developed admission lounges at a number of hospitals in 2006 and further lounges are being fast tracked to come on-stream in 2007. These admission lounges alleviate pressure on A & E and enable patients awaiting admission to an acute hospital bed to be managed safely while preserving their right to dignity and privacy.

Last year the HSE introduced a target of 24 hours within which all patients should be admitted, following the decision to admit. This target is being achieved by the vast majority of hospitals. The HSE has announced that it will be introducing a revised target of 12 hours within which a patient should be admitted, following the decision to admit. It is also to introduce a monitoring system to record the total time patients spend in A & E departments, from the time they arrive to the time they are either discharged or admitted.

Finally, a HSE led Steering Group is reviewing our acute hospital bed requirements up to the year 2020. This review will be completed over the coming months.

Health Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

360 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children awaiting treatment for orthodontic services here; when she expects to have in place the necessary orthodontic services to meet the requirements as they arise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6515/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 361 answered with QuestionNo. 91.

Hospital Staff.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

362 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the widespread use of agency nurses throughout the health services; if this is efficient and cost effective in terms of delivery of services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6517/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

A combination of agency nurses and overtime working provides an additional input of nursing resources to cope with difficulties arising in the provision of services while employers continue the recruitment process to fill vacancies. Agency workers are used to cover unplanned leave e.g. sick leave, force majeure leave, "special" patients (one to one nursing care to manage acute episodes) and to deal with service pressures. The Health Service Executive has responsibility for managing nursing resources including agency nursing. I understand that the HSE is closely monitoring the usage of agency nurses and it is working with a number of the larger hospitals to establish a pilot project aimed at reducing reliance on agency nurses. This project will involve the establishment of a Nursing Bank for the DATHs hospitals. Letterkenny General Hospital has had a Nursing Bank system for in operation the last three years. An audit undertaken has demonstrated significant savings in terms of the requirement for overtime and also enhanced flexibility for staff in terms of the types of shifts they work.

Given the nature of the health services there will always be some requirement for agency nursing, however, it is important that HSE continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure the optimal use of resources in the interest of service users.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

363 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the extra responsibilities placed on nurses in the context of the day to day operation of hospitals; the extent to which they are remunerated accordingly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6518/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I would like to put on record that I hold the nursing and midwifery professions in high esteem and view the care they provide to patients as a critical component of our health services. In recent years the role of nurses and midwives has expanded to meet the needs of health service users. Over the last decade the pay of nurses and midwives has increased significantly as the role of the professions has been expanded and enhanced. A table sets out the pay increases for a sample of nursing grades.

Nurses — Salary Increases — Basic Pay — 1997 to 2006
Grade	Max of Scale 1st January 1997	Max of Scale 1st December 2006	Cumulative Increase	Cumulative % Increase
	€	€	€	%
Staff Nurse	24,883	43,430	18,547	74.54
Clinical Nurse Manager 2	27,963	55,588	27,689	98.79
Director of Nursing (Band 1)	42,143	80,909*	43,276	102.69

Policy in the delivery of health services has been determined by Government as the development of health services in all regions of the country, capable of providing safe, high-quality services that achieve the best possible outcomes for patients in primary care settings or when accessing a hospital service. My Department has developed a broad range of strategy documents and associated policies to guide it in its work.

The Health Reform Programme comprehends Quality and Fairness — The National Health Strategy, The Primary Care Strategy as well as the Prospectus, Brennan and Hanly reports. These reports are guiding the future of the health service in that they lay out the overall direction for the major changes in the health services and how they should be addressed and delivered. These reports culminated in the enactment of the Health Act, 2004, which abolished the health boards and established the HSE in January, 2005, as a mechanism for unitary service delivery in the area of health and personal social services.

Under the Health Act, 2004, a core responsibility of the Department is that of holding the HSE to account in relation to its financial performance and performance of service delivery, as well as the effective implementation of Government policies. A number of Expert Advisory Groups (EAGs) have also been established by the HSE and are located within its organisational structure in order to provide strategic leadership and expertise in the development and interpretation of national policy, strategies and service design in the delivery of health and personal social services. The EAG's are made up of a wide range of health professionals and will verify compliance with policy and legislation, monitor appropriate resource utilisation and ensure national consistency in implementation and service delivery.

Another contributor to the way in which policy in the delivery of health services is being determined will be the Health Information Quality Assurance body (HIQA). The Health Bill 2006, published in December, 2006 and currently before the Oireachtas, will establish HIQA and the Social Service Inspectorate on a statutory basis. HIQA will provide an independent review of quality and performance, and its analysis will inform policy development within the Department. It will also undertake health technology assessments and will evaluate information on health and social services and the health and welfare of the population. HIQA will advise the Minister and the HSE on deficiencies identified.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Gerard Murphy

Ceist:

375 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Health and Children if her Department will set up primary health care units in Charleville, Newmarket and Millstreet, County Cork; if so, the timeframe and the involvement of local doctors; and the funding arrangements in relation to same. [6654/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Primary Care Strategy aims to develop services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, home helps, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others.

It has been estimated that up to 95% of people's health and social services needs can be properly met within a primary care setting and the establishment of new Primary Care Teams can contribute greatly to enhancing community based health services.

The HSE received an additional €10m in funding in 2006 to enable the establishment of up to 100 Primary Care Teams in development; a further €22m is being provided in 2007 to meet the full year costs of the 2006 developments and to enable a further 100 Primary Care Teams in development to be established.

The Government has committed under the Towards 2016 agreement to the establishment of 300 Primary Care Teams by 2008; 400 by 2009; and 500 by 2011. A review of these targets will be undertaken in 2008.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Nursing Home Subventions.

Gerard Murphy

Ceist:

376 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that approval for ordinary nursing home subvention is being held up due to the fact that her Department has not issued guidelines as to the way to deal with a home owned by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [6655/07]

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

In December, 2006 my Department formally advised the Health Service Executive of the signing of the Nursing Homes (Subvention) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (SI No. 642 of 2006). These Regulations increase the basic rate of subvention to a maximum of €300 per week. Additional funding has also been provided for enhanced subvention payments. My Department asked the Executive to circulate guidelines, within the relevant areas, in relation to the payment of basic and enhanced subventions. I understand these issued to all areas on 29 January, 2007. The increase in the basic rate of subvention will apply with effect from 1 January, 2007.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

377 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of civil servants within her Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6692/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Under the decentralisation programme twenty nine civil servants have transferred to other Government Departments from my Department to date. Of those six transferred directly to offices outside Dublin.

As the Deputy will be aware my Department is not one of the Departments earmarked for decentralisation under the Civil Service Decentralisation Programme.

Alternative Energy Projects.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

378 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to provide grant aid for householders in suitable locations wishing to install wind turbines or solar panels; his further plans to enable such people to sell excess electricity generated back into the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6316/07]

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

The Government is committed to developing domestic scale renewable electricity and heat technologies.

The Greener Homes Scheme was launched in March 2006 and it provides support to homeowners to invest in a range of renewable energy heating technologies including solar technology, wood biomass boilers and stoves, and heat pumps.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has undertaken work on Metering Options for Small Scale Renewable and CHP Electricity Generation. The study identified a number of areas which require further analysis including the ability of such processes to secure adequate payment for their exports, a review of connection standards and processes for smaller generators, and the implications of the Single Electricity Market for small-scale electricity generation.

These technical and administrative issues are currently being addressed, and my Department is working with the relevant agencies, including SEI, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), ESB Networks and the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland in this regard.

As part of the ongoing work to progress this area, the Commission for Energy Regulation issued a consultation paper on micro generation with a view to establishing appropriate administrative and technical mechanisms. This paper discusses issues such as the technical standards to apply to such generators, the installation process for micro generators, and the metering and commercial arrangements for such generators.

Last year, I raised the issue of planning guidelines for domestic renewable technologies with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, with a view to ensuring a common national approach on such issues. Following a public consultation the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has drafted new regulations for the amendment of the exempted development provisions of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001. These amendments will permit the installation of solar panels, wind turbines and other micro-renewables, without planning permission in certain circumstances. Last Month, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Development approved the draft Regulations and this week I understand that the Joint Committee intends to report back to both Houses.

We are working with all relevant agencies and the CER to ensure that the appropriate administrative, technical and safety standards and practices are in place to underpin programmes for the widespread deployment of micro generation technologies. I am confident that appropriate solutions suited to the context of the Irish electricity grid and for non-grid connected technologies will be developed with a view to progressing this emerging sector.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

379 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will ensure that local farmers have the opportunity to invest in windfarms that are being established on their lands by energy companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5971/07]

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

The commercial production of electricity is a fully liberalised sector. I have no statutory authority to insist on any particular ownership arrangement in any independent undertaking proposing to harness wind-power to generate electricity.

It is a matter for each landowner to negotiate the terms and condition under which any other party can occupy the land to construct and operate a windfarm.

Departmental Correspondence.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

380 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when a response will issue to correspondence (details supplied). [6009/07]

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

Officials of the Department have investigated the circumstances of the case referred to by the Deputy in his correspondence and I hope to be in a position to issue a full reply shortly.

Telecommunications Services.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

381 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the timeframe involved for accessing broadband under the national broadband scheme for areas in rural Kildare that can not access broadband at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6020/07]

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

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).

I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 to 386, inclusive, together.

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent regulator.

However, it has been clear for some time that the sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the demand for broadband. My Department's regional broadband programme is addressing the infrastructure deficit by building high-speed open access broadband networks, in association with the local and regional authorities, in the major towns and cities. However, it has been clear for some time that the sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the demand for broadband. My Department's regional broadband programme is addressing the infrastructure deficit by building high-speed open access broadband networks, in association with the local and regional authorities, in the major towns and cities. These Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) will allow the private sector to offer world-class broadband services at competitive costs. The networks offer towns opportunities to attract inward investment in advanced technology and knowledge based enterprises.

Twenty-seven MANs have been completed under Phase One and are currently being managed by ENet, the Management Services Entity.

Phase Two of the MANs Programme includes the towns of Athy, Clane, Kilcock, Kilcullen, Kildare, Maynooth, Monasterevin, Newbridge, Prosperous and Rathangan in County Kildare. The Invitation to Tender for a design consultant was issued in late December 2006 for the design of these MANs. The closing date for responses is the 23rd February 2007. Kildare County Council will then review the tender submissions received and the appointment of a design consultant will be announced shortly afterwards.

It is expected that all the MANs will all be completed during 2007 and 2008.

Fishing Vessel Licences.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

387 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether the increase in the fee for draft net fishing licences is reasonable in 2007, in view of the added restrictions in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6042/07]

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

As part of a suite of measures I introduced to assist in the management of the wild salmon fishery in 2007, I provided in the Fisheries (Miscellaneous Commercial Licences) (Alteration of Duties) Order 2006 (S.I. No 628 of 2006) that the licence fees payable in respect of commercial salmon fishing licences would include a salmon conservation levy equivalent to 50% of the licence fee. The levy will apply to all harvesters of fish (commercial and recreational) in 2007. In the case of draft net fishing licences, the fee has increased from €190 to €380 for the season. The proceeds of this levy will be invested in wild salmon management initiatives designed to rehabilitate wild salmon stocks and habitats. I am sure that the Deputy will agree that it is important that we do all that is possible to contribute to restoration of stocks following the cessation of mixed stock fishing at sea.

Energy Resources.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

388 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to expand the national energy research capacity, in view of the Government’s science, technology and innovation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6128/07]

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

Developing the national energy research capacity has been a key priority of Government. There was a critical shortage of appropriately skilled people to meet our energy research needs.

The approach taken was to design and implement a scheme of funding awards for energy research projects and researchers to address this gap. Accordingly the Charles Parsons awards were developed specifically to accelerate the build up of research capacity, in line with the key importance with which Government views the energy area. This initiative is also closely aligned with the Government plan to double the output of PhDs by 2013, which is a key objective of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation.

Following the call for applications for funding last October 22 applications were received from 11 organisations located both North and South. The applications were evaluated using a panel of International Experts located outside of Ireland. The funding awards were announced in December. Funding has been provided for a total of 208 researchers and students over the period of the Awards, which have a total value of €208 million.

This expansion of Irish energy research capacity will provide vital knowledge and skilled individuals that are so important to the development of Irish energy-related industry. The Awards will significantly increase Irish energy research capacity by providing funding to the third level institutions. This helps them to build sustainable research teams comprising senior researchers, PhD studentships and undergraduate summer placements. International mobile researchers should be attracted to Ireland as a result. The scheme will also raise the awareness of Ireland as a good location to carry out research, an important step in the attraction of energy related investments.

The Awards have been made to: National University of Ireland Galway, Microbial Bioenergy Group; Queen's University Belfast, Electrical Power and Energy System Research Cluster; University College Cork, Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre; University College Dublin, Bioresources Research Centre; University College Dublin, Electricity Research Centre; University of Limerick, Charles Parson Research Institute & Graduate School; and University of Ulster, Centre for Sustainable Technologies.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

389 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals for a fully cohesive National Bio-Energy Strategy; the key supply and demand questions required to underpin this strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6129/07]

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

The National Bio-Energy Action Plan, overseen by the Ministerial Bio Energy Task Force, is being finalised and will be published shortly. The Plan will set out a cohesive strategy for the development and deployment of indigenous bioenergy resources, in the electricity, heating and transport sectors. I have already introduced a number of measures to stimulate demand for bio-energy in Ireland, including the €26m bioheat programme, the €47m Greener Homes programme, the €11m Combined Heat and Power (CHP) programme (which will include biomass CHP), the Renewable Electricity Feed in Tariff programme which focuses particularly on biomass, the two biofuels excise relief programmes valued at almost €220m, and a biofuels obligation which will be introduced in 2009. The National Bio-energy Action Plan will address land and waste resources issues and the development of demand-side measures together with the establishment of targets for individual sectors.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

390 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the requirements to enhance contingency measures in view of Ireland’s existing level of dependence on imported fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6130/07]

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

As a member of the International Energy Agency Ireland is required to maintain emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports of crude oil equivalent in the previous year. The EU imposes a similar requirement based on consumption. The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is responsible for holding Ireland's strategic oil reserves at a level determined — at least once a year — by the Minister.

Ireland meets its oil stockholding obligations through a combination of: oil stocks wholly owned by NORA; stocks ‘ticketed' by NORA under commercial contracts with an option to purchase in the event of an oil emergency arising during the period of the contract; and operational stocks held in Ireland by the oil industry and large consumer companies. This method of compliance is fully in line with accepted international practice.

At 1 December 2006 Ireland's oil stock reserves were estimated at 129 days net imports of which NORA stocks accounted for 81 days — 38 days stored in Ireland and 43 days stored abroad in a number of other EU Member States under Bilateral Oil Stockholding Agreements. The Government considers that the volumes of NORA-owned strategic stocks should be maximised having regard to storage availability and value for money and its indicating steps to achieve this.

My Department has contingency arrangements in place to deal with major oil supply disruptions. In the event of a significant global oil supply crisis, Ireland's oil reserves would be released over an extended period to supplement commercial supplies which would continue to be available, albeit at a reduced level, in the normal course. In this context reserves provide cover for periods far in excess of their expression in terms of number of days.

I should add that there would be no question of Ireland or any other IEA or EU Member State attempting to deal on its own with an international oil crisis. If such a crisis were to occur, the response, including the release of emergency stocks and the identification of alternative sources of supply, would take place primarily within the framework of the formal emergency regime developed and maintained by the IEA. Under the regime, Member States would be entitled to a share of available IEA oil stocks in the event of a reduction of at least 7% in normal global supply levels. There are also provisions for a coordinated international response to an emerging crisis, without the oil-sharing component, in advance of the 7% trigger.

I am satisfied that Ireland's emergency oil stock levels are sufficient to ensure that we would be in a position to participate effectively in any internationally coordinated response in the event of an international oil supply disruption, or manage any short-term disruption specifically impacting on the Irish market.

As regards natural gas supplies, some 87% of which is imported, currently Ireland has a well-developed framework to ensure adequacy and security of supply. This has been underpinned in recent years by substantial investment in the transmission network and BGE planned investment programme in the gas network of over €1.7 billion which will enhance security of supply. Recent expansion in gas interconnection between Europe and the UK as well as LNG facilities in the UK and Europe will also deliver tangible benefits in terms of regional market development and supply security.

The Irish gas transmission system is designed to cope with a 1-in-50 peak day, or the coldest day likely to occur once in 50 years. A Unified Code of Operations introduced by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) sets out standards for the protection of non-daily metered customers (including households) in the event of disruption of supply or extreme climatic conditions. This is a robust standard which takes account of the scarcity of indigenous resources.

In addition, the CER has issued a licence to Marathon Oil Limited to operate a storage facility at the depleting gas fields off the Kinsale Head in Co. Cork. This facility, with a storage capacity of 7bcf, is currently in operation. The CER has the statutory function of licensing natural gas storage facilities. In carrying out its functions, the CER must have regard to the need to ensure that there is sufficient capacity in the natural gas system to enable reasonable expectations of demand to be met, and to secure the continuity, security and quality of supplies of natural gas.

One of the strategic objectives of the All-island energy development framework for natural gas is a common approach on natural gas storage and LNG. An All-island study will shortly be commissioned by my Department and the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise Trade and Industry to assess the medium to long-term position with regard to security of natural gas supply and consider the scope for a common approach on storage and LNG. It will also have regard to industry views, any existing capacities as well as to planned or proposed developments for storage on the island. In the case of coal there are abundant coal reserves in the world which are projected to last for at least 200 years and there is unlikely to be a shortage of this fuel. The ESB maintains levels of coal reserves to ensure security of supply for coal generating plant in the event of a temporary disruption to supplies.

Electricity Generation.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

391 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to pursue greater electricity interconnection with Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6131/07]

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

Security of energy supply is a key imperative for Ireland and the European Union. The relatively small size of the Irish electricity market underlines the need for greater interconnection as a means of enhancing security of supply, promoting competition and integrating the Irish electricity market into the wider European market. The Government is committed to deliver enhanced interconnection on the island of Ireland as well as with Britain as a priority. This is also the way forward envisaged at European level.

The Government has approved plans to secure the construction of a single 500 megawatt electricity interconnector between Ireland and Wales. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has been requested to proceed with a competition to select a developer to secure the design and construction of this interconnector as quickly as possible. The CER has also been requested to arrange for EirGrid and ESB to expedite the technical work of route selection and necessary grid reinforcement works. The Government decision provides that the interconnector will as a key strategic asset remain in public ownership and will be owned by EirGrid.

EirGrid has commenced investigation as to the current state of technology and has held a number of meetings with converter station manufacturers, cable manufacturers and utilities. It is currently collating and reviewing sea-bed survey work previously carried out with a view to its currency and availability for use for this project. While work is progressing on the technical specification of the interconnector, the CER, in conjunction with EirGrid, is also finalising the competition structure and related contractual arrangements with a view to going to market as soon as possible. To underpin the development process, new arrangements have been made in respect of the construction and operation of future interconnectors in the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006. The Act provides that the CER may, with Ministerial consent, secure the construction of an interconnector by one or more means, including by competitive tender. Such consent will be contingent on final Government approval.

In addition to the interconnector with Wales, the Government, working together with the Northern Ireland authorities, is progressing electricity interconnection initiatives in the context of the All-Island Energy Market. In this regard, the two transmission system operators, Northern Ireland Electricity and EirGrid, are progressing a second North-South electricity interconnector which will more than double the existing cross-border electricity transfer capacity to over 600 megawatts to be completed by 2011.

Planning for decisions in relation to further interconnection with Britain or potentially with the European mainland will be developed in the context of the forthcoming White Paper on Energy Policy.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

392 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to encourage the exploration and production of indigenous energy resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6132/07]

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

It is Government policy to encourage the exploration and production of indigenous energy resources. The main strategies in support of this policy are regular opportunities for exploration licences through licensing rounds and attractive licensing terms. This year the frontier Porcupine Basin is open for licensing. The planned closing date for applications is end-October, with the award of licences before the end of the year. In addition to such licensing rounds the Celtic Sea is licensed by an ‘open door' system under which applications are accepted at any time. My Department also carries out intensive promotional activities directed at encouraging an increased level of exploration in the Irish offshore by participating in major conferences, exhibitions and other promotional events.

My Department is finalising a review of licensing terms at present and I will bring forward my proposals in the coming weeks for the future of the licensing regime.

Bord na Móna plc produces c.3 million tonnes of milled peat annually for supply to the existing three peat-fired electricity generating stations and a further 0.5 million tonnes for the production of peat briquettes. The Government is supportive of the development of co-fuelling existing peat-based electricity generation with biomass. While there are no proposals to increase the use of peat in electricity generation, co-fuelling could extend the use of indigenous peat in the energy mix and introduce indigenous biomass as a co-fuel.

In addition, the Government is promoting renewable energy sources in order to reduce our dependence on imports, with a target to achieve 15% of our electricity requirement by the year 2010.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

393 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals for restructuring the ESB as recommended in the Deloitte report to enable greater participation by new players in the development and operation of power generation plant; the way challenges to greater participation will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6133/07]

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

I refer the Deputy to the CER-ESB Asset Strategy which was subject of a Memorandum of Understanding on 29 November 2006 and comprises a package of measures to reduce ESB's share of the power generation market in the Single Energy Market to around 40% by 2010. The Asset Strategy formed the basis for the Commission's authorisation to ESB on 6 February 2007 for the construction of a new power station at Aghada.

The Strategy is reinforced by the fact that my approval for the relevant capital expenditure to be undertaken by ESB on the new unit at Aghada is contingent on the company meeting all the terms and conditions accompanying the authorisation by the CER. I should also point out that, in accordance with a recent Government decision on the matter, the output from the new unit at Aghada is to be ring-fenced and sold to suppliers other than ESB PES.

The CER-ESB divestment package is in keeping with policies put forward in the Green Paper on Energy, Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland, and is a viable first step in the development of a competitive electricity generation sector within the context of the development of the All-island market.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

394 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the action that should be taken in addition to electricity generation, to develop renewable energy usage in the transport and heat sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6134/07]

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

A number of innovative alternative energy programmes are in place as part of the Government's strategy to stimulate renewable energy deployment across the electricity, heat and transport sectors. A series of grant-aid programmes are being rolled-out over a five year period and are providing funding for the domestic, commercial, services and industrial sectors as follows: the €47m ‘Greener Homes' domestic renewable heat grants programme is providing grants for householders for the purpose of installing renewable heating including wood biomass boilers and stoves, solar panels and heat pumps; he €26m Bioheat grants programme provides grants for commercial scale wood biomass boilers aimed at the business and services sectors and is currently being expanded to enable the community and voluntary sector to avail of grants and to include other technologies such as solar; and the €11m Combined Heat and Power grants programme is providing funding for the commercial sector to switch to more efficient electricity and heat generation.

A number of other financial initiatives have also been introduced: In June 2006, I launched the Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff which is providing a fixed feed-in-tariff for renewable electricity over a fifteen year period which will assist in achieving a target of 15% electricity consumed from renewable sources by 2010. In July 2006 I launched a five-year excise relief programme for biofuels, valued at over €200m. There were sixteen successful applicants under this scheme. The programme builds on a pilot initiative rolled out in 2005, in which eight biofuels project were granted excise relief over a two-year period. In addition to the excise relief programmes for biofuels on 12th February I signalled my intention to introduce a Biofuels Obligation by 2009, which will require all fuel suppliers ensure that biofuels represent a certain percentage of their annual fuel sales. The obligation will deliver a target of 5.75% market penetration in 2009 and 10% in 2020.

The Bio Energy Action Plan, to be published shortly, will set out a cohesive strategy for the development and deployment of indigenous bioenergy resources, in the electricity, heating and transport sectors. Strategies for renewable heat, electricity and transport will also be addressed in the forthcoming White Paper on Energy Policy.

Energy Resources.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

395 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his initiatives to increase energy efficiency across the economy, and in particular in households, businesses, the public sector, the transport sector and the built environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6135/07]

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

The Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Europe presented by the Commission last October sets out a comprehensive range of proposed policies and measures aimed at realising at least 20% savings in EU energy consumption by 2020. The overall thrust of the Plan was endorsed by EU Energy Ministers in November last. The objective is to deliver for Europe energy efficient infrastructure, buildings, appliances, processes, transport and energy systems. Energy efficiency has the potential to be the most effective and economical means of delivering on the challenge of reducing Europe's dependence on energy imports, reducing energy demand and reducing CO2 emissions.

The Plan sets out 10 priority actions for transport, built environment power generation, economic sectors and individual consumers. The actions are underpinned by a programme of 57 measures which the Commission will progressively propose to Council and Parliament up to 2012. It is essential that we have effective synergies between National Energy Efficiency Action Plans and action at European level. I have made clear that Ireland's ambitious approach to energy efficiency will fully reflect and underpin the comprehensive European Action Plan. An Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Ireland is being finalised by my Department working with SEI and other relevant Government Departments. I intend to publish the Plan for consultation in April. In September 2006, I launched the national energy efficiency awareness campaign, the Power of One. The campaign involves building awareness of the types and sources of energy we use; raising awareness of the impact of inefficient use of energy in terms of increased costs to the user, the economy and the environment; informing and empowering the general public on best practices in terms of saving energy at home and at work; targeting individual sectors (e.g. industry, SMEs, schools, the public sector, the transport sector) with specific energy saving strategies; and building on existing programmes and initiatives on the island of Ireland and taking full account of EU developments.

Eight television and seven radio commercials have been produced, each with a specific energy efficient message for the consumer. There is also an extensive press campaign to complement TV and radio, an online presence through www.powerofone.ie as well as regional and sectoral modules. The campaign has benefited from the involvement of EirGrid as well as ESB, BGE and other energy suppliers.

The reach of the Power of One campaign has been very significant with follow up research showing the television advertisements airing a total of 3,298 times to date with 84% of all individuals having seen the ads at least 5 times and the average frequency being almost 20 times. Similarly, follow up research shows the radio message has been heard at least 5 times by 81% of all individuals, average frequency being up to 23 times. Tailored energy efficiency messages in the national press have reached almost 2.5 million people with a further 1.5 million in the consumer press. The outdoor campaign has been seen by 948,000 individuals with advertisements featuring in 190 sites across the country. The Power of One message has also been seen by over 2 million people in cinemas nationwide. The dedicated website www.powerofone.ie has been visited by over 35,000 people and over 25,000 information packs have been despatched from our mailing centre. The majority of the population has been exposed to sustained energy efficiency messages and advice over the past 5 months.

Yesterday, I launched the Power of One Street which will track the energy usage of 8 families from all over the country. Each month the participants will be set a challenge to improve their energy efficiency and their progress will be monitored and reported on over the next 6 months. This initiative will drive home to everyone the simple changes that can be made to improve their energy efficiency and save on energy costs. Progress of the Power of One Street will be featured in media nationwide throughout the coming months.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) promotes and assists the development of sustainable energy. Many of the SEI programmes have a strong energy efficiency focus. Within the built environment, SEI targets the residential sector, small companies and public buildings such as local offices and schools in its promotion of energy efficiency. Various supports are provided to promote sustainable energy practices in Irish housing. These include model demonstration projects that have the potential for market influence and replication. Emphasis is placed on the pre-1980 housing stock, with accompanying measures for low-income householders and the promotion of building energy rating. Public-good research is conducted to guide policy and identify deficiencies and barriers to energy performance improvements.

Focus is in the following areas: House of Tomorrow: This programme stimulates the widespread uptake of more sustainable energy planning, design, specification and construction practices in both the new home building and the home improvement markets. The House of Tomorrow Programme funds demonstration projects to create a nationwide network of accessible, replicable model examples of more sustainable energy practices in Irish housing. A total of 131 projects have been supported to end 2006, including social housing new build projects, private housing new build and social housing refurbishment projects. 4,854 houses were built under this programme by the end of 2006 which is nearly 200% higher than the NDP target of 1650 houses completed.

Home Energy Rating: The primary focus of this programme is to prepare for and enable the successful implementation of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in Ireland. A key element is to address the need for a comprehensive, nationally recognised building energy rating system aimed at making energy efficiency an explicit factor in building transactions and renovation decisions. As the designated Issuing Authority, SEI's priority now is to ensure that there is an appropriate system and process in place to deliver on the legislative obligations and meet early market demand for Building Energy Rating Certificates.

Public Sector: This programme promotes energy-efficient design, technologies and services in new and retrofit public sector projects. Under this programme, the energy performance of public sector buildings is enhanced through improved design, investment and management. In the period up to August 2006, 79 design studies, 71 model solutions and 2 energy management bureaux were approved for funding. 54 model solution projects have been completed with the remainder well advanced. High profile examples of projects funded as demonstrations under this programme are Limerick County Council offices as well as recently completed Kildare County Council.

Low-Income Housing: This programme was set up to help establish and implement a national plan of action to address this problem systematically. Core delivery is through its Warmer Homes Scheme aimed at improving the energy efficiency and comfort conditions of affected homes. The total number of houses substantially addressed to end 2006 was over 10,700. There are 15 community based organisations that are approved for funding to complete homes in 2006. The service is now available in Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Westmeath, Roscommon, Cork, Kerry, Wexford, Cavan, Limerick and Leitrim.

SEI also works in co-operation with Irish industry to reduce the energy intensity of the enterprise sector and helps Irish industry to adopt new and more effective approaches to managing energy costs. Industry programmes support measures to address market failure through provision of information, verification and demonstration, and certification and benchmarking. SEI hosts initiatives for medium-sized industrial enterprises on the acceptance of best practice by way of recognised standards and supported by certification.

Focus is in the following areas: Agreements: The objective of this programme is to support firms in protecting their competitiveness in the context of high and rising energy prices. The programme provides firms with the opportunity to apply a structured approach to reducing costs through an agreed schedule of energy efficiency measures over a three year period. The initial group of 10 companies recruited in May 2006 is expected to collectively save up to €20 million over the next three years. The programme is to be expanded to incorporate a further 40 (14 already recruited) of the top energy users in Ireland. Savings of up to €50 million could be made over a 3-year period upon reaching that target level of participation.

Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN): LIEN is a voluntary networking initiative comprising 85 of the largest industrial energy users in Ireland. LIEN members recognise that a structured approach to energy auditing and management is a valuable tool for driving energy efficiency. As published in its most recent annual report during 2005, members avoided €27 million in energy costs and achieved a saving of 173,647 tons of carbon dioxide.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP): The programme strategy incorporates elements such as the evaluation of district heating potential in Ireland and feasibility studies/pilot plans for innovative CHP projects. It provides support for the regulatory and legislative treatment of CHP and assists the Government in the development of a CHP policy. In 2006 I launched an €11m CHP grants programme aimed at increasing deployment of this energy efficiency technology over a 5 year period.

SEI also provides targeted information to heighten consumer awareness of the environmental impacts of energy use and to provide information on options for greater sustainability. The Consumer Information Programme aims to motivate consumers to become more energy efficient in their daily lives by making them aware of their energy usage and informing them of the simple actions they can take. An education programme brings the topic of energy use into the classroom in an interesting and engaging way. It enables pupils to develop an awareness of where energy comes from, the environmental impacts of its use and the responsibilities that individuals bear to reduce consumption. Over 450 interactive workshops take place throughout Ireland annually reaching in excess of 13,000 primary school students. The workshops are divided into two levels: Guzzler Workshops and Energy Challenge Workshops.

Energy Efficiency and energy saving strategies are a key priority for the Government and this will be reflected in the forthcoming White Paper on Energy Policy which will be underpinned by the National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency.

Electricity Generation.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

396 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to improve generation and transmission adequacy in the electricity sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6136/07]

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

Security of supply in relation to electricity in Ireland is the statutory responsibility of the independent Regulator, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The independent Transmission System Operator (TSO), EirGrid, monitors the adequacy of generation capacity over time and reports to the CER accordingly.

In line with international norms, the generation system in Ireland is designed, planned and monitored such that it meets a standard which requires it to meet all reasonable demands for supply. This is designed to ensure that, in designing the system, the appropriate balance is met between protecting security of supply and the cost of building and running the system. At my request, the adequacy of electricity generation is being kept under consistent collective review by my Department in consultation with the CER and EirGrid. The most recent advice to me from CER and EirGrid is that the generation system is currently adequate to meet demand, and provides a sufficient margin to meet the security standard. The CER has also advised that there is sufficient generating capacity, both installed and planned, on the system to meet the predicted demand in the short term. The CER advises me that this assessment is predicated on planned developments in power generation including the addition of almost 550MW of new generation capacity in 2006, (at Tynagh, Co. Galway and Aughinish, Co. Limerick), the expected commissioning of a second new 400MW plant in Autumn of this year (at Huntstown, Co. Dublin), the further development of almost 900MW of new plant in the South West by the end of 2009 and planned improved interconnection on the island of Ireland and with the U.K. The Government has conveyed to CER its view that additional mid merit capacity should be put in place in the short to medium term.

The CER is taking measures to facilitate the development of the system such that it remains adequate to maintain the security standard. Significant levels of investment have been made in the Irish transmission system in recent years with plans for continued investment to the end of this decade. Between 2002 and 2010, almost €1 billion will be invested in the Irish transmission system, which will ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that the system is capable of handling exceptional circumstances.

The Government is also concerned to ensure that adequate provision is also made to encourage the development of an electricity portfolio, which can support and complement the ambitious targets which we have now set for renewable growth. Decisions in this regard by the CER, EirGrid and the Government will be informed by the need to ensure capacity and competition in the generation sector while reflecting the overriding consideration of security of supply.

Paudge Connolly

Ceist:

397 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the actions he proposes to further diversify the fuel mix for electricity generation and reduce dependence on oil and gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6137/07]

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

I have already increased a 13.2% target addressed to Ireland in an EU Directive to increase the contribution of electricity from renewable energy sources to 15% by 2010. The Government has indicated plans to further increase that target to 33% by 2010.

The support programme operated by my Department to complete the increased 2010 target is commonly referred to as REFIT, (Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff). Every project submitted in REFIT to date which has complied with the essential requirements regarding a connection and planning permission has been accepted into the support programme.

REFIT is designed to support proven technologies primarily. Other renewable energy technologies which remain in the research or developmental phase can access the "research, development and demonstration programme" operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland. The development of an Irish biofuels market and the increased development and deployment of bio-energy resources in Ireland is a key priority for the Government. A range of initiatives are in place to support the development of a biofuels sector in Ireland.

On Monday 12th February I signalled my intention to introduce a Biofuels Obligation by 2009, which will require all fuel suppliers to ensure that biofuels represent a certain percentage of their annual fuel sales. In announcing the obligation, I have also committed to achieving 5.75% market penetration of biofuels by 2009, in advance of the date proposed for such a target in the EU Biofuels Directive. I have also committed to achieving 10% market penetration of biofuels in Ireland by 2010.

The introduction of the Biofuels Obligation will build on the success of the two biofuels excise relief schemes which were rolled out in 2005 and 2006.

Harbours and Piers.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

398 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department will conduct a comprehensive survey to assess the stability of a road and supporting sea wall (details supplied) in County Mayo; and his plans to reconstruct this sea wall and road. [6342/07]

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

The sea wall and road at Roscahill, Kilmeena, Westport, Co. Mayo is owned by Mayo County Council and responsibility for its maintenance is a matter for the local authority in the first instance.

The Department is currently preparing the 2007 Coastal Protection Programme and has received an application for funding for repair of a sea wall at Roscahill from Mayo County Council. This application for funding will be considered under the 2007 Coastal Protection Programme based on Exchequer funding and overall national priorities going forward.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

399 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the funding available to enable a group to float a pontoon in their area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6343/07]

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

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

A total of €205.6 million was collected in television licence fees in 2006. An Post were paid an agency fee of €12.7 million for licence fee collection in that year.

In 2006 a total of 1,340,036 Television Licences we re issued. 1,004,805 of those licences were issued directly by An Post. The remaining 335,231 licences were issued by the Department of Social and Family Affairs who are now responsible for the issuing of Lifetime Licences for those persons who qualify for a "free" licence under the Household Benefits scheme. 2006 saw a 53,226 increase in Licences sold directly by An Post over those sold in 2005.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

403 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of civil servants within his Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6685/07]

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

The Government's decentralisation programme provides for the relocation of the Marine functions of my Department to Clonakilty and the headquarters of my Department to Cavan. Thirty-one staff have decentralised to Clonakilty and twenty-six to Cavan to date. Decentralised staff members originally based in non-Dublin offices were not required to transfer to Dublin in advance of relocation. Information regarding the percentage of these staff members who had a previous transfer within the two year period prior to decentralisation is not available to my Department as most were employed in other departments/offices during this time.

In addition to the above, approximately twenty staff members have left my department with a view to decentralisation with other organisations.

Foreign Conflicts.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

404 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will seek clarification and assurances on the security of the Democratic Republic of Congo opposition party leader, Mr. Etienne Tshisekedi amid reports that his residence has been surrounded by Government backed forces and that his life may be under threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6158/07]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Security and governance issues remain a serious concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but there have been some encouraging developments recently. The generally peaceful and orderly conduct of the 2006 Presidential and Parliamentary elections "the first democratic elections in more than forty years" was a tribute to the strong desire of the Congolese people for an end to conflict and a return to democracy. Major challenges remain if the transition process is to be successfully completed. The elections themselves have left divisions which will need to be healed through an inclusive approach to opposition concerns. In December 2006, the European Council expressed the EU's intention to continue its support to the Congolese authorities in tackling security sector reform, including through the ongoing work of the EUPOL Kinshasa police mission and EUSC RD Congo civilian mission.

Ireland does not have a resident diplomatic mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria, which is responsible for Ireland's relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been in contact with EU diplomats, and through them the UN mission (MONUC) and the EU police mission (EUPOL Kinshasa) in DR Congo, in recent days to enquire into the well-being of the opposition party leader Étienne Tshisekedi.

The Embassy has not been advised through these contacts of any specific threat against Mr. Tshisekedi. We understand that there is a permanent presence of CONADER, the Government's army demobilisation agency, in the neighbourhood of Mr. Tshisekedi's house, which would inevitably lead to a certain military presence in the area. We have also received reports that on 15 February 2007, in celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Mr. Tshisekedi's Party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), there was a small gathering of party members outside the gate of his residence, but that the atmosphere was not threatening. However, given that the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo has not yet fully stabilised following the transition period, the Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria will continue to monitor the situation.

Ireland helped to fund the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006, and has also given financial support to the demobilisation and reintegration process in the wider Great Lakes region. Ireland is a significant humanitarian donor to the DRC. Already in 2007, Ireland has committed €7 million in humanitarian aid funding to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ireland's total support to the country since 2004 totals over €23 million.

Departmental Records.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

405 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the recent revelations on RTÉ television regarding the influx of Nazi war criminals into this country after World War II, he will release all relevant files on this matter for future researchers, academics and all those interested in historical accuracy. [6428/07]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

I would refer the Deputy to my comprehensive reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1037 and 1040 on 31st January 2007 in relation to this matter.

In that reply, I pointed out that I have no involvement in determining which files should be withheld under the National Archives Act; that is entirely a matter for Departmental officials.

As I indicated in my previous reply, I am conscious of the need to find an appropriate balance between the release of material that is of public and historic interest and the right of individuals to be protected from distress or danger that the release of personal information might cause. I therefore asked the Department to carry out a further review of the historic files in question, in consultation with other relevant bodies as appropriate, including the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Archives. That review is currently under way.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

406 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of civil servants within his Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6691/07]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place during the second half of 2007 and will involve the relocation to Limerick of 124 posts.

At present, 54 posts in the Directorate are filled by officers who have signalled their intention to decentralise to Limerick. Five of these officers transferred from provincial locations to the Directorate's offices in Dublin.

In addition to these 54 posts, a further 15 officers who are serving elsewhere in the Department, mostly abroad, will be taking up duty in Irish Aid in advance of the move. Furthermore, 19 officers from other Departments who have applied to decentralise to Limerick, most of whom are currently based in provincial locations, will transfer to the Department closer to the date of the move. Once these officers take up duty in Irish Aid, 88 posts (71% of the 124 posts scheduled to move) will be in place.

In addition, a small number of staff at entry grades will be recruited for direct assignment to Limerick in the months preceding the move.

In order to help effect the smoothest possible transfer to Limerick, plans are in train for an advance party move involving approximately 50 staff members which is scheduled for late May 2007.

Sixteen Dublin based officers of this Department have transferred to other Departments with a view to moving to a provincial location under the Decentralisation Programme. Most of these officers initially transferred to Dublin- based offices of the respective decentralising Departments.

Sports Funding.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

407 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will approve funding for a project (details supplied) in County Roscommon under the sports capital programme 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5972/07]

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

The 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 2007 programme were invited through advertisements in the Press on October 15th and 16th last. The closing date for receipt of applications was November 24th 2006. All applications received before the deadline, including one from the organisation 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.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

408 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will sanction a grant to a group (details supplied) in County Mayo under the sports capital programme 2007. [6008/07]

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

The 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.

I refer the Deputy to my replies to the House to Questions number 26924/06 and 27235/06 on 6th July 2006, Question number 35071/06 on 26th October 2006 and to Question number 5546/07 on the 15th February last.

The Arts Council is a statutory body under my Department's aegis, and is the principal channel through which State support is directed to the Arts.

The Council operates independently of my Department. It is understood from the Council that there are 143 works in the CIE collection, which were jointly funded under the Arts Council's Joint Purchase Scheme. An examination by the Arts Council of its records identified all of the works which CIE had purchased between the 1950s and the 1970s. Refunds had been paid in respect of four of the works, two of which were returned, one which was given on retirement to a staff member and one which had apparently been stolen. At the time of the examination 46 works remained with CIE and were not in the possession of the Dublin Airport Authority or the Great Southern Hotels.

In September 2006 91 works were transferred by the Dublin Airport Authority into the care of the OPW. Ten of these works were not purchased under the scheme. I have designated the Crawford Art Gallery Cork, which is now a national cultural institution, under the aegis of my Department, as the home gallery of this Collection. It is understood from the Dublin Airport Authority that this collection of 91 works constituted all such works in the possession of the (former) Great Southern Hotels.

Question No. 414 answered with QuestionNo. 409.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

415 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of civil servants within his Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6684/07]

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

Under my Department's decentralisation programme to Killarney, an advance group of 44 staff relocated to temporary accommodation at Fossa, in September 2006. Of the staff transferred to Fossa, 93% had transferred into my Department within the previous two years.

The number of staff who have transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office to date is 11, the average time spent in the Dublin Office for training purposes is 3 weeks, with senior staff spending longer periods in Dublin. An extensive programme of induction and training is in place to ensure that all new staff are familiar with the objectives, procedures and work of the Department.

International Agreements.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

416 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the international agreements that exist and have been signed, ratified and transcribed into Irish law seeking to prohibit the practice of child labour. [6398/07]

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

In June 1998, Ireland supported the adoption by the International Labour Conference of a Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. This commits the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) 180 member states worldwide to respect the principles inherent in the core labour standards and to promote their universal application. The Declaration emphasises that all Member States of the ILO have an obligation to respect, promote and realise, in good faith and in accordance with the constitution of the ILO, the principles concerning the fundamental rights which are the subject of those Conventions namely:

(a) freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

(b) the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;

(c) the effective abolition of child labour; and

(d) the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Ireland has ratified all seven ILO Conventions and core labour standards embodied within the Declaration. Ireland only ratifies an ILO Convention where we can accept every single provision and where our legislation is fully in conformity with the relevant Convention.

In June 1999, the International Labour Conference adopted Convention No. 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. Ireland registered its ratification of that Convention on 20th December 1999 and was the first European Union country to do so.

In addition to the international conventions on child labour which come within the ambit of the International Labour Office, I would also refer the Deputy to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which falls within the area of responsibility of my colleague, Brian Lenihan T.D., Minister for Children.

Work Permits.

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

417 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) in County Kerry has employed a significant number of workers from other EU states without having advertised locally; and his views of this practice. [5993/07]

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

Employees from EU Member States other than Bulgaria and Romania do not require a Work Permit. However, nationals of Bulgaria or Romania do require a work permit to be employed in Ireland and evidence is required to show that job vacancies have been advertised with FÁS/EURES employment network and additionally in local and national newspapers.

Industrial Development.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

418 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans of a company (details supplied) for regenerating its derelict units in the industrial estate at the Shannon free zone in order to attract new industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6015/07]

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

Responsibility for the maintenance and development of the Shannon Free Zone lies with Shannon Development. The company also has responsibility for the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment and indigenous industry into the Zone. It provides buildings, land, information, and investment incentives to companies relocating to or investing in the Zone.

The regeneration of the Zone is one of a number of key projects in Shannon Development's 3 year Corporate Plan, drawn up at my request, to give effect to Shannon Development's new mandate which I announced in July 2005.

Shannon Development recently advertised for Expressions of Interest for the preparation of a comprehensive Master Plan for Shannon Free Zone. The Master Plan will provide the basis for the regeneration of the Zone and for its further enhancement as one of Ireland's premier locations for modern internationally traded manufacturing services. The Master Plan will provide a structured framework for the regeneration and redevelopment of the Zone.

In addition, Shannon Development has an ongoing programme of upgrading works on the Shannon Free Zone to create industrial space relevant to the needs of FDI projects considering Ireland as a location for new enterprise or for the expansion of existing operations. Furthermore, part of the property portfolio in the Shannon Free Zone has been identified for regeneration and this work will be undertaken as part of the master plan currently underway.

Work Permits.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

419 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will assist in obtaining a favourable outcome to an application for a work permit, submitted by a company (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [6034/07]

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

The Employment Permits Section of my Department has informed me that this application was received in the Section in January 2007 and it is currently being processed.

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

420 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued to date in 2007; the number of the same that were renewals of previous permits; the number that were new permits; the number of permits granted to self-employed workers; and the breakdown by nationality of the permits granted. [6044/07]

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

The number of work permits issued to date in 2007 is 2335, the number of renewal applications is 1268 and the number of new work permits issued is 1067. The following chart indicates the breakdown by nationality of the permits granted.

Work permits are only considered when there is an employer/employee relationship and are not granted for self-employment.

There is a scheme for business provision operated by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform for non-EEA Nationals proposing to operate a business in the state. Details of the scheme can be obtained in that Department's website www.justice.ie.

Year	Nationality	New Permits	Renewals	Issued
2007		1,067	1,268	2,335
	Albania	0	6	6
	Algeria	4	9	13
	Angola	1	0	1
	Argentina	2	2	4
	Australia	40	41	81
	Bahrain	1	0	1
	Bangladesh	18	49	67
	Barbados	1	0	1
	Belarus	4	25	29
	Bosnia Herzegovina	1	3	4
	Botswana	7	0	7
	Brazil	29	84	113
	Bulgaria	2	4	6
	Burma	0	2	2
	Canada	19	18	37
	Cape Verde	1	0	1
	Chile	3	1	4
	China	33	82	115
	Colombia	3	1	4
	Congo Republic of	1	0	1
	Croatia	1	8	9
	Dominica	1	0	1
	Dominican Republic	0	0	0
	Egypt	5	15	20
	Georgia	0	1	1
	Ghana	1	1	2
	Hong Kong	4	1	5
	India	187	117	304
	Indonesia	5	7	12
	Iran	0	1	1
	Iraq	0	0	0
	Israel	12	1	13
	Jamaica	0	2	2
	Japan	15	13	28
	Jordan	4	0	4
	Kenya	1	2	3
	Korea (Republic of (South))	3	3	6
	Kosovo	0	1	1
	Kuwait	1	0	1
	Latvia (Alien)	0	4	4
	Macedonia (FYR)	0	1	1
	Malawi	0	0	0
	Malaysia	38	47	85
	Mauritania	1	0	1
	Mauritius	4	1	5
	Mexico	52	5	57
	Moldova	7	40	47
	Mongolia	0	2	2
	Morocco	21	8	29
	Myanmar (Formerly Burma)	1	3	4
	Namibia	0	0	0
	Nepal	1	4	5
	New Zealand	24	27	51
	Niger	1	0	1
	Nigeria	8	4	12
	Oman	1	0	1
	Pakistan	43	53	96
	Panama	1	0	1
	Paraquay	0	1	1
	Philippines	102	232	334
	Romania	7	6	13
	Russia	1	0	1
	Russian Federation	18	37	55
	Samoa(USA)	1	0	1
	Senegal	0	1	1
	Serbia	1	2	3
	Singapore	1	0	1
	South Africa	66	96	162
	Sri Lanka	10	5	15
	Syria	0	3	3
	Tanzania	0	1	1
	Thailand	19	33	52
	Trinidad & Tobago	1	0	1
	Tunisia	5	4	9
	Turkey	13	6	19
	Turkmenistan	0	1	1
	Uganda	0	1	1
	Ukraine	130	78	208
	United Arab Emirates	4	0	4
	United States of America	55	36	91
	Uzbekistan	2	0	2
	Venezuela	3	1	4
	Vietnam	6	2	8
	Yemen	1	0	1
	Yugoslavia (Federal Republic of)	1	4	5
	Zimbabwe	6	16	22

Trade Policy.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

421 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if restrictions on trade are being placed on imports, where it is known that such goods are produced through child labour. [6397/07]

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

Irish trade is regulated in accordance with the Common Commercial Policy rules of the European Union, which encourage an open market approach to trade. Accordingly, Ireland cannot impose restrictions that are outside the Common Commercial Policy rules.

The EU has a long-standing commitment to the promotion of core labour standards and social development; the charter of fundamental rights of the EU confirms the aim to fully integrate these standards in all its policies and actions. In line with that policy, cooperation agreements between the EU and other countries include, as a matter of course, human rights and core labour standard clauses as set out in International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. The abolition of child labour is one of those ILO core labour standards.

The EU also uses its trade policy mechanisms to encourage other countries to improve standards by offering additional preferential access dependant on adherence to ILO conventions. Furthermore, within the World Trade Organisation, the EU, with our support, has been pursuing improved international regulation in the area of trade and labour standards.

Ireland has consistently supported the International Labour Organisation in its efforts to promote core labour standards. In 1998, we supported the adoption by the ILO of a Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. This commits the ILO's 175 member states worldwide to respect the principles inherent in the core labour standards and to promote their universal application. Ireland has ratified all eight core labour standards, including those addressing the abolition of forced or compulsory labour and child labour.

Redundancy Payments.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

422 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the course of action open to a person (details supplied) in respect of a redundancy claim upheld by both a rights commissioner and the Labour Court, where the employer continues to refuse payment; and if he will request FÁS to finalise this matter. [6427/07]

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

The Deputy will appreciate that while FÁS provides funding for certain labour market programmes including Job Initiative the sponsor, Ballymun Job Centre in this case, is the employer.

I understand from FÁS that the person participated on a Job Initiative Scheme managed by Ballymun Job Centre and was made redundant in 2003. I am informed that Ballymun Job Centre paid the sum of €4,702.80 Statutory Redundancy Payment and that FÁS reimbursed Ballymun Job Centre this amount. In October 2003, the Rights Commissioner made a judgement and awarded three weeks pay per year of service in addition to the statutory payments already agreed, resulting in an award to the person of €6,583.92.

I am informed that Ballymun Job Centre has paid €3,490.00 of the additional award from its own resources. It is understood that the Rights Commissioner judgment was made under Section 13 of the Industrial Relations Act 1969 and I understand that the Labour Court has no record of an appeal in this case.

Work Permits.

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

423 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the rules regarding people from Turkey obtaining work permits to work here. [6464/07]

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

As Turkey is not a Member State of the European Union, the rules applicable to non-EU/EEA nationals should be followed in respect of applications for Work Permits. Information on the procedures to be followed, including details of the new economic migration arrangements which I announced on 24th January, 2007, is readily available on the Department's website at www.entemp.ie.

Any Turkish national working legally in Ireland for four years may continue to work here without the requirement of a work permit. However, I understand that they still require permission from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to remain in Ireland.

Job Creation.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

424 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of State assisted jobs created in County Wicklow for the years 2002 to 2006 inclusive; and the number of jobs lost during the same period. [6508/07]

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

Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies is collated by Forfás on an annual basis. As the agencies are still in the process of finalising their 2006 data, figures for that year cannot, at this stage, be regarded as definitive.

The following table outlines the full-time jobs created in enterprise agency supported firms (Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland) in County Wicklow in the years 2002 to 2006 inclusive, together with the number of full-time jobs lost in the same period. Full time permanent employment in enterprise agency supported firms in Co. Wicklow stands at 6,997 permanent jobs at end 2006. In addition, during the period from 2002 to 2006, Wicklow County Enterprise Board assisted in the creation of 794 jobs in the region. My Department does not collect or retain information on the number of specific job losses in CEB assisted companies either locally or by region.

Full-time Job Gains and Losses in Enterprise Agency Assisted firms in County Wicklow 2002-2006
Full-time Jobs	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006 (prov)
Gains	997	1,241	550	771	348
Losses	-513	-759	-1,018	-1,897	-463

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

425 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of civil servants within his Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6689/07]

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

My Department is required to relocate 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme and this is planned to occur by the end of 2009. In order to accommodate staff who wish to move earlier than the projected building completion date of late 2009, officials of my Department, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the OPW, as well as decentralising staff and Business Units, are progressing an earlier move to Carlow. The OPW have advised my Department that negotiations on the procurement of interim accommodation to facilitate an advance move are nearing completion.

I expect this advance move option to allow for the movement of approximately 80 decentralising staff to Carlow during the second quarter of 2007, on a voluntary basis. The number of posts in Business Units decentralising to Carlow, as at 19th February, is 280. My Department currently has 99 Carlow-bound applicants assigned within the Department, with a further 74 Carlow-bound applicants yet to be assigned to the Department. It is hoped to have all decentralising posts filled in sufficient time to ensure that staff are adequately trained in advance of the move to Carlow. No staff from my Department have relocated to Carlow, to date. As no staff have transferred from a non-Dublin office to Dublin as part of the initial transfer, the other issues raised by the Deputy do not apply.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

426 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a rent subsidy application form has issued to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [6463/07]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The Health Service Executive has advised that it has issued an application form to the person concerned. When it has been received, it will be considered and a decision given as soon as possible.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

427 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the living alone allowance was first introduced; the rate of the allowance at introduction; and if he will compare this to the current rate. [5990/07]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The living alone increase is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and who receive payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. The increase is intended as a contribution towards the additional costs people face when they live alone. It was introduced in 1977 at the rate of £1.00 (€1.27) per week. The policy in relation to support for pensioners has been, for many years, to give priority to increasing the personal rates of pension, rather than focusing on payments such as the living alone increase. This approach ensures that resources are used to improve the position of all pensioners and is subject to regular review. It was decided in the context of Budget 2007 to continue this policy with maximum increases of €16 and €18 per week granted on personal rates giving a the maximum rate of the state pension (contributory) of €209.30 per week and a maximum non-contributory pension paid at €200 per week.

Pension Provisions.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

428 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals to disregard savings in SSIAs when assessing eligibility for non-contributory old age pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6037/07]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

In assessing means for social assistance purposes account is taken of any cash income the person may have, together with the value of capital and property (except the home). Amounts held in Special Savings Investment Accounts are treated in the same manner as other capital.

In 2005 the amount of capital disregarded for means test purposes for all schemes (except supplementary welfare allowance) was increased from €12,694.38 to €20,000, an increase of over €7,300. The enhanced disregard applies to all capital regardless of where it is held, be it in an SSIA, a Credit Union, with An Post or any other account with a bank or other financial institution. In October 2006, the new State Pension Non-Contributory was introduced. The new pension replaced the Old Age Non-Contributory Pension and, for recipients aged 66 and over, Blind Pension, Widow/er's Pension, One Parent Family Payment, Deserted Wife's Allowance and Prisoner's Wife's Allowance.

All these schemes currently featured a common means disregard of €7.60 per week, which applied to means from all sources, including those derived from capital. This disregard was increased to €20 per week from September 2006 and further increased to €30 per week with effect from January last. The new capital assessment arrangements introduced in 2005, combined with other means disregard improvements introduced in 2006 and 2007 for the State Pension Non-Contributory, mean that a single non-contributory pensioner, with no other means, can have capital of up to €40,000 and still qualify for a pension at the maximum rate. This figure is doubled in the case of a pensioner couple. These arrangements were designed to ensure that social welfare means testing arrangements do not act as a disincentive to claimants to become savers or to penalise those who have been regular savers in the past.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

429 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has not received assistance with an ESB arrears bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6039/07]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together.

Social welfare programmes aim to be responsive to the needs of those who depend on income maintenance support while providing incentives to assist people to become more independent financially, particularly through employment.

Lone Parents and others on rent supplement who participate in community employment (CE) schemes are financially better off for doing so. Up to €75 of weekly earnings is disregarded in the rent supplement means test to ensure that a person gains financially as a result of taking up a CE place, part-time employment or other such opportunities. Additional allowances with the CE payment are also disregarded.

The Health Service Executive was contacted concerning the case raised by the Deputy and has advised it is satisfied that the person concerned is receiving her full entitlement to rent supplement based on her current income from participation on a Community Employment scheme and her one-parent family payment. However, the one-parent family payment does not take account of her earnings from participation on community employment and now falls to be reviewed in the light of her new circumstances. In the light of any reduction to her one parent family payment arising from the review, it will be in the interest of the person concerned to have her rent supplement again reviewed by the Executive to ensure that she continues to be €75 per week better off for having taken up a CE place.

I am conscious of the need to ensure that people on social welfare payments have an incentive to take up employment to improve their situation and I am anxious to take any possible measures to facilitate this. In Budget 2007, I provided for additional welfare to work measures including an increase in weekly earnings disregard. I also introduced an additional measure which will allow existing rent supplement tenants awaiting accommodation under the Rental Accommodation Scheme to take up full-time employment and remain eligible for rent supplement subject to the standard means test. These measures are provided for in the recently published Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Bill 2007.

Social Welfare Benefits.

436 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded the one parent family allowance. [6659/07]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

A Social Welfare Inspector is in the course of completing his enquiries in this case and will shortly forward his report to the Deciding Officer. The Deciding Officer will make a decision on this case on receipt of the report. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

440 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce legislation to allow local authorities introduce a formal penalty system to ensure that footpaths, carriageways and other public areas are reinstated adequately by utility companies and their contractors. [6093/07]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

Legislation regarding road openings is contained in a number of enactments including, most recently, the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 which provides the statutory framework for the control of road openings by telecommunications operators. That Act is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. My officials and those of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources will keep under review the adequacy of the existing legislative framework.

Rail Network.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

441 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport when the feasibility study on the provision of a rail link to Shannon Airport will be published; the reason it is not available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6374/07]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

Ceist:

450 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason persons (details supplied) in County Galway have received a bill for €3,762 for an alleged overpayment of the 2001 extensification scheme; the further reason it has taken six years for this notification to be sent to the applicant; if such an outstanding debt became payable in 2001, the reason it had not been deducted from other payments made after that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6120/07]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The position is that the overpayment in this case was originally established in January 2003. A letter issued to the applicant on 13 February 2003 setting out details of the overpayment. The overpayment was recorded under the name of the person who was the registered herdowner up until 13 April 2001 following which the persons named became the registered herdowners. The overpayment was not subsequently deducted because of the change in the registration details of the herdnumber. A further communication regarding the overpayment was issued automatically to the applicant recently. However, my officials have since reviewed the original decision to raise the overpayment and have concluded that the overpayment should not have been established. I very much regret therefore that the most recent communication issued erroneously to the applicant. My Department will now write to the applicant confirming that no overpayment exists.

Wildlife Conservation.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

451 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason grant approval has not issued for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary for the plantation of 100 acres. [6378/07]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The site in question is in an area which the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has identified as one of a number of areas around the country which are important for the survival of the Hen Harrier, which is a protected species. The European Commission has expressed the gravest concern at any further planting within these areas until it is possible to fully assess the impact of forestry on the species. In order to do that, it is necessary to work out what type of management regime needs to be put in place to accommodate both forestry and the hen harrier in the areas being proposed as Special Protection Areas. The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government has established a working group, on which the forestry and farming interests are represented, as well as my Department, to help with the development of such a management regime. The applications on hand will be looked at again when an appropriate regime for the hen harrier has been agreed.

Grant Payments.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

452 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be granted the single payment scheme. [5969/07]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme to the person named was submitted on 1 November 2006. The application was accepted even though the closing date for receipt of completed applications to transfer entitlements was 16 May 2006. During processing of the Transfer application, it was necessary for an official of my Department to seek clarification on certain matters relating to the application. On receipt of the requested information, my Department will process the application and will correspond directly with the person named.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

453 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and granted the single payment scheme. [5970/07]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme to the person named was submitted on 18 December 2006. The application was accepted even though the closing date for receipt of completed applications to transfer entitlements was 16 May 2006. During processing of the Transfer application, it was necessary for an official of my Department to seek clarification on certain matters relating to the application. The requested information was received and the application is now fully processed. Payment in respect of 16.49 entitlements transferred by way of lease will issue shortly.

Milk Quota.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

454 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the avenues available to a farmer (details supplied) in County Westmeath who applied under the milk quota trading scheme 2007 to 2008 via the market and exchange; the steps and avenues available to them as they have the number of cows required to fulfil the quota; if she will have this decision reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5983/07]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Under the Market Exchange element of the Milk Quota Trading Scheme, a mechanism exists to exclude bids that are 40% and more above the initial equilibrium price. In this case, computer rounding of the prices resulted in the 40% cut-off being applied at 15 cent, the nearest whole cent price to the actual computed cut-off of 15.4 cent. This was a technical issue and my Department is making changes to the system for the second scheme to ensure that nobody is excluded from purchasing quota where the bid price is below the actual computed price. The person named may apply again to the second scheme, which has a closing date of 9 March.

The person named submitted an application under Category C of the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve which caters for farmers who sold their milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 to 2002. The person named was deemed successful under this category and was allocated a top-up from the National Reserve. Successful applicants under Category C of the 2005 National Reserve are eligible for a top-up from the 2006 National Reserve to reflect the increased value of the Dairy Premium in 2006. My Department has automatically applied this top-up. The relevant payment due together with the balance in payment for 2006 will issue shortly to the person named.

EU Directives.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

458 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the EU Transport Regulations, which were due to come into force on the 5 January, 2007; if these regulations entered into force here; the specific requirements contained within them which relate to the transport of greyhounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6029/07]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme to the person named was submitted on the 15th May 2006. During processing of the Transfer application, it was necessary for an official of my Department to write to the person named to seek clarification on certain matters relating to the application. Further documentation was received on the 23rd November 2006 and the 12th December 2006.

The application is now fully processed and payment of €3975.76 in respect of 16.26 transferred entitlements issued to the person named on the 26th January 2007.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

475 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of civil servants within her Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6683/07]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

To date, 192 civil servants have transferred to Portlaoise under my Department's decentralisation programme. 79 (or 41%) of these transferred to my Department via the Central Applications Facility (CAF), while the remainder were mainly internal transfers. To date, it has been my Department's practice to transfer non-Dublin based people directly to Portlaoise.

Higher Education Grants.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

476 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in relation to the higher education grants scheme, her attention has been drawn to the fact that the requirement for each applicant to submit a balancing statement puts pressure on Revenue resources in circumstances where this information should be readily available from P60s; if she will amend the scheme to provide that P60s would be an acceptable form of income verification for grant purposes, obviating the need for Revenue to deal with an inordinate demand for balancing statements within a particular timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5968/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level for the first time are eligible for maintenance grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, and nationality.

The assessment of means under my Department's Third Level Student Maintenance Grant Schemes is based on gross income from all sources, with specified social welfare and health service executive payments being excluded from the calculation. Under the schemes reckonable income is defined as income from

Employment/Pensions;

Self Employment/Farming;

Rent and income from Land/Property;

Deposit/Investment Accounts;

Maintenance Arrangements;

Gifts/Inheritances and Disposal of Assets and Rights;

Social Welfare in certain circumstances.

A P21 is a statement of total income, tax credit and tax paid for a particular tax year. A P60 cannot suffice as an individual may have more than one source of income or may be jointly assessed with their spouse which means that a P60 from one employer would not give the full information required.

The Deputy will be aware that through the Revenue Online Service (ROS) an individual can avail of the interactive facility offering business and individuals a quick, secure and cost effective method to manage their Tax Affairs, including the acquisition of a P21 on-line.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

477 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools with pupils in class size in excess of 30 in the towns of Drogheda, Dundalk, Cork City, Castlebar, Clonmel and Navan and in the counties Donegal, Laois, Offaly, Carlow and Kilkenny. [5973/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Information in relation to class size is provided by the annual census of primary schools. The census for the current school-year (2006/07) is currently being worked on and data are not yet available. Data at sub-county area are not generally available due to the inordinate amount of work involved.

Major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. At the beginning of the current school year there were 4000 more primary teachers, compared with 2002. The average class size in our primary schools is 24 and there is now one teacher for 17 pupils at primary level, including resource teachers etc.

Children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas are getting more support than ever before to help them to make the most of their time at school. Indeed, with the thousands of extra primary teachers hired by this Government, recent years have seen the largest expansion in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education.

Furthermore, the Government is committed to providing even more primary teachers next year to reduce class sizes. As you know all primary schools are staffed on a general rule of at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children. Of course, schools with only one or two teachers have much lower staffing ratios than that — with two teachers for just 12 pupils in some cases and so on — but the general rule is that there is at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children in the school. Next September this will reduce to 27 children per classroom teacher.

A further initiative that has been of direct benefit to primary schools has been the change in the criteria for developing schools. For the current school year the threshold for getting a developing school post was reduced specifically to help schools that are seeing large increases in enrolments each year. Over 280 such posts were sanctioned in the 2006/07 school year compared to 170 in 2005/06. The improvements we have made in school staffing in recent years are absolutely unparalleled.

But we are determined to go even further, and so the 2007 Estimates include provision for another 800 primary teachers. About 500 of these will be classroom teachers, which includes our commitment to reduce class sizes. I assure the Deputy that we will continue to prioritise further improvements in school staffing going forward. We will also continue our focus on measures to improve the quality of education in our primary schools to ensure that increased resources lead to better outcomes for our children.

School Accommodation.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

478 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding her Departments plans for the future use of a school building (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if it is her intention to accommodate two existing local schools in this building; the proposed timescale for such plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5991/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Ceist:

483 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the reduction in income of a parent of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick due to the closure of the Castlemahon Poultry Products, she will review a decision to refuse a higher education grant despite the fact that the income has now dropped to less than €10,000 per annum. [6000/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Under the mean's tested provision of the Higher Education Grant Scheme a candidate's reckonable income is based on income from all sources from the previous tax year, unless there is an adverse change of circumstances, which is likely to be permanent (i.e. likely to obtain for the duration of the approved course or for the foreseeable future). However, it is recognised that the very nature of self-employment is the risk factor that is the uncertainty/fluctuating nature of the income and expenditure. This is the essential distinguishing feature from employment.

Officials of my Department contacted the Higher Education Grant Section of Limerick County Council concerning the candidate referred to by the Deputy. Limerick County Council confirmed that the candidate was not eligible for the grant as the reckonable income exceeded the prescribed limit for the academic year 2006/2007. I regret that it is not possible to allow grant aid where the reckonable income exceeds the prescribed limits irrespective of the particular circumstances.

While I understand that the portion of the candidate's parents' income from the chicken enterprise has now ceased due to the closure of Castlemahon Poultry Products, this drop in income will be reflected in their accounts, as they are self employed, in the relevant tax year.

Apart from the Schemes of Student Support and the Free Fees Initiative, under which my Department meets the cost of tuition fees in approved colleges at undergraduate level, my Department also provides funding to approved third level institutions to operate a Student Assistance Fund to assist students in a compassionate and sensitive manner who may otherwise have to leave college due to financial hardship. Information on the fund is available from the Access Officer at the college being attended by the candidate referred to by the Deputy.

School Accommodation.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

484 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science the outcome of an application under the small school scheme 2007 to complete an extension for a school (details supplied) in County Limerick. [6001/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

An application has been received in my Department under the Small Schools Scheme 2007 from the school referred to by the Deputy. All applications received under this scheme are under consideration and the list of successful applicants will be published shortly.

Behaviour Support Service.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

485 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether there is a shortage of staff in the behaviour support service; and if there are plans to increase resources for this service. [6007/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

At the core of the recommendations of the Task Force on Student Behaviour was the establishment of a Behaviour Support Team. The purpose of this Team was envisaged as helping identify problems of student behaviour in second-level schools, leading to the development of strategies to resolve these problems and to facilitate the implementation of these strategies in practice.

Since then, and over a short time-scale, a National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS) has been established which is based in Navan Education Centre. A multi-disciplinary professional team has been recruited and appointed to the NBSS which consists of a National Co-ordinator, four Assistant National Co-ordinators, eight Regional Development Officers and twenty part-time Associates. In addition, a senior psychologist and three psychologists have been assigned to the team. A full-time administrator is based in Navan Education Centre.

At this moment there is sufficient staff employed for the Behaviour Support Service.

Psychological Service.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

486 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans for the improvement of the National Educational Psychological Service with details of the number of extra psychologists that will be recruited into the service; the funding provided in 2007 for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6063/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I can inform the Deputy that the number of psychologists in the Department has increased from 43 since the establishment of NEPS in 1999 to a current figure of 127, including 4 psychologists assigned to the National Behavioural Support Service. There are also a further 16 Whole-time-equivalent educational psychologists providing service through the Dublin City and County VECs. Taken together, there are currently 143 educational psychologists working in services paid for by my Department.

I announced recently in this connection my intention to expand the number of NEPS psychologists by a further 31 in 2007. This will represent a significant increase in the number of psychologists in NEPS and bring the total number of psychologists in the system to 174.

At this time 6 of these psychologists are in the process of being appointed and officials of my Department will shortly engage in discussions with the Public Appointments Commission with a view to recruiting the remaining complement as expeditiously as possible within 2007. Decisions in relation to the actual placement of the extra psychologists will be made in the context of existing and developing priorities for the National Education Psychological Service.

This budgetary allocation for NEPS amounts to €17.7m in 2007. In line with the Government's ‘Towards 2016' commitments, the number of NEPS psychologists will be increased even further in each of 2008 and 2009, to a total of 193. At this point, including the 16 psychologists in the Dublin VEC areas, it is expected that the number of educational psychologists in the system as a whole will be 209.

Student Retention Rates.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

487 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science the most recent figures for leaving certificate retention rates for male and female students both nationally and for the greater Dublin area, particularly the figures for the cohorts of students who entered secondary education in the years 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6078/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The latest data published by my Department on retention rates in second-level schools relate to the cohort of entrants to the first year of junior cycle in 1996. Students in this cohort would have sat the Leaving Certificate in either 2001 or 2002, depending on whether they took the Transition Year Programme.

The published data for the 1996 cohort indicate an average "unadjusted" retention rate to Leaving Certificate of 72.1 for the Dublin area (combining the four Local Authority areas) as compared with a national average figure of77.8%. The term "unadjusted" relates to the fact that the figures cited have not been adjusted to allow for factors such as emigration, death or cases of departure to privately aided second level colleges. The national adjusted Leaving Certificate retention rate for the 1996 cohort was81.3%. The ‘unadjusted' rate of retention for males in Dublin was 67.1 compared to 77.5% for females in Dublin. The corresponding national averages were 72.1 and 83.8%, respectively.

As regards those who depart from second-level education prior to the Leaving Certificate, the available statistical evidence indicates that the increasing range of further education and training opportunities available for these students is having a positive impact. CSO data show that the educational profile of 20-24 year olds in Ireland has improved steadily over the last five years, as increasing opportunities have been made available in the further education and training sector. By 2005, 85.8% of 20-24 year olds had attained upper second-level education or equivalent, up from 82.6% in 2000 and putting Ireland way ahead of the EU average of 77.5%.

Given the clear link between leaving the system without formal qualifications and continued socioeconomic disadvantage in adult life, the Government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that children and young people get the opportunities and supports they need to enable them to complete their education and secure their future economic and personal well being. Against the background of our continuing economic success, our increasingly well educated population (with over 40% of 25-34 year olds having a third-level qualification, among the highest in the EU) and inward migration, those who leave school early without adequate qualifications face serious difficulties and challenges.

My Department has adopted a broad-based approach to tackling early school leaving. We established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) to monitor attendance and help to get young people back to school. We have widened the range of curricula available to students by promoting the Junior Certificate Schools Programme, the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, and the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme in addition to the traditional Junior and Leaving Certificate curricula.

We have also put preventative measures in place such as the School Completion Programme and the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL). Under the School Completion Programme children at risk of early school leaving are targeted for a variety of extra supports, educational and non-educational, during and outside of school time — all aimed at encouraging them to stay in school. The Home School Community Liaison Scheme helps to get parents involved in their children's education, which as we all know is a crucial component of convincing young people of the value of education.

Enhancing attendance, progression, retention and attainment are central to DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) the action plan for educational inclusion, which is being implemented at present. The action plan represents a shift in emphasis away from individual initiatives, each addressing a particular aspect of the problem, with the new plan adopting a multifaceted and more integrated approach. This is the first time that an integrated educational inclusion strategy has been developed for 3-18 year olds in this country.

In relation to second chance educational opportunities for young people who left school early, this Government has shown a sustained commitment to providing greater opportunities in the adult and further education sectors. Many such young people take up places in Youthreach centres, while others pursue options such as FÁS apprenticeships.

I would like to assure the Deputy that we have greatly intensified our efforts in recent years both to keep more young people in school and to provide increased educational opportunities for those who left school early. I will continue to prioritise further progress in this area.

School Enrolments.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

488 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science the position of a number of children who meet all the criteria of living locally and have siblings in the school but have been refused a place in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the action she will take in view of the fact that there has been repeated requests for additional accommodation, particularly the gym which has not been supplied by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6101/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act. In this regard a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion. In formulating an admissions policy a school must, however, ensure it is lawful. In particular, it must act in accordance with Section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 which, subject to very limited exceptions, prohibits schools from discriminating against people in relation to a number of matters including the admission of a pupil to the school.

Currently, under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, parents of a student who has been refused enrolment in a school may appeal that decision to the Secretary General of this Department. Such appeals are dealt with within 30 days of their receipt and where an appeal is upheld the Secretary General is empowered to direct the school to enrol the student. Otherwise, the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child.

On a general note, at post primary level, students have increased mobility as evidenced by the fact that a large number of pupils from the area in question here travel outside of their immediate vicinity to other schools. While I am satisfied that there are sufficient post primary places available both within the immediate area or within a short commuting distance to cater for demand currently, I am conscious that there is also significant on-going housing development in the area. The Department is examining the need for another post primary school on this basis.

To ease pressure on places in the area overall, I have given the go-ahead for the delivery of a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school in Phibblestown and sites have been reserved for further post primary schools in both Tyrrelstown and Hansfield.

With regard to the proposed PE Hall project for the school referred to by the Deputy, this was included in my announcement of May 2006 to progress to tender and construction.

School Accommodation.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

489 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the future need for extra primary school places for Castlebellingham, County Louth (details supplied) in view of the rise in housing development in the area and the subsequent population increase. [6113/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied for additional accommodation under the Department's Permanent Accommodation Scheme 2007. I intend to announce the successful applicants shortly.

School Transport.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

490 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science if a decision has been made for a remote transport grant by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6115/07]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Mr. Haughey)

The case referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, has been considered by the School Transport Appeals Board. The Board notified my Department that the Remote Area Grant should be paid for the school year 2005/2006. The family has been advised of the Board's decision.

Computerisation Programme.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

491 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is grant aid available to secondary schools to enable them to replace outdated classroom computers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6116/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The recent investment priorities under the ICT in Schools Programme have been the provision of networking grants to schools and the Schools Broadband Access Programme. Schools were invited to submit proposals for the development of their networking capability in June 2004 and grants totalling some €23m have since issued to schools.

The roll-out of broadband connectivity to all recognised schools is being undertaken in partnership with industry, in the context of the joint Government — IBEC — TIF (Telecommunications and Internet Federation) three year Agreement to fund local connectivity at school level. The broadband connectivity is being provided via a Schools National Broadband Network supported by HEAnet, in order to provide managed Internet access, email, security controls and content filtering. A broadband support service is being managed by the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) to assist schools with advice and information relating to the roll-out and ongoing use of their broadband connectivity within the schools network. The overall costs of the Schools Broadband Access Programme, including the initial set-up and ongoing costs over the three years, are in the region of €30m.

The National Development Plan contains a provision of €252m for ICT in schools, the essential purpose of which is to advance the embedding of an e-Learning culture in teaching and learning in our schools. I intend to publish a new ICT strategy this year covering the period of the National Development Plan. As part of the development of this new strategy, it will be necessary to consider and address a wide range of issues including teacher education, teacher professional development, curriculum developments, the maintenance of the national broadband network for schools, the upgrading and renewal of hardware and the provision of software and digital content for learning. The planned investment will also address maintenance and support requirements. It is my intention to build on the recent investment in networking grants to schools and the Schools Broadband Access Programme in developing the new ICT Strategy, based on the investments outlined in the NDP.

Furthermore, at post-primary level the new Technology syllabus and the revised Design and Communication Graphics syllabus at Leaving Certificate level will be introduced with effect from September 2007. Some €25 million has been distributed to approximately 500 post-primary schools to upgrade their facilities to enable them to provide these subjects. The funding will be used to provide top spec hardware such as PCs, laptops, printers, scanners, digital scanners and data projectors which will be integrated into daily teaching and learning.

Schools Building Projects.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

492 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; if a design team has been appointed in order to advance the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6121/07]

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

502 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the increase of pupils in primary schools here growing at an extremely fast pace and that in many locations demand will jeopardise a suitably safe environment for students and their teachers; if her attention has been further drawn to a primary school (details supplied) in County Galway which is a case in point; her views on this case; and her plans to avoid the problems and overcrowding which seem likely to occur in this school. [6393/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 502 together.

An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy and has been assessed. The long term projected staffing, on which the accommodation needs will be based, has been determined and notified to the school authority. My officials are in the process of drawing up a detailed accommodation brief for this school. A site visit is required in order to inform the final brief for the project and officials will be in contact with the school authority to arrange a site visit. On completion of the brief, the project will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2007-2011.

School Closures.

Martin Brady

Schools Building Projects.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

498 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to an application for a new school (details supplied) in County Mayo; the position in relation to funding for the school; and if an application for planning permission has been lodged. [6345/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The new building for the school in question is one of 54 major primary school building projects which I announced last November to proceed to tender and construction over the next 12 to 15 months. This programme will provide over 10,000 permanent school places to be delivered in new schools and a further 5,900 pupils will see facilities modernised with major extension projects.

My Department is in communication with Westport Town Council regarding planning permission for the building project.

School Accommodation.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

499 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason primary schools are not wheelchair accessible in view of the fact that all Government buildings are supposed to be wheelchair or pram accessible; and the further reason schools are being refused funding for the installation of ramps to facilitate access to their schools. [6375/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

It is the policy of my Department to provide all new schools with access facilities and special toilets to cater for disabled students and teachers. In the architectural design of emergency evacuation routes, account is also taken of the requirements of students and teachers with disabilities. New schools with two storeys of more are provided with lifts. The school authorities are advised of accessibility requirements by my Department and the relevant design teams during the architectural planning process.

Priority is also given to applications from existing schools for grant aid towards the provision of access and other facilities for the physically disabled.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

Ceist:

511 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of language support teachers to be appointed to a school (details supplied) in County Dublin, in view of her having changed the criteria for eligibility for approval of extra language support teachers; when these extra teachers can take up duty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6408/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 507, 509, 510 and 511 together.

In order to meet the language needs of students in our schools whose first language is not English, additional support is given to their schools which can take the form of financial assistance, additional teaching posts or portions of posts.

The level of extra financial or teaching support provided to any school is determined by the numbers of eligible non-English speaking students enrolled. The additional language support to an individual pupil is generally given for a period of two years.

Under current arrangements, schools with 14 newcomer pupils, who are eligible for language support, are entitled to one language support teaching post while schools with 28 or more eligible pupils are entitled to two posts.

I indicated at the conference of the Irish Primary Principals Network on 26th January, 2007 that the two teacher rule and the two-year rule will no longer apply.

There are now approximately 1,250 language support teachers in our schools. More than 400 of these teachers have been allocated in the current school year alone. As I announced last November, 200 extra posts were approved by the Government for 2007, bringing to 1,450 the number of language teachers that will be working in our schools this year. This compares with just 262 posts in the 2001/02 school year.

In line with the Government's commitments under the ‘Towards 2016' partnership agreement, a further 350 language support teachers will be provided between 2008 and 2009. In allocating additional teachers, I will be addressing in particular the position of those schools catering for significant numbers of newcomer children.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

508 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 560 of 13 February 2007, the locations where the 200 extra language support teachers are currently being trained; when their training will conclude; when they will be eligible for employment in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6405/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

All language support teachers are qualified primary teachers and training is provided as part of PCSP in service.

Teachers are provided with in-service training through Integrate Ireland Language and Training Limited (IILT). IILT provides training seminars for language support teachers, part-time or wholetime, along with classroom materials, including the European Language Portfolio, to assist them in meeting the English language needs of their pupils/students.

All literacy programmes in the Colleges of Education contain appropriate elements to address the various needs of pupils in the classroom, there is no specific module but there is an all inclusive approach to student's whose first language is not English.

The following initiatives are part of the Colleges of Education response to the growing need for training to teach language in Primary Schools.

Intercultural Education

Modules in the teaching of language, and oral language development

Intercultural Education Language Acquisition, which deals with issues regarding second language acquisition.

A new course is planned for October 2007 in one of the Colleges of Education "Teaching English as an additional language: an intercultural approach for the classroom". All students will have an opportunity to opt into this course.

Questions Nos. 509 to 511, inclusive, answered with Question No. 507.

School Transport.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

512 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the details of the five appeals granted by the School Transport Appeals Board in December 2006; the circumstances in the cases involved; the reasons advanced by the appeals board for overturning the decisions made previously by or on behalf of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6409/07]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Mr. Haughey)

The School Transport Appeals Board is independent of my Department. The Deputy will be aware that the role of the Board is, broadly, to examine appeals against decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education and Science regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes.

I will arrange to have the decisions, as notified to my Department by the Board, in the five cases concerned forwarded to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Language Support Services.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

513 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science if teachers receive a specific module of training to teach language support in primary schools; the extent of the module of training and the training colleges where this is carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6410/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The programmes in the Colleges of Education contain a number of elements aimed at enabling student teachers to address the various needs of all pupils in the classroom, including students whose first language is not English. In particular, all students undertake a course to prepare them to teach English in accordance with the revised primary school curriculum. Two modules of this course are taken in each year of the three year B. Ed. and it includes the teaching of English as an additional language for students. In addition, the Colleges of Education address the specific issues involved in the teaching of students whose first language is not English in a variety of ways. These include intercultural education, language acquisition and specialised courses in second language teaching. St. Patrick's College provides an elective course with a specific focus on teaching English as a second language. Coláiste Mhuire Marino and Mary Immaculate College Limerick are developing a specific and targeted elective programme to addresses the issues involved.

My Department also funds Integrate Ireland Language and Training (IILT) to provide specific language training to language support teachers and school Principals. Between 2004 and 2006, nearly 1,800 primary teachers attended these training courses.

Additional downloadable material is available from the Integrate Ireland Web site at www.iilt.ie

School Completion Programme.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

514 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has received a request from a project (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for a roll number; if the roll number will be issued to the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6417/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The School Completion Programme which, until now, has operated in 82 sites nationally, is in the process of being extended to all urban/town primary schools and second-level schools participating in DEIS, the new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion which are not already benefiting from these services during 2006/2007 school year. Forty three additional clusters (including both primary and second-level schools) will be created during the 2006/2007 school year and thirty eight existing SCP clusters will also be altered to include new schools participating under DEIS. A total of 691 schools (227 post primary and 464 primary) will have the services of the School Completion Programme under DEIS.

SCP Projects are managed by a local management committee, comprising representatives of schools and other relevant agencies and are required to engage in a consultative and planning process with the school staff, with parents and with local representatives of relevant statutory, voluntary and community agencies in the development of annual retention plans. They must devise a collaborative programme of in-school and out-of-school actions that will prevent early school leaving and support young people with characteristics and behaviour that are indicative of real risk. Allocations to projects are based on annual retention plans submitted to my Department for approval.

The SCP project to which the Deputy refers has operated in five schools in Kilkenny since 2002/2003, with a further 3 post primary schools being included in this project under DEIS in 2006/2007. Each of these schools has been assigned an individual roll number, however, roll numbers are not assigned to School Completion Programme Projects. If the Deputy has a specific query in relation to this project I will endeavour to provide more detailed information.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

515 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has considered correspondence dated 9 February 2007 from schools (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the DEIS action plan and the expansion of the existing programme from two to five schools; when action will be taken in order that the existing schools, new schools and the schools completion programme can plan summer programmes and events. [6418/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The School Completion Programme which, until now, has operated in 82 sites nationally, is in the process of being extended to all urban/town primary schools and second-level schools participating in DEIS, the new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion which are not already benefiting from these services during 2006/2007 school year. Forty three additional clusters (including both primary and second-level schools) will be created during the 2006/2007 school year and thirty eight existing SCP clusters will also be altered to include new schools participating under DEIS. A total of 691 schools (227 post primary and 464 primary) will have the services of the School Completion Programme under DEIS.

SCP Projects are managed by a local management committee, comprising representatives of schools and other relevant agencies and are required to engage in a consultative and planning process with the school staff, with parents and with local representatives of relevant statutory, voluntary and community agencies in the development of annual retention plans. They must devise a collaborative programme of in-school and out-of-school actions that will prevent early school leaving and support young people with characteristics and behaviour that are indicative of real risk. Allocations to projects are based on annual retention plans submitted to my Department for approval.

The SCP project to which the Deputy refers has operated in two schools in the area since 1998/99 with a further 3 schools included in this project under DEIS. The annual allocation to this project for 2006/2007 school year, including summer provision was approved by my Department in August 2006 and a further letter issued to the project on 16th February last regarding the extension of the programme to the additional 3 schools.

Furthermore, 4 of the 5 schools to which the Deputy refers have received significant increases in the individual grants which were paid to schools under the DEIS action plan in November 2006.

Education Schemes.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

516 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will make provision for mainstreaming a group (details supplied) in Dublin 5, which was set up as a pilot scheme six years ago and at present has a waiting list of fifty children waiting for admittance. [6443/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Last month, I met with the group which represent this unit along with the other units in the pilot scheme. Officials in my Department have since followed up with a further meeting with the group to discuss how best to progress the permanent status sought by the units and are exploring how best to proceed in this regard.

Decentralisation Programme.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

517 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that her Department has more than adequate numbers to commence the decentralisation process to Mullingar, she will sanction an advanced move of approximately 90 personnel who wish to go immediately by acquiring temporary accommodation; the position regarding the proposal to decentralise 300 persons to Mullingar; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6454/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The position regarding the full decentralisation of 300 posts to Mullingar is that I understand that the Office of Public Works (OPW) has made significant progress towards the acquisition of a site for permanent office accommodation for my Department. The OPW has indicated to the Decentralisation Implementation Group that it estimates that this accommodation will be available for occupation some time in 2009.

As I have recently stated, I will keep the feasibility of sending a smaller number of posts to Mullingar in advance of the main decentralisation under review. However, I must do this in the context of the potential impact of an accelerated rate of decentralisation on the business of my Department, particularly as the other element of the decentralisation of my Department, the relocation of 100 to Athlone, will happen next year.

School Staffing.

Seamus Healy

Ceist:

518 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary retains its existing quota of teachers for the 2007/2008 academic year. [6457/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The mainstream staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30th September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule for the 2006/07 school year is outlined in Primary Circular 0023/2006 which was issued to all primary schools.

In the current school year (2006/07) the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy comprises a Principal and three mainstream class teaching posts, based on an enrolment of 85 pupils at 30th September, 2005 as submitted by the Board of Management of the school. The school also has the services of 2 Learning Support/Resource teacher posts.

In addition, under the DEIS programme, the school has access to a teacher/co-ordinator, serving a cluster of schools, whose functions include the development of home, school and community linkages, literacy and numeracy measures and planning supports. The school will continue to retain this service for the duration of the DEIS Action Plan. My Department is planning to evaluate the efficacy of this service and the long-term arrangements to be adopted in the area will be the subject of a review, aimed at determining whether the particular model of support involved is the most appropriate in this context.

The Board of Management has submitted a report indicating that there were 73 pupils enrolled in the school on the 30th September 2006. The mainstream staffing of the school for the 2007/08 school year will be determined on that figure and in accordance with the staffing schedule for the 2007/2008 school year which will be finalised as soon as possible.

Teaching Qualifications.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

519 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if the correct rate of pay for a qualified teacher will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for the period they worked at a school; the reasons they were paid an unqualified teacher rate at the school and a qualified teacher rate when they taught in another school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6458/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The person referred to by the Deputy is seeking payment of arrears under the Part-Time Workers Act 2001.

Arrears entitlements conferred on casual/non-casual teachers under the terms of the Act apply to qualified teachers only. A teacher in a voluntary secondary school is considered qualified if they can be registered as a secondary teacher, i.e. they must have a degree with teaching subjects and a Higher Diploma in Education.

In this specific case, the person applied to the Registration Council for recognition of her qualifications on the 30th May, 2005. The Registration Council assessed the applicant's qualifications and found that certain shortfalls existed. She has been given a three year adaptation period within which to address these shortfalls and was granted provisional recognition taking effect from the 30th May, 2005.

Teachers who have been granted provisional recognition may be employed in a second-level school at the rate of pay and conditions equivalent to that of a probationer teacher in the period permitted by the Registration Council for compliance with its decision.

As the period the person referred to by the Deputy carried out the casual/non-casual teaching work was prior to the date of provisional recognition, she cannot be considered to be a qualified teacher and therefore, has no entitlement to arrears of pay.

Special Educational Needs.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

520 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if resolution has been found to all of the issues in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, relevant to the National Educational Psychological service reports and their educational needs; if ABA will be the framework through which the curriculum will be delivered; if a teacher has been appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6459/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I can advise the Deputy that the pupils to whom the Deputy refers are due to enrol in an autism class being newly provided for within a national school in Kilkenny and that a teacher has been appointed in this regard. Preparations are currently being made to accommodate the class within the school campus.

The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, receive an education appropriate to their needs, preferably through the primary and post primary school network where children can mix with their wider peer group and have maximum opportunities for integration. My Department supports an eclectic approach to the education of children with autism where a range of teaching methods can be applied specific to the needs of individual pupils.

Pension Provisions.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

521 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the introduction of the proposed pension scheme for full-time primary school caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6465/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Caretaking staff in schools are employed by the individual school authorities. My Department provides funding under two separate schemes towards the cost of employing these staff. One such scheme is the 1979 scheme for the employment of full-time caretakers in primary schools under which my Department meets the full cost of pay.

In 2006 I introduced, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, pension arrangements for caretaking staff employed under the 1979 Scheme. These arrangements provide that membership of the pension scheme will be effective from 1 September 2001 in the case of eligible caretakers in service at that time. The pension scheme will be a contributory, defined benefit scheme and will provide standard public service pension benefits.

Deduction of ongoing contributions commenced from eligible personnel with effect from 7 March 2006. Arrears of contributions are payable in respect of the period from 1 September 2001 to the date ongoing deductions commenced, or the date membership ended if earlier. Eligible staff will be notified in due course of the arrears due in respect of that period. In accordance with standard public service arrangements, there is also provision for reckoning service given prior to 1 September 2001 subject to verification of the service concerned and payment of the appropriate contributions.

Eligible staff and school authorities were informed of the introduction of the pension scheme prior to the commencement of deductions from pay. A circular setting out further details regarding the scheme is being finalised and will be issued in the coming months.

The calculation of retirement pension and retirement gratuity for a small number of eligible caretakers, who were in service on or after 1 September 2001 and who have recently retired, is currently under way in my Department. It is expected that the first such payment will be made in the coming weeks.

The 1979 Scheme is being phased out. It has been superseded by an extensive grant scheme now referred to as the Ancillary Services grant. The Ancillary Services grant provides funding for primary schools towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services. The Scheme, by its nature, is flexible and gives boards of management discretion as to the manner in which secretarial and caretaking services are provided. Staff engaged by schools under the Ancillary Services grant are paid by the managerial authorities of the schools and are non-pensionable.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

522 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the average class size for primary schools in County Longford for each of the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6466/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Information in relation to class sizes is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The census for the current school year (2006/2007) is currently being worked on.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this Government has halved the number of children in Longford in classes of 30 or more and has reduced the number in classes of 35 or more by 75%.

The details of average class size in Co. Longford for the previous 10 years are included in the following table.

Major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years.

At the beginning of the current school year there were 4000 more primary teachers, compared with 2002. The average class size in our primary schools is 24 and there is now one teacher for 17 pupils at primary level, including resource teachers etc.

Children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas are getting more support than ever before to help them to make the most of their time at school.

Indeed, with the thousands of extra primary teachers hired by this Government, recent years have seen the largest expansion in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. Furthermore, the Government is committed to providing even more primary teachers next year to reduce class sizes.

As you know all primary schools are staffed on a general rule of at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children. Of course, schools with only one or two teachers have much lower staffing ratios than that — with two teachers for just 12 pupils in some cases and so on — but the general rule is that there is at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children in the school. Next September this will reduce to 27 children per classroom teacher.

A further initiative that has been of direct benefit to primary schools has been the change in the criteria for developing schools. For the current school year the threshold for getting a developing school post was reduced specifically to help schools that are seeing large increases in enrolments each year. Over 280 such posts were sanctioned in the 2006/07 school year compared to 170 in 2005/06.

The improvements we have made in school staffing in recent years are absolutely unparalleled.

But we are determined to go even further, and so the 2007 Estimates include provision for another 800 primary teachers. About 500 of these will be classroom teachers, which includes our commitment to reduce class sizes.

I assure the Deputy that we will continue to prioritise further improvements in school staffing going forward. We will also continue our focus on measures to improve the quality of education in our primary schools to ensure that increased resources lead to better outcomes for our children.

Average Class Size — Longford
County	Year	Total Pupils	No. of Classes	Average Class Size
Longford	2005/2006	3,610	166	21.7
	2004/2005	3,544	165	21.5
	2003/2004	3,484	166	21.0
	2002/2003	3,442	165	20.9
	2001/2002	3,462	162	21.4
	2000/2001	3,463	163	21.2
	1999/2000	3,549	158	22.5
	1998/1999	3,797	161	23.6
	1997/1998	3,895	161	24.2
	1996/1997	4,073	165	24.7

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

523 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the average class size for primary schools in County Westmeath for each of the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6467/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Information in relation to class sizes is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The census for the current school year (2006/2007) is currently being worked on.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this Government has significantly reduced the number of children in Westmeath in classes of 30 or more and has cut the number in classes of 35 or more by 75%. The details of average class size for the previous 10 years in Co. Westmeath are included in the table provided.

Average Class Size — Westmeath
County	Year	Total Pupils	No. of Classes	Average Class Size
Westmeath	2005/2006	9,238	378	24.4
	2004/2005	9,034	378	23.9
	2003/2004	8,923	370	24.1
	2002/2003	8,735	366	23.9
	2001/2002	8,696	356	24.4
	2000/2001	8,373	343	24.4
	1999/2000	7,965	325	24.5
	1998/1999	8,282	332	24.9
	1997/1998	8,490	333	25.5
	1996/1997	8,701	338	25.7

Major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. At the beginning of the current school year there were 4000 more primary teachers, compared with 2002. The average class size in our primary schools is 24 and there is now one teacher for 17 pupils at primary level, including resource teachers etc.

Children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas are getting more support than ever before to help them to make the most of their time at school. Indeed, with the thousands of extra primary teachers hired by this Government, recent years have seen the largest expansion in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. Furthermore, the Government is committed to providing even more primary teachers next year to reduce class sizes.

As you know all primary schools are staffed on a general rule of at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children. Of course, schools with only one or two teachers have much lower staffing ratios than that — with two teachers for just 12 pupils in some cases and so on — but the general rule is that there is at least one classroom teacher for every 28 children in the school. Next September this will reduce to 27 children per classroom teacher.

A further initiative that has been of direct benefit to primary schools has been the change in the criteria for developing schools. For the current school year the threshold for getting a developing school post was reduced specifically to help schools that are seeing large increases in enrolments each year. Over 280 such posts were sanctioned in the 2006/07 school year compared to 170 in 2005/06.

The improvements we have made in school staffing in recent years are absolutely unparalleled. But we are determined to go even further, and so the 2007 Estimates include provision for another 800 primary teachers. About 500 of these will be classroom teachers, which includes our commitment to reduce class sizes.

I assure the Deputy that we will continue to prioritise further improvements in school staffing going forward. We will also continue our focus on measures to improve the quality of education in our primary schools to ensure that increased resources lead to better outcomes for our children.

School Staffing.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

524 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of resource teachers that have been newly appointed in each of the past five years in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6468/07]

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

525 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of resource teachers that have been newly appointed in each of the past five years in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6469/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 524 and 525 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the information sought in respect of the number of newly appointed resource teachers in each of the past five years in primary schools in Counties Westmeath and Longford is not readily available in my Department.

As the Deputy is aware, there has been enormous progress made over the past number of years in relation to increasing the number of teachers in our schools who are specifically dedicated to providing education for children with special educational needs.

My Department implemented a new scheme for allocating resource teachers to all mainstream primary schools in September 2005. The general allocation scheme is designed to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special needs and those with learning support needs.

Pupils assessed as having low incidence disabilities, such as autism, may be eligible for an individual allocation of resource teaching hours following submission of an application by the school to the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO).

At primary level, there are now more than 5,500 teachers in our primary schools working directly with children with special needs, including those requiring learning support. This compares to approximately 1,500 in 1998.

At second level, approximately 1,868 whole time equivalent additional teachers are in place to support pupils with special educational needs. This compares to the approximately 200 teachers that were in place in 1998 for such pupils. In addition, there are 533 whole time equivalent learning support teachers in our second level schools.

The Deputy will also be aware that with effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has taken over key functions from my Department in relation to special educational provision. The NCSE was formally established as an independent statutory body on the 1st October 2005 under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2005. The Council acts under the broad policy direction of the Department of Education and Science but has the resources and the remit to play the leading role in the delivery of education services to children with disabilities/special needs.

Special Educational Needs.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

526 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants that have been appointed in primary schools in County Longford in each of the past five years. [6470/07]

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

527 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants that have been appointed in primary schools in County Westmeath in each of the past five years. [6471/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 527 together.

There are currently 56 Special Need Assistants (whole-time equivalents) employed in primary schools in County Longford with 159 employed in primary schools in County Westmeath.

As the Deputy is aware, there are over three thousand two hundred primary schools in the country. The compilation of information regarding the number of SNAs appointed to individual schools would require an inordinate amount of administrative time in my Department.

School Staffing.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

528 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of English language assistant teachers that have been appointed to schools in County Longford in each of the past five years. [6472/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table.

Language Support Teachers — County Longford
School Year	Number of Teachers
2002/2003	Nil
2003/2004	3
2004/2005	2
2005/2006	4
2006/2007 (to date)	9

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

529 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of English language assistant teachers that have been appointed to schools in County Westmeath in each of the past five years. [6473/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table.

Language Support Teachers — County Westmeath
School Year	Number of Teachers
2002/2003	8
2003/2004	8
2004/2005	9
2005/2006	11
2006/2007 (to date)	18

Schools Building Projects.

Seamus Healy

Ceist:

530 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will urgently meet a representative of a school (details supplied) and an Oireachtas Member in order to progress the location of a site for the new Gaelscoil; and if she will progress the planning and design of the school which has been in substandard and overcrowded accommodation for the past 13 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6485/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

At the outset, I want to assure the Deputy that the Department is anxious to provide a long term accommodation solution for the school to which he refers.

In this regard, the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, was asked to explore the possibility of acquiring a site for the school.

Following an advertisement seeking proposals in relation to possible sites a number of responses were received. Six sites have been visited and their technical suitability as a location for the school was considered.

Following this process, a site on the existing Tipperary Rural and Business Institute, TRBDI, campus emerged as the preferred option. This site is in the ownership of the Institute.

The TRBDI, however, has proposed to the Department that its campus be relocated to a large-scale technology park. Expressions of Interest were sought by TRBDI from the private sector to determine what exactly could be provided at the technology park in exchange for the Institute's current property in Clonmel. The Expressions of Interest sought required the incorporation of a suitable site for the school on the current campus or on an alternative site approved by the Department and the Office of Public Works. The Expressions of Interest received by TRBDI have been evaluated and detailed negotiations will now be entered into with the company that has submitted the tender provisionally identified as being the most economically advantageous.

When this process has been completed, the Institute will be in a position to make a final proposal to the Department for consideration and approval. At that point the situation in relation to a site for the school in question will be clearer. It would be more appropriate to meet with the school authority at that stage.

School Accommodation.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

531 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of an application for school accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if the application will be given priority in view of the projected enrolment figures and the increased numbers in the school; if she will expedite the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6490/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers.

The application was assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale works and was assigned a band 2 rating. Progress on the proposed works will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2007 onwards.

School Staffing.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

532 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will re-examine the decision not to grant a concessionary teacher to a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, who are amalgamating with another school in September 2007, in view of the fact that the school will have one teacher less when both amalgamate; if she will expedite a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6491/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The schools referred to by the Deputy will amalgamate on the 1st September 2007.

My Department has already granted the proposed amalgamated school a concessionary post. This post was granted in the 2006/2007 school year in order to allow the amalgamation to proceed.

School Accommodation.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

533 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation regarding the application for a physical education hall for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when this application was lodged; if she will grant sanction for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6507/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I can confirm to the Deputy that an application for capital funding to provide a PE hall has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building works and progress on the project is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2007 onwards.

Special Educational Needs.

Dinny McGinley

Ceist:

534 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will review resource teaching hours under the Education Act, 1998 for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal with learning difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6528/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The Deputy will be aware that my Department implemented a general allocation system of learning support/resource teachers to mainstream primary schools in September 2005. The system is intended to cater for children with high-incidence special education needs such as mild general learning disability and learning support needs, including dyslexia.

It is a matter for each school to identify the pupils with learning support and high-incidence special education needs that will receive supplementary teaching support. Each school will have enough resource teaching hours to provide its pupils with a level of support appropriate to their needs. The school can use its professional judgement to decide how these hours are divided between different children in the school, to ensure that all their needs are met. My Department issued a guidance circular to schools which contained detailed information on how the new system operates.

The needs of the child referred to by the Deputy fall to be meet from within the school's existing general allocation and the school in question has been provided with a general allocation of 17.5 resource teaching hours per week. The Deputy may be interested to know that the pupil has access to special needs assistant support in the school.

School Accommodation.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

535 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the increase of pupils in primary schools here is growing at an extremely fast pace and that many locations which have received permanent status under her Department are still utilising temporary accommodation which was set up at the onset of the school being founded; if her attention has further been drawn to a primary school (details supplied) County Galway which is a case in point; and her views on this case. [6656/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

An application for a new build school in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy has been assessed and the long term projected staffing, on which the accommodation needs will be based, has been determined and notified to the school authority. The current position regarding the site acquisition is that the Office of Public Works (OPW), which generally acts on behalf of the Department on the acquisition of sites for schools, has been asked to source a suitable site for the school in question. At this stage a number of sites have been identified and the OPW has commenced negotiations on the most suitable of these sites.

School Safety.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

536 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science if a teacher is being paid to supervise the yard and an incident occurs on the yard, if the school or the teacher will be liable if action is being taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6657/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

A school is entitled to payment for 37 hours supervision per annum for each full-time teaching post (including temporary full-time teaching posts), or to a minimum of 122 hours per school, whichever is the greater.

The number of full-time teaching posts allocated to a school on 30 September in a particular school year determines the number of hours supervision due to a school in that year.

Sections 14, 15 and 23 of the Education Act,1998 assigns each Board of Management and Principal Teacher responsibility for the day-to-day management of the school concerned.

The terms of Circular 16/73 provide that the Principals of primary schools should organise supervision for the order and general behaviour of the pupils during school hours. In particular, s/he should organise and participate in the effective supervision of the pupils during breaks, lunch-breaks, assembly and dismissal.

Rules 121(4) and 124(1) of the Rules for National Schools and Section 23(2) of the Education Act 1998 oblige teachers to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of pupils and to participate in supervising pupils when the pupils are on school premises, during school time and/or on school activities. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of all teachers individually and collectively to provide a duty of care at all times towards the pupils in the school in which they teach, including periods of supervision.

While my Department does not issue specific guidelines on requirements for supervision of different age pupils, it acknowledges that the degree of supervision required of school authorities varies with the circumstances, including the age of the pupil. This duty, in the case of very young pupils, might include an obligation to ensure that such pupils do not leave the classroom without appropriate supervision.

In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of individual school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. The Statement should identify potential hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate provision in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees and pupils. The Safety Statement should be reviewed on a regular basis.

I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on where the liability would lie in the type of situation to which he refers.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

537 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of civil servants within her Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6688/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Twenty seven (27) officers from my Department have transferred under the programme of decentralisation either directly to their location of choice or they relocated there within a very short period of their initial transfer. This information is available as it was known to my Department when these transfers were arranged. There are no records in my Department regarding the current location/assignment of a further 14 officers who transferred from its Dublin offices to other organisations in Dublin to await relocation to their location of choice as records are not maintained on officers in my Department when they transfer elsewhere.

Five percent (5%) of the 41 officers who have transferred to relocate have had a previous transfer within a two-year period of the decentralisation transfer. No officer from my Department has transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office to await relocation elsewhere.

Defence Forces Recruitment.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

538 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Defence the number of applicants to join the Defence Forces on the most recent occasion advertised; the number who were selected for interview; the number who were unsuccessful; if unsuccessful applicants may reapply on the next occasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6431/07]

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

The position is that the day to day administration of recruitment to the Defence Forces is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff.

I have been informed, by the military authorities, that the most recent advertisements placed seeking applications for positions in the Permanent Defence Force were for the Cadetship Competition 2007. The details of the number of applications received for this competition will not be available until after the closing date (12 March, 2007) for receipt of applications.

However as of 16 February, 2007 a total of 834 applications are on hands for General Service Enlistment to the Permanent Defence Force of which 563 have either attended or been called for interview. To date in 2007 4 general service recruits have been enlisted to the Permanent Defence Force.

An unsuccessful applicant may re-apply for a position in the Permanent Defence Force provided s/he meets all the eligibility criteria.

It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force will continue to maintain the strength at a level required to meet military needs and as set out in the White Paper i.e. 10,500 Permanent Defence Force all ranks.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

539 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Defence the number of civil servants within his Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6687/07]

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

The Government Decision on decentralisation provides for the relocation of the Dublin-based offices of my Department to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. A total of 200 staff will move to the new location.

While the site upon which the new office accommodation will be built will be sold by Kildare County Council to the Office of Public Works and the preferred tenderer to construct the building has been chosen by that Office, it is not anticipated that any staff will move to Newbridge prior to the completion and fit-out of the new building which is scheduled for late 2008. Therefore, no Newbridge-bound staff have transferred to offices outside the Dublin region as yet, but staff currently working in the Dublin region are being transferred to this Department in preparation for the relocation to Newbridge. There have been no transfers of staff based in offices outside Dublin to the Dublin offices of my Department.

In addition to the relocation of my Department to Newbridge under the decentralisation programme, the Civil Defence Board completed its relocation to Roscrea, Co. Tipperary in May 2006.

An advance party of 12 staff of the Civil Defence Board moved to temporary accommodation in Roscrea in September 2004 prior to the final move. 12 of the 22 staff currently serving in the Civil Defence Board transferred from my Department, with the balance transferring to the Board's new offices in Roscrea from various other Government Departments.

Water Conservation.

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

540 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether local authorities should cover the costs of individual water meters on farms in view of the Government’s stance on water conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6775/07]

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

544 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the cost of water meter installation in County Mayo should be borne by his Department in view of their fragmented nature and taking into account the multiple numbers which will be required in many cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6066/07]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 544 together.

Local authorities are required to recover from non-domestic water consumers all costs incurred in the provision of water services to those consumers. The application of the polluter pays principle, as required by the EU Water Framework Directive, entails the metering of non-domestic consumers so that a volumetric charge can be applied, with the cost of meter installation being borne by the metered consumers.

In response to concerns expressed by farming representatives in relation to the cost of metering and following a pilot billing project in one local authority area, I arranged for billing guidance to issue to local authorities in December 2006 to including a request that authorities consider the necessity for special discounting arrangements in the case of multiple water meters on fragmented small farm holdings. The guidance recommends that the total metering charge in such instances should not exceed 180% of the cost of the first connection irrespective of the number of meters. This represents a significant concession to farm holders with fragmented holdings.

Natural Heritage Areas.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

541 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when lands which are being purchased from persons in or around The Downs and the general Mullingar area by Dúchas, under the special conservation area and national heritage area schemes will be paid for as this has been ongoing for a considerable period of time in relation to the purchase of Turbary from these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5984/07]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

My Department has a number of applications on hand to purchase turbary rights under the Bog Compensation Scheme in or around the Downs and in the general Mullingar area. These purchase applications are at various stages, including matters which are either being dealt with by the Chief State Solicitor's Office or have been referred back to the applicant for further information. Each application will be processed as soon as possible following completion of the necessary legal and procedural requirements.

Grant Payments.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

542 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there is grant assistance available to persons who wish to remove and destroy asbestos from their general housing environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5985/07]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

There are no specific grants available from my Department or local authorities for the removal of asbestos in housing. There are, however, a number of targeted options currently available to assist especially vulnerable groups such as lower income households and elderly persons to secure necessary improvement works to their houses. These include the local authority house improvement loan scheme, the essential repairs grant scheme and the improvement works in lieu of local authority housing scheme, all administered by local authorities, and the Task Force on Special Housing Aid for the Elderly which is administered by the Health Service Executive.

The Essential Repairs Grant and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Grant schemes have been reviewed recently and will be replaced by the Scheme of Housing Aid for Older People, to be administered by local authorities, during 2007.

An information leaflet, Asbestos in Your Home, is available free of charge from ENFO, my Department's environmental information service. I have arranged for a copy to be forwarded to the Deputy.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

543 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the provision of an upgraded sewerage scheme for Adare, County Limerick. [6002/07]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level. The European Union has adopted two Directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal with public access to environmental information (2003/4/EC) and public participation in certain environmental decision-making procedures (2003/35/EC).

The process of transposition is already well advanced and will be completed as soon as possible. When full transposition is completed, the instrument of ratification of the Aarhus Convention will be submitted to Government and laid before the Dáil.

Library Projects.

The provision and improvement of non-national roads is a matter for local authorities to be funded from their own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department.

There have been significant increases in recent years in the level of State funding provided to local authorities for the provision, improvement and maintenance of non-national roads. State funding in 2007 for non-national roads, at over €607.5 million, is at its highest ever level, and represents a very substantial increase of 9% on last year's record allocation, or an increase of almost €50 million.

In determining the annual non-national road grant allocations, the overall objective is to resource each local authority appropriately in relation to their ongoing and special needs. Non-national road grants are allocated under a number of grant categories. The only grant categories which are calculated by reference to length of road are the discretionary improvement and maintenance and restoration maintenance categories.

Details of the 2007 grant allocations to each county council for the improvement and maintenance of non-national roads, the total length of non-national roads in each county council area and the funding per kilometre allocated to each county council under the discretionary improvement and maintenance and restoration maintenance grant categories are set out in the following table.

County Councils	Total 2007 grant allocation for the improvement and maintenance of non-national roads	Total non-national road length in county council area	2007 allocation per km under discretionary improvement and maintenance and restoration maintenance grants
	€	km	€
Carlow County Council	7,432,150	1,153	1,523
Cavan County Council	16,844,616	2,876	1,523
Clare County Council	20,142,783	3,940	1,523
Cork County Council	58,016,882	11,574	1,523
Donegal County Council	40,660,967	6,022	1,523
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council	14,841,650	652	3,044
Fingal County Council	7,119,239	1,022	2,285
Galway County Council	31,509,556	6,072	1,523
Kerry County Council	22,281,800	4,224	1,523
Kildare County Council	23,531,054	2,090	1,523
Kilkenny County Council	14,476,900	2,850	1,523
Laois County Council	12,188,682	1,973	1,523
Leitrim County Council	11,869,150	2,053	1,523
Limerick County Council	17,574,205	3,404	1,523
Longford County Council	8,441,320	1,466	1,523
Louth County Council	8,614,700	1,147	1,523
Mayo County Council	27,274,625	5,878	1,523
Meath County Council	29,486,200	2,925	1,523
Monaghan County Council	15,099,650	2,374	1,523
North Tipperary County Council	12,340,700	2,431	1,523
Offaly County Council	11,125,817	1,943	1,523
Roscommon County Council	17,197,750	3,720	1,523
Sligo County Council	14,246,503	2,499	1,523
South Dublin County Council	12,594,380	792	2,285
South Tipperary County Council	14,217,706	2,736	1,523
Waterford County Council	15,701,983	2,457	1,523
Westmeath County Council	15,892,060	2,004	1,523
Wexford County Council	16,877,850	3,188	1,523
Wicklow County Council	19,590,033	1,984	1,523

Local Authority Housing.

Barry Andrews

Ceist:

553 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the statistics on affordable and social housing over the past ten years in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6148/07]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

Details of the number of social and affordable housing units completed in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown over the ten years to 2005 and for the 9 months to end September 2006 have been published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas Library, or on the Department's website at www.environ.ie.

The main strategy for delivery of the Government's social and affordable housing programmes is through the 5-year Housing Action Plans. Like all local authorities Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown prepared their Action Plan in 2004 for the period 2004 to 2008. Action Plans are based on the overall analysis of need as established by the local authority housing strategy, and outline the proposed response in terms of new social and affordable housing, address regeneration and remedial works together with the proposed arrangements for management and maintenance of the stock. Details of individual local authority Action Plans are available from the local authority.

Architectural Heritage.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

554 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will amend the provisions of the conservation grant scheme with a view to extending the scheme to buildings in architectural conservation areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6177/07]

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

556 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has received submissions from Dublin City Council planning department to amend the current grant scheme to include grants for the restoration of buildings in the new pilot architectural conservation areas in Dublin City; if he will expedite consideration of this request to provide an incentive to residents to support the new ACA projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6363/07]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 556 together.

My Department supports a scheme of grants for the conservation of protected buildings. This is administered by local authorities who assess and prioritise applications and approve individual grants. The scheme is aimed at assisting owners and occupiers to carry out conservation works on structures of architectural significance in the Record of Protected Structures which the local authority has listed under the Planning and Development Act 2000.

It is intended to review the scheme in 2007 and consideration will be given to the level of grant assistance available to structures in an Architectural Conservation Area.

Under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, my Department will also administer a scheme of grants for the restoration and conservation of buildings of significant architectural heritage merit and which are in public ownership or open to the public generally.

The Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, also runs a Buildings at Risk grant scheme. Criteria for this scheme are available directly from the Council.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

555 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of international obligations to reduce Ireland’s carbon footprint, his attention has been drawn to recent UK government funded research into the food miles issue; his plans to commission similar research on the Irish aspects of the issue; if he will invite the Department of Agriculture and Food to commission Safefood or the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to conduct similar research here; if he will instruct people within his Department to do so; and if not, the reason for same. [6310/07]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I refer to the reply to Question No. 337 of 13 February 2007 to the Minister for Health and Children.

I am aware of the research to which the Question refers, and I do not believe that further research is necessary in the context of Ireland's Kyoto Protocol commitments. I have no plans, therefore, to commission, or to ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food to commission, similar research.

Question No. 556 answered with QuestionNo. 554.

Planning Issues.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

557 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the situation with regard to the requirement for planning permission for solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6365/07]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

On 5 November 2006, I published a consultation paper containing proposals to revise the exempted development provisions of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 so as to permit the installation of solar panels, and other micro-renewables, without planning permission in certain circumstances. Following the responses to the consultation paper, I laid draft exempted development regulations for approval before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 25 January. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment and Local Government considered the draft proposals on 15 February and are due to report their approval to this House and to the Seanad today. I intend to sign the Regulations as soon as possible after formal ratification of approval by both Houses.

Fire Stations.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

558 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the proposals he has to provide funding for the construction of a new fire station in Tallow, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6455/07]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. B. O’Keeffe)

Approval in principle was granted in 2001 for a new fire station in Tallow. While it has not been possible to provide funding for this station as part of the 2007 fire services capital programme which I announced last week, funding has been provided for various other priority projects which have been advanced in County Waterford since 2001. These include replacement stations and extensions or upgrading works at stations in Ardmore, Cappoquin, Dungarvan, Dunmore East and Tramore.

The provision of funding for a replacement fire station in Tallow will be considered under future fire services capital programmes having regard to overall resources and priorities under the programme.

Local Authority Funding.

Seamus Healy

Ceist:

559 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will approve funding through South Tipperary County Council for the appointment of a tenancy support worker and an outreach worker for the Simon Community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6456/07]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

My Department recoups to local authorities 90% of their approved current expenditure on the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Much of this expenditure is operated through projects managed by voluntary bodies. My Department has not to date received specific proposals from South Tipperary County Council for funding of a tenancy support worker and an outreach worker for the Simon Community. However, any decisions on funding for such a service would be a matter in the first instance for the local authority concerned.

EU Directives.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

560 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in relation to exclusion zones for the spreading of organic fertiliser and for soiled water relating to a public water supply and abstraction sources of a lake source, the lake edge is the inner boundary of the buffer zone or if it is the physical extraction point in the lake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6486/07]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The EU Nitrates Directive aims to protect all waters against pollution from agricultural sources. Particular care is required for the protection of public health in the case of waters which serve as the source of drinking water. The European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006 implement the Directive in Ireland and provide statutory support for good agricultural practice to protect waters against pollution from agricultural sources.

Article 17(2) of the Regulations includes a prohibition on the application to land of organic fertiliser or soiled water within specified distances from watercourses. In the case of lakes generally, the specified distance is 20 metres from the lake shoreline. Additionally, Article 17(2) of the Regulations prohibits the application to land of organic fertiliser or soiled water within specified distances from drinking water abstraction points: in general the specified distance for larger water supply schemes is 200 metres and for smaller supplies is 100 metres or 25 metres, depending on the size of the supply. These distances are measured from the actual abstraction point. These prohibitions are considered essential for the protection of sources of drinking water generally. However, in the case of specific abstraction points which are the subject of prior investigations, Article 17(5)(a) of the Regulations provides that a local authority may, following consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency, specify an alternative distance where the authority is satisfied that it is appropriate for the protection of waters being abstracted at that point.

Local Authority Staff.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

561 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of temporary planners or executive planners employed by each of the local authorities; the number of vacant positions for temporary or executive planners within each local authority; the reason for the temporary or vacant positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6494/07]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The latest information available in my Department for end 2005 is set out in the following table.

Local Authority	Executive Planner — Permanent	Executive Planner — Temporary	Executive Planner — Vacancies
County Councils
Carlow	2	0	0
Cavan	1	0	4
Clare	8	0	0
Cork	20	0	11
Donegal	8	0	0
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown	11	0	0
Fingal	13	0	1
Galway	7	0	0
Kerry	8	0	0
Kildare	9	0	0
Kilkenny	5	0	0
Laois	2	0	1
Leitrim	2	0	0
Limerick	8	0	0
Longford	0	1	0
Louth	3	0	0
Mayo	6	0	0
Meath	6	0	1
Monaghan	3	0	0
North Tipperary	3	0	1
Offaly	3	0	1
Roscommon	1	0	1
Sligo	4	0	0
South Dublin	6	0	3
South Tipperary	4	0	0
Waterford	2	0	0
Westmeath	5	0	0
Wexford	5	0	0
Wicklow	2	0	1
City Councils
Cork	5	0	0
Dublin	18	0	7
Galway	4	0	0
Limerick	0	0	0
Waterford	2	0	0

The staffing requirements in each local authority area, under section 159 of the Local Government Act, 2001, are a matter for the manager for the area, who is required to make such staffing and organisational arrangements as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.

Decentralisation Programme.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

562 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of civil servants within his Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of those who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of those people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6690/07]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I refer to the reply to Question No. 64 of 8 November 2006.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme all Dublin based operations of my Department are being decentralised, with the exception of Met Éireann, ENFO, the Private Rented Tenancies Board and a small co-ordination section which it is proposed to retain in Dublin to assist with the Department's Dáil and other business. The programme involves the relocation of my Department's operations to four locations in the South East: Wexford, Waterford, New Ross and Kilkenny.

As outlined in the most recent Progress Report (September 2006) from the Decentralisation Implementation Group, the indicative timescales for the completion of the Department's offices in Wexford, Kilkenny, New Ross and Waterford are Quarter 3 2008, End 2008, Quarter 4 2009 and Quarter 3 2010 respectively. To date no civil servants from my Department have decentralised to any of these four locations. My Department is, however, establishing an advance office in Wexford comprising about 40 staff; it is anticipated that this office will be established in the middle of this year.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Tuesday, 20 Feb 2007

Industrial Relations.

Tony Gregory

Ciarán Cuffe

Arthur Morgan

Tom Hayes

Seán Ryan

Olivia Mitchell

Olivia Mitchell

Bernard J. Durkan

Bernard J. Durkan

Bernard J. Durkan

Hospital Accommodation.

Enda Kenny

Hospital Services.

Jan O'Sullivan

Information Communications Technology.

John Perry

Jimmy Deenihan

Fergus O'Dowd

Fergus O'Dowd

Hospital Services.

Paul Connaughton

John Deasy

Infection Control.

Billy Timmins

Data Collection.

Róisín Shortall

Mental Health Services.

Damien English

Pat Rabbitte

Services for People with Disabilities.

Ivor Callely

Mental Health Services.

Seymour Crawford

Hospital Services.

Bernard Allen

Phil Hogan

Mental Health Services.

Dan Neville

Drugs Classifications.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Mental Health Services.

Dan Neville

Hospital Accommodation.

Willie Penrose

Nursing Home Charges.

Liz McManus

Health Services.

Damien English

Mental Health Services.

Michael Noonan

Michael Noonan

Health Services.

David Stanton

Parliamentary Questions.

Pat Breen

Hospital Staff.

Jimmy Deenihan

Services for People with Disabilities.

Thomas P. Broughan

Health Insurance.

John Gormley

Hospital Waiting Lists.

Liam Twomey

Liam Twomey

Health Insurance.

Willie Penrose

Hospital Services.

Dinny McGinley

Hospitals Building Programme.

Seán Ryan

Cancer Screening Programme.

Phil Hogan

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 2007