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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Feb 2010

Vol. 703 No. 1

Written Answers.

The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised].
Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, answered orally.
Questions Nos. 7 to 65, inclusive, resubmitted.
Questions Nos. 66 to 72, inclusive, answered orally.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

73 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to findings of The Poor Can’t Pay Coalition that identified that the social welfare payments of many categories of beneficiary meant that their income was considerably below the poverty line; and her plans to act on these findings. [8682/10]

As I advised the House on January 19 last, I have noted the contents of the analysis of Budget 2010 produced by the Poor Can't Pay coalition.

Despite the social welfare changes made in the Budget, the expenditure of my Department will still increase in 2010. As provided for in the Revised Estimates Volume published last week, nearly €21 billion will be spent on social welfare in 2010. This is 2.6% or €526 million more than the provisional expenditure figure for 2009.

The October 2008 budget provided for increases of between 3% and 3.8% in the basic payment rates at a time when inflation for 2009 was expected to be 2.5%. As we now know, prices declined by an average of 4.5% in 2009. This trend continued in January when prices declined by 1.1%. In arriving at the adjustments in welfare announced in the last Budget, the Government recognised that it is important to consider not just the overall change but also the impact on different groups. Overall, the reductions announced do not result in a decline in people's spending power having regard to the downward movements in prices.

Indeed, consumer prices are almost back to January 2007 levels. Yet, after Budget 2010, the lowest weekly rate of payment for those aged between 25 and 66 will be €10 higher than in 2007.

The Survey on Income and Living Conditions or SILC, which is undertaken annually by the CSO, is the official source of a number of indicators such as the ‘at risk of poverty' and consistent poverty rates. The latest results available apply to 2008. These show the considerable progress made since 2005. Over that period, the ‘at risk of poverty rate' has fallen from 18.5% to 14.4 % while consistent poverty has fallen from 7% to 4.2%. Future surveys will, in due course, report on the position for 2009 and 2010. These surveys will have regard to changes both in gross and disposable household income generally for those years as well as the social welfare changes, including improvements, the Government introduced in the period in question. The SILC report on 2009 should be available later this year.

I fully appreciate that the changes made in the welfare area are not easy for people but I believe that if the Government had not taken the steps now to reduce overall public expenditure and restore stability to the public finances, we would have run the risk of making the economic and social situation far worse for everyone, including welfare recipients, in the medium term.

Michael D'Arcy

Ceist:

74 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action she will take to alleviate the impact of the carbon tax on lower income households that are more likely to rely on higher carbon fuels and to live in badly insulated homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8956/10]

Mary Upton

Ceist:

78 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details of the fuel voucher scheme as announced in Budget 2010. [8924/10]

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

101 Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to develop a national fuel poverty strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8970/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 78 and 101 together.

The household benefits package is payable throughout the year to almost 380,000 pensioners, people with disabilities and carer households to assist them with their heating, light and cooking costs. This scheme cost approximately €200m in 2009.

In addition, the national fuel allowance scheme assists householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive payments with meeting the additional cost of their heating needs during the winter season. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full and must be seen in the context of the overall level of income available to the family.

In Budget 2009, the duration of the payment was increased by an extra 2 weeks to 32 weeks, while the weekly value of the allowance was increased by €2 to €20 a week, or €23.90 in designated smokeless areas. This compares with just €14 and €17.90 respectively in 2006.

Proper household insulation is absolutely vital in tacking fuel poverty. Initiatives such as the Warmer Homes Scheme, operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland, under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources have a very valuable role to play in that regard, as does funding from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to improve the quality of existing local authority housing and the Housing Adaptation Grants for older people and people with disabilities. Considerable progress has been made in this area in recent years.

The Government has announced its intention to introduce a carbon tax, which will come into effect on heating products from May 2010 and on solid fuels at a date to be set by commencement order.

Before the tax is applied to fuels for home heating, arrangements are being made to assist those most at risk of fuel poverty.

In his Carbon Budget Statement, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government outlined details of €130 million in funding for insulation, €76 million of which will be used to assist low income families. The Government is also conscious that families at risk of fuel poverty will need extra income support to meet the increasing costs of fuel as a result of the carbon tax.

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has overarching responsibility for the energy portfolio and has convened an Inter-Departmental/Agency Group on Affordable Energy to co-ordinate and drive Government policy in this area. The objective is to ensure a shared understanding of the challenges and actions underway and to ensure a fully cohesive strategic approach to delivery of affordable energy initiatives and programmes.

The Inter-Departmental/Agency Group has been asked to draw up an Energy Affordability Strategy for consultation early in 2010. This strategy will set out existing and future approaches to addressing energy affordability and will have regard both to the impact of the carbon tax on low income households and the range of supports outlined above in making its recommendations.

As part of its work, the Group will make recommendations as to the precise package of measures, including in the area of income support, that should be put in place to assist those at risk of fuel poverty in advance of the implementation of the carbon tax on home heating products.

Employment Support Services.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

75 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of job facilitators; the average waiting times to access support from a job facilitator; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8937/10]

Facilitators work closely with FÁS and other agencies at national and local level, to identify appropriate training and developmental programmes for social welfare recipients of working age to enhance the skills those individuals have and ultimately improve their employment chances as well as help them to develop personally.

The facilitator service is available to social welfare recipients at all local offices. Facilitators hold open clinics and meet with people who have been referred either by the social welfare local office or by other agencies. Arrangements to see the facilitator can be made by contacting the social welfare local office or the facilitator directly. In addition, cases are selected and referred to facilitators by employment support section.

The service was enhanced under the National Development Plan (NDP) Social and Economic Participation Programme. There are currently 59 facilitators in place, with a further eleven to be appointed, bringing the total in place to 70.

In the current economic climate the demand for the facilitator service is elevated. Waiting times to see a facilitator may vary nationwide. Actual waiting times for individual facilitators are not available. Facilitators make every effort to contact all interested customers as quickly as possible.

National Carer’s Strategy.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

76 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans for carers following the decision not to publish the National Carer’s Strategy. [9012/10]

The Government is acutely aware and appreciative of the contribution made by carers. It was for that reason, that when resources were available, we invested heavily in improving social welfare rates and services for all those who are reliant on the State for income support.

Over the past decade, weekly payment rates to carers have greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit, half-rate carer's allowance and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended. Where people are caring for more than one person they receive a higher payment. This equates to the personal rate for a person with the same means who is caring for one person plus 50% of the maximum personal rate. Recipients with children also receive a qualified child increase in respect of each child.

Following this year's Budget, the carer's allowance rates for carers over 66 years of age have not been changed and remain at €239. The rate of carer's allowance for someone under 66 is €212.

Since the introduction of the carer's allowance in 1990 payments to carers have been increased and expanded. Carer's allowance was increased in 2007, 2008 and 2009 by 1 2.1%, 6.5% and 3.3%, respectively. As a result, even with the reductions announced in last year's Budget for carers under 66, the weekly rate of payment for the carers allowance is still almost 20% higher this year than in 2006 and more than 147% higher than in 1997.

The means test for carer's allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse's earnings. Since April 2008, the income disregard has been €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €37,200 and qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. A couple with an income in the region of €60,400 can still qualify for a minimum payment, as well as the associated free travel, household benefits package.

These levels surpass the ‘Towards 2016' commitment to ensure those on average industrial earnings continue to qualify for a full carer's allowance.

From June 2005, the annual respite care grant was extended to all carers who are providing full time care to a person who needs such care, regardless of their income. The rate of the respite care grant has also been increased to €1,700 per year in respect of each care recipient since June 2008.

During 2008, an interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, with secretariat support provided by my Department, undertook work, including a public consultation process to develop a National Carers' Strategy. However, because of the prevailing economic situation, it is not possible to set targets or time limits which could be achieved. In that context, rather than publishing a document which did not include any significant plans for the future, the Government decided not to publish a strategy. This position remains unchanged.

Social Insurance.

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

77 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action she is taking to improve social security for self-employed persons. [8901/10]

The range of benefits and pensions to which different groups of workers may establish entitlement reflects the risks associated with the nature of their work. This in turn reflects the rate of contribution payable. Self-employed people are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 3% and are consequently eligible for a narrower range of benefits than general employees who, together with their employers, pay a total social insurance contribution of 14.05%, excluding levies, under the full-rate PRSI Class A.

Self-employed workers are not insured against short-term benefits such as illness and jobseeker's payments — these are only available to persons covered by PRSI Classes A, E, H and P. This reflects the need for coverage for various contingencies, the rate of contributions that self-employed persons pay, the practicalities of administering and controlling access to short-term payments and the annualised system of contributions that these same persons enjoy. A system of separate arrangements for employed and self-employed workers within a social insurance context is common in other European social protection systems.

There are no immediate plans to extend cover for short-term benefits to this group of insured workers. Any such measure would have significant financial implications and would have to be considered within a budgetary context. Consideration would also have to be given to an appropriate increase in the rate of the PRSI Class S contribution.

Self-employed workers who do not qualify for an insurance-based benefit may establish entitlement to assistance-based payments such as Jobseeker's Allowance. They can apply for the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance if their business ceases or if they are on low income as a result of a downturn in demand for their services. In general their means will take account of the level of earnings in the last twelve months in determining their expected income for the following year. In the current climate account is taken of the downward trend in the economy. It is accepted that future earnings may be lower than those of previous years and this is factored in projecting future earnings, with account being taken of the potential for significant upward or downward variations in income from one year to the next.

Question No. 78 answered with Question No. 74.

Social Welfare Benefits.

James Reilly

Ceist:

79 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average processing time it takes in respect of a claim for jobseeker’s benefit to be dealt with. [9007/10]

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

87 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average processing time for a jobseeker’s allowance claim to be dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9001/10]

Leo Varadkar

Ceist:

108 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons on a national, county and local social welfare office basis awaiting for their application for jobseeker’s allowance and benefit to be processed. [9009/10]

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

109 Deputy P. J. Sheehan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the processing time for individual social welfare offices to deal with a claim for jobseeker’s allowance. [8998/10]

Tom Sheahan

Ceist:

112 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the processing time for each individual social welfare office to deal with a claim in respect of jobseeker’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9002/10]

Mary Upton

Ceist:

133 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she will take to shorten the waiting times in respect of jobseeker’s payments. [8914/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 87, 108, 109, 112 and 133 together.

The total number of jobseekers awaiting a decision on their claim at 13 February 2010 was 54,534. This is a reduction of over 7,500 compared with the figures one month earlier and represents 11% of the total jobseeker claimload nationwide.

As I have previously mentioned to the House, even when the Live Register was at its lowest, there would always be 9 or 10 per cent of claims awaiting a decision. The current performance should be seen in the context that in 2009 alone, local offices received over 670,000 jobseeker claims.

I have set out below a table showing the breakdown of jobseekers benefit (JB) and jobseekers allowance (JA) claims awaiting a decision at each local office.

Average processing times for jobseeker claims decided during January were 2.15 weeks for jobseeker's benefit and 6.82 weeks for jobseeker's allowance. This is marginally higher than the figures for December 2009 when they stood at 2.03 weeks and 6.22 weeks respectively. The slight dis-improvement was caused by the Christmas/New Year holiday period together with extra numbers coming onto the live register at the start of the year. This happens every year.

I have also set out below a table showing the processing times at each local office during January.

Deputies will be aware of the particular difficulties presented due to the huge rise in unemployment in the past 18 months or so and the pressure this has brought to bear on the network of local offices and in the inspectorate.

To alleviate some of this pressure since May 2008, some 400 extra staff have been assigned to local offices, new Central Support Units and the Departments Inspectorate. At the same time the Department has been examining procedures surrounding the claim acceptance and decisions process with a view to streamlining them and achieving greater efficiencies where possible. I have mentioned these initiatives on a number of occasions. They include:

An appointment system whereby claimants can have their claim taken and decided during the appointment. This particular initiative has helped greatly in reducing waiting times. We have this system in operation in 33 local offices and plan to extend it to further offices.

A more streamlined procedure for claimants moving to jobseekers allowance when their jobseekers benefit expires.

A streamlined process for people who had a claim in the previous two years.

Application forms for the jobseeker schemes are now available on the Department's website. This means that anyone who wants to make a claim can print the form at home and bring it to the local office completed. This helps reduce queuing times.

More straight-forward procedures for providing evidence of identity and address have been introduced.

One of these streamlining initiatives, which is being trialled at present, relates to customers who are applying for jobseekers allowance on the termination of their jobseekers benefit entitlement.

In any of these cases where there are no elements of self-employment or property involved in the means assessment, the person will self-certify the various components of their means and a decision will be made by the Deciding Officer without the need to refer the claim to an Inspector. As a control measure a certain proportion of these claims will be selected at random and will be referred to an inspector for verification of the declaration of means in advance of the decision being made. It is expected that this initiative will be rolled out to the network of local offices in the coming months.

I realise the importance of getting claims decided as quickly as possible and I want to assure the House that staff in local offices and in the Department's inspectorate are doing all they can to reduce the numbers of claims awaiting a decision.

Table 1: Jobseeker claims awaiting a decision — 13 Feb 2010

Local Office

Parent Office

SWLO/ SWBO

Claimload

Pending

% Pending

%

Achill

Achill

SWLO

597

5

1

Apollo House

Apollo House

SWLO

3,029

193

6

Ardee

Drogheda

SWBO

2,783

514

18

Arklow

Arklow

SWLO

3,913

170

4

Athlone

Athlone

SWLO

4,680

511

11

Athy

Newbridge

SWBO

3,053

324

11

Balbriggan

Balbriggan

SWLO

5,440

804

15

Ballina

Ballina

SWLO

4,274

558

13

Ballinasloe

Athlone

SWBO

2,985

273

9

Ballinrobe

Loughrea

SWBO

1,436

148

10

Ballybofey

Donegal CO

SWBO

3,226

153

5

Ballyconnell

Cavan

SWBO

1,528

180

12

Ballyfermot

Ballyfermot

SWLO

3,754

260

7

Ballymun

Ballymun

SWLO

3,162

169

5

Ballyshannon

Donegal CO

SWBO

1,854

69

4

Baltinglass

Newbridge

SWBO

1,772

183

10

Bandon

Carrigaline

SWBO

1,883

196

10

Bantry

Bantry CO

SWBO

1,593

178

11

Bantry CO

Bantry CO

SWLO

434

39

9

Belmullet

Belmullet

SWLO

1,326

24

2

Birr

Athlone

SWBO

2,568

195

8

Bishop Square

Bishop Square

SWLO

10,319

1,253

12

Blanchardstown

Blanchardstown

SWLO

9,141

1,667

18

Boyle

Longford

SWBO

1,272

168

13

Bray

Bray

SWLO

5,960

370

6

Buncrana

Buncrana

SWLO

5,990

534

9

Cahir

Clonmel

SWBO

1,512

78

5

Cahirciveen

Cahirciveen

SWLO

1,041

84

8

Carlow

Carlow

SWLO

4,255

241

6

Carrickmacross

Dundalk

SWBO

1,985

137

7

Carrick-on-Shannon

Carrick-on-Shannon

SWLO

3,188

192

6

Carrick-on-Suir

Waterford

SWBO

2,281

298

13

Carrigaline

Carrigaline

SWLO

2,839

289

10

Cashel

Clonmel

SWBO

1,335

84

6

Castlebar

Castlebar

SWLO

2,845

325

11

Castleblaney

Dundalk

SWBO

2,197

150

7

Castlepollard

Mullingar

SWBO

1,667

263

16

Castlerea

Ballina

SWBO

2,313

411

18

Cavan

Cavan

SWLO

7,256

867

12

Claremorris

Ballina

SWBO

1,970

326

17

Clifden

Clifden

SWLO

1,669

80

5

Clonakilty

Carrigaline

SWBO

1,544

176

11

Clondalkin

Clondalkin

SWLO

10,884

1,158

11

Clones

Dundalk

SWBO

992

55

6

Clonmel

Clonmel

SWLO

3,087

213

7

Cobh

Cobh

SWLO

1,300

67

5

Coolock

Coolock

SWLO

5,844

773

13

Cork

Cork

SWLO

22,222

3,373

15

Dingle

Tralee

SWBO

988

51

5

Donegal

Donegal CO

SWBO

1,907

93

5

Drogheda

Drogheda

SWLO

9,145

1,316

14

Dun Laoghaire

Dun Laoghaire

SWLO

8,708

952

11

Dundalk

Dundalk

SWLO

7,433

348

5

Dunfanaghy

Dunfanaghy

SWLO

1,931

60

3

Dungarvan

Waterford

SWBO

2,569

276

11

Dungloe

Dungloe

SWLO

2,661

96

4

Edenderry

Mullingar

SWBO

2,553

388

15

Ennis

Ennis

SWLO

7,209

734

10

Enniscorthy

Wexford

SWBO

5,269

646

12

Ennistymon

Ennis

SWBO

2,170

189

9

Fermoy

Mallow CO

SWBO

3,108

348

11

Finglas

Finglas

SWLO

6,341

416

7

Galway

Galway

SWLO

14,919

2,064

14

Gorey

Wexford

SWBO

4,589

645

14

Gort

Ennis

SWBO

1,961

268

14

Kells

Navan

SWBO

2,222

344

15

Kenmare

Kenmare

SWLO

963

37

4

Kilbarrack

Kilbarrack

SWLO

6,219

492

8

Kilkenny

Kilkenny

SWLO

7,166

496

7

Killarney

Killarney

SWLO

4,057

581

14

Killorglin

Tralee

SWBO

1,638

59

4

Killybegs

Donegal CO

SWBO

1,495

55

4

Kilmallock

Newcastlewest

SWBO

3,093

216

7

Kilrush

Ennis

SWBO

1,767

205

12

King’s Inns Street

King’s Inns Street

SWLO

8,816

544

6

Kinsale

Carrigaline

SWBO

1,592

131

8

Letterkenny

Letterkenny

SWLO

6,690

322

5

Limerick

Limerick

SWLO

17,116

2,481

14

Listowel

Listowel

SWLO

3,701

293

8

Longford

Longford

SWLO

6,283

862

14

Loughrea

Loughrea

SWLO

3,038

393

13

Macroom

Mallow CO

SWBO

2,342

324

14

Mallow

Mallow CO

SWBO

3,036

278

9

Manorhamilton

Manorhamilton

SWLO

1,161

42

4

Maynooth

Ballyfermot

SWBO

7,012

973

14

Midleton

Carrigaline

SWBO

3,670

380

10

Monaghan

Dundalk

SWBO

3,122

213

7

Muine Bheag

Carlow

SWBO

2,164

150

7

Mullingar

Mullingar

SWLO

5,813

1,074

18

Navan

Navan

SWLO

6,534

1,425

22

Navan Road

Navan Road

SWLO

7,225

1,157

16

Nenagh

Thurles

SWBO

3,412

221

6

New Ross

Wexford

SWBO

3,906

481

12

Newbridge

Newbridge

SWLO

10,784

1,443

13

Newcastle West

Newcastlewest

SWLO

4,084

217

5

Newmarket

Listowel

SWBO

2,597

289

11

Nutgrove

Nutgrove

SWLO

5,791

236

4

Portarlington

Tullamore

SWBO

3,721

516

14

Portlaoise

Kilkenny

SWBO

4,258

497

12

Rathdowney

Kilkenny

SWBO

1,384

173

13

Roscommon

Longford

SWBO

1,602

150

9

Roscrea

Thurles

SWBO

1,546

80

5

Skibbereen

Bantry CO

SWBO

1,759

161

9

Sligo

Sligo

SWLO

5,280

597

11

Swinford

Ballina

SWBO

2,177

363

17

Swords

Swords

SWLO

5,221

806

15

Tallaght

Tallaght

SWLO

11,657

986

8

Thomas Street

Thomas Street

SWLO

5,194

335

6

Thomastown

Waterford

SWBO

1,646

226

14

Thurles

Thurles

SWLO

3,362

205

6

Tipperary

Clonmel

SWBO

1,958

134

7

Tralee

Tralee

SWLO

8,706

341

4

Trim

Navan

SWBO

4,155

864

21

Tuam

Loughrea

SWBO

4,446

482

11

Tubbercurry

Sligo

SWBO

1,262

28

2

Tulla

Ennis

SWBO

1,851

222

12

Tullamore

Tullamore

SWLO

4,673

287

6

Tullow

Carlow

SWBO

1,818

158

9

Waterford

Waterford

SWLO

14,348

1,620

11

Westport

Westport

SWLO

2,522

127

5

Wexford

Wexford

SWLO

8,042

865

11

Wicklow

Arklow

SWBO

2,458

100

4

Youghal

Carrigaline

SWBO

2,033

129

6

511,247

54,534

11

Table 2: Average Processing times for Jobseeker claims in January 2010

JB

JA

NATIONAL AVG

2.15

6.82

Achill

0.08

0.36

Apollo House

1.00

5.13

Ardee

3.17

9.39

Arklow

0.99

2.59

Athlone

3.99

5.09

Athy

2.63

6.98

Balbriggan

2.72

7.84

Ballina

2.97

8.05

Ballinasloe

1.85

8.87

Ballinrobe

1.17

9.48

Ballybofey

1.19

2.20

Ballyconnell

2.66

8.71

Ballyfermot

2.07

4.32

Ballymun

1.05

3.11

Ballyshannon

1.53

4.01

Baltinglass

2.29

7.92

Bandon

3.24

7.56

Bantry

2.66

6.21

Bantry Co

3.15

6.53

Belmullet

1.36

2.80

Birr

1.82

5.92

Bishop Square

1.69

10.02

Blanchardstown

1.76

13.34

Boyle

2.46

11.46

Bray

1.47

3.02

Buncrana

3.26

5.83

Cahir

1.60

2.59

Cahirciveen

2.06

4.74

Carlow

1.29

3.52

Carrickmacross

1.25

6.47

Carrick-On-Shannon

1.31

7.14

Carrick-On-Suir

4.03

5.32

Carrigaline

2.10

8.45

Cashel

1.66

4.43

Castlebar

3.24

3.54

Castleblayney

1.68

5.43

Castlepollard

2.78

17.72

Castlerea

3.05

12.58

Cavan

2.70

8.18

Claremorris

2.80

10.03

Clifden

1.50

5.47

Clonakilty

3.42

6.88

Clondalkin

2.26

6.97

Clones

1.24

3.82

Clonmel

0.81

2.91

Cobh

1.16

2.39

Coolock

3.65

5.85

Cork

1.61

9.39

Dingle

1.83

3.80

Donegal

1.68

2.95

Drogheda

2.37

9.58

Dun Laoghaire

1.69

5.99

Dundalk

1.02

2.85

Dunfanaghy

1.82

3.13

Dungarvan

2.53

6.54

Dungloe

1.58

5.15

Edenderry

2.47

14.78

Ennis

2.06

4.99

Enniscorthy

2.63

5.52

Ennistymon

2.62

4.56

Fermoy

3.62

7.22

Finglas

1.73

5.50

Galway

2.16

8.53

Gorey

2.93

8.00

Gort

4.22

7.87

Kells

2.74

10.90

Kenmare

1.31

3.26

Kilbarrack

1.62

2.91

Kilkenny

0.98

5.24

Killarney

1.11

10.13

Killorglin

1.53

3.63

Killybegs

0.70

2.03

Kilmallock

2.54

3.49

Kilrush

4.30

3.81

Kings Inns Street

1.23

3.09

Kinsale

2.22

7.74

Letterkenny

1.19

3.07

Limerick

3.78

9.83

Listowel

1.46

4.33

Longford

2.63

16.15

Loughrea

1.25

8.54

Macroom

5.30

7.72

Mallow Branch Office

3.66

4.27

Manorhamilton

0.85

1.07

Maynooth

3.59

10.48

Midleton

2.47

5.95

Monaghan

1.75

4.67

Muine Bheag

0.97

5.99

Mullingar

2.96

14.72

Navan

1.35

14.19

Navan Road

2.53

10.21

Nenagh

1.49

3.06

New Ross

3.43

8.13

Newbridge

2.24

5.79

Newcastle West

1.73

3.83

Newmarket

4.77

6.95

Nutgrove

1.93

2.19

Portarlington

1.60

9.03

Portlaoise

2.52

5.18

Rathdowney

3.02

3.68

Roscommon

1.99

5.97

Roscrea

1.35

3.40

Skibbereen

2.58

7.44

Sligo

1.28

8.15

Swinford

2.21

11.08

Swords LO

4.19

6.61

Tallaght

1.69

7.11

Thomas Street

1.59

5.60

Thomastown

4.02

6.46

Thurles

1.25

3.02

Tipperary

1.98

3.42

Tralee

2.01

3.75

Trim

2.97

10.16

Tuam

1.01

11.49

Tubbercurry

0.94

3.63

Tulla

4.29

5.07

Tullamore

1.22

5.98

Tullow

1.43

8.10

Waterford

3.21

6.08

Westport

2.60

1.65

Wexford

1.61

3.19

Wicklow

1.81

2.68

Youghal

2.15

3.58

Social Welfare Fraud.

Damien English

Ceist:

80 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied with the method of recording and calculating fraud control savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8963/10]

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

95 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding fraud control measures put in place by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8975/10]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

118 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the discussions she has had in the past 12 months with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform or An Gardaí Síochána on the sharing of information to combat social welfare fraud; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8674/10]

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

333 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied with the method of recording and calculating fraud control savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9237/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 95, 118 and 333 together.

The prevention of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system is an integral part of the day-to-day work of the Department. A key objective of the Department's control strategy is to ensure that the right person is paid the right amount of money at the right time.

In relation to savings in 2009 the Department recorded control savings of nearly €484m. It must be noted that control activity was being focused on prevention of fraud and error at claim application stage. Savings made from the detection of bogus claims at application stage cannot be estimated as the claim will not go into payment. However, this is the most cost effective mechanism of reducing losses through fraud and error in social welfare schemes.

Control savings are calculated by applying validated multipliers to the difference in the rate of payment before and after the control activity.

Multipliers used in assessing control savings estimate the total future savings to the Department of a revocation or reduction resulting from a control action. The multiplier used is based on the average amount of time the person who signs off will remain off the books before returning. This time varies from scheme to scheme.

Where overpayments occur the Department seeks to recover the overpayments and in cases of serious fraud, the Department will use all legal avenues open to it to recover the money defrauded and seek redress.

Fraud detection systems have also been improved through data matches with organisations such as the Revenue Commissioners on commencement of employment data, the General Registrars Office on Marriages and Deaths information, and many other organisations including the Departments of Justice, Environment, Education and other state bodies. In addition, a data matching programme is now in place to ensure that relevant information available in one area of the Department is applied to all schemes.

The recent Budget also includes funding of €7 million to allow the roll out of the new Public Service Card to commence. The card will contain a photograph and signature and will help to combat fraud.

Furthermore the number of anonymous reports from members of the public has increased dramatically in the past year, with over 6,400 reports made at end 2009 compared to approximately 1000 reports made in 2008. Each report is followed-up and savings are included in the savings reported within the individual scheme areas.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs has an extensive legal structure to support the sharing of data with other Government Departments and specified bodies such as An Garda Síochana and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for the purpose of combating social welfare fraud. Data matching is used as a method of identifying high risk social welfare claims for review.

The main example of on-going co-operation with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is data matching with the Irish Prison Service who supply the Department with lists of prison inmates on a quarterly basis. The lists are cross-checked to identify "live" social welfare claims. In such cases, the claim is terminated where it is established that the claimant is the person who is in prison. A number of DSFA social welfare inspectors are seconded to the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). The officers in CAB are actively engaged in identifying and targeting funds accumulated by criminals. They also investigate and review social welfare entitlements of persons who are suspected of deriving assets from criminal activity.

The DSFA social welfare inspectors seconded on a permanent basis to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) assist in the pursuit of the respective statutory remits with a particular emphasis on welfare fraud and breaches of immigration legislation.

There is close co-operation between DSFA and An Garda Síochana on the ground in relation to the multi-agency vehicle checkpoints and personation cases. The multi-agency checkpoints are set-up by the gardai and planned in consultation with other participating agencies. At the checkpoints, Gardai stop vehicles and refer certain vehicles to individual agencies where the occupants are interviewed. Staff participating in these checkpoints from the Department are drawn from the Special Investigation Unit, whose main duty is the detection and prevention of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system.

Cases of personation are referred by DSFA to the Gardai for follow-up investigation and possible prosecution.

The Department is committed to ensuring that social welfare payments are available to those who are entitled to them. In this regard the control programme of the Department is carefully monitored and the various measures are continuously refined to ensure that they remain effective.

Question No. 81 answered with Question No. 72.

Public Services Card.

John Deasy

Ceist:

82 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details on the public service card with photo ID to be rolled out from 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8957/10]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

120 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the timetable for the completion of the identity card scheme; the cost involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8673/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 120 together.

Legislative provisions in relation to the introduction of the Public Service Card have been included in Section 263 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended by Section 32 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007).

These specify that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs may issue a Public Service Card in the format that he or she deems fit with the person's name, personal public service number, photograph, signature, card issue number and card expiry date to be inscribed on the card. Provision is also included for the person's name, personal public service number, date of birth, sex, all former surnames (if any) of the person's mother, photograph, signature and card expiry date to be electronically encoded on the card. In addition, provision is made for any other information that may be prescribed to be either inscribed or electronically encoded on the card.

There are still a number of outstanding parts of the project that need to be undertaken. Decisions regarding the final design of the card will be taken as part of this process. It will also be necessary to develop a technical infrastructure within the Department to support the management and administration of the cards. Procurement for this development has just commenced. In addition, the managed service provider has significant preparatory work to undertake. For example it will be necessary to develop a secure site for the personalisation of the cards. These processes are expected to take several months to complete and, accordingly, it is not anticipated that cards will begin to issue before the latter half of this year.

The overall time for completion of initial deployment of a Public Services Card is dependent on the rate at which it will be possible to securely register those to whom it will be issued. Current expectations are that this will take about four years from commencement of issue.

The initial estimate for the overall cost of card deployment to all eligible citizens is around €24m. This will be spread over the complete period of deployment.

Question No. 83 answered with Question No. 72.

Social Welfare Code.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

84 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to update guidelines regarding the habitual residency rule to ensure a consistent approach by all deciding officers. [8907/10]

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

91 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to amend the habitual residency rule to provide greater weight to the length of previous residency by the applicant. [8908/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 91 together.

The determination of a person's habitual residence is made in accordance with Section 246 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. The most recent amendment was introduced by Section 15 of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2009 which provided that only persons who have a right to reside in Ireland can be regarded as being habitually resident in the State.

Following the passing of that Act, the operational guidelines of the Department were examined and all necessary changes on foot of this legislation were incorporated and updated on the Department's website on 8 February 2010. There are no further updates to the guidelines pending.

The Department's initial approach to ensuring consistency in regard to habitual residence was the establishment of a centralised decision-making area to examine this aspect in complex cases. This enabled a development of expertise and monitoring of the various situations and questions of interpretation as they arose. This small group of experienced deciding officers were then able to provide thorough and detailed training and ongoing support as the decision-making was devolved on a phased basis. In 2005 and 2006 the relevant scheme areas headquartered in Letterkenny, Longford and Sligo took over responsibility for the habitual residence aspect of their decisions. Since May 2009 the training and devolution has been rolled out to the Social Welfare Regions and Local Offices where decisions are made on entitlement to jobseeker's allowance and one-parent family payment claims. It is planned to complete this process within the next 2 to 3 months.

The Department's operational guidelines on habitual residence emphasise the need for consistency and any cases of apparent inconsistency which come to notice are examined with a view to ensuring that the guidelines, together with the ongoing support and training resources, adequately address any areas of uncertainty.

Deputy Quinn has asked about the weight given to previous residence in determining habitual residence. The legislation specifically directs the deciding officer to "take into consideration all the circumstances of the case, including, in particular, the following:

(a) the length and continuity of residence in the State or in any other particular country;

(b) the length and purpose of any absence from the State;

(c) the nature and pattern of the person's employment;

(d) the person's main centre of interest, and

(e) the future intentions of the person concerned as they appear from all the circumstances."

These five specified factors have been derived from European Court of Justice case law which examined the concept of habitual residence in the context of social welfare benefits. The Department's guidelines go on to point out that "No single factor is conclusive. The evidential weight to be attributed to each factor will depend on the circumstances of each case. It is necessary to weigh up all the information and balance the evidence for and against an applicant satisfying the habitual residence condition".

The fact of previous residence in the State, and the duration of that previous residence, cannot of itself determine whether a person's return to the State constitutes a resumption of habitual residence or will merely be a temporary return visit. Other factors, like the length and purpose of absence from Ireland and the future intentions of the applicant will also have a critical bearing on determining whether the person has maintained their centre of interest in the State, or has chosen to transfer that centre of interest back here, or whether their habitual residence is now in another country. The current guidelines address the issue of returning emigrants very specifically under the heading:

Resuming previous residence

"A person who had previously been habitually resident in the State or within the Common Travel Area and who moved to live and work in another country and then resumes his/her permanent residence in the State may be regarded as being habitually resident immediately on his/her return to the State.

In determining habitual residence in such cases the deciding officer should take account of

purpose of return e.g. expiry of foreign residence permit

the applicant's stated intentions

verified arrangements which have been made in regard to returning on a long-term basis e.g. transfer of financial accounts and any other assets

length and continuity of the previous residence in the State

the record of employment or self employment in another State and

whether s/he has maintained links with the previous residence and can be regarded as resuming his/her previous residence rather than starting a new period of residence."

I am satisfied that this addresses the issue appropriately and that Irish nationals returning to live in Ireland on a permanent basis should experience no difficulty in demonstrating that they satisfy the requirements of the Habitual Residence Condition.

Social Welfare Appeals.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

85 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average time it takes to process social welfare appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8978/10]

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

102 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she is taking to deal with the excessive waiting times for social welfare appeals. [8913/10]

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

103 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will make a statement on the length of time it is taking to process social welfare appeals; the reason for the delay; and the steps she is taking to clear the backlog of appeals. [8679/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 102 and 103 together.

I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that during 2009 the average time taken to process all appeals (i.e. those decided summarily and by way of oral hearing) was 24 weeks. However, if allowance was made for the 25% most protracted cases, the average time fell to 15.8 weeks. This represents an increase of 2 weeks in the time taken to process appeals when compared to 2008, but must be seen in the context of an increase of 46% in the number of appeals received during 2009 (25,963 in 2009 against 17,833 in 2008).

To deal with this increased workload, two additional Appeals Officers were appointed during 2009. However, the Chief Appeals Officer and 5 experienced Appeals Officers retired during 2009. Although their positions have now been filled, these retirements when coupled with the increase in appeals received, have impacted on the processing of appeals. Because of the quasi-judicial nature and complexity of the work there can be a relatively long lead in time before new Appeals Officers become fully competent to deal with the full range of cases coming to the Office.

The matter of assigning additional Appeals Officers is kept under constant review but any consideration of extra assignments must be taken in the context of overall government policy on civil service numbers.

Also, as I advised in answers to previous questions, the Chief Appeals Officer is keeping current processes under continuous review with a view to achieving a more effective throughput of appeals, while ensuring that any progress does not conflict with due process in terms of the rights of appellants and adherence to the requirements of natural justice.

Pension Provisions.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

86 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the contributory pension of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [2693/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Question No. 87 answered with Question No. 79.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

88 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will make a statement on the delays in processing applications for habitual residency, job seeker’s allowance, medical cards and disability allowance; and the steps she is taking to clear the backlog of applications. [8678/10]

Firstly, with regard to the Deputy's query on medical cards, this is a matter for the HSE. I have no role in the issuing of medical cards.

The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that all applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Claims are processed in the most efficient and expeditious way possible, having regard to the eligibility conditions that apply to each scheme.

The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes, including Jobseekers Allowance and Disability Allowance, with effect from 1 May 2004. For clarity, applications for habitual residency are not received in the Department. However, when an application for one of these social assistance schemes is received, the Deciding Officer has to be satisfied that the claimant is habitually resident in the state in addition to satisfying the other qualifying conditions for the particular scheme.

Jobseekers Schemes

As the House is aware, there has been a huge increase in claims for jobseeker's schemes due to the downturn in the economy. The live register grew from 290,018 to 423,595 in the 12 months to December 2009 which has put a strain on services in our offices.

The average processing time for claims decided in January 2010 was 2.15 weeks for jobseeker's benefit and 6.82 weeks for jobseeker's allowance. This is the average nationally — there are fluctuations between offices.

Processing times can vary depending on the complexity of the claim, the availability of the necessary documentation from the applicant or their employer and in some jobseeker's benefit cases, the need to request social insurance details from other EU countries.

In the case of jobseeker's allowance, as this is a means-tested payment, a means assessment has to be carried out. This may require a home visit by a Social Welfare Inspector. Some jobseeker's allowance claims can be complex, particularly if there is property (other than the family home) or self-employment involved. Furthermore, all applicants for jobseeker's allowance must satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition.

In order to deal effectively with the increasing workload, the Department has tackled the issues in a number of ways. Additional staff, including investigative staff, have been assigned to our offices. In addition, six central decision making sections have been set up in Dublin City, Tallaght, Finglas, Carrick-on-Shannon, Roscommon and Sligo. Several process improvement initiatives have also been introduced to streamline the claims acceptance and decision process.

Disability Allowance

Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to certain people with a disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.

Because there are three elements involved in establishing entitlement, this can add time to the overall claim adjudication process. Delays can also arise if people applying for the allowance are not in a position to supply all the necessary information in support of their claim at time of application. In some instances, claims have to be referred to Social Welfare Investigators for means assessments which can be complex and take some time to complete.

Measures introduced by the Department to address the efficiency of Disability Allowance claim processing include the review of existing processes and procedures with the objective of reducing delays in claim processing, the review of ongoing staffing requirements and the judicious application of overtime working.

Another measure to improve the claim processing time is an increase in the number of claims which are desk assessed for means purposes with only the more complex cases being sent to Social Welfare Inspectors for investigation.

In addition, all claims are now being desk assessed by the Department's Medical Assessors, which saves time and resources.

The position regarding claim processing times over all schemes will continue to be closely monitored by the Department.

Anyone who is under financial pressure while awaiting a decision on their claim for a jobseekers scheme or Disability Allowance may apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance, which is subject to a means test and other qualifying conditions.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

89 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied with the capacity of the money advice and budgetary service to negotiate on person’s behalf with financial institutions and sub prime lenders in relation to mortgage arrears; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8992/10]

The money advisers throughout the country focus on providing assistance, advice and intense support to people who have financial difficulties. The money adviser works out a budget and negotiates on behalf of the client with all creditors, including financial institutions and sub-prime lenders, to secure better terms for the client in managing the repayment of their debts. Where required by the client, the money adviser can assist with setting up a special account with a local Credit Union, into which an agreed amount of money is lodged regularly, and from which each month the money adviser makes the repayments to the creditors on behalf of the client. In 2009 some 2,618 special accounts were set up with the local Credit Unions.

Focused training programmes designed to equip money advice staff and local management boards to meet the demands on the services are provided by MABS NDL, the national support company. In addition, MABS NDL has introduced a number of community education and other initiatives to assist the services in managing their increased caseloads. These include a money management education programme for people facing redundancy to inform them about managing on a reduced income and how to avoid getting into debt.

Under the statutory code of conduct on mortgage arrears published by the Financial Regulator, all financial institutions including the banks and sub-prime mortgage lenders must, where circumstances warrant it, refer a borrower in difficulty for guidance to a local MABS office or to an appropriate alternative.

An operational protocol ‘Working Together to Manage Debt' is in place and is the result of almost 2 years work by MABS NDL and the Irish Banking Federation (IBF), the main representative body for the banking and financial services sector. The protocol applies to all client debts, including mortgage debt owed to the major lending institutions in Ireland and includes a commitment that no legal action will be taken as long as there is compliance by the client with an agreed repayment plan.

Last year an additional 19 money advisers were recruited by MABS between September and December, bringing the number of MABS staff to 271. The additional advisers have been appointed to MABS companies throughout the country.

I am confident that the MABS is well equipped to provide a high quality personal service to assist people in overcoming their indebtedness and managing their finances.

Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

90 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to formalise the system of allocating financial support resulting from extreme weather events. [8927/10]

Financial support for people who have suffered as a result of an emergency event, including extreme weather events is normally addressed through the exceptional and urgent needs payment provisions of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

Under the legislation governing the scheme, the HSE may make a single payment to meet an exceptional need to people on social welfare or health board payments. This is a once-off payment to meet an unforeseen or special need that cannot be met from a person's basic income. Assistance in the form of an urgent needs payment can be also made to persons who would not normally be entitled to SWA, to assist, for example in cases of an extreme weather event with immediate needs, such as food, clothing, fuel, household goods and shelter. Assistance can be provided to people affected in cash or in kind. There is no automatic entitlement to these payments. Each application is determined on the particular circumstances of the case.

Where a particular event has caused loss and damage to a large number of people on a wide-spread scale and the support required is greater than can be coped with by the usual assistance mechanisms then humanitarian assistance can be considered. A decision to provide humanitarian aid to people in an area affected by an emergency event can only be made by the Government. Humanitarian assistance is designed to provide hardship alleviation assistance, as opposed to compensation, to people affected by an emergency event who are not covered by insurance and is based on an income test.

In recognition of the devastation suffered by people in many areas of the country as a result of the flooding from November 2009 onwards the Government set up a humanitarian assistance scheme to provide income tested financial support to people who have suffered damages to their homes not covered by insurance.

Community Welfare Service staff throughout the country have been providing support to families since this flooding occurred. Up to the 12th February 2010 they had already made over 2,406 payments to 1,189 individuals to the value of €925,000. The average payment per individual is over €777; with the largest payment to an individual was in excess of €20,000. Initially, the vast bulk of applications for humanitarian assistance were for small amounts to assist with basics such as food, clothing, bedding, heating and the hire of dehumidifiers.

As the flood waters began to recede in some areas and householders were able to assess the extent of damage to the contents of their homes, claims have been submitted and approved for items such as carpets, flooring, furniture and white goods.

While assistance is available for structural repairs to homes not covered by household insurance, very few large scale claims have been made at this stage. This is because homeowners have not yet established the cost of repair in many cases, for example because they are awaiting a builder's estimates. It is expected that large scale claims will be received over the coming weeks.

People seeking assistance in the event of an extreme weather event should contact their local Community Welfare Office. Further information in relation to exceptional and urgent needs payments and the humanitarian assistance scheme are available from the Community Welfare Service and from the Department's website (www.welfare.ie) and the HSE's website (www.hse.ie).

Question No. 91 answered with Question No. 84.

Pensions Provisions.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

92 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the continued delay in arriving at a decision on the national pensions framework. [8919/10]

Sean Sherlock

Ceist:

97 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on changing pension policy here by standard rating all tax relief on pension contributions and using the proceeds to provide for a universal pension with a top-up based on contributions as advocated by a group (details supplied). [8920/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 97 together.

The Green Paper on Pensions outlined the challenges facing the Irish pensions system in the years ahead, including the sustainability of the system over the longer term in light of demographic change and the adequacy of contribution levels and benefits. The consultation process that followed publication of the Green Paper reflected the wide range of views and interests held by individuals and organisations throughout the country. While there was no consensus on ways to respond to the challenges facing our pension system, it was clear that there were significant issues and problems that people wanted addressed.

Since the Green Paper was published in October 2007, the economic environment has changed considerably and the Government needs to ensure that any decisions we make in the pensions area will be robust enough to withstand the challenges that will arise in the future. We must make decisions now to ensure the adequacy of retirement incomes for this and future generations and, at the same time, develop a system that is affordable and sustainable for the State and for those who sponsor and provide pension schemes.

In the past 18 months or so the Government has taken a number of steps to respond to the immediate difficulties facing pension scheme members, particularly members of defined benefit schemes. These include the establishment of a pensions insolvency payment scheme and a reordering of wind-up priorities so that, in any defined benefit wind-up situation, employees and former employees who have not yet retired may still receive a large proportion of their benefits. The Government has also introduced provisions to allow for more flexible restructuring of pension benefits and stronger regulation regarding remittance of pension contributions. We have also protected people in receipt of the State pension by retaining the rates of pension and other social welfare payments for older people in the recent Budget.

The Government is aware that the wider and longer-term pensions policy issues require a comprehensive and co-ordinated response and has been considering a number of options to address the challenges facing our pension system. Uncertainty in the economic climate has increased the complexity of the decisions we must make but it does not prevent or deter the Government from making these vitally necessary decisions. However, it does require us to give very careful consideration, and it is precisely because the development of the national pensions framework involves decisions on such a wide range of future and complex issues that we have been spending a considerable amount of time working on it.

Taxation policy is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance. However, as the Deputy is aware the Renewed Programme for Government includes a commitment to introducing a standard rate of tax relief on pension contributions in the context of the National Pensions Framework. As the framework is still being developed I cannot say what it will include. However, I can say that our objective is a pension system which will deliver an adequate retirement income for all which is, at the same time, affordable and sustainable for the State, and those who sponsor and provide occupational pensions systems. We are determined that the actions we take will be aimed at ensuring that we reform pensions on a basis that is fair, transparent and sustainable.

I expect that the framework will be published shortly.

Social Welfare Code.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

93 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to use the impending Social Welfare Bill to reform family income supplement to ensure that all low income families qualify at least in part for this scheme. [8894/10]

The Family Income Supplement (FIS) payment provides income support for employees on low earnings with children. The manner in which the value of the payment is calculated is designed to preserve the financial incentive to take-up or remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might be only marginally better off on social welfare payments.

Fundamental to the design of the FIS scheme is that a person must be engaged in insurable employment for a minimum number of hours — currently 38 hours per fortnight. A couple may combine their hours of employment to meet the qualification criteria.

The payment amount is based on a fixed proportion of the gap between the assessable income of the household and prescribed FIS income thresholds. As these thresholds are linked with the number of dependent children in a household, FIS provides an important policy instrument in reducing child poverty in working households as well as improving incentives to work.

Considerable improvements have been made to FIS since the late 1990s. These have improved its effectiveness as an instrument of support for low-income employees. These changes include a change in how income is assessed (that is, from a gross to net basis) and, in recent years, the re-focusing of income thresholds to include additional gains for larger families. Partly as a result of this, and partly reflecting higher levels of employment in lower-wage jobs, spending on FIS has risen from €33 million in 1997 to an estimated €215 million in 2010.

Increases to FIS thresholds were already announced as part of the Budget 2010 package. These increases effectively compensate low-income households on FIS for the necessary reduction in child benefit rates. I do not propose to use the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill to make any further significant changes to the qualifying criteria of FIS at this time.

My Department is currently carrying out a review of policy and value-for-money review in the area of child income support. The review, which is expected to be completed later in the year, will address some of the broader issues raised around the FIS payment so as to ensure that overall policy in this area remains effective and efficient.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

94 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of families eligible for the family income supplement; the number of families in receipt of the family income supplement; her views on the low uptake of the family income supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8965/10]

The Family Income Supplement is designed to provide support for people with families who are on low earnings. This preserves the incentive for them to remain in employment in circumstances where they might only be marginally better off than if they were claiming other social welfare payments. FIS is a central element of a programme of reforms targeted specifically at addressing child poverty.

There are currently some 26,081 people in receipt of a weekly FIS payment. In 2009, the Department received 46,542 new and renewal FIS claims compared to 42,940 in 2008 and 37,861 in 2007 — an increase of over 8% on 2008 and over 22% on 2007.

With regard to the level of take up, it is not possible to estimate from administrative sources the number of families who would be eligible but do not apply for their FIS entitlements. Accordingly, the Department completed a research project in 2008 to examine factors behind the level of take up for the scheme.

This research project included a survey of over 3,000 families that appeared to satisfy conditions for receipt of FIS. From over 1,000 valid responses received, the survey identified that only 23% might actually be eligible.

The research also found that overall awareness of Family Income Supplement among potential recipients is high, with nearly three in four claiming to have heard of the scheme. Despite high levels of awareness of the existence of the Scheme, there appeared to be less awareness and understanding of the eligibility requirements, with only one in three claiming to be aware of the qualifying criteria for FIS.

The report recommended that the Department needs to ensure that information about the scheme is advertised in a focused way with the eligibility and qualification criteria communicated as clearly as possible. The Department is addressing this by ensuring such information is highlighted as part of its ongoing information strategy.

Question No. 95 answered with Question No. 80.

Employment Support Services.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

96 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the discussions she has had with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding amalgamating parts of FÁS activation programmes with her Department. [8918/10]

TheIrish National Employment Action Plan (NEAP), adopted by the Government as its response to the European Employment Guidelines, included a commitment to a more systematic engagement of the Employment Services with the unemployed. The NEAP is operated jointly by this Department and FÁS.

The National Employment Action Plan is a systematic process whereby persons in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance are identified by the Department of Social and Family Affairs for referral to FÁS. The purpose is to facilitate access to the range of employment and training services offered by FÁS.

Implementation of this commitment commenced in September, 1998. From that date, all persons under 25 who had reached six months on the Live Register were referred by the Department of Social and Family Affairs for interview by FÁS. As the Employment Action Plan progressed, the programme was extended to include other groups crossing nominated thresholds of unemployment and the activation period reduced from 6 months to 3 months.

Development of the NEAP is currently under consideration by an interdepartmental group on activation. This work is focusing on issues such as referral times, data exchange and maximizing capacity, and will inform a planned review of this Department's memorandum of Understanding with FÁS.

I am confident that National Employment Action Plan will be enhanced in its role in assisting unemployed persons enter or return to the labour force.

Question No. 97 answered with Question No. 92.

Social Welfare Code.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

98 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to reform the one parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8948/10]

The Government believes that the current arrangements, whereby a lone parent can receive the One-Parent Family Payment until their child is 22, without any requirement for them to engage in employment, education or training, are not in the best interests of the recipient, their children or society.

Despite improvements made to the One Parent Family Payment over the years, a large proportion of lone parents and their children are still experiencing poverty.

In general, the best route out of poverty is through employment. We recognise that work, and especially full-time work, may not be an option for parents of young children. However, we believe that supporting parents to participate in the labour market, once their children have reached an appropriate age, will improve both their own economic situation and the social well-being of themselves and their families.

The Department has undertaken a comprehensive review of the One-Parent Family Payment and developed proposals which are designed to:

Prevent long-term dependence on welfare and facilitate financial independence;

Recognise parental choice with regard to care of young children but with the expectation that parents will not remain outside of the labour force indefinitely, and

Include an expectation of participation in education, training and employment, with supports provided in this regard.

To meet these social policy objectives, the Government is considering various options for limiting the length of time for which the One-Parent Family Payment can be paid (including the age of the youngest child). Any such changes would be phased in over a number of years for existing recipients to enable lone parents to access education and training and to prepare them for their return to the labour market.

The changes will also bring Ireland's support for lone parents more in line with international provisions, where there is a general movement away from long-term and passive income support. The EU countries achieving the best outcomes in terms of tackling child poverty are those that are combining strategies aimed at facilitating access to employment and enabling services (e.g. child care) with income support.

We are conscious that many lone parents will need access to education, training and activation measures in order to acquire the skills they will need to gain employment. The Department has been working closely with other agencies to ensure that the broader needs of lone parent families are met and the changes to the One-Parent Family Payment currently being finalised will be progressed in that context.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

99 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the cumulative effects of cuts to social welfare payments for families that have more than one person claiming benefits, particularly those with dependants; and the way she will help families in this position. [8680/10]

In Budget 2010, the weekly personal rates of welfare payments payable to persons aged under 66 were reduced by amounts ranging from 3.5% to 4.2%. This range of decrease also applied where both of a couple are claiming a payment in their own right. Where a recipient is claiming an increase for a qualified adult, the qualified adult increase was decreased by the same percentage as the personal rate of payment.

In the case of persons who have dependent children, the rate of the qualified child increase was increased by €3.80 per week. This level of increase fully protected families who are dependent on social welfare from the reduction in the rates of child benefit. Improvements were also made to the family income supplement scheme to fully protect recipients from the child benefit reduction.

I fully appreciate that the changes made in the welfare area are not easy for people but I believe that if the Government had not taken the steps now to reduce overall public expenditure and restore stability to the public finances, we would have run the risk of making the economic and social situation far worse for everyone, including welfare recipients, in the medium term.

Social Insurance.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

100 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on reviewing the changes made in the treatment benefit scheme in budget 2010 to ascertain whether savings will be made by modifying the changes in a way that is less severe on persons who have made the necessary PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6973/10]

Treatment Benefits are paid to insured persons from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). Although the SIF has operated a surplus since 1996, this position began to change in 2008 when expenditure had to be partially funded from the accumulated surplus. Expenditure continued to exceed PRSI and investment income to the Fund in 2009 and it is expected that the accumulated surplus will be completely exhausted in the first half of 2010.

It is estimated that the Exchequer will be required to subvent the Fund by more than €1 billion this year. The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes advised the Government that, given the other pressures on the SIF, continuation of the Treatment Benefit scheme was no longer affordable.

It is against this backdrop that the Government took the difficult decision to reduce expenditure on the scheme and changes were announced in Budget 2010.

From 1 January 2010, treatments available under the optical and dental elements of the scheme are limited to the free examination. The continued provision of a free examination will allow people to continue to have regular optical and dental check-ups and help ensure the early detection of disease and other health issues.

The Department of Health, under the medical card scheme, provides dental and optical services for customers on low incomes. The service is provided through the same group of contractors that supply services under the Treatment Benefit scheme.

There has been no change to the medical appliances element of the scheme. Hearing Aids and Contact Lenses required for medical reasons will continue to be provided on the same basis as before. This means that a grant of 50% of the purchase price, to a maximum of €760, is available towards the cost of appliances under the scheme.

People who, at 31 December 2009, were undergoing a course of dental or optical treatment or who had applied for approval to commence treatment will have their applications processed under the rules which operated prior to 1 January 2010.

In the period between the budget announcement and the end of December 2009, over 150,000 applications for approval in respect of dental treatments and over 20,000 in respect of optical treatment were received from practitioners on behalf of their customers. These approval requests have been processed and notification issued to the dental and optical practices concerned.

Treatments must commence within 3 months of approval being given and must be completed with 6 months of commencement.

Savings of €54m were originally envisaged in 2010, and while the increased level of enquiries for treatment in the last few weeks of 2009 will impact on that figure, it is still anticipated that substantial savings will result in 2010.

Over 2 million PRSI contributors are still eligible for the free dental and optical examination and medical appliance benefit in 2010. In 2009 over 418,000 customers claimed a free dental examination at a cost of over €14m. In addition, 219,000 free eye examinations at a cost of almost €5.5m were also provided. There were also 7,500 treatments under the medical appliance scheme, at a cost of over €7.5m. Similar level of applications can be expected this year.

The Government ha s indicated that it will review its decision in relation to the treatment benefits scheme in advance of the next budget in the light of prevailing financial circumstances at that time.

Question No. 101 answered with Question No. 74.
Questions Nos. 102 and 103 answered with Question No. 85.

Departmental Expenditure.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

104 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she is taking to reduce the cost of the one parent family payment by ensuring that all parents capable of making maintenance payments do so. [8922/10]

All one–parent family payment (OPFP) applicants are requested to provide details of the other parent of their child (ren). This information includes the name, address and whether he/she is in employment or receiving payments from the Department or the Health Service Executive (HSE). The applicant is also requested to submit long version birth certificates for each child. In a significant number of cases the other parent of the child will be named on the child's birth certificate.

Applicants for one-parent family payment are required to make ongoing efforts to look for adequate maintenance from their former spouses, or, in the case of unmarried applicants, the other parent of their child. They must satisfy the Department that they have made reasonable attempts to obtain such maintenance.

Separated one parent family payment claimants must demonstrate that they have made reasonable efforts to obtain support before their lone parent payment is awarded. Unmarried claimants must demonstrate similar efforts after their claim is awarded. Guidelines as to the steps to be taken in making reasonable efforts to obtain maintenance are published on the Department’s website.

The purpose of the Department of Social and Family Affairs' maintenance recovery operation is to recover some or all of the moneys being expended on social welfare payments for lone parents.

In every case where a one-parent family payment is awarded, the maintenance recovery unit of the Department seeks to trace the other parent, referred to as the liable relative, in order to ascertain whether he or she is in a financial position to contribute towards the cost of one-parent family payment. The follow-up activity takes place within 2-3 weeks of the award of payment.

All liable relatives assessed with maintenance liability are notified by the Department and they are issued with a determination order setting out the amount of contribution assessed. The amount assessed can be reviewed where new information comes to light about the financial or household circumstances of the liable relative. Decisions on the amounts assessed can be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

During 2009 the maintenance recovery unit has examined 13,191 cases and issued determination orders to 2,170 liable relatives. Of the 2,170 Determination Orders issued in 2009, 72.5% of the liable relatives were already contributing to the lone parent.

Direct contributions from liable relatives in 2009 amounted to EUR 3.3 million.

Social Welfare Code.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

105 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons who have been refused a social welfare payment on means test grounds in each of the past three years; the number of persons who were previously self-employed; the number of persons who have been refused a payment on the grounds of failure to comply with the habitual residential clause; the number of persons who have failed on medical or means grounds to qualify for carer’s or respite care allowance; the number of persons who have been refused child benefit; the grounds for such refusal; the number of persons who have been refused old age or widows or widowers pension; the most common ground for such refusal; the number of persons who have been refused disability or sick benefit allowances or payments; the number of persons from other EU member states who have been refused social welfare payments here on whatever grounds; the number of such states with which this country has bilateral social welfare agreements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9034/10]

The statistical information requested by the Deputy is not readily available within the Department.

Ireland has Bilateral Agreements on Social Security with the UK, Austria and Switzerland. All three agreements are non-effective in so far as they have been superseded by EU Legislation following the entry of both the UK and Austria to the EU and an agreement between Switzerland and the EU that they would be covered by EU legislation in the area of Social Security. The Bilateral Agreement with the UK is still effective in so far as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are concerned as these Islands are not included within the scope of EU regulations on Social Security.

Employment Support Services.

Catherine Byrne

Ceist:

106 Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the additional supports that have been given to job facilitators to deal with the increased demand for access to support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8942/10]

The Department's facilitators work with social welfare recipients of working age, including people in receipt of jobseekers payments, people parenting alone, people in receipt of disability welfare payments and people providing care, to promote participation and social inclusion.

Facilitators work with social welfare recipients to identify appropriate training or development programmes which will enhance the skills that the individual has and ultimately improve their employment chances, as well as help them to continue to develop personally. Facilitators develop individual progression plans with the customer. They are located throughout the country and are assigned to cover defined geographical areas. They work closely with FÁS and other agencies at a local level to identify and target appropriate education, training and development opportunities.

In the current economic climate the demand for the facilitator service is elevated. Facilitators make every effort to contact all interested customers as quickly as possible.

A formal targeted programme of activation was introduced under the National Development Plan (NDP). Under this programme, the Department actively selects cases for referral to facilitators. 21,500 cases were referred to facilitators during 2009.

The facilitator service was enhanced under the National Development Plan (NDP) Social and Economic Participation Programme. 23 additional facilitators have been appointed since September, 2008 (59 are currently serving) with a further 11 due for appointment. There are currently 59 facilitators in place. Clerical support for facilitators is provided centrally by Employment Support Services section.

Facilitators have two funding streams available to them; the Activation and Family Support Programme (AFSP) and the Technical Assistance and Training Scheme (TATS). The purpose of the AFSP is to enable the Department to assist local organisations and agencies to implement projects addressing the disadvantaged personal, social and economic circumstances of recipients of welfare payments and their families. Such projects are usually co-funded by the AFSP with other agencies or organisations. The provisional spend for 2009 is approximately €5m.

Under the technical assistance and training scheme (TATS), a welfare recipient may qualify for a grant up to a maximum of €1,000. The grant is mainly targeted towards certain business start-up expenses of clients in receipt of the back to work enterprise allowance scheme. This fund is designed to enhance the person's prospects of succeeding in becoming independent of the social welfare system through support for training in the areas of starting a business, book-keeping/accounts, preparation of business plans, marketing, literacy and computer training or assistance with the purchase of small items of equipment.

Provisional spend for 2009 i s approximately €3.5m.

The number of facilitators in place, their workload, and the effectiveness of the service will continue to be monitored.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

107 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the discussions she has had with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding a faster transfer of applicants from rent supplement to the rental accommodation scheme. [8909/10]

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

110 Deputy Pádraic McCormack asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons claiming rent supplement for more than 18 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8984/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 110 together.

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer.

There are currently almost 93,200 tenants benefiting from a rent supplement payment — an increase of 55 per cent since the end of 2005. Over half of these recipients have been in payment for more than one year, while over 33,000 have been in payment for 18 months or more.

The rental accommodation scheme (RAS), which was introduced in 2004, gives local authorities specific responsibility for meeting the longer term housing needs of people receiving rent supplement for 18 months or more. Details of these cases are notified regularly by the Department to the local authorities. Local authorities meet the housing needs of these individuals through a range of approaches including the traditional range of social housing options, the voluntary housing sector and, in particular, the RAS.

Latest figures from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government indicate that to date, local authorities have transferred over 13,400 rent supplement cases to the RAS while a total of over 24,800 transfers from rent supplement has occurred since 2005 : housing authorities have also transferred a further 11,413 recipients to other social housing options.

It is accepted that progress in relation to RAS was initially slower than expected. However the pace of delivery has improved significantly. In total, 14,000 recipients were transferred in 2008 and 2009; achieving targets the set for RAS transfers for these years. The target established for 2010 is 8,000.

In addition to this official target, due to the numbers of unsold affordable stock around the country, an opportunity has arisen to make use of some of these properties for RAS and it is expected that additional transfers may be possible in 2010.

The Department continues to work closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in ensuring that the RAS meets its objective of catering for those on long term rent supplementation while enabling rent supplement to return to its original role of a short-term income support. The Department provides regular reports to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and regular meetings are conducted with the RAS program managers of the various local authorities.

Questions Nos. 108 and 109 answered with Question No. 79.
Question No. 110 answered with Question No. 107.

Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.

Noel Coonan

Ceist:

111 Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the funding made available to the humanitarian assistance scheme for flood claims; the number of applications for support; the average time it takes to process an application; the number of applications refused support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8950/10]

In recognition of the devastation suffered by people in many areas of the country as a result of the flooding from November 2009 onwards, the Government set up a humanitarian assistance scheme to provide income tested financial support to people who have suffered damages to their homes not covered by insurance. An initial sum of €10 million has been set aside by the Government for this purpose.

Community Welfare Service staff throughout the country have been providing support to families since this flooding occurred. Up to the 12th February 2010 they had already made over 2,406 payments to 1,189 individuals to the value of €925,000. The average payment per individual is €778; with the largest payment to an individual in excess of €20,000.

While the timescale for determining applications for humanitarian assistance claims is dependant, among other things, on the availability of the required information, there is no backlog of undecided claims. According to the information available from the HSE, as of 12th February 2010, there were approximately 50 applications currently being assessed and only four claims refused.

Payments have been provided for emergency financial and other assistance to cover items such as clothing, food, bedding, heating, hire of dehumidifiers and emergency accommodation needs. The Community Welfare Service will continue to make these payments as long as there is a requirement to do so. Such emergency payments under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme are made without delay and without regard to the household income as the primary objective of these payments is to address the person's immediate needs.

As the flood waters have receded in some areas, individuals are now in a better position to assess the extent of the damage to their homes. In these cases, payments have been made in respect of essential household items such as carpets, flooring, furniture and white goods. Assistance is also available for structural repairs to homes not covered by household insurance.

Very few large scale claims have been made at this stage as homeowners have not yet established the cost of repair. In many cases, they are awaiting builders' estimates. It is expected that large scale claims will be received over the coming weeks. These claims will take somewhat longer to process as they will require verification of the loss and the possible use of a loss assessor.

The level of payment available under the aid scheme to any qualified individual depends on the severity of the damage to that person's home and the extent of the loss experienced as well as household income and general family circumstances. The scheme provides hardship alleviation as opposed to full compensation. As on previous occasions, commercial or business losses are not covered by the scheme nor are losses which are covered by household insurance.

Applications under the scheme are being income tested to ensure that available assistance is prioritised for those who are most vulnerable. The basic objective of the income test is to determine the household's capacity to meet the costs of restoring their home to a habitable condition. All household income is considered when determining entitlement to payment.

Detailed guidelines have been provided to the HSE in relation to the income test. These guidelines also contain a list of the type of goods/appliances that are generally covered by the scheme and what replacement value should typically be attributable to each item. This list is not exhaustive and is intended as a guide only. The Community Welfare Service has full discretion to make payments at a higher level than a strict application of the income test would warrant in any individual case where it considers it appropriate to do so. This income test and guidelines simplify the assessment process and allow for the speedy processing of applications.

People seeking assistance should contact their local Community Welfare Office. Further information and applications forms in relation to the humanitarian assistance scheme are available from the Community Welfare Service in the affected areas and from the Department's website (www.welfare.ie) and the HSE's website (www.hse.ie).

Question No. 112 answered with Question No. 79.

Proposed Legislation.

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

113 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to use the impending Social Welfare Bill to ensure the cost of illness benefit and other disability payments can be recouped from insurance companies in respect of personal injury or other such claims when full liability is admitted by the company or its client. [8923/10]

Social welfare legislation does not currently provide for the reimbursement to the Department by insurance companies of social welfare payments deducted from awards of special damages in respect of loss of earnings.

Officials in my Department have been examining the range of issues involved in relation to this matter. In view of the fact that any changes in this area would require extensive consultations with interested parties, including the legal profession and insurance companies, in order to comply with formal Regulatory Impact Assessment requirements, the question of introducing any legislative provisions in relation to this matter in the forthcoming social welfare bill would be premature at this stage.

Departmental Staff.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

114 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she has taken to ensure that services to the public are not affected by the work to rule in her Department. [8911/10]

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

402 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to address the non-answering of Parliamentary Question submitted to her Department; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that staff in her Department will not take calls on the Oireachtas lines provided to help access information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9223/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 402 together.

Staff represented by the CPSE, PSEU and IMPACT have been engaged in industrial action in my Department for the past number of weeks. The main purpose of the Department is to provide income maintenance services to the public and consequently, the Department's staff are engaged in work that either directly delivers services to the public or that supports the delivery of those services. Given the nature of the Department's work, it is simply not possible to ensure that services to the public are not affected by the current work to rule and related actions.

The action taken to date has mainly been in the form of not answering phones, not dealing with the public at certain times during the normal working day, not covering for certain staff absences or where there are vacancies and not responding to queries from public representatives by way of telephone or through Parliamentary Questions. Staff are continuing to take and process claims and while the industrial action has had a negative effect on service delivery, the impact to date has been limited.

The overall management response to the industrial action is being managed centrally by the Department of Finance with input from all Government Departments, including my Department, and other public service sectors. The industrial action is being monitored carefully on a daily basis and the Department's management is maintaining contacts with the unions concerned to ensure, insofar as possible, that the negative impact on the Department's customers is minimised.

Civil Registration.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

115 Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will amend the Civil Registration Act 2004 to permit the registration or recording of deaths here as it is considered by many persons that such a procedure would help to bring consolation to the bereaved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8690/10]

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

123 Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the concerns that have been expressed regarding the general inability to register or record the death in the Irish registry of Irish people who have died abroad; and her views on amending and extending section 39 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 to permit the registration of death here when families produce the necessary proof of death abroad. [6306/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 123 together.

The provisions and procedures governing the registration of deaths in Ireland are contained in Part 5 of the Civil Registration Act 2004 and these are as follows; Where a death occurs in the State it is the duty of a qualified informant (normally a relative of the deceased) to attend at a registrar's office and register the death on foot of a certificate of cause of death supplied by a registered medical practitioner. Where a death is referred to a coroner, the death is registered by a registrar on foot of a coroner's certificate.

In general, only deaths which occur within the State are registerable. Exceptions apply under the provisions of section 39 of the Act, concerning;

deaths of members of the Garda Síochána or the Permanent Defence Force or of the spouse or specified members of the family of such a member outside the State while the member is serving outside the State as such member,

deaths of persons on board an Irish aircraft or an Irish ship,

deaths of Irish citizens on board a foreign ship or a foreign aircraft travelling to or from a port, or an airport, as the case may be, in the State.

Where the death of an Irish citizen domiciled in the State occurs abroad, the death may be registered here if there was not at the time of the death a system of registration of deaths in the place where the death occurred, or such a system that applied to such a death, or it is not possible to obtain copies of or extracts from civil records of the death i.e. a death certificate. Although the number of such cases is extremely small it is considered reasonable to make provision for them.

Usually, when an Irish citizen dies abroad, the death is registered by the civil authorities of the place where the death occurred, and a certified copy of the death registration is obtainable. This certificate, translated, if necessary, is normally sufficient for all legal and administrative purposes here and there is therefore no necessity for the death to be registered in the State.

This matter, however, will be reviewed in the context of future amendments to the Civil Registration Act 2004 with particular reference to making provision for the registration here of all deaths of persons domiciled here who died abroad.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service.

Shane McEntee

Ceist:

116 Deputy Shane McEntee asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the waiting times to access Money Advice and Budgeting Service money advisers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8986/10]

MABS assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. The role of money advisers is to help clients to assess their financial situation, make a budget plan and deal with creditors. MABS is now dealing with increasingly complex debt situations in respect of clients who are presenting with multiple creditors and debts. It is important that people coping with debt difficulties take early action and approach MABS for help and guidance, this can be the first positive step for people in addressing debt difficulties.

There are 52 independent MABS companies operating the local MABS services from 65 locations throughout the country, with national support provided by the MABS NDL. In addition, the MABS National Telephone Helpline is available from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and the MABS website can be accessed 24 hours a day at www.mabs.ie. The helpline dealt with 24,000 callers in 2009 and 11,000 in 2008. The number of calls received in 2009 remained constant throughout the year at 6,000 per quarter. Some 19,000 new clients approached MABS for assistance in 2009. This compares with 16,600 new clients in 2008 and 12,734 in 2007.

In 2009, funding of almost €18million was allocated to MABS and included provision for 19 additional money advisers, bringing the total number of staff to 271. The MABS funding for 2010 is included in the CIB allocation of some €46million.

All MABS companies operate an appointment system for clients. Clients with urgent difficulties are prioritised for attention and are dealt with promptly. Less urgent cases are referred to the MABS Helpline and to the MABS website in the first instance. Over 90% of callers to the Helpline find that their money management and budgeting issues can be resolved with the assistance of the helpline adviser. Some 10% of callers are referred to the local MABS for assistance.

From first point of contact to first appointment with a money adviser the average waiting time is currently 4.5 weeks. This is the average nationally and there are fluctuations between offices. During the waiting period, clients are assessed and those in need of immediate assistance are given a priority appointment, others are provided with assisted self-help to ensure that they have taken steps to assess their situation and if appropriate they are supported to take holding action with their creditors.

I am satisfied that the additional resources provided to MABS will assist them to meet the demand for their services.

Social Insurance.

David Stanton

Ceist:

117 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the balance of the social insurance fund; the balance in 2008 and 2009; the estimated balances for the next three years; the amount taken into the fund through PRSI in 2008 and 2009; the estimated income for the next three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9033/10]

The Social Insurance Fund operates under the terms of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005. The Fund comprises a current account and an investment account. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs manages and controls the current account, while the Minister for Finance manages and controls the investment account. Benefits payments are paid from the current account. To the extent that annual income is not required for benefit payments, it is transferred to the investment account which is managed by the Minister for Finance (through the National Treasury Management Agency). Both the income arising from these investments and the capital is available for current payments as required. Any shortfall in the current account in respect of liabilities is met from the investment account in the first instance, and otherwise by moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

The following table sets out the value of receipts and cash balance over the five years to 2012.

Social Insurance Receipts & Cash Balance 2008-2012

Year

Actual PRSI Receipts

Estimated PRSI Receipts

SIF Balance

€million

€million

€million

2008

7,984

3,736

2009

7,171

934

2010

7,072

0

2011

7,311

0

2012

7,687

0

The cash balance in the Social Insurance Fund will be completely exhausted this year. The operating deficit of the Fund, estimated to amount to €1.55 billion this year, will be borne fully by the Exchequer. It is forecast that Social Insurance Fund expenditure will exceed its income in each of the years 2010 to 2012, with the deficit funded by Exchequer subvention from the Oireachtas — Vote 38. The Social Insurance Fund will continue to hold a capital asset over this period represented in the form of Department's headquarters property in Store Street, Dublin.

Question No. 118 answered with Question No. 80.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

119 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details of the new maximum rent supplement amounts. [8926/10]

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme primary purpose is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer.

There are currently almost 93,200 tenants benefiting from a rent supplement payment. The total cost of rent supplement for 2009 was €511m.

Rent supplements are subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant for rent supplement may incur. Rent limits are set at levels that enable different types of eligible households to secure and retain basic suitable rented accommodation, having regard to different rental market conditions that prevail in various parts of the State. The objective is to ensure that rent supplement is not paid in respect of overly expensive accommodation having regard to the size of the household and market conditions. Furthermore, it is essential that state support for tenants does not give rise to inflated rental prices and overcharging by landlords.

Setting or retaining maximum rent limits at a higher level than are justified by the open market can have a distorting effect on the rental market, leading to a more general rise in rent levels and in landlord income. This in turn may worsen the affordability of rental accommodation unnecessarily, with particular negative impact for those tenants on lower incomes who are trying to support themselves without state aid.

A review of maximum rent supplement levels is in process and will be completed by 31st of March 2010. Preliminary findings of this review confirm that rent levels have dropped significantly and continuously since their peak in 2007 giving further scope for reductions for rent limits. The Review details will be provided in due course.

Question No. 120 answered with Question No. 82.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

121 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will make a statement on the increase in the numbers of persons claiming family income supplement; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many public servants, who have experienced a reduction in pay due to the recent budget cuts, have been put in a position where their income is now so low they become eligible for family income supplement. [8675/10]

The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is designed to provide support for people with families who are on low earnings, regardless of their occupation. Besides providing valuable financial support to such families, FIS preserves the incentive to remain in employment in circumstances where families might be only marginally better off than if they were claiming other social welfare payments.

FIS is calculated on the basis of 60% of the difference between the income limit for the family size and the net income of the person(s) raising the child (ren). Net income, for FIS purposes, comprises total family income less tax, employee PRSI, health contribution, income levy, and superannuation contribution. The public service pension levy, where this is payable, is also deductible from income when calculating net income for the purposes of eligibility to FIS.

In 2009, the Department received46,542 new and renewal FIS claims compared to 42,940 in 2008 and 37,861 in 2007 — an increase of over 8% on 2008 and over 22% on 2007.

There are currently some26,081 people in receipt of a weekly FIS payment of which 11% are public servants. The Department has received an increased number of applications for FIS from public servants since the beginning of this year, compared to 2009. However, it is difficult to quantify at present what the increase in the overall number of public servants in receipt of FIS will be, resulting from this increase in applications.

The actual numbers of public servants becoming eligible for FIS in future will be influenced by several factors. These factors include increased remuneration for public sector workers through annual increments, increases or reductions in the number of qualified children and any changes in working hours/patterns due to work sharing/family friendly arrangements.

Question No. 122 answered with Question No. 72.
Question No. 123 answered with Question No. 115.

Social Welfare Code.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

124 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to ease restrictions on the unemployed in accessing temporary work and returning to jobseeker payments once that work is completed. [8912/10]

There is no restriction on any jobseeker taking up employment or training and returning to a Jobseekers payment when the work or training terminates provided they continue to satisfy the conditions for the Jobseeker scheme. Special arrangements have been put in place in local offices to ensure that these claims are fast-tracked into payment.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

125 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on increasing the payments given to persons who are caring for the sick and disabled due to the increase in cost associated with their care. [8681/10]

Carer's allowance is a social assistance payment which provides income support to people who are providing certain older people or people with a disability with full time care and attention and whose incomes fall below a certain limit. Persons who are in receipt of carer's allowance also receive the annual respite care grant, the household benefits package and the free travel pass.

Carer's allowance or carer's benefit, as an income support for carers, is not designed to cover the medical or other care costs of the person for whom care is provided.

In the majority of cases, persons who are being cared for will be in receipt of a payment in their own right (for example a state pension or disability allowance, or domiciliary care allowance for a child under sixteen).

Civil Registration.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

126 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to use the impending Social Welfare Bill to change legislation to provide for the compulsory registration of fathers on birth certificates. [8921/10]

The current position in relation to birth registrations is that no man who is not married to the mother can be named as the father of a child in an entry unless he consents, or unless he is found to be the father of the child by the Courts in proceedings relating to guardianship or maintenance, or by way of a declaration of parentage, made under section 35 of the Status of Children Act 1987.

Under the provisions of the Civil Registration Act 2004, where the parents are not married to each other at the time of the birth, the father's particulars can be registered if the parents make a joint application to do so, or if either makes an application, accompanied by a statutory declaration from the other parent, naming the father, or if either parent makes an application accompanied by a court order naming the father.

Where a father's details are not registered initially, the parents may re-register the birth to add his details. The procedures for such re-registrations are similar to those for registrations. Also, if the parents marry each other following the birth, they are legally obliged to re-register the birth, under the provisions of section 24 of the Act.

The Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs has recommended that it should be made compulsory for the father's name to be registered on a child's birth certificate (First Report — October 2009).

The Law Reform Commission (LRC) issued a discussion document in September 2009 on legal aspects of family relationships, which included the issue of the registration of the father's particulars. They have invited submissions from interested parties and will issue recommendations in a further report. This report is expected to issue by late summer of this year. Any recommendation in relation to the compulsory registration of the father's details on a birth record will be of considerable significance and will be seriously considered in the context of future amendments to the Civil Registration Act 2004.

Social Insurance.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

127 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she is taking to deal with the excessive waiting times for PRSI refunds. [8916/10]

The Department endeavours to process applications for refunds of PRSI as efficiently as possible. However, the volume of applications for refunds of PRSI has increased dramatically in recent years. For example in 2009 some 23,400 applications were received compared to 14,000 in 2008 and 9,000 in 2007. The increased volume of applications has inevitably given rise to a delay in processing refund applications.

In order to speed up the processing of refund applications the processes and procedures in the section have been reviewed and appropriate changes implemented along with new technical supports. In order to further speed up the processing the Department is examining ways of making better use of modern technology, e.g. payment of refunds by electronic fund transfer, online applications, enhancement of the current calculation functionality, etc. Furthermore, in December 2009, an additional five staff were assigned to the area on a temporary basis to help clear the number of applications on hand.

The additional staff, more streamlined processes and procedures and technical supports have already shown positive results. In January 2010 refunds were processed for 2,275 applicants compared with an average of about 1,000 per month in 2009. With the implementation of further process improvements and technical supports I am confident that further improvements will be made in the processing of applications for refunds.

Social Welfare Code.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

128 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for not awarding child benefit directly to fathers when that is the expressed wish of both parents. [8917/10]

The current arrangements for paying child benefit are defined under the provisions of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 with the detailed rules set out in article 159 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations, 2007.

The day-to-day needs of the children are the priority consideration in the operation of the current child benefit payment arrangements. Child benefit is payable to the person with whom a qualified child normally resides. The regulations governing normal residence for Child benefit purposes, provides that a child who is resident with both parents shall be regarded as being normally resident with the mother. Where the child is living full-time with the father only, then child benefit will be payable to the father.

The scheme does not specifically provide for the payment to the father where the child is also resident with the mother although there are a small number of child benefit claims in payment to the father in such cases. These payments are made in circumstances such as where the mother is terminally ill or is an alcoholic or drug addict and therefore unlikely to reflect the best interests of the child. Since June 2008, with the introduction of EIT payments, this is facilitated by issuing a letter to the spouse allowing him to collect the payments at the Post Office using the mother's social services card. The father has to produce this letter and the social security card at the Post Office in order to collect the payment. More generally, in EFT cases, both parents can effectively have access to the payment through the operation of a joint account.

The current policy and practice of paying the benefit to the mother is based on the assumption that it is in the best interest of the child. The arrangements effectively date back to changes to the children's allowance scheme in the mid-1970s and they have received explicit or implicit support from a number of sources such as the Commission on the Status of Women Report (1972) and by later research looking at family spending patterns. Nonetheless, I am aware of the need to keep this approach under review in the light of equality legislation, significant social changes and changing family demographics.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

129 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason there was no fuel allowance made available to social welfare recipients in winter 2009 in view of the recent weather conditions. [8676/10]

The Department assists social welfare recipients with heating costs, through their basic payments, through the fuel allowance scheme and through the household benefits package of electricity and gas allowances.

The household benefits package is payable throughout the year to almost 380,000 pensioners, people with disabilities, and carer households to assist them with their heating, light and cooking costs. This scheme cost approximately €200m in 2009.

In addition, the national fuel allowance scheme assists householders on long-term social welfare or health service executive payments with meeting the additional cost of their heating needs during the winter season. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full and must be seen in the context of the overall level of income available to the family.

In Budget 2009, the duration of the payment was increased by an extra 2 weeks to 32 weeks, while the weekly value of the allowance was increased by €2 to €20 a week, or €23.90 in designated smokeless areas. This compares with just €14 and €17.90 respectively in 2006. The allowance is paid from September to end April each year.

These are in addition to other improvements made in recent years, including a significant increase in the income threshold for the allowance with effect from 2008. A single person aged under 80, with a household income of less than €330.30 a week can now qualify for the fuel allowance. The income limits for couples are €483.80 a week where the qualified adult is aged under 66 and €536.80 a week where both adults are aged over 66.

As a result of these improvements, almost 318,000 people benefited from the fuel allowance in 2009 at an estimated cost of €217 million.

In addition to the basic welfare payments, household benefits and fuel allowance payments highlighted above, the Department also provides funding to the Community Welfare Service to assist people with special heating needs. Community Welfare Officers can pay a heating supplement to people in certain circumstances with specific heating needs due to infirmity or a particular medical condition. They can also make exceptional needs payments to people who do not have enough money to meet their heating costs.

Since the onset of the adverse weather conditions in January 2010, community welfare officers have provided assistance to people to purchase additional fuel, heaters and clothing. They have also given funding towards the payment of heating bills and for repairs arising from burst pipes. Over €170,000 was paid out in the first two weeks of January 2010 in respect of such claims. Assistance will continue to be provided towards the payment of heating bills for those in need.

Social Welfare Code.

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

130 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on increasing the payments given for guardians payment in view of the additional costs incurred by relatives who have to look after the young children of drug addicts. [8677/10]

The Guardians' payment schemes currently allow for the provision of a weekly allowance to a guardian of a child who has either been orphaned or whose parents have abandoned and failed to provide for the child. The child must live with the claimant and they must be responsible for his or her care. The payment must benefit the child.

The current weekly rate of Guardians' payment is €169 per child. Any increase in this rate would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

Maintenance Payments.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

131 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that maintenance orders are not being enforced by the courts; and the estimated costs to the Exchequer arising from an associated rise in the cost of one parent family payments in view of the fact that many will no longer be reduced by part of the value of the maintenance payment. [8906/10]

The one-parent family payment acts as a safety net for people caring for children on their own, who receive inadequate maintenance, where maintenance payments are irregular, or where efforts to secure maintenance in the first place fail. Applicants for one-parent family payments must satisfy the department that they have made reasonable attempts to obtain such maintenance. They are also required to make ongoing efforts to seek adequate maintenance from their former spouses, or, in the case of unmarried applicants, the parent of their child.

Since the introduction of the one-parent family payment there have been substantial improvements in the rates of payment and in the assessment of means for the payment. One-parent family payment claimants are allowed to retain 50% of any maintenance received without reduction in their social welfare payment. They also have a disregard in respect of rent or mortgage payments up to a maximum of EUR 95.20 per week.

The number of one parent family payment recipients being paid by the Department at the end of January 2010 — the date for which the latest figure — is 90,156.

Of the Determination Orders issued by the maintenance recovery unit of the Department in 2009 72.5% of the liable relatives were already contributing to the lone parent. However, many recipients may be in receipt of maintenance while still qualifying for the maximum rate of one parent family payment as a result of the provision allowing one parent family claimants to retain 50% of any maintenance received.

There is no loss of income incurred by one parent family payment recipients where the Department has to pursue the issue of maintenance with the liable relative. Rather, as mentioned above, the provision allowing one parent family claimants to retain 50% of any direct maintenance received was established as an incentive to lone parents to seek agreement with the other parent on the level of maintenance to be paid.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

132 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the steps she will take to shorten waiting times in respect of child benefit applications. [8915/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Question No. 133 answered with Question No. 79.

Innovation Fund.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

134 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Taoiseach if he will report on progress made in raising capital for the Innovation Fund Ireland announced in December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8854/10]

Introduction of ‘Innovation Fund Ireland' is a commitment of Building Ireland’s Smart Economy — A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal and the Renewed Programme for Government. It aims to ensure greater availability of venture capital to help achieve our vision for transforming Ireland into the innovation hub of Europe by supporting innovative SMEs and to help scale indigenous companies. It is also an objective to use the Fund to help attract leading Venture Capital companies to locate their European operations here.

In accordance with the Renewed Programme for Government, the NTMA, working with Enterprise Ireland, has been leading a market assessment process involving engagement with leading Venture Capital companies in the United States and Europe as well as other stakeholders. This is taking account of the impact of recent developments on the domestic and international financial markets as well as the current fund-raising rounds in international venture markets. The opportunity has also been taken, in line with the Renewed Programme for Government, to avail of the expertise of members of the Innovation Taskforce which is currently advising on measures to develop Ireland as an innovation hub.

The engagement with the market, led by the NTMA, continues and will carefully gauge the appropriate timing and structure of the funds taking account of the recommendations of the Innovation Taskforce. In the meantime, Enterprise Ireland continues to provide venture capital through its existing Seed and Venture Capital Programmes.

Departmental Staff.

Frank Feighan

Ceist:

135 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Taoiseach the policy of his Department regarding staff who donate blood during normal working hours; if staff are required to clock out when giving blood; if measures are in place which encourage staff to donate blood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8640/10]

It is the policy of my Department to facilitate staff who wish to donate blood during normal working hours. At regular intervals during the year all staff are invited to donate blood and staff who wish to make donations are credited with time off to enable them to do so.

Data Protection.

Sean Sherlock

Ceist:

136 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Taoiseach the cloud computing systems that are currently in use in his Department; the safeguards that are in place in respect of personal information and public data on those systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8670/10]

There are no cloud computing systems currently in use in my Department.

Workers’ Remittances.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

137 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the workers’ remittances into and out of here for each of the past five years by intra-European and extra-European remittances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8601/10]

The information requested by Deputy Burton is presented in the table below.

The table shows estimates of the total quantity of workers' remittance outflows and inflows by EU 27 and non-EU27 countries, for the years 2004 to 2008 and the most recently available period, namely, January-September 2009.

Workers' Remittances

Outflows €m

Inflows €m

Year

EU 27

Non-EU 27

EU 27

Non-EU 27

2009*

363

75

2

2

2008

654

100

5

5

2007

544

94

6

6

2006

363

88

4

9

2005

212

83

10

10

2004

55

79

10

10

*January-September 2009.

The figures contained in the reply are obtained from the CSO Balance of Payments (BOP) quarterly statistical release. Workers' remittances are included in the ‘Current Transfers' of the BOP Current Account.

Workers' remittances are defined as "current transfers by migrants who are employed in new economies and considered residents there". (A migrant is a person who comes to an economy and stays, or is expected to stay, for a year or more.)

Due to their nature workers' remittances are a challenge to measure. These figures are derived from a variety of sources and should be treated as tentative estimates subject to revision as more data sources become available and the estimation model strengthens.

Workers' remittances do not include payments of Child Benefit and Early childcare Supplement to non-resident families of EU workers in Ireland. These amounted to €25m in 2008.

Dáil Reform.

David Stanton

Ceist:

138 Deputy David Stanton asked the Taoiseach the number of times and dates when the working group on Dáil Reform has met since it was established; the proposals it has put forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9045/10]

The Government established a Working Group on Dáil Reform in 2009, comprising Minister Dempsey, Minister Ahern, Senator Dan Boyle and myself as Government Chief Whip. The Group has met on 5 occasions (12th February, 3rd March, 11th March, 17th June and 1st July, 2009).

Proposals regarding the length of Dáil terms, the timetabling of business and areas were submitted to the Government in June 2009.

Following Government approval they were brought to the sub-Committee on Dáil Reform of the Committee of Privilege and Procedures for consideration. No final decisions have yet been taken but discussion on the proposals is continuing.

Central Statistics Office.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

139 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the EU or UN meeting or conference, since 2004, in which the Central Statistics Office has participated in relation to the collection of statistics; and the EU or UN meeting or conference since 2004 at which another State body has represented the CSO. [9197/10]

Officials of the Central Statistics Office attend about 200 international meetings per year on statistical matters. The majority of these relate to the EU Statistical Programme and the CSO also sends representatives to statistical meetings organised by the UN, OECD and other bodies. A comprehensive list of the international meetings attended by the CSO is not readily available. The CSO has not been represented by any other State body in relation to meetings dealing with the collection of statistics although it does collaborate with relevant State bodies as the need arises.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

140 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Taoiseach the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9221/10]

Details of the amount spent by my Department on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 is set out in the following table. This data includes consultancy expenditure recouped from the Change Management Fund in the Department of Finance.

Year

Consultancy Expenditure

2007

570,258

2008

889,514

2009

323,612

Every effort is made by my Department to minimise expenditure on consultancy services. However, where it is necessary to engage consultants in order to avail of their particular expertise or experience, the procurement of consultancy services is subject to Public Procurement Guidelines and, where applicable, EU procurement rules and guidelines, with selection criteria geared to select the most economically advantageous tender. It is also our policy that skills transfer from consultants to Departmental staff takes place as an integral part of all consultancy engagements. The purpose of this is to increase the knowledge and expertise of Departmental staff and to reduce and, if possible, eliminate future dependence on consultants in the areas concerned.

Employment Rights.

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

141 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an employer still has not paid the holiday element of the Employment Appeals Tribunal determination; if the National Employment Rights Authority will render assistance to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 20 to enforce the Employment Appeals Tribunal determination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8651/10]

I am informed that NERA has been involved in pursuit of this individual's entitlements for almost a year. The individual concerned indicated last Summer that she was dealing directly with the employer on the matter. However, NERA's involvement was reactivated in December 2009 at the request of the individual concerned and since then, NERA remains actively engaged in trying to progress matters to a satisfactory conclusion.

Redundancy Payments.

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

142 Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will expect to receive a redundancy payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8707/10]

My Department administers the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) in relation to redundancy matters on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. There are two types of payment made from the SIF — rebates to those employers who have paid statutory redundancy to eligible employees, and statutory lump sums to employees whose employers are insolvent and/or in receivership/liquidation.

I can confirm that my Department received a statutory lump sum claim for the individual concerned on 15 September, 2009 claiming inability to pay on behalf of the employer. In respect of lump sum payments paid directly to employees, such as in this instance, the Section is, in general, processing claims dating from August 2009.

Given the unprecedented increase in Redundancy Payment claims lodged with my Department since late 2008 it has proved impossible to maintain the customer service targets that previously obtained. The scale of the challenge is evident from the statistics that show incoming redundancy claims with a cumulative figure for 2009 of 77,001. This figure exceeds the claims lodged for 2008 (40,607) by 90% and 2008 was, of itself, an exceptional year as compared with earlier years when claims received were of the order of 25,000.

Efforts continue to be made by my Department to deliver more acceptable turnaround processing times for redundancy payments given the difficulties that this gives rise to for both individual employees and the business community. Measures already taken include:

the reassignment of 26.7 additional staff (full time equivalents) from other areas of the Department to the Redundancy Payments area since early 2009 with ongoing review of trends and demands. The current number of staff serving in the Redundancy Payments Section in terms of full time equivalents is 52.5;

the prioritisation of the Department's overtime budget towards staff in the Redundancy Payments Section to tackle the backlog outside normal hours;

the establishment of a special call handling facility to deal with the huge volume of telephone calls from people and businesses who are naturally concerned about their payments, using the facilities and cooperation of the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA). This centre has received an average of 12,500 calls per month this year with an estimated 60% relating to redundancy payments;

The provision of better quality information relating to current processing times on the Department's website;

Engagement with the Revenue Commissioners to facilitate the offset of redundancy rebate payments by employers against outstanding tax liabilities with the Revenue Commissioners.

It is clear that these interventions are having an impact in that for example the numbers of claims processed and paid by the Redundancy Payments Section in 2009 and 2010 respectively amounted to 29,802 and 50,664.

The Tánaiste and I are monitoring closely the impact of these changes against the continuing influx of redundancy claims. However, it is clear that additional measures are required to help reduce the backlog of claims, which currently stands in excess of 40,000. The Department is currently actively engaged in efforts to secure up to 16 additional staff resources deployed to the area in the first quarter of 2010.

Labour Market Activation Fund.

Seán Barrett

Ceist:

143 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the new €20 million retraining fund for persons made redundant within the past two years; the conditions for qualification under this scheme; the procedure for persons wishing to make application under this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8708/10]

A notice announcing the establishment of the 2010 Labour Market Activation Fund was published by my Department on Friday, 12 February 2010 in the national press. Details were also posted on that date on the Government e-tenders website, www.etenders.gov.ie. The Labour Market Activation Fund is intended to support the provision of substantial innovative training and education interventions over and above mainstream measures, targeting specific priority groups among the unemployed. The purpose of the press notice was to advise those who might be interested in providing these interventions that my Department will, in the near future, issue a call for proposals for such services from public, private, voluntary, and not-for-profit education and training providers. Full information on tender requirements will be published at the time of the call for proposals and will be accessible electronically on www.etenders.gov.ie. Notice of the call for proposals will also be published in the national press.

County Enterprise Boards.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

144 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if funding or grants are available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare through any of the State agencies within the remit of her Department regarding an application by this person who is seeking to set up a business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8734/10]

I advise that Mr. Creedon should in the first instance contact his local County Enterprise Board, as follows: Kildare County Enterprise Board, The Woods, Clane, County Kildare; phone (045) 861707; e-mail: info@kildareceb.ie; Internet www.kildareceb.ie.

Globalisation Adjustment Fund.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

145 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department will fund the 20 applications from former employees of a company (details supplied) for a degree course with the Dublin Institute of Technology while they await confirmation of the European Globalisation Fund to ensure these people have access to the course before applications close in March 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8809/10]

I refer the Deputy to the reply to Questions Nos. 90 and 98 of 17 February 2010. As stated, the further progression of any interventions to be funded specifically by the European Globalisation Fund must await the completion of the fund application process.

Employment Subsidy Scheme.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

146 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to expand the employment subsidy scheme in view of the fact that the expansion of the scheme was announced in mid-December 2009 and the closing date was 23 December 2009 and many businesses were not in a position to apply during the lead up to Christmas 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8816/10]

I originally announced my intention to have a second broader call of the employment subsidy scheme on Tuesday, 10 November and this received considerable media coverage at the time. I formally launched the second call on 4 December and almost 2600 companies applied by the deadline. These applications are being processed by Enterprise Ireland. There are no plans to have a third call for applications under the employment subsidy scheme.

Redundancy Payments.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

147 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the payment of statutory lump sum redundancy in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [8866/10]

I advise the Deputy that the position in relation to the redundancy claim in respect of this individual has not changed from that outlined in my response to Question No. 87 of 15 December 2009. At that time I was able to confirm that my Department had received a statutory lump sum claim for the individual concerned on 12 August 2009, claiming inability to pay on behalf of the employer. As the necessary supporting documentation to prove inability to pay on the part of the employer was not submitted, the employee was advised by my Department to take a case to the Employment Appeals Tribunal against the employer to seek a determination establishing the employee's right and entitlement to redundancy. If the individual has not already taken this course of action, I encourage that the Department's advice in this regard be followed. If a positive determination is obtained by the individual before the tribunal, my Department will then be in a position to make payment to the employee concerned.

Departmental Agencies.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

148 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the budget available to Enterprise Ireland in 2009 and 2010 to assist business intending to invest in qualifying research and development projects. [8868/10]

The total amount of Exchequer Funds (capital and current funds) provided to Enterprise Ireland under subhead F of the Vote of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment was €133.688 million in 2009 and is €128.087 million in 2010. Enterprise Ireland operates a number of programmes aimed at helping companies to engage in Research and Development both within the company and in collaboration with third level institutions. The Enterprise Ireland Programmes that support business and assist it to invest in research and development projects are research and development grants to enterprise equity invested in research and development activity; innovation management programme; innovation partnership; competence centres; industry-led networks; innovation vouchers; and support for incubation space for emerging enterprises. The total Exchequer funding provided in 2009 and allocated in 2010 for programmes that assist business to invest in research and development was €81.307 million in 2009 and is € 84.804 million in 2010. In addition, Enterprise Ireland has access to a level of "own resources funding". In 2010, it is intended to allocate an additional €850,000 from these funds for expenditure on research and development programmes bringing the total amount available for spend in 2010 to €85.654 million.

EU Directives.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

149 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she will transpose the services directive into legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8876/10]

In the time available it is not possible to provide the information requested.

Airport Development Projects.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

150 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on her meeting with the chief executive officer of an airline (details supplied); if she discussed the issue of this airline’s proposal to axe 18 of its services from their Shannon schedule commencing in March 2010; if Shannon Airport was discussed as an alternative site for this airline’s aircraft maintenance facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8889/10]

I met Mr. O'Leary on 16 February, at his request, to discuss proposals for aircraft maintenance jobs at Dublin Airport. While a number of alternatives were put to Mr. O'Leary with regard to the hangar needs of Ryanair, Mr. O'Leary was adamant that only hanger 6 at Dublin Airport could meet Ryanair's needs. Following the meeting with Ryanair, I met the chairman and CEO of Shannon Development on 17 February. They outlined their intention to propose to Ryanair the establishment of a facility at Shannon Airport. Having done so, on 18 February 2010, Mr. O'Leary responded indicating that Ryanair had no such requirements at Shannon. The issue of airline routes and scheduling is a matter for the Minister for Transport.

Departmental Records.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

151 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will assist in the case of a person (details supplied) in obtaining their requested records from their previous employer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9030/10]

Of the records listed by the Deputy, the only records held in my Department relate to the person's redundancy payments. A copy of the redundancy claim can be obtained on written request by the individual concerned from the Redundancy Payments Section, Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Davitt House, 65A Adelaide Road, Dublin 2. It does not appear that there is any basis for my Department or any body operating under its aegis to intervene in this case in relation to the other records listed. If those records still exist and there are difficulties obtaining them, it may be appropriate to approach the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Alternately, it may be that the Revenue Commissioners themselves hold some of this information.

Job Losses.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

152 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs that have been lost in 2010 to date; the number of jobs that were lost in 2009 in a tabular form by month and on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9082/10]

The number of people in employment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey or QNHS and published by the Central Statistics Office. In the third quarter of 2009, the most recent quarter for which data is available, employment decreased by 184,700 from Quarter 3 2008 to Quarter 3 2009.

Table A

Q 3 2008

Q 3 2009

Increase/Decrease

Employment

2,107,100

1,922,400

-184,700

The data for permanent, full-time jobs which were lost in Enterprise-agency assisted firms (IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Shannon Development) are shown in the table below, broken down to the total job losses by county. Data is compiled on an annual basis only and is displayed in Table B below.

Table B: Job losses in Enterprise Agency Assisted Firms (2009)

Job Losses (Permanent Full Time)

Carlow

-605

Cavan

-952

Clare

-1,467

Cork

-5,577

Donegal

-1,201

Dublin

-14,297

Galway

-2,702

Kerry

-1,045

Kildare

-2,114

Kilkenny

-760

Laois

-318

Leitrim

-194

Limerick

-3,857

Longford

-365

Louth

-1,160

Mayo

-758

Meath

-967

Monaghan

-836

Offaly

-833

Roscommon

-425

Sligo

-506

Tipperary

-1,174

Waterford

-1,989

Westmeath

-1,340

Wexford

-630

Wicklow

-975

All Regions

-47,047

There were also job gains in 2009, which amounted to 13,059 permanent full-time jobs. As a result, there was a net loss in 2009 of 33,988 permanent full-time jobs supported by the enterprise development agencies. There is no exact measure of the number of jobs lost. However, the Department records the number of redundancies notified to it on a monthly basis. Over the past 13 months there have been 83,699 redundancies have been reported, as detailed in Table C below.

Table C: Actual Redundancies Jan 2009-Jan 2010 broken down by month and by county

Jan-09

Feb-09

Mar-09

Apr-09

May-09

Jun-09

Jul-09

Aug-09

Sep-09

Oct-09

Nov-09

Dec-09

Jan-10

Total

Carlow

71

61

54

106

53

42

116

64

63

47

88

43

57

865

Cavan

96

9

109

51

159

69

40

84

71

63

64

43

46

904

Clare

215

190

181

207

137

135

85

83

82

182

123

193

163

1,976

Cork

824

667

958

539

809

1,086

772

447

618

545

627

413

855

9,160

Donegal

193

48

171

105

99

77

187

115

113

86

72

151

122

1,539

Dublin

2,194

2,685

2,643

3,045

3,678

2,268

2,294

2,776

2,316

2,710

2,352

1,749

2,348

33,058

Galway

338

270

268

282

108

626

284

210

296

250

190

159

215

3,496

Kerry

111

140

222

103

205

190

140

82

152

102

85

48

114

1,694

Kildare

238

178

285

345

274

195

412

222

248

261

443

190

238

3,529

Kilkenny

54

209

129

116

177

87

128

198

94

77

134

51

170

1,624

Laois

85

69

136

61

85

67

46

36

136

53

34

43

50

901

Leitrim

28

27

39

7

26

15

18

36

15

11

20

14

14

270

Limerick

415

146

323

438

640

314

379

151

236

818

272

154

999

5,285

Longford

60

48

58

36

55

29

64

24

34

17

33

15

42

515

Louth

151

188

291

104

193

137

61

165

156

175

152

77

124

1,974

Mayo

81

133

74

78

46

202

93

82

85

66

177

60

115

1,292

Meath

234

158

278

157

218

141

199

100

149

163

129

67

131

2,124

Monaghan

73

70

80

137

60

58

63

72

105

50

40

27

26

861

Offaly

74

104

99

98

72

67

54

59

126

90

93

75

156

1,167

Roscommon

48

64

39

79

31

43

18

27

29

68

35

40

25

546

Sligo

64

54

93

89

48

38

72

32

42

25

26

29

30

642

Tipperary

255

115

124

190

155

162

175

268

131

148

126

62

116

2,027

Waterford

79

122

352

407

114

303

233

101

134

252

249

111

205

2,662

Westmeath

134

70

121

92

151

126

120

86

189

65

64

117

84

1,419

Wexford

166

226

305

53

269

108

80

202

193

140

143

108

167

2,160

Wicklow

307

161

247

206

86

179

152

109

176

97

120

82

87

2,009

Total

6,588

6,212

7,679

7,131

7,948

6,764

6,285

5,831

5,989

6,561

5,891

4,121

6,699

83,699

Job Creation.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

153 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs that have been created in 2010 to date; the number of jobs that were created in 2009 in a tabular form by month and on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9083/10]

In the time available, it is not possible to provide the information requested.

Unemployment Levels.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

154 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to visit County Kerry in order to assess the unemployment situation in that county with a view to formulating a plan of action to tackle the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9084/10]

I would be delighted to discuss a visit to the county with the Deputy.

Job Creation.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

155 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Industrial Development Authority or FÁS backed jobs created on a county basis over the past two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9085/10]

In the past two years there have been a total of 13,784 jobs created in IDA supported companies. The number of jobs created in each of those years on a county-by-county basis is set out on the following tabular statement. While FÁS operates training and employment programmes, provides a recruitment service to jobseekers and employers, and supports community-based enterprises, it is not a job creation agency under the Industrial Development Acts.

Table showing the number of IDA supported jobs created in IDA supported companies, on a county-by-county basis in 2008 and 2009

County

Jobs created in 2009

Jobs created in 2008

Carlow

49

74

Cavan

18

32

Clare

116

139

Cork

1,082

2,108

Donegal

62

67

Dublin

1,786

4,340

Galway

429

610

Kerry

25

86

Kildare

29

113

Kilkenny

0

1

Laois

0

0

Leitrim

5

35

Limerick

169

286

Longford

8

30

Louth

34

121

Mayo

97

132

Meath

24

83

Monaghan

19

15

Offaly

22

24

Roscommon

9

41

Sligo

54

103

Tipp North

0

13

Tipp South

252

262

Waterford

71

176

Westmeath

219

134

Wexford

8

91

Wicklow

28

53

Sean Sherlock

Ceist:

156 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made by her Department or the IDA Ireland in securing new investment for the IDA technology park, Fermoy, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9108/10]

The marketing of individual areas for new or expansion foreign direct investment (FDI) and jobs is a day to day operational matter for the IDA Ireland as part of their statutory responsibilities assigned to it by the Oireachtas and not one in which I have a function.

However, I have been informed by IDA Ireland that the Agency hosted a site visit to both the Fermoy Business & Technology Park and the former FCI building (on the Cork road) by an overseas Life Sciences company in November last. I understand that this company also visited a number of other locations and no final decision has yet been made by the company. However, the ultimate decision on where operations are established lies with the client, whose primary objective will be to establish in the location most aligned with the business needs of their company.

IDA also provides property solutions to Enterprise Ireland Client companies and in this connection the Agency had facilitated a land sale on the Park to one such company, but that company decided not to proceed with their plans to build on the Park. During 2009 IDA was also in discussion with another indigenous company, who were seeking a site on the Park and while this was progressed, the company decided that they would postpone a decision to locate on the park for a 12-month period.

Meanwhile, through its network of overseas offices, IDA continues to market the Park.

Official Engagements.

Sean Sherlock

Ceist:

157 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will accept an invitation from Fermoy Town Council, issued in autumn 2009, to discuss the matter of the vacant IDA Ireland site in the town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9125/10]

A meeting can be arranged at an appropriate time but, as I have said to the Deputy on a previous occasion, to date we have no record of a request from the Council.

Job Creation.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

158 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by the IDA Ireland each year in Ireland over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9127/10]

In the five-year period 2005 to 2009 there have been a total of 48,569 jobs created in IDA supported companies. The number of jobs created in each of those 5 years is set out in the following table.

Table showing the number of new jobs created in IDA supported companies in each of the years 2005 to 2009 inclusive

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Number of new jobs created

12,136

12,261

10,388

9,169

4,615

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

159 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created and lost by the Industrial Development Authority in 2009 on a county basis in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9128/10]

The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the industrial development agencies. Data is compiled on an annualized basis. The numbers of jobs created and the number of jobs lost in IDA supported companies in 2009 is set out in the following table.

Table showing the number of jobs created and the number of jobs lost in IDA supported companies in 2009

Number of new jobs created

Number of jobs lost

Carlow

49

75

Cavan

18

56

Clare

116

93

Cork

1,082

2,432

Donegal

62

29

Dublin

1,786

6,805

Galway

429

1,178

Kerry

25

416

Kildare

29

1,491

Kilkenny

0

112

Laois

0

16

Leitrim

5

30

Limerick

169

2,519

Longford

8

74

Louth

34

272

Mayo

97

189

Meath

24

159

Monaghan

19

14

Offaly

22

118

Roscommon

9

89

Sligo

54

137

Tipp North

0

188

Tipp South

252

93

Waterford

71

569

Westmeath

219

527

Wexford

8

89

Wicklow

28

258

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

160 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the figures for foreign direct investment here for each of the years from 2000 to 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9129/10]

In the eight year period 2002 to 2008, there have been a total of 916 foreign investments won by IDA. The numbers in respect of each year are set out in the following table.

Table showing the number of foreign investments won in each of the years 2002 to 2009

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Number of investments

88

105

108

121

125

114

130

125

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

161 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of IDA Ireland’s strategic review; the details of the new strategy 2020; if plans for attracting foreign direct investment will be included in this strategy; the way employment opportunities and jobs will be dispersed; the way she intends to implement this strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9130/10]

I am in the process of reviewing a new strategy for the future direction of FDI, which IDA has developed, and subject to my approval, will shortly be published. This strategy will outline the historic performance of FDI and its contribution to the development of the economy. It will set out some specific initiatives which IDA will be undertaking to retain existing and secure new FDI. In addition, it will identify the opportunities in the FDI markets, while stressing the importance of restoring our relative international competitiveness if we are to maximise the FDI potential. You will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

162 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount she has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007 to 2009 in tabular form; if she is satisfied this practice represents good value for money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9214/10]

In the time available it is not possible to provide the information requested.

Departmental Correspondence.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

163 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8727/10]

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Section 135 (a) of the Finance Act 1992 permits a European or other foreign registered vehicle which is temporarily brought into the State by a person established outside the State to be exempted from the requirement to register for vehicle registration tax purposes for a period normally not exceeding 12 months from the date upon which the vehicle concerned was brought into the State. Temporary exemptions are allowable for vehicles brought into in the State by visitors, tourists and foreign workers.

Statutory Instrument No. 60 of 1993 prescribes the criteria for eligibility for the granting of temporary exemption from the requirement to be registered for VRT purposes in the State.

A person, previously established outside the State, who avails of a temporary exemption, may decide to set up permanent residence here. An application for permanent relief from VRT should then be made to Revenue. Where the application is successful, the person will register the vehicle free of VRT.

In this regard, Section 134 of the Finance Act 1992 provides for permanent relief from the payment of VRT on the registration of a vehicle which is the personal property of a private individual being brought into the State as part of transfer of residence. (Permanent reliefs are also available in other cases, e.g. for vehicles acquired as part of an inheritance or for vehicles transferred into the State under diplomatic arrangements).

Statutory Instrument No. 59 of 1993 sets out the conditions governing the registration of vehicles under the above section.

As the Deputy may be aware, Section 106 of Finance Bill 2010 provides for the introduction of a requirement for a return of information, in a specified format, to be made to the Revenue Commissioners by a vehicle insurer who issues a policy of insurance in relation to a foreign registered vehicle for a period in excess of 42 days.

This provision will enable Revenue enforcement officers to identify foreign registered vehicles which may be used in the State without the payment of vehicle registration tax. It further allows Revenue to ascertain the date that a foreign registered vehicle first entered the State so that, in cases of future detection, an additional assessment can be raised to cover the time that the vehicle was in the State without the payment of vehicle registration tax.

The insurance liabilities for foreign cars are the same as for cars registered and being used in Ireland. Any policy of motor insurance acquired in any Member State of the European Union is valid for the whole of its term throughout the EU. Vehicles from outside the European Union must either have a Green Card, whereby the Motor Insurers' Bureau system will guarantee any liability which may arise, or must possess Frontier Insurance if the vehicle originates in a country which is not part of the international Motor Insurance Bureau system. Enforcement is a matter for An Garda Síochána, as is non-compliance with the NCT Test.

Company Closures.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

164 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance the number of businesses across all sectors that have advised the Revenue Commissioners that they have ceased trading in each month of 2009 and in January 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8667/10]

I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the following numbers of individuals and companies have ceased trading during the period requested by the Deputy:

Month

Individuals

Companies

January 2009

1,493

542

February

1,115

406

March

1,112

458

April

1,129

536

May

909

360

June

1,164

517

July

902

262

August

900

414

September

808

275

October

825

216

November

551

155

December

763

256

January 2010

244

58

It should be noted that businesses cease for many reasons, including retirement or death of proprietors, or in the case of a sole trader formation of a partnership or incorporation into a Limited Company.

Flood Relief.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

165 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8716/10]

The Office of Public Works recently completed the programmed works for which it has a statutory maintenance responsibility on the stretch of channel adjacent to the lands referred to by the Deputy. There are no plans at present to carry out further works.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

166 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance if he has recently sanctioned minor flood relief works in 2010 on the River Sullane and on the River Bride; if so, the financial allocation available in respect of these works; the details of other minor flood relief works approved in County Cork; the procedure regarding the appointment of contractors for these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8718/10]

The Office of Public Works (OPW) recently published a draft Flood Risk Assessment and Management Plan for the Lee Catchment, which identifies mitigation measures for areas of significant flood risk. The measures identified in the draft Plan include the provision of flood alleviation works on the River Sullane at Ballyvourney / Ballymakeera and on the River Bride at Crookstown.

It is planned that the works on the Sullane will be undertaken by the OPW. Preliminary design work has already commenced and it is anticipated that the scheme will be carried out in 2011, subject to the required public consultation process and the overall availability of resources.

Cork County Council has recently submitted to OPW a number of applications for funding for minor flood mitigation works the Council proposes to undertake in 2010. These are currently being assessed, in conjunction with applications received from other Local Authorities, in accordance with the relevant eligibility criteria and having regard to the total funding available for such works this year.

The OPW understands that the Council will be submitting an application in relation to works at Crookstown. If an application is submitted, it will be assessed along with all other applications received under the scheme.

Tax Code.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

167 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has received all of his entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8733/10]

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is no information indicating that the person, whose details were supplied, has not received all his entitlements. However, if the person submits a return of income to the Revenue Commissioners for any year that he considers that he has not received all his entitlements, Revenue can review his individual circumstances.

Public Sector Pay.

John Deasy

Ceist:

168 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the way the reduction in public service salaries, announced in budget 2010, is being applied to public servants who are job-sharing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8823/10]

John Deasy

Ceist:

169 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance his views on public servants who are job-sharing and have a portion of their salaries reduced by 7.5% even though their actual salaries are less than €30,000, which should entail a reduction of 5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8824/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.

The pay reductions provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009, apply to the instruments setting rates of pay. It is a well established principle that the pay of job or work sharers and those on atypical work patterns is calculated by reference to the whole time equivalent pay rate for the grade or post in question. The reduced pay rates are, therefore, calculated in this way which is consistent with the legislation governing the conditions of employment of part-time workers. Accordingly, the reduction in the rate of pay for full time and job sharing public servants is the same and any change in this relationship would create an inequity in the rate of pay for those doing similar work.

Car Scrappage Scheme.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

170 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he will reply to correspondence (details supplied). [8828/10]

The provisions of the car scrappage scheme as set out in Section 102 of the Finance Bill as published on 4 February 2010, provide that the car being scrapped, must be registered in the State in the name of the registered owner of the new car for at least 18 months previous to the date of scrappage; must be 10 years old or more from the date of first registration; must be scrapped on or after 10 December 2009 and not later than 31 December 2010; must be scrapped within 60 days of the date of the new car being registered, or have been scrapped within 60 days immediately before the date of the new car being registered; must have a valid NCT test certificate, or one that has expired no more than 90 days immediately before the date of scrappage or documentation to indicate that it has been presented for and failed an NCT roadworthiness test in the previous 6 months; and must have been insured for use on the road in the name of the registered owner for at least 12 months in the 18 months immediately prior to the date of scrappage.

Since the inception of the scrappage scheme on 1 January 2010, it has become clear that many vehicles are acquired for use as ‘family vehicles' and are frequently registered for VRT purposes in the name of one spouse, but insured in the name of the other spouse. Accordingly, the scope of the scheme under Section 102 of the Bill is being extended by providing that any reference to a "person" in the relevant subsection of the section may in the application of those provisions be construed by the Revenue Commissioners as a reference to either the person concerned, or to that person's spouse. Consequently documentation in the name of one spouse is to be taken into account for the purposes of the other qualifying under the scheme. Following this change, documents relating to vehicle ownership and vehicle insurance may be presented in the name of either spouse in order to qualify for the repayment of VRT.

Disabled Drivers.

Niall Collins

Ceist:

171 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of a person that has been refused upon appeal on an application under the disabled drivers scheme, they will be independently assessed by another body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8836/10]

The initial application for a Primary Medical Certificate under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, is made to the Senior Medical Officer of the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative area.

If the Primary Medical Certificate is refused, the person may appeal the refusal to the Medical Board of Appeal, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Rochestown Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. I understand the person appealed the decision of the Senior Medical Officer not to grant a Primary Medical Certificate and the appeal was subsequently refused by the Medical Board of Appeal. If the person wishes to apply again for a Primary Medical Certificate, the application to the Senior Medical Officer must be accompanied by a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner indicating that the practitioner has formed the opinion that the medical condition of the person concerned has materially disimproved since the previous application. I would point out that the medical Board of Appeal is independent in the exercise of its functions.

Banking Sector Regulation.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

172 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he or his officials or agencies have been involved in discussions between a bank (details supplied) and other banks regarding the establishment of a third banking force that would have provided a broad-based mix of banking services; if he encouraged its formation; if his attention has been drawn to the resistance by a building society that hampered its emergence; and the efforts that were taken by him to overcome that resistance. [8841/10]

As independent bodies, it is a matter in the first instance for the financial institutions themselves, whether covered by the Bank Guarantee Scheme or not, to consider and determine their strategic arrangements, subject of course to necessary regulatory, competition and other relevant requirements.

The State's primary consideration continues to be to protect, in the public interest, it's financial and economic system of the State. The public support that has so far been provided to individual institutions and to the system as a whole has been provided to achieve that objective. However, neither of the institutions referred to in the Deputy's question have received capital support from the State and are, therefore, not subject to any requirements for restructuring that may arise from the provision of such support.

I fully support the idea of a reformed and reinvigorated banking system that can serve our economy in a proper manner and within which there is scope for all credit institutions operating in the Irish market to play their full part. As the Deputy will be aware, all of the institutions participating in NAMA are subject to restructuring plan requirements. I will continue to encourage institutions to examine, separately or jointly, how they can meet their capital or funding needs and develop business models to support economic development. I will consider all or any option presented to me and, insofar as possible, play a positive role in supporting the delivery of viable plans consistent with competition and State aid requirements.

Tax Code.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

173 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive their tax rebate for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8847/10]

I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that following receipt of the earlier request a review of the person's liability was carried out. The overpayment arising has now been cleared for repayment. PAYE Balancing Statement P21 dated 17 February 2010 and refund cheque will issue to the person concerned shortly. I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that following receipt of the earlier request a review of the person's liability was carried out. The overpayment arising has now been cleared for repayment. PAYE Balancing Statement P21 dated 17 February 2010 and refund cheque will issue to the person concerned shortly.

David Stanton

Ceist:

174 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons availing of the incapacitated child tax credit; the number who availed of same in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9049/10]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of claimants availing of the incapacitated child tax credit is 11,000 for the income tax year 2006, the most recent year for which final information is available. I am further advised by the Revenue Commissioners, that they are not in a position to provide the data requested by the Deputy for the years 2007 to 2009.

The numbers availing of the credit represent income earners who were in a position to absorb at least some of the tax credit and thereby give rise to an Exchequer cost. They do not include the numbers of potential claimants whose entitlements to other tax credits were sufficient to reduce their tax liability to nil. The numbers availing are rounded to the nearest hundred. I should be noted that a married couple who has elected or has been deemed to have elected for joint assessment is counted as one tax unit.

Banking Sector Regulation.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

175 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a provision in the heads of legislation of the new banking commission that a regulatory regime that is proportionate as appropriate is developed for the credit union movement which will not seek to impose requirements which would overlook the voluntary and community tradition of the movement. [9064/10]

When in June 2009 I announced major reform of the institutional structures for regulation of financial services in Ireland, I indicated that no change is proposed in the current role and responsibilities of the Registrar of Credit Unions. The Government places immense value on the important role that Credit Unions play in Ireland. The continuing success and the growth of the movement in recent years stands as a testament to both the trust and loyalty felt by its members, and the dedication and commitment of all Credit Union staff — both professional and volunteer. The Government will continue its support for credit unions to enable them to continue serving their communities.

I have requested the Financial Regulator to carry out a strategic review of the credit union sector in Ireland. This will involve an examination of the structure, operation, regulation and legislation of the credit union sector. Its conclusions and recommendations will inform the development of policy in relation to credit unions, including an appropriate regulatory framework. This comprehensive review is to be an objective assessment carried out by independent experts in consultation with all of the stakeholders.

Public Sector Pay.

Seán Barrett

Ceist:

176 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the reason for cutting the pay of research staff of third level educational institutions in view of the exceptional employment status of research staff and exceptional circumstances relative to the conditions and aspects of their employment; if he will grant an exemption from the reduction in pay rates to research staff under section 6 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9133/10]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

182 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the fact that the research staff at Trinity College, Dublin, should be exempt from the pay cut imposed by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 in view of the range of exceptional circumstances relating to their conditions and aspects of employment. [9199/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 182 together.

Section 6 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 provides that, in certain limited circumstances, the Minister for Finance may by direction exempt or vary the application of the pay reductions provided for in the Act to public servants or groups of public servants.

Representations from a number of Deputies have been made in relation to the application of the pay reductions to contract researchers. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act, 2009 makes provision for the reduction in the pay rates of all persons employed by public service bodies with effect from 1 January 2010. As universities come within the definition in the Act of public service bodies, contract researchers employed by such universities are subject to the pay reductions provided for under the legislation. I have no proposals to exempt persons in that position from the pay reductions.

Pension Provisions.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

177 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that widows who returned to the public service post 1995 are treated less favourably for pension purposes than widows who returned pre-1995 despite having the same years service, as result of the introduction of co-ordinated pensions in the public service and his plans to remove this anomaly. [9146/10]

Prior to 1974 female officers were generally required to resign on marriage and, depending on their service, received a marriage gratuity in lieu of any pension benefits. Following the abolition of the marriage bar, any officer appointed before 1974 has the option of resigning within two years of marriage and receiving a marriage gratuity, preserving benefits if they wish to leave, or of remaining in employment. Officers who received a marriage gratuity and who are subsequently reappointed in an established capacity in the Civil Service may refund the gratuity and have all prior service aggregated with subsequent service for superannuation purposes.

Under current arrangements, where the reappointment takes place after 6 April 1995 (the date of the introduction of Class A1 pay related social insurance contributions for civil servants) then all service, including prior service is treated as post 1995 service and superannuation benefits are calculated to reflect the integration of occupational benefits with the State welfare payments. An officer appointed or reappointed to the service before 6 April 1995 is subject, as a general rule, to Class B1 PRSI contributions and their full pension entitlements are met from the occupational scheme alone.

The Social Welfare code does not allow a person to claim two Social Welfare pensions at the same time. This has implications for staff reappointed to the civil service after 1995 in that, post-retirement, they would not be entitled to claim a second social welfare pension, e.g. widow's contributory pension. No such implications exist for officers reappointed to the service before 6 April 1995 by virtue of the fact that, since their full pension entitlements are met from the occupational scheme alone, the issue of a second social welfare pension does not arise. Questions relating to the Social Welfare code and the payment of Social Welfare benefits, referred to above, are a matter for the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

Public Sector Pay.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

178 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 26 January 2010 and No. 187 of 9 February 2010, when a person (details supplied) will be exempt from the public sector wage reduction; and when this person can expect to receive arrears in respect of the 5% already deducted from their income since the first January 2010. [9154/10]

It is anticipated that both the exemption and the refund of arrears will be applied to the person's wages within the next fortnight.

Banking Sector.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

179 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he or any member of his staff met with representatives of a company (details supplied) to discuss their loan application to Anglo Irish Bank and if, following such a meeting, a loan of approximately €11 million was secured by the company and the proposal receiver was stood down. [9155/10]

Neither I nor my staff met with representatives of the company specified or sought to influence the bank in its commercial decisions. As the Deputy will be aware a Relationship Framework, pursuant to Section 3 of the Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009, specifies the relationship between the Minister for Finance as sole shareholder of Anglo, and the bank. Under the Relationship Framework Anglo Irish Bank is run on an arms length commercial basis by the Board of the bank and the commercial relationship between the bank and its customers is a matter for the bank itself, in respect of which I have no role or function.

Sports Funding.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

180 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the amount of surplus funds generated by the National Lottery in 2009 that was provided to the Exchequer; the proportion of this funding that was allocated to sports programmes or the development of sports facilities in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9156/10]

The surplus of the National Lottery is transferred to the Exchequer on a regular basis and is applied each year to part-fund the Exchequer allocations to a specified range of expenditure subheads across various Votes, including sports-related expenditure by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. Details of the amount transferred and the allocations to the relevant subheads are set out in Appendix 1 of the Revised Book of Estimates. In recent years, the amount allocated to these subheads is significantly larger than the amount available from the National Lottery surplus.

The outturn figures for 2009 are contained in the Revised Book of Estimates 2010, which was published by my Department last week. Appendix 1 of that document shows that, in 2009, an amount of €275m was transferred to the Exchequer from the surplus of the National Lottery and was used to part-fund total expenditure of just over €435m on the specified expenditure subheads. Thus, of the €275m transferred from the National Lottery surplus in 2009, about €70m was used to part-fund sports-related expenditure.

Tax Code.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

181 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on the fact that the below cost selling of alcohol results in retailers claiming a refund of VAT on the product from the Revenue Commissioners in view of the fact that the input credit on their purchase of the project exceeds the output tax charged to the consumer on the sale of the product (details supplied); if he believes this represents an indirect subsidy by the State on the below cost sale of alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9166/10]

Under EU VAT rules traders who are registered for VAT collect VAT on the goods and services that they sell. In turn such traders are entitled to recover the VAT they incur on their business inputs used in the purchase or production of goods or delivery of services. VAT is a tax on the value added to a supply and the collection and recovery of VAT takes place at each stage of the chain of supply from manufacturing to retailer. Consequently, if there is a decrease in value at any stage in the process the trader is entitled to a refund of the excess of VAT incurred over that collected.

Question No. 182 answered with Question No. 176.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

183 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Finance the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9216/10]

The following table sets out details of all amounts spent by my Department in respect of the hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

In accordance with the Value For Money Guidelines, Officers are required to report on a biannual basis in respect of all projects, including consultancies, with regard to compliance with all relevant national and European guidelines and management of expenditure. I am satisfied that the engagement of consultants, as set out in the attached table, represents good value for money.

Year

Consultant

2007

Hay Group Ireland

192,049

2007

Mercer Consulting

349,301

2007

Hay

262,166

2007

Hay Group (Ireland) Ltd.

206,956

2007

The Reward Partnership

151,554

2007

Jenny Smyth & Associates

104,863

2007

Derek Burn (DLA Piper Rudnick)

190,114

2007

Indecon International Economic Consultants

92,112

2007

Life Strategies Ltd.

87,726

2007

Goodbody Economic Consultants

59,532

2007

Ernst & Young

56,657

2007

PWC (PriceWaterhouseCoopers)

49,624

2007

Accuvest Investment Advisors

48,400

2007

Hay Management Consultants

47,795

2007

Goodbody Economic Consultants

43,651

2007

Indecon (Ireland)

42,592

2007

Nifast

22,750

2007

Petrus Consulting Limited

19,201

2007

Cornamona Health and Safety

7,800

2007

Canavan & Byrne

6,050

2007

Safety Solutions Limited

2,420

2008

Arthur Cox

1,628,024

2008

McCann Fitzgerald

63,024

2008

Hay Group Ireland

114,344

2008

Ernst & Young

193,901

2008

A&L Goodbody

182,008

2008

IPA — Institute of Public Administration

50,000

2008

Petrus Consulting

4,114

2009

Arthur Cox

5,875,869

2009

Mercer (Ireland) ltd

3,308

2009

Watson (Wyatt) ltd

7,290

2009

Hay Group Ireland ltd

4,860

2009

Life Strategies Ltd

32,805

2009

Hay Group Ireland

215,937

Garda Recruitment.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

184 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Finance if he will lift the ban on public sector recruitment for Garda personnel in the interests of public safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9226/10]

This Government is cognisant of the public's concern on the matter of crime and of the need to have adequate Garda resources in place. The staffing levels in An Garda Síochána remain at an extremely high level at circa 14,500 today in comparison to 12,300 in 2005. The Force has not been overly impacted upon by the moratorium on recruitment given that there were, and still are, student Gardaí in the system who were recruited and began training prior to the introduction of the moratorium last March. I am assured that Garda management are committed to the utilisation of these resources in the most efficient and effective manner to maintain public safety.

National Drugs Strategy.

Joe Carey

Ceist:

185 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to regulate and ban substances sold in head shops; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8747/10]

Joe Carey

Ceist:

201 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take and the progress made regulating and banning products sold in head shops; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8748/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 201 together.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and its associated regulations control the import, export, production, supply and possession of a range of named narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances listed in the Schedules to the Act. Substances are scheduled under the Act in accordance with Ireland's obligations under international conventions and/or where there is evidence that the substances are causing significant harm to public health in Ireland.

The list of scheduled substances is kept under ongoing review. For example, in 2006 psychotropic (‘magic') mushrooms were banned and their possession and sale is now illegal. On 31 March 2009, BZP was similarly subjected to legislative control measures and criminal sanctions.

In the light of the health risks associated with some of the products being sold in so-called ‘head shops', I intend to have the regulations drafted this month which will introduce controls, similar to those introduced recently in the UK, on a range of substances which are currently on sale in head shops. In accordance with EU law, it may also be necessary to notify the Commission of the proposed regulations in case they impact on legitimate industrial activities and this imposes a 3 month stand still period on implementation of the regulations. These regulations will make the possession and sale of these substances illegal and subject to criminal sanctions.

Some of the substances in question have legitimate uses — for example, in the production of plastics and industrial solvents. It will be necessary to assess the level of use of these substances by industry in Ireland and the implications for industry of placing these substances under the ambit of Misuse of Drugs legislation.

The Minister of State, Deputy John Curran, who has responsibility for co-ordinating the National Drugs Strategy, has identified head shops as an area of concern, and is currently considering the options available to more effectively control the activities of head shops.

A Research Advisory Group (RAG) has been established to identify possible options for the regulation of head shops. The RAG held its first meeting on 13 January 2010. It has representatives from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, the Departments of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Health and Children, the Health Research Board, Revenue Custom's Service, the Forensic State Laboratory and other relevant stakeholders. The RAG will report incrementally until its work is complete.

Health Services.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

186 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding funding in 2010 for dental treatments under the medical card scheme; the length of time she expects the funding to last; the plans in place to ensure continuity of cover for medical card patients beyond this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8869/10]

It has been decided to put a cash limit on the Dental Treatment Services Scheme this year, based on the expenditure incurred under the scheme in 2008. The Health Service Executive has examined the means of achieving this and these proposals are now being examined by my Department.

Public Sector Pay.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

187 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if persons at an equine centre (details supplied) should be exempt from public service pay cuts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8883/10]

Cherry Orchard Integrated Youth Service, which is managed by the Cherry Orchard Equine Centre, receives grant-in-aid funding from the Children and Youth Services Development Unit of my Office via the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB).

The Government's decision to reduce its payroll costs in various ways — principally by reducing the salaries paid to public servants and reducing the numbers employed — was deliberately designed to protect existing levels of public services and to provide a more sustainable payroll cost base into the future.

I understand that the CDYSB issued a notice to its grant aided youth services and projects signalling that the pay reduction for public servants under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 might automatically apply to these projects/services. Grant aided voluntary youth organisations and services funded from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) budget are not directly affected by the pay adjustments provided for under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009. These organisations and services are not public service bodies as defined in that Act and their employees are not public servants.

However, the level of funding being provided to the OMCYA has been reduced as part of the general efficiency savings for the youth sector provided for in the 2010 Budget and it is entirely appropriate that notwithstanding these reductions that OMCYA funded voluntary youth work providers take appropriate measures to ensure that they continue to provide the same level of service in 2010 as previously. It is the responsibility of each individual employer to decide exactly what mix of actions should be taken to achieve this goal, to take appropriate legal and other advice, to consult and inform its employees/trade unions as necessary and to manage the HR and industrial relations implications of its decisions.

The matter is currently being clarified with the City of Dublin Youth Services Board.

Health Service Staff.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

188 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will lift the embargo on nursing staff recruitment to enable nursing staff to be replaced at Belmullet District Hospital and Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo, to ensure that beds will not have to be closed down due to the lack of nursing staff to comply with Health Information and Quality Authority requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9016/10]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

222 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive made an application to recruit nursing staff to Belmullet District Hospital and Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo following the retirement of nursing staff members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9014/10]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

223 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the nursing staff numbers required at Belmullet General Hospital and Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo when there is full bed capacity to ensure compliance with Health Information and Quality Authority standards. [9015/10]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

224 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of nursing staff working at Belmullet District Hospital and at Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo; the number of nursing staff who have retired in the past twelve months; the number of nursing staff that have to be replaced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9017/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 222 to 224, inclusive, together.

In order to implement savings measures on public service numbers, the Government decided that, with effect from 27 March 2009 to end 2010, no post in the public sector, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. The decision applies to all grades of permanent and temporary staff, including nursing, notwithstanding a number of specific exemptions, some of which are highlighted below. A HSE circular has issued which gives effect to the Government decision in the public health services and other specific aspects of the employment control framework for the health services.

The Government decision was modulated to ensure that key services are maintained insofar as possible in the health services, particularly in respect of children at risk, older people and persons with a disability. The HSE has been focussing on the scope that exists within the health services for reorganising and restructuring of work in order to minimise the impact on essential service delivery. The redeployment and reassignment of existing staff will also support the reorientation of care from hospitals to the community to facilitate the development of integrated care. It is seeking a high level of flexibility from staff and unions to achieve this.

In addition, the employment control framework specifically exempts the following front line grades in the health sector from the moratorium: Medical Consultants, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Clinical Psychologists, Behaviour Therapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, and Emergency Medical Technicians. Furthermore, special provisions apply in relation to certain specialist grades under the National Cancer Control Programme.

The focus on these key grades is in line with existing Government policy on the prioritisation of certain development areas, for which significant funding has already been provided. The overall result will be to assist in the reorientation of health employment to services delivered in primary and community care.

Health employment levels are monitored by the Joint Employment Control Monitoring Committee, which comprises officials from my Department, the Department of Finance and the HSE. This committee also reviews the implementation of the moratorium and any issues arising.

My Department has not received an application from the HSE in relation to the recruitment of nursing staff to Belmullet District Hospital and Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo. As the other issues raised are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Preschool Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

189 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has received correspondence from parents of children attending a centre (details supplied) in County Kildare under the early childhood care and education scheme; her plans to address their concerns and overturn the decision to facilitate operation of same as per correspondence forwarded to her Department in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9043/10]

I have responsibility for the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which was introduced in January of this year. This scheme provides for a free pre-school year for all eligible children prior to commencing primary school.

I am not aware of specific correspondence from parents of children attending the service referred to by the Deputy. I can, however, confirm that it was not possible to accept the service in question into the ECCE scheme in January 2010 as it was not in a position to meet the scheme's requirements to provide the pre-school year on the basis of either the 38 week model (5 days a week for 3 hours each day) or the alternative 41 week model (4 days a week for 3 hours 30 minutes each day). I understand that this was due to the provisions of its rental agreement with the local community centre.

To provide for the flexible delivery of the new free pre-school provision, childcare services participating in the scheme can choose to provide the free pre-school year from a range of options. For example a full or part-time daycare service will normally provide the place for 2 hours 15 minutes a day, five days a week over 50 weeks. A playschool sessional service will normally be required to provide a pre-school service for 3 hours a day, five days a week over 38 weeks. However, where for good reason a sessional service is unable to operate over 5 days, it may participate in the scheme by providing a place for 3 hours 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week over 41 weeks.

Further flexibility is provided for in that, a full or part-time service may choose to provide a sessional service over 38 weeks of a year (or 2 sessional services each day) while a sessional service may choose to provide 2 hours 15 minutes per day over 50 weeks. Also in cases where children attend a full or part-time daycare service for 3 days a week only, consideration will be given to allowing the service to participate in the scheme on the basis of providing the pre-school year to those children for 3 hours 45 minutes a day for 3 days a week. In such cases, a service will be required to provide the pre-school year over 50 weeks.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

190 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to rectify an anomaly which exists regarding the free pre-school year for early childhood care and entry to primary school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9139/10]

I have responsibility for implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which was introduced in January of this year.

Children will qualify for a free pre-school year place when they are aged between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months at 1 September each year. The application of this age range is being interpreted as generously as possible to include children who are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September each year. This means that in January this year children born on or after 2 February 2005 or on or before 30 June 2006 will qualify. Children born between 2 February 2006 and 30 June 2007 will be eligible for the free pre-school year in September 2010. The upper age limit does not apply where children are developmentally delayed and would benefit from participating in the pre-school year at a later age.

While the majority of children commence school between the age of 4 years 6 months and 5 years 6 months, it is accepted that some parents choose to send their children to primary school at an earlier age and the ECCE scheme allows for children to attend the pre-school year and still commence primary school when they are just over 4 years 2 months of age. However, the objective of the scheme is to make early learning in a formal setting available to all children in the key developmental year before they commence primary school, with appropriate age related activities and programmes being provided to children within a particular age cohort. Targeting the pre-school year at a particular age cohort is clearly fundamental to the scheme and it is necessary, therefore, to set minimum and maximum limits to the age range within which children will participate in the scheme each year.

I am satisfied that the age range set for the scheme achieves a reasonable balance between supporting the provision of appropriate age related programmes and activities and providing flexibility to parents and their children and there are no plans to review the position in this regard at this stage.

Health Service Staff.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

191 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will lift the ban on public sector recruitment for health and ambulance personnel in the interests of public safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9225/10]

In order to implement savings measures on public service numbers, the Government decided that, with effect from 27 March 2009 to end 2010, no post in the public sector, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. The decision applies to all grades of permanent and temporary staff, notwithstanding a number of specific exemptions. A HSE circular has issued which gives effect to the Government decision in the public health services and other specific aspects of the employment control framework for the health services.

The Government decision was modulated to ensure that key services are maintained insofar as possible in the health services, particularly in respect of children at risk, older people and persons with a disability. This would mean reorganising and restructuring work in order to minimise the impact on essential service delivery. The redeployment and reassignment of staff would be an essential part of this process. It is a matter of great concern that the level of flexibility from staff and unions required to achieve the changes needed, is not forthcoming at the moment, due to the ongoing industrial action across the public service.

Health employment levels are monitored by the Joint Employment Control Monitoring Committee, which comprises officials from my Department, the Department of Finance and the HSE. This committee also reviews the implementation of the moratorium and any issues arising.

Health Services.

Frank Feighan

Ceist:

192 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [8641/10]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Pharmacy Regulations.

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

193 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures she has taken to ensure that pharmacists pass on reductions in the cost of medicines to consumers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8647/10]

The price of medicines supplied to patients in Ireland under the GMS and community drugs schemes is built up as follows. Firstly, ex-factory prices are set in accordance with agreements between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Secondly, in addition to reimbursing pharmacists the ex-factory price of the product, the HSE also pays a wholesale mark-up of 10%, a dispensing fee of up to €5 and a 20% retail mark-up. (This is not applicable in the case of medical card prescriptions).

My Department and the HSE have implemented a number of reforms to reduce the cost of medicines for both the State and patients. Under the terms of Agreements in 2006 between the HSE and pharmaceutical manufacturers, price cuts of 35% were applied to all proprietary products for which generic alternatives are available on the Irish market. Following discussions that I had with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, its member companies have agreed to introduce price cuts of 40% for a large number of off-patent drugs and medicines with effect from 1 February.

It is important to note that these price cuts apply to all transactions and not just those under the various State schemes.

It is my view that the reductions in prices and mark-ups should be applied to all transactions where a person produces a Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) card, including transactions where expenditure has not reached the €120 monthly threshold under the DPS scheme.

I have been disappointed to learn that some pharmacists are not applying these reductions in prices and mark-ups in this manner. I have raised this matter with the Irish Pharmacy Union and intend to pursue it further.

Health Services.

James Bannon

Ceist:

194 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the shortage of nursing care in the Legan, Colehill, Forgney and Carrickboy areas of County Longford despite a 24% increase in population. [8659/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Michael Kennedy

Ceist:

195 Deputy Michael Kennedy asked the Minister for Health and Children if the daughters of women who have had cervical cancer will be given the HPV vaccine as a priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8687/10]

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

238 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 272 and 273 of 9 February 2010, if the HPV vaccine will be provided to girls over 12 years of age who would be at risk for family reasons of contracting cervical cancer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9080/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 238 together.

Infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV is transmitted mainly through sexual contact. For this reason and having regard to the reports by the Health Information and Quality Authority and from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and based on the best medical advice available to me that HPV vaccine does have the potential to play an important long term role in the prevention of cervical cancer I decided that a universal high uptake vaccination programme for young girls at the age of 13 or 14 every year for the foreseeable future should be introduced at this time.

Recently I requested the HSE to initiate a tendering process for the procurement of a HPV vaccine with a view to commencing a HPV vaccination programme for all girls in first year in secondary school and this process has now been completed. The programme can be delivered, commencing this year, from the extra resources committed in this year's budget to the overall Cancer Programme. It is not intended to provide vaccination outside of this programme and details of the full programme will be announced by the HSE in the near future.

The national cervical screening programme is the most efficient population approach to preventing and controlling cervical cancer and when combined with a HPV vaccination programme has the potential to reduce significantly over time the incidence of cervical cancer and the number of deaths caused by it.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

196 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will issue on the nursing home loan (ancillary State support) portion of the nursing home support scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if this matter will be expedited. [8689/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

197 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in a repayment under the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8694/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Thalidomide Survivors’ Compensation.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

198 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will support an association (details supplied) in their efforts for justice and compensation. [8710/10]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

227 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions she has had with an association (details supplied): her views on the requests put forward by the association; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9036/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 227 together.

There are 32 Irish victims of thalidomide, 28 of whom currently reside in the State.

Thalidomide preparations were marketed in Ireland from May 1959 to January 1962 when they were withdrawn from sale by the manufacturers. The preparations on sale in this country were manufactured by Chemie Grünenthal of Germany (now Grünenthal GmbH).

Irish victims of thalidomide receive compensation from the foundation set up under German legislation to provide compensation for victims of thalidomide.

The Irish Government decision of January 1975 granted, to each Irish victim of thalidomide, a lump sum of four times the equivalent German lump sum and a monthly allowance for life equivalent to the German monthly allowance. The Irish monthly allowance, which has increased over the past 35 years, is paid by the Department of Health and Children and is currently between €514.59 and €1,109.46 per month. The German and the Irish monthly allowances are tax-free and not reckonable for State benefits. Each individual is entitled to a medical card and health services.

The Minister and Department officials have met with the Irish Thalidomide Association (ITA) on a number of occasions. The Association has made submissions to the Minister seeking additional compensation in the form of an additional lump sum payment, a substantial increase in their monthly payment and retrospection.

In May 2009, the Minister for Health and Children asked the Irish State Claims Agency to assess the ITA's requests in the context of Irish and International provisions for victims of thalidomide and in the context of Irish case law and precedent; and to advise the Minister accordingly. It is expected that the State Claims Agency will report within the next few weeks. Any proposal which comes out of this process will need to be considered by Government.

Health Services.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

199 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will support the case of a person (details supplied). [8711/10]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Inter-Country Adoptions.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

200 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the expected date for the signing of the Hague Convention into law; the countries to which the Hague Convention will apply; the implications of that convention for countries available for adoption; the expected supports for teenagers in the new Adoption Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8726/10]

The Adoption Bill 2009 provides for the restating or updating of the provisions of the Adoption Acts 1952-1998 as appropriate, and for the repeal of those Acts. It also gives force of law to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Inter-country Adoptions. The Bill also provides for the establishment of the Adoption Authority of Ireland to replace An Bord Uchtála. Future inter-country adoption arrangements will be governed by the terms of the Adoption Bill 2009 when enacted.

The Adoption Bill 2009 was published in January 2009 and completed all stages in the Seanad by May 2009. Second stage was commenced in Dáil Éireann on 18th November 2009 and completed on 21st January 2010. Committee stage commenced on 17 February 2010 and it is hoped that the Bill will complete its passage through both Houses in the near future. Entry into force of the Hague Convention occurs on the first day of the month following three months after the instrument of ratification or accession is deposited with the depositary, which is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

With regard to the provision of post adoption services, adopted children will continue to have the same eligibility and entitlements to health, personal social services and special education needs as any child in Ireland. The Bill makes statutory provision for the notification by adoptive parents of the adoption on return to Ireland with the child. This must be made to both the Adoption Authority, for the purposes of registering the child, and the HSE, in order that the child receives all the normal child health surveillance services available through the public health system.

The Adoption Board has provided a List of Countries / Territories that are compliant /non-compliant with Hague and/or Irish Adoption Law. Details are available on the Adoption Board website at www.adoptionboard.ie.

Question No. 201 answered with Question No. 185.

Adoption Services.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

202 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applicants that have submitted their papers and are awaiting a decision on their request for a declaration of suitability and eligibility to adopt; if she will assure applicants that adequate staff are in place to process all current applications before the enactment of the Adoption Bill 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8751/10]

I am informed by the Adoption Board that there are currently in the region of 90 applicants whose papers have been submitted to the Board for a decision regarding Declarations of Suitability and Eligibility to adopt.

The Adoption Board is making every effort to process applications on hand prior to the enactment of the Adoption Bill 2009.

Proposed Legislation.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

203 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce legislation requiring labels on alcohol products to warn of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8758/10]

My Department intends drafting legislation for the placing of health advice/warnings about the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy on all alcoholic drink containers and promotional materials. It is also intended to provide for the placing of other health messages on labels and promotional materials as may be deemed appropriate. The draft legislation will also require that the amount of pure alcohol in each container will be clearly indicated.

Once prepared, the draft Heads of a Bill will be submitted to Government for approval in the normal way.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme.

David Stanton

Ceist:

204 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applications under the nursing home support scheme received each month since it was established; the number awaiting processing; the amount of time it takes to process an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8769/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Services.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

205 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 3 December 2009, if the applicant will be facilitated at another hospital to have their operation under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8798/10]

The primary remit of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is to facilitate treatment for those public patients waiting longest for surgery. The NTPF is working with Tallaght hospital to facilitate treatment in the first place for patients waiting longer than 12 months for surgery. Thereafter it will be in a position to focus on patients waiting for less than 12 months. It is open to the patient's general practitioner to contact the hospital about the case, if he/she is of the opinion that the patient's condition merits more immediate attention.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

206 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans for the future use of St. Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8806/10]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Cancer Screening Programme.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

207 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the age limit for cervical cancer vaccine; if it will be extended to other age groups; the way a person can register for the uptake of the vaccine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8807/10]

Infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV is transmitted mainly through sexual contact. For this reason and having regard to the reports by the Health Information and Quality Authority and from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and based on the best medical advice available to me that HPV vaccine does have the potential to play an important long term role in the prevention of cervical cancer I decided that a universal high uptake vaccination programme for young girls at the age of 13 or 14 every year for the foreseeable future should be introduced at this time.

Recently I requested the HSE to initiate a tendering process for the procurement of a HPV vaccine with a view to commencing a HPV vaccination programme for all girls in first year in secondary school and this process has now been completed. The programme can be delivered, commencing this year, from the extra resources committed in this year's budget to the overall Cancer Programme. It is not intended to provide vaccination outside of this programme and details of the full programme will be announced by the HSE in the near future. It will not be necessary for people to register for the programme as all girls in first year will be offered the vaccination through their school.

Home Help Service.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

208 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of home help hours that will be provided per month over the course of 2010 in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8808/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Services.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

209 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a medical procedure has been postponed in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8812/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

210 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [8813/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together.

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

211 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made on the nursing home support scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [8814/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Health Service Staff.

John Deasy

Ceist:

212 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons employed in the health service who are job sharing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8825/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Preschool Services.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

213 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will reply to previous correspondence (details supplied) regarding the early childhood care and education scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8827/10]

The correspondence referred to by the Deputy concerns the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being implemented by my Office since January of this year. The letter in question was received by my Office in December 2009 and was responded to earlier this month.

As the Deputy is aware, the scheme is open to children who are aged more than 3 years and 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September each year. This means that children born between 2 February 2005 and 30 June 2006 qualified for the free pre-school provision in January this year and children born between 2 February 2006 and 30 June 2007 will qualify for the free pre-school provision in September 2010. While the majority of children commence school between the age of 4 years 6 months and 5 years 6 months, it is accepted that some parents choose to send their children to primary school at an earlier age and the ECCE scheme allows for children to attend the pre-school year and still commence primary school when they are just over 4 years 2 months of age.

However, the objective of the scheme is to make early learning in a formal setting available to all children in the key developmental year before they commence primary school, with appropriate age related activities and programmes being provided to children within a particular age cohort. Targeting the pre-school year at a particular age cohort is, therefore, fundamental to the scheme and for this reason minimum and maximum limits to the age range within which children will participate in the scheme each year have been set. I am satisfied that the age range which has been set achieves a reasonable balance between supporting the provision of age related programmes and activities and providing flexibility to parents and their children.

Special Educational Needs.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

214 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the Trinity College Dublin report, a cost and outcomes analysis of alternative models of care for young children with severe disabilities in Ireland; if she will meet with an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8845/10]

The HSE provided funding of €585,000 to the Jack and Jill Foundation in 2009 and will be happy to consider the report "There's no Place like Home" as part of its engagement with the Foundation this year.

Neither my Department nor the HSE were involved in the preparation of this report. I agree that, in general, children's needs are most appropriately met and provided in the home, and that we need to ensure more efficient use of resources. However, many children availing of services provided by the Jack and Jill Foundation also avail of other disability services, and the report did not compare the respective costs of the home based care provided by the Foundation with the cost of similar services provided by the HSE.

The current economic and budgetary position means we can only continue to fund new services by reducing costs and greater efficiency, including achieving greater integration of services provided by the statutory and non-statutory sectors. I should mention in this context that my Department is undertaking a review of the efficiency and effectiveness of the health and personal services provided to people with disabilities. This review is part of the Government's Value for Money and Policy Review programme. The review will focus, in particular, on the scope for achieving greater efficiency and effectiveness from the substantial resources expended on services for people with disabilities, and will support the future planning and development of such services. I can assure the Deputy that the issues raised in the Jack and Jill Report will be considered as part of that review.

Care of the Elderly.

Seán Power

Ceist:

215 Deputy Seán Power asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applicants in receipt of a home care grant in 2008 and 2009; the number of new applications approved during those years in the Kildare and West Wicklow Health Service Executive area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8846/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

216 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Louth will receive payment under the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8851/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

217 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the rising cost of day care for Alzheimer’s patients in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8855/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Accommodation.

Joe Behan

Ceist:

218 Deputy Joe Behan asked the Minister for Health and Children the terms of her contractual obligations in relation to the public use of privately operated beds in co-located hospitals in cases in which public beds are closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8859/10]

The Renewed Programme for Government re-affirms the Government's commitment to the current co-location programme.

Preferred bidders have been selected for six co-located projects at Beaumont, Cork University, Limerick Regional, St. James's, Sligo and Waterford Regional Hospitals. Project agreements have been signed for the Beaumont, Cork, Limerick and St James's projects. Planning permission has been granted for these latter four projects. Two other projects are at earlier stages of the procurement process.

One of the requirements under the scheme of capital allowances is that a private hospital must ensure that at least 20% of its bed capacity can be made available to the HSE for the treatment of individuals awaiting in-patient or outpatient hospital services as public patients. In addition, the fees charged must not be more than 90% of the fees that would be charged for equivalent treatment provided to a patient with private medical insurance.

Detailed and innovative features will promote the public interest. Each site will have one emergency department. The private hospitals will facilitate medical training and research and development; accept direct admissions to medical and surgical admission units from primary care centres and general practitioners on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week; comply with physical design requirements to fit with the public hospital; have joint clinical governance, shared information and records management, performance management and documented service level agreements, where these are undertaken; and participate in the public HIPE and casemix information systems. While these obligations apply to the private hospital, the HSE (or public hospital) is not obliged in the project agreements to avail of bed capacity in the private hospital. However, it will be open to the HSE to enter into service level agreements for the use of capacity in the co-located facilities. This is intended to give the HSE (or the public hospital) the maximum flexibility in organising acute hospital services on the hospital campus.

Medical Cards.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

219 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding setting new income thresholds in respect of medical card eligibility for 2010. [8870/10]

My Department is currently reviewing all legislation relating to eligibility for health and personal social services with a view to making the system as fair and transparent as possible. As part of this exercise, a review of the eligibility criteria for medical cards in the context of financial and medical need is being undertaken. Upon completion of this review, I will consider if changes are required to the medical card / GP visit card income thresholds.

Inter-Country Adoptions.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

220 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has received the report of the Adoption Board on its investigation into the mediation agency dealing with Vietnamese inter-country adoption; if a decision has been made on transitional measures for prospective parents who wish to continue to adopt from non-Hague countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8874/10]

I have not received the report of the Adoption Board in relation to this matter and I understand from the Board that enquiries in this regard are ongoing.

As regards the issue of transitional measures I brought forward at Committee stage a proposed amendment to the Adoption Bill 2009 that will enable prospective adoptive parents to proceed with an adoption from a non-Hague or non-bilateral country, if prior to the establishment date, they have been issued with a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to adopt. The amendment requires that the Adoption Authority (to be set up under the Act) would be satisfied that the particular adoption meets all the standards of the Hague Convention.

Health Service Staff.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

221 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if a number of acting community welfare officers who have permanent status with the Health Service Executive are retained in their posts as community welfare officers with permanent status when the service is transferred from her Department to the Department of Social and Family Affairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8881/10]

The employment status of employees and their terms and conditions are just some of the issues which have already been identified and on which agreement will need to be reached with the relevant health sector unions, prior to the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department of Social and Family Affairs. It would be neither possible nor appropriate at this stage, in advance of such an agreement being reached, to attempt to give figures in relation to the numbers or employment status of such staff.

I should reiterate that the management of the Executive, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and my Department remain committed to implementing the Government decision, which was originally taken in 2006, to transfer the CWS. There have been prolonged periods of engagement with the health sector unions since that time but, to date, no agreement has been reached. Most recently, facilitated talks had begun under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission, with a small sub-group, representative of management and unions, engaged in intensive discussions. However, both SIPTU and IMPACT informed the Labour Relations Commission in January of this year that they were not in a position to attend the conciliation conferences which had been scheduled to take place. This was due to the fact that they were to be engaged in intensive dialogue/consultation with their membership throughout the month of January, regarding the Government decision to reduce the remuneration of public servants. Following this consultation, I understand that both unions have informed the LRC that they are unable to engage in these discussions, due to the ongoing industrial action across the public service. As a result of this development, these intensive talks in relation to the transfer of the CWS cannot now go ahead as planned. This decision by the unions is unwarranted, given the already unacceptable delays in implementing a Government decision that was taken nearly 4 years ago now. Ultimately, this transfer is one which will see the CWS being properly located in the Department of Social and Family Affairs, and will result in a better service for the public who avail of it.

Questions Nos. 222 to 224, inclusive, answered with Question No. 188.

Medical Cards.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

225 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding an application for an over 70 years medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [9021/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Inter-Country Adoptions.

Andrew Doyle

Ceist:

226 Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health and Children if the proposed Adoption Bill recognises direct adoptions from Hague-ratified contracting states where such adoptions are legislated for and administered in line with the Hague Convention Good Practice Guidelines; her plans to propose any amendments to clarify this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9024/10]

The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child. Future intercountry adoption arrangements will be governed by the terms of the Adoption Bill 2009 when enacted.

With regard to ‘independent' adoptions, Part 13 of the Adoption Bill outlines the restrictions on a person in seeking to make arrangements for adoptions. It also identifies the particular role of accredited authorities in this regard.

Question No. 227 answered with Question No. 198.

Health Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

228 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children when placement will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9037/10]

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Medical Cards.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

229 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has received correspondence from a union (details supplied) regarding medical card processing; her plans to address the concerns raised in such correspondence; if she will take on board the issues raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9038/10]

I have received three letters from IMPACT, dated 17th August 2009, 23rd December 2009 and 10th February 2010 in relation to this matter. Following the change in medical card eligibility for persons aged 70 and over in the Health Act 2008, the Health Service Executive (HSE) through its Service Plan for 2009, advised the Department of its decision to centralise the processing of all medical card and GP visit card applications and renewals to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Dublin. The HSE has indicated that this decision was taken in the context of the Executive's requirements to make efficiencies in business practices that could realise savings in a very challenging economic environment and provide a modern service to the public within sustainable levels of expenditure.

I wrote to all Oireachtas members on 19th January 2010 outlining a range of measures being employed by the Executive to address issues arising from this initiative and I also referred to the various enhancements that this process will facilitate upon completion. As stated in that letter, I fully support the HSE's decision to centralise the processing of all medical card applications and reviews.

Hospital Services.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

230 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will get a bed in the Mater Hospital, Dublin. [9044/10]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Mental Health Services.

David Stanton

Ceist:

231 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children if further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 516 and 519 of 19 January 2009, the inappropriate placing of 263 children in adult in-patient mental health facilities in 2008 puts Ireland in violation of its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child she will seek an exemption in the public sector recruitment embargo to enhance the existing multidisciplinary community child and adolescent mental health teams and to appoint further teams to allow for the necessary provision of age appropriate facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9046/10]

I accept that it is inappropriate to admit children to units providing care and treatment to adults but I recognise that in the absence of an alternative, such admissions are sometimes necessary for the safety and treatment of the child. In arriving at a decision to admit a child to an adult unit, due consideration is given to the risks to the child of not admitting him /her, and the potential adverse effects of such an admission. The Mental Health Commission has issued a code of practice relating to the admission of children under the Mental Health Act 2001 which outlines arrangements and facilities that should be put in place to ensure the protection and safety of such children. An addendum to this code of practice was issued by the Commission in June 2009 which provides that:

No child under 16 years is to be admitted to an adult unit in an approved centre from 1st July 2009;

No child under 17 years is to be admitted to an adult unit in an approved centre from 1st December 2010; and

No child under 18 years is to be admitted to an adult unit in an approved centre from 1st December 2011.

If, in exceptional circumstances, the admission of a child to an adult unit in an approved centre occurs, the approved centre is obliged to submit a detailed report to the Mental Health Commission outlining why the admission has taken place. The HSE has prioritised the development of mental health services for children and adolescents. During 2009 the bed capacity for children and adolescents almost doubled, bringing the total number of in-patient beds to 30. In addition, two purpose built 20-bed units are under construction at present in Cork and Galway.

The Employment Control Framework for the HSE specifically exempts certain front line grades in the health sector from the moratorium including Consultants, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Clinical Psychologists, Behaviour Therapists, Counsellors, and Social Workers. Posts in these key grades which become vacant may be filled and a limited number of new posts may be created within the overall numbers ceiling and moratorium policy. Funding was provided to the HSE in 2006 and 2007 for the development of child and adolescent mental health services and in 2009 additional funding was provided to allow for the recruitment of 35 therapy posts for the child and adolescent mental health service. This funding has enabled the HSE to further increase the number of multidisciplinary Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams to 55 by the end of December 2009; a further eight teams are currently in development.

Medical Cards.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

232 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their medical card. [9051/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

233 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 9 February 2010, when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive. [9056/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive again for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Services.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

234 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will investigate the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who has a very rare condition, has to be admitted through the accident and emergency department at Cork University Hospital every single time they require treatment; the number of occasions that this person has been admitted to the hospital through A&E in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9061/10]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Medical Cards.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

235 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive their renewed medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9073/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Staff.

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

236 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm the appointment of two specialists to the orthodontic treatment centre at St. Finbarr’s Hospital, Cork; when the two new appointments will commence; the way it is intended to deal with the backlog of patients; if the X-ray machine in this facility is functioning; the length of time same has been out of action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9076/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services.

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

237 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children when a cancelled orthodontic appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be rescheduled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9077/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Question No. 238 answered with Question No. 195.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

239 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will support a matter (details supplied). [9086/10]

The HSE Estimate for 2010 requires the Executive to operate within tight spending parameters while meeting the objective of maintaining population health and access to services. The Minister is confident that the initiatives taken by Government to control costs will allow the HSE to maintain service levels next year. The Minister believes that building on the ambitions and achievements to date of the HSE, there is significant scope within the health system to achieve more through greater efficiency and effectiveness.

In relation to Disability, the HSE National Service Plan 2010 includes the following:

Core disability service levels to be maintained at the same level as 2009

Demographic Service Pressure funding for disability services to provide for a growth in demand for residential, day places and additional hours of personal assistant/home supports.

Innovation funding to support the transition from institutions to person centred models of care in disability and mental health.

In the meantime, the Government is undertaking a review of the efficiency and effectiveness of the health and personal social services for people with disabilities in Ireland. This review is part of the Government's Value for Money and Policy Review programme for 2009 — 2011. This in-depth review will assess how well current health and personal social services for people with disabilities meet their objectives. The evaluation will focus on the current provision of disability services and explore the way forward for the development of services within a value for money and policy framework.

It is expected that the review will develop proposals to achieve optimal effectiveness and efficiency within the existing substantial resources expended on health and personal services for people with a disability and also support the future planning and development of services.

Hospital Accommodation.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

240 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 210 of 3 February 2010, when a reply will issue regarding the information sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9103/10]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

241 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 3 February 2010 when a reply will issue regarding the information sought. [9104/10]

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

242 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 3 February 2010 when a reply will issue regarding the information sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9105/10]

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

243 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 209 of 3 February 2010 when a reply will issue regarding the information sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9106/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 to 243, inclusive, together.

Parliamentary Questions 207-209 of the 3rd February 2010 relate to a service matter and were, therefore, referred to the HSE for direct reply on the 29th January 2010.

The HSE advises that the information required in order to reply to the Deputy is currently being collated and that it hopes to issue the reply as soon as possible.

Legal Fees.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

244 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 479 and 480 of 16 September 2009 and Parliamentary Question No. 284 of 2 February 2010 when replies will issue regarding the information sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9107/10]

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

256 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that it takes more than one Parliamentary Question to receive answers to questions tabled to her Department; her views on the delays in providing this information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9227/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 256 together.

Responding to the information needs of the Oireachtas and the public is a priority for my Department and is a regular agenda item at meetings between myself and the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive.

The operation of the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE (PAD) allows for the centralised receipt, assignment and tracking of Parliamentary Questions within the HSE's extensive network of operations. More generally, PAD monitors overall performance in relation to the timely issue of replies and provides a central contact for all requests from Oireachtas members for information relating to matters within the statutory remit of the Executive. It reports on a regular basis to the Chief Executive Officer and his management team.

In 2008, a timeframe of 15 working days for replies was introduced for Parliamentary Questions referred to the Executive for direct reply. In 2009 approximately 62% of questions referred to the Executive were answered within the 15 day timeframe. I will continue to stress the importance of meeting the 15 day timeframe at my regular meetings with the CEO of the HSE.

The Deputy tabled two questions on 16th September 2009 which were referred to the HSE Parliamentary Affairs Division for direct reply. The numbers of these questions were 31305/09 and 31306/09 and the information sought related to a particular HSE region. Due to a clerical error the information supplied to the Deputy was incomplete. The error was brought to the HSE's attention and mine by the Deputy's further question, tabled on 2nd February 2010 and numbered 4587/10, on foot of which I asked the HSE to investigate the circumstances of the mistake and report on the matter to my Department. I have since been informed that the HSE have been in direct contact with the Deputy to apologise for the mistake, to supply most of the information sought and to assure the Deputy that the remaining outstanding information will be forwarded within the next two weeks.

Proposed Legislation.

John Deasy

Ceist:

245 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will amend the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 to include a legal entitlement to after care for young people coming out of care when they reach 18 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9110/10]

The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, 2009 Implementation Plan states that "The provision of aftercare by the HSE should form an integral part of care delivery for children who have been in the care of the state. It should not be seen as a discretionary service or as a once-off event that occurs on a young person's 18th birthday."

The Report makes the following recommendations in relation to aftercare:

The HSE will ensure the provision of aftercare services for children leaving care in all instances where the professional judgement of the allocated social worker determines it is required;

The HSE will, with their consent, conduct a longitudinal study to follow young people who leave care for 10 years, to map their transition to adulthood;

The HSE and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will review the approach to prioritising identified ‘at risk' young people leaving care and requiring local authority housing;

The HSE will ensure care plans include aftercare planning for all young people of 16 years and older;

The HSE will ensure that aftercare planning identifies key workers in other health services to which a young person is referred, for example, disability and mental health services;

The OMCYA, in conjunction with the HSE, will consider how best to provide necessary once-off supports for care leavers to gain practical lifelong skills.

In line with the Government commitment as reflected in the Ryan Implementation Plan funding of €1.0m was set aside by the HSE in its 2010 Service Plan, for the development of aftercare services in 2010. I am giving consideration to the legal position with regard to the provision of aftercare services, having regard to the existing legislative provisions as set out in the Child Care Act 1991. I met last week with representatives of Focus Ireland to discuss the wording of current legislation and their proposals for an amendment.

Health Service Staff.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

246 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 2 February 2010, when a reply will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9112/10]

The Health Service Executive has advised my Department that the information sought is still being collated. However, the Executive hopes to issue a reply shortly.

National Treatment Purchase Fund.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

247 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 334 of 2 February 2010, when a reply will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9113/10]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the NTPF for direct reply.

Inter-Country Adoptions.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

248 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if independent adoption is included in the Adoption Bill in view of the fact that there are a number of Irish citizens who have adopted children independently from countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention instead of from the State institutions of those countries; and if she will give recognition to these adoptions to allow these children to be afforded equal rights to children who have been adopted from State institutions of the international adoptive countries. [9141/10]

The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child. Future inter-country adoption arrangements will be governed by the terms of the Adoption Bill 2009 when enacted. With regard to ‘independent' adoptions, Part 13 of the Adoption Bill outlines the restrictions on a person in seeking to make arrangements for adoptions. It also identifies the particular role of accredited authorities in this regard.

Medical Cards.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

249 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding renewal of a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9153/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

250 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare can change the hospital into which they are booked under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9157/10]

The primary remit of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is to facilitate treatment for those public patients waiting longest for surgery. The NTPF is working with Tallaght hospital to facilitate treatment in the first place for patients waiting longer than 12 months for surgery. Thereafter it will be in a position to focus on patients waiting for less than 12 months. It is open to the patient's general practitioner to contact the hospital about the case, if he/she is of the opinion that the patients condition merits more immediate attention.

Medical Cards.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

251 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9160/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

National Lottery Funding.

Tom Sheahan

Ceist:

252 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding an application for lottery funding by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9161/10]

My Department has received an application for funding from the 2010 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number currently being assessed by my Department. The Deputy will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.

Mental Health Services.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

253 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children, further to a previous parliamentary question, the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny has not had the services of a psychologist; if she will alert the Health Service Executive to the urgency of his case and if she will expedite the matter. [9198/10]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

254 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children when a psychiatric assessment will be arranged for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9203/10]

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

255 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount she has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if she is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9218/10]

The amount spent on external contracts by my Department in 2007, 2008 and 2009 is as follows:

Year

Amount spent on Consultants

2007

8,099,465.60

2008

7,277,575.05

2009

5,339,696.49

In seeking to address the general category of outside consultants, the information set out above relates to external contracts placed by my Department for the provision of advice and expertise, and the undertaking of studies, surveys and other services. For example, included in the above are SLAN 07 (the National Health and Lifestyle Survey) and the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland (NLSCI), which involve the undertaking of a service rather than simply the provision of advice or expertise. Expenditure in areas such as this generates important publicly available information which can be used to monitor and assess the benefits of existing and potential health and social interventions.

More generally, it is the policy in my Department only to engage the services of external consultants where it is felt to be appropriate and cost-effective, taking account of Government decisions and policy on the matter. All projects must have the prior approval of myself and the Department's Management Advisory Committee before any decision can be taken by any Division of the Department to go to public tender for the engagement of external consultants. Once initiated, the spend profile of each project is monitored by my Department on a monthly basis.

Question No. 256 answered with Question No. 244.

Assisted Human Reproduction.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

257 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 1 July 2009, her plans to introduce legislation in the area of surrogate parenthood in light of the R v. R judgement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9229/10]

The Supreme Court recently decided in the R v. R (frozen embryos) case that the frozen embryos at issue in the case do not have the constitutional protection of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution. It is my intention to bring forward proposals to Government later this year with a view to drafting legislation to govern the area of Assisted Human Reproduction and related practices. The work involved in developing these proposals will examine and consider — among other things — the issues arising from the frozen embryos Supreme Court judgment.

Health Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

258 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children when speech and language therapy will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9255/10]

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Rural Transport.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

259 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the reason charges are imposed on the users of a rural transport scheme (details supplied) in County Donegal without consultation and whose users are disabled and attend a centre run by the Health Service Executive; if this decision will be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8880/10]

This transport service is not provided under the Department's Rural Transport Programme. I understand that the service is operated by Seirbhís Iompair Tuaithe Teoranta (SITT) under a contract with the Health Service Executive (HSE), to whom the question of charges for the service should be addressed.

Air Services.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

260 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the discussions he has had with an airline (details supplied) on job creation at Dublin Airport; if the Dublin Airport Authority was consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8730/10]

I have not had any discussions with the airline referred to by the Deputy in relation to job creation at Dublin Airport. I have of course kept in close contact with the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the matter concerning the use of Hangar 6 which is leased to Aer Lingus. In very recent correspondence with Ryanair the Tánaiste has confirmed her wish to focus constructively on the alternative options to Hangar 6 which include the use of available existing hangar space or a new build on available sites on airport land or some combination of the two.

Road Network.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

261 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if he has received reports on a regular basis on any matter affecting the operation of toll roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8755/10]

The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the National Roads Authority under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007). I have not received any reports of the nature described by the Deputy.

Public Transport.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

262 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding an application by Bus Éireann for a licence to extend a bus service (details supplied) in County Cork. [8867/10]

I refer the Deputy to my previous reply on 7 July, 2009 (ref. 27468/09.). The position in relation to the issue raised remains unchanged. My Department received a proposal from Bus Éireann on 20 August, 2007, for changes to its Route 226. Following an examination of the proposal, my Department deemed that the proposal would give rise to competition with an existing licensed service. Accordingly, my Department advised Bus Éireann on 18th May 2009 that an application for my consent to introduce this service in accordance with Section 25 of the Transport Act, 1958 was required. Such an application has not been received to date.

Road Safety.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

263 Deputy Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport the parking regulations under the Road Traffic Acts that specify when vehicles must have parking lights illuminated; and when and where it is permitted for a vehicle to be parked contrary to the direction of traffic. [9090/10]

The Statutory provisions for the use of parking lights is outlined in Articles 20 and 50 of the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 as amended. (S.I. No. 189 of 1963). Under Section 11 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended, it is an offence to contravene these Regulations. The parking of a vehicle contrary to the direction of traffic is not prohibited under the Road Traffic Acts.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

264 Deputy Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport the regulations under the Road Traffic Acts that specify when and where it is appropriate to use front facing fog lights and rear facing fog lights; and the technical specifications that apply to fog lights placement on a vehicle, brightness, height and aiming. [9091/10]

The Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2009 provide for the use of lighting on vehicles including the use of front and rear fog lights. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006), responsibility for vehicle standards including technical specifications for lighting of vehicles is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

265 Deputy Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport the percentage of fatal road traffic accidents where the drivers of the vehicles involved had a blood alcohol concentration of between 0mg and 50mg, of between 50mg and 80mg, of between 80mg and 100mg, of between 100mg and 200mg and over 200mg for the past year in which statistics are available and the proceeding three years. [9093/10]

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 and the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No 477 of 2006) this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

266 Deputy Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport the percentage of fatal road traffic accidents where one or more of the vehicles involved were exceeding the posted speed limit for the last year in which statistics are available and for the preceding three years. [9094/10]

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 and the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No 477 of 2006) this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

267 Deputy Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport his plans to issue guidance to local authorities regarding the standardisation of limits across all local authorities. [9095/10]

Following the metrication of speed limits in 2005 guidance issued to Local Authorities from the then Minister on the setting of special speed limits in accordance with Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide advice and guidance to Local Authorities in relation to the making of special speed limit bye-laws by county and city councils. These Guidelines set out principles to guide local authorities in setting speed limits with the intention of contributing to the establishment of uniform and standard application of appropriate speed limits on a country-wide basis. Revised Guidelines issued to Local Authorities in December 2008. The Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 sets out two related actions (a) to prepare and publish technical/engineering guidance for the setting of speed limits generally and (b) to audit and report on the appropriateness and consistency of speed limits every two years. Work on these Actions is now in hand and, in concluding that work, regard will be had to Action 30 of the recently published Smarter Travel Plan to "address the twin objectives of road safety and emissions reduction through the enhanced enforcement of appropriate speed limits", as there is clearly scope for a co-ordinated approach.

Road Signage.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

268 Deputy Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport if he has issued guidance to local authorities requiring them to remove signs indicating a special speed limit, or road works speed limit, after the expiry date of the special speed limit by law. [9096/10]

Under section 95 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 the provision of traffic signs on the public roads is a matter for each road authority. I have given directions and guidance to road authorities in the Traffic Signs Manual on the provision and use of traffic signs. The revised Chapter 8 of the Manual, which was issued to all local authorities in February 2007, provides for clear guidance on the implementation and removal of all signage associated with road works. It is a matter for the road authority to determine the location of traffic signs to ensure that clear and effective signing is in place for the efficient operation of the road network, for the enforcement of traffic regulations and for road safety purposes.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

269 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Transport the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9222/10]

The amount my Department has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 is contained in the following table.

2007

2008

2009

€4.4 million

€3.52 million

€3.62 million

Outside consultancies are hired in circumstances where particular expertise is required and where it is deemed to add value to the overall work of the Department.

Cycle to Work Scheme.

Frank Feighan

Ceist:

270 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Transport if he will list every local authority that is participating in the cycle to work scheme; if he has had discussions with the local authorities that are not participating; the reason for their non-participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9228/10]

The Cycle to Work Scheme is optional and participation in it is a matter for decision by individual employers in accordance with guidance from the Revenue Commissioners under the direction of the Department of Finance. My Department has no information in relation to take up of the scheme in the local authority sector.

Land Registry.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

271 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the Property Registration Authority’s move towards the e-conveyancing of land certificates; the documents that have been saved; the locations at which they are being kept; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8706/10]

I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 366 of 2 February, 2010.

Missing Persons.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

272 Deputy Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the implementation of the Emergency Alert systems in respect of missing children as contained in the National Action Plan to prevent and combat trafficking of human beings 2009 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8653/10]

Following my request to the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to assess the need to establish a dedicated Missing Persons Unit within An Garda Síochána, including a response similar to Amber Alert, and to report their findings to me, the Inspectorate published its report last year. One of its main recommendations was that an emergency alert system for missing children, similar to the Amber Alert system in place in other countries, should be established. I gave the go ahead for the implementation of this recommendation, and An Garda Síochána is committed to its implementation. They are currently exploring options to achieve the most appropriate structure to give effect to the recommendation, taking account of progress at international level in the development of alert systems for missing children.

Security Systems.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

273 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on mosquito alarms being used by businesses to deter young people from congregating outside shops; his further views on whether these mosquito alarms are legal; if his attention has been drawn to any issues of health and safety surrounding these devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8666/10]

Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 creates the offence of assault and refers to the application of force. The section specifies that "force" includes application of, inter alia, noise.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that an instruction has issued to all members of An Garda Síochána that any complaints received regarding devices which might use noise to deter persons from congregating are to be fully investigated. If any person has concerns about the use of such devices in a particular locality, the matter should be reported to the Gardaí.

The legislative provisions dealing with assault are kept under constant review by my Department.

Garda Strength.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

274 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons who have joined the Garda Reserve in each year since its establishment; the number recruited in Dublin; the duties in which they are engaged; the cost to the Exchequer of the Garda Reserve; the number of former members of the Garda Reserve who have subsequently applied to join An Garda Síochána; the number which have been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8684/10]

I regret that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily to hand. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Public Order Offences.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

275 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will support a matter (details supplied). [8737/10]

The issue raised by the Deputy is primarily a civil matter and as such is outside the remit of An Garda Síochána. However, when An Garda Síochána receives a complaint about neighbours causing noise, they can request them to lower the noise levels. The Garda powers in this regard relate to ensuring that a breach of the peace does not occur.In circumstances where the noise nuisance relating to neighbours is anti-social within the meaning of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, a member of An Garda Síochána may issue a behaviour warning.

Complainants may also be advised by An Garda Síochána of their civil entitlements under section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. A local authority, the Agency or any person may complain to the District Court regarding any noise, which is so loud, so continuous, so repeated and of such duration or pitch or occurring at such a time, as to give reasonable cause for annoyance. The court may order the person or body making the noise to take the measures necessary to reduce the noise to a specified level or to take measures to limit or prevent the noise.

Legislation in relation to noise pollution is a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. As part of the preparatory process for new legislation an extensive public consultation was undertaken in 2008. After consideration of the submissions received during the consultation process, the General Scheme of a Noise Nuisance Bill was approved by the Government.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has published advice in relation to noise nuisance on its website www.environ.ie, including information relevant to local authority dwellings, private rented or privately owned dwellings.

Garda Investigations.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

276 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the Garda investigation into an armed robbery at a post office (details supplied) in County Donegal on 27 February 2009 in which more than €100,000 is reported to have been taken; if a file has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8738/10]

I am not in a position to respond to the Deputy at this time, but will do so as soon as the relevant information is available.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

277 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Garda investigation has been completed into the death of a person in a road traffic hit and run incident (details supplied) on 27 September 2008; if a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8739/10]

I am not in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy at this time, but will do so as soon as the information is available.

Firearms Regulations.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

278 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the law governing the storage of a licensed firearm; if same is up to the discretion of a Garda District Inspector to determine if a person needs a gun safe for one fire arm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8756/10]

The minimum requirements for the secure accommodation of a firearm are laid down in the Firearms (Secure Accommodation) Regulations (S.I. 307 of 2009). The S.I. sets out the relevant standard based on the number and type of firearms present.

Crime Prevention.

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

279 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take to address the problem of elderly persons being targeted by criminals calling to their homes and posing in different guises, including as gardaí, to convince elderly persons to give them money; the supports that exist for victims of such crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8765/10]

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

280 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take to address the problem of elderly people being targeted by criminals calling to their homes and offering to do work but refusing to provide quotes, refusing to carry out any work after being paid or demanding extra payments for work after it has been carried out; the supports that exist for victims of such crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8766/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together.

I am concerned about reports of elderly persons being targeted, in whatever manner, by those engaged in criminal activities. The Garda Commissioner shares these concerns.

An Garda Síochána has highlighted the danger posed by bogus callers, posing as employees of public authorities, to the homes of elderly people. The Garda authorities have advised home occupiers to request appropriate identification from callers and to check also with the organisation they claim to represent. In cases where the home occupier is in any doubt, they should contact their local Gardaí immediately. Likewise, where there are concerns about people seeking improper payments or obtaining payments by deception, Garda assistance should be sought. An Garda Síochána has also asked neighbours and family friends to be vigilant in this regard and to remind the elderly and those living alone of the dangers posed by bogus callers.

Advice is available from An Garda Síochána for older persons and others on personal safety, including on dealing with bogus traders and callers. http://www.garda.ie. All members of An Garda Síochána promote crime prevention and reduction.  In addition, there are dedicated crime prevention officers within each Garda Division. These officers are trained to promote and provide advice on crime prevention to individuals and the business community.

The Victims of Crime Office, which was established in September, 2008, is an Executive Office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Office works to improve the continuity and quality of services to victims of crime by State agencies and non-governmental organisations throughout the country and supports the development of competent, caring and efficient services to victims of crime.

I am informed that the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs provides grant support for community and voluntary organisations to address the isolation and security needs of older people. The Scheme of Community Support for Older People has enabled the installation of monitored alert systems since 1996, and the Department estimates that the homes of some 90,000 older people are currently being monitored on a 24 hour seven day basis. The Department will introduce a revised Scheme in the coming weeks and will keep the current arrangements in place to avoid any disruption in grant support.

Citizenship Applications.

Seán Power

Ceist:

281 Deputy Seán Power asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on the application for citizenship in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8773/10]

I regret that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily to hand. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

282 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an appeal will be decided on in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8776/10]

In the absence of more specific details being provided by the Deputy, I regret that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question. If the Deputy wishes to re-submit his Question with a relevant reference number, I would be happy to provide the requested information.

Seán Power

Ceist:

283 Deputy Seán Power asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on the application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8779/10]

I regret that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily to hand. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Asylum Support Services.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

284 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the facilities funded by his Department for the accommodation of refugees or asylum seekers in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8784/10]

The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. The Office of the Minister for Integration (OMI) is responsible for integration matters in respect of Programme Refugees and other immigrant groups.

The OMI is not funding any accommodation facilities for refugees in County Tipperary. The RIA currently operates one asylum seeker accommodation centre in County Tipperary, namely Bridgewater House in Carrick-on-Suir. The contracted capacity of Bridgewater House is 120 and at end January, 2010 there were 94 persons residing at the centre.

Departmental Reports.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

285 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 172 of 21 January 2010 and 376 of 2 February 2010, when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8805/10]

I wish to inform the Deputy that the information sought in Question No. 172 of 21 January, 2010 issued from my Office today.

Departmental Applications.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

286 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [8815/10]

I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question at this time. The information sought by the Deputy will be provided at a later date.

Asylum Applications.

John Perry

Ceist:

287 Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will use his discretion to ensure that a person (details supplied) has leave to remain in the State and subsidiary protection applications processed inside a six month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8849/10]

I can confirm that the person concerned has submitted an application for Subsidiary Protection and has also submitted written representations for consideration under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). The application for Subsidiary Protection will be considered first following which the person concerned will be notified in writing of the outcome.

In the event that the application for Subsidiary Protection is refused, the position in the State of the person concerned will then be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement. All representations submitted will be considered before the file is passed to me for decision. Once a decision has been made, this decision and the consequences of the decision will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned.

The case of the person concerned is among a large volume of such cases which are awaiting consideration at present and, as such, it is not possible to provide a commitment of the nature sought by the Deputy. However, the Deputy can be assured that the case of the person concerned will be processed to finality as soon as possible.

Citizenship Applications.

Bobby Aylward

Ceist:

288 Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [8852/10]

I regret that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily to hand. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Courts Service.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

289 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 314 of 16 February 2010, if the chief executive of the Courts Service is accountable to him; if the chief executive of the Courts Service or any other body, group or agency are accountable to anybody for expenditure from Vote 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9041/10]

As I informed the Deputy in reply to Question No. 314 of 16 February 2010, the Courts Service operates under its own Vote. The Vote, in common with all other votes in relation to State authorities, is approved annually by this House. The functions and responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer, which include attendance before an Oireachtas Committee, are laid out in the Courts Service Act 1998.

Citizenship Applications.

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

290 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9059/10]

I regret that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily to hand. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Residency Permits.

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

291 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on an application for leave to remain in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9075/10]

On the basis of the information supplied by the Deputy, I regret that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question. If the Deputy wishes to re-submit his Question with the correct reference number included, I would be happy to provide the requested information.

Proposed Legislation.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

292 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the Judicial Council Bill. [9087/10]

I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 10 of 10 December 2009. I have nothing further to add to the details of that reply.

Gaming and Lotteries Act.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

293 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made on his Department’s review of gambling; if he will publish a report of submissions and deliberations; when he expects to publish legislative proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9122/10]

I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 299 of 16 February last, which referenced, inter alia, progress on the major review of gambling being undertaken by my Department.

As I have already indicated, I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval of policy proposals for a new gambling architecture in the State. The policy proposals, which I would intend to publish, will be based on an examination of the 70 submissions received to date as part of the review process as well as the recommendations contained in the Report of the Casino Committee, Regulating Gaming in Ireland. My Department is now finalising an examination of the 70 submissions in question. Following the settling of policy in relation to a new gambling architecture for the State, the Deputy can expect the publication of legislative proposals in the normal course.

Residency Permits.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

294 Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on the renewal of residency in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9145/10]

I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person concerned made an application for residence in the State based on his marriage to a Spanish national on 18 February 2009. The person referred to by the Deputy was informed of the decision to refuse her application on 27 July 2009. A request by the applicant and her spouse for a review of this decision was received on 8 September 2009. All applications for review are dealt with in chronological order of date of receipt and the decision to refuse this application remains under review.

Community Policing.

Joe Carey

Ceist:

295 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí involved in community policing for each of the past five years; the number proposed for 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9148/10]

I regret that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily to hand. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Joe Carey

Ceist:

296 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the possibility of defining the rank of community garda officers within the Garda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9149/10]

The new Garda National Model of Community Policing aims at building upon and enhancing good community policing practice. In addition to the extension of community policing teams to all Garda Districts under this model, however, all Gardaí will continue to have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as and when the need arises. There are no proposals to create a separate rank of community garda.

Criminal Responsibility.

Joe Carey

Ceist:

297 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the legislation he plans to deal with the developing situation whereby children under the criminal age of 12 are becoming more associated with gangland culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9150/10]

On 16 October 2006 the age of criminal responsibility was effectively raised from 7 to 12 years. This came into force under Part 5 of the Children Act 2001, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Under the new provisions, no child under the age of 12 years can be charged with an offence. An exception is made for 10 and 11 year-olds charged with very serious offences, such as unlawful killing, a rape offence or aggravated sexual assault. In addition, the Director of Public Prosecutions must give consent for any child under the age of 14 years to be charged.

Section 53 of the Children Act sets out a series of clear steps which a member of An Garda Síochána should undertake when faced with a child under the age of criminal responsibility who commits an offence—

1. The Garda should take the child to its parent or guardian.

2. Where the Garda has reasonable grounds for believing that the child is not receiving adequate care or protection, the Garda shall inform the HSE of the child's name, address and age and the circumstances in which the child came to the attention of An Garda Síochána.

3. Where it is not practicable for the child to be taken to his or her parent or guardian, the Garda concerned may give the child, or arrange for the child to be given, into the custody of the HSE.

4. Where the Garda has reasonable grounds for believing (a) that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health and welfare of the child, and (b) that it would not be sufficient to await an emergency care order, the Garda may remove the child to safety.

Section 53(4) of the Children Act states that it is the duty of the HSE to apply for a care order or supervision order (in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991) where it appears to the HSE that the child is unlikely to receive the care and protection it requires under the circumstances described above.

There are no plans for legislation to change the age of criminal responsibility.

Garda Recruitment.

Joe Carey

Ceist:

298 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position of all rank retirements in 2009 of gardaí; the subsequent filling of these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9151/10]

While some 700 members of the force retired in 2009, over 900 students were attested as sworn members in the same period. The Deputy will be aware that I recently secured sanction from the Minister for Finance for a significant derogation from the moratorium on recruitment and appointments in the public service. As a result of this some 170 positions are being filled in An Garda Síochána now and in the very near future. The Commissioner is in the process of organising competitions from which successful candidates will be promoted to fill vacancies throughout the Force and it is expected that this process will be completed as soon as is practicable.

Passport Applications.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

299 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if persons (details supplied) in County Cork are entitled to an Irish passport under the terms of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004. [9204/10]

I wish to advise the Deputy that responsibility for the issuing of Irish passports rests with the Department of Foreign Affairs. I am informed that the parents of the children in question were granted permission to remain in the State on 27 September, 2005, under the revised arrangements for the non-EEA parents of children born in Ireland before 1 January, 2005, known as the IBC/05 Scheme.

The eligibility for citizenship of persons born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January, 2005, is governed by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2004. On the basis of the information provided by the Deputy regarding the birth dates of the children in question, it would appear that the residency criteria (minimum 3 out of 4 years) as set out in the relevant statutory provision has not been satisfied and thus the children referred to are not currently entitled to Irish citizenship.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

300 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9219/10]

The information sought by the Deputy in respect of the years 2007 and 2008 has been supplied in answer to PQ 41184/08. Information in respect of 2009 is currently being finalised and will be forwarded to the Deputy when completed.

Community Policing.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

301 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of schemes under community policing as provided for under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 that are currently up and running in each Garda district in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9224/10]

I regret that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily to hand. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

International Agreements.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

302 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had on the Government’s position on the new Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which opened for signature and ratification in New York on 24 September 2009; and the nature, content and conclusions of those discussions. [8648/10]

Pat Breen

Ceist:

303 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contacts he has had on the Government’s position on the new Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which opened for signature and ratification in New York on 24 September 2009; the nature, content and conclusions of those contacts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8649/10]

Pat Breen

Ceist:

304 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that have been identified by his Department as necessary to facilitate Ireland’s signature and ratification of the new Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which opened for signature and ratification in New York on 24 September 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8650/10]

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

305 Deputy Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions that he has had with other Departments on his policy for the new Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which opened for signature and ratification in New York on 24 September 2009; the nature, content and conclusions of those discussions; the necessary steps to be taken to facilitate Ireland’s signature and ratification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8652/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 to 305, inclusive, together.

As I have indicated in response to similar recent questions, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) is intended, when it comes into force, to set up a mechanism that will make it possible for individuals or groups of individuals to submit a complaint to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in regard to alleged violations of their economic, social and cultural rights by a State Party to the Optional Protocol. It does not create any new substantive rights.

Following consideration by the UN Human Rights Council, the text of the Optional Protocol was presented to the UN General Assembly, which adopted the text by consensus on 10 December 2008. Officials of this Department were actively engaged at all stages of negotiation on the Optional Protocol, in consultation with other relevant Government Departments, our EU partners, other UN member States and civil society/NGO representatives.

The Optional Protocol opened for signature in New York last September. I arranged for Ireland to be represented at the opening ceremony even though we were not in a position to sign. So far thirty two (32) States have signed. Only nine of the twenty seven EU member States have signed at this point. No State has yet ratified the Optional Protocol. The Optional Protocol can only come into force three months after the deposit with the UN Secretary-General of the tenth instrument of ratification or accession.

Inter-Departmental consultations have been ongoing since the process of negotiating the Optional Protocol began, with my Department playing a co-ordination role. In advance of the signing ceremony in New York, the Department chaired an inter-Departmental meeting in July 2009 as part of the ongoing consultation process. At that time, Departmental representatives indicated that more time was needed to thoroughly consider the issues arising. The Department plans to convene an inter-Departmental meeting in the near future to discuss developments.

I can assure the Deputies that I will make every effort to ensure that the consideration of Ireland's signature and ratification by relevant Government Departments is completed as quickly as possible.

Irish Prisoners Abroad.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

306 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [8686/10]

The provisions relating to prisoners in the Good Friday Agreement only relate to the obligations of the British and Irish Governments and are not applicable to other States.

Decisions in the matter referred to by the Deputy would be for the US authorities to determine. My Department has no record of any contact from the individual concerned regarding the situation he faces.

Diplomatic Residences.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

307 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on reports suggesting that a large amount of money is being spent on upgrading the Irish Ambassador to Canada’s residence; if this amount was sanctioned by his Department in its entirety; and if the amount spent represents an average for such upgrading. [8701/10]

The Ambassador's Residence in Ottawa was acquired by the State in 1960. Only modest investments were made in its upkeep over the years and it had long been in need of substantial refurbishment. In 2006, my Department was advised that total renovation was required to address a wide range of serious structural and maintenance issues. Some of these problems were aggravated by the long term cumulative impact of the severe local climate.

A number of extensions to the property were found to be structurally flawed and had to be demolished and replaced. Large quantities of asbestos were discovered in the building and all services including electrical, heating and air conditioning had to be renewed or upgraded to conform to contemporary local legal codes. The alternatives, including relocation, were examined. However, the necessary renovations mitigated against the sale of the property. It was concluded that refurbishment and retention was the most cost- effective option.

The decision was taken to renovate and upgrade the property so it could serve as a multi- purpose "Ireland House" type amenity to enhance the Embassy's capacity to promote all aspects of Ireland especially trade and culture and provide conference and presentation facilities for use by State Agencies, Irish companies and artists. The majority of the space is used for representational and support services. The Ambassador's personal living quarters occupy only a relatively limited area.

The renovated premises represent a valuable asset for the State and a resource in the consolidation and enhancement of our important relationship with Canada with whom we have many shared foreign policy values. It is the world's seventh largest economy and a member of the G8. Ireland is currently the fifth largest recipient of Canadian outward investment and Canada is a growing market for Irish companies. Our merchandise exports there increased by 12% in 2009 despite the economic downturn. Some 4 million Canadians (12% of the population) claim Irish descent.

I can assure the Deputy that the project was rigorously monitored and all tender and approval procedures were strictly adhered to. Tenders were sought locally on an open competitive basis and the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder in accordance with normal procedures. All expenditure was duly sanctioned by my Department. However, it is not possible to compare the cost of the work in terms of an average, due to differences in individual buildings and market conditions in various locations.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

308 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any Irish embassies and-or diplomatic residences are in the process of being upgraded; if so, the list of same; and the expected cost for same. [8702/10]

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.

Location

Property

Estimated Cost

€000

Addis Ababa

Chancery

1,039

Armagh

Office of North South Ministerial Council

635

Oslo

Residence

218

Prague

Residence

268

Riyadh

Chancery

273

Stockholm

Residence

243

Overseas Development Aid.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

309 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been contacted regarding difficulties concerning the obtaining of visas to permit internationals to work and volunteer in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories; if this matter has been raised with relevant Governments and authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8703/10]

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 375 on 9 February on this issue, which was as follows: "NGOs operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories perform a vital role in trying to mitigate and ease the burden of the occupation on the Palestinian people, provide for their physical well-being in circumstances where economic life and opportunities are severely constrained, and attempt to redress some of the injustices of occupation policies. Without their work the likelihood of the increasing pressures resulting in renewed violence would be very much greater, and they are therefore clearly of benefit to both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, and help provide the breathing space in which the current search for a peaceful settlement can take place.

Experienced and highly qualified international staff form the backbone of international NGOs and UN operations, and international staff and volunteers contribute strongly to the work of Israeli and especially Palestinian NGOs. Despite difficulties, in general it has been possible up to now for staff working with international NGOs to obtain B1 visas, allowing them to work in Israel and Palestine, but staff with Palestinian NGOs have had to work under much more varied and irregular status, or sometimes none. In recent months I have become aware of reports of more restricted practices by the Israeli authorities in issuing visas to staff of international NGOs. They are being issued, often with considerable delays, with B2 visas entitling them to visit but not to work in Israel, with the implication being that working in Palestinian areas is a matter for the Palestinian Authority.

In addition to the increased bureaucracy and lack of transparency of the changed system, which seems to reflect a greater pressure generally on NGOs, the issuing of B2 visas causes a real difficulty in relation to East Jerusalem, which is considered by the Israeli authorities to be part of Israel. Many NGOs work among the predominantly Palestinian population of East Jerusalem, while international staff working in other parts of the West Bank often live there. The position of both NGOs and staff, and movements through the maze of restrictions around the greater Jerusalem area, are made considerably more difficult by this change.

The Irish Missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah have been closely following this development in concert with our EU partners and through contacts with the NGO community. The exact scope and effect of the new rules are still being established. Together with our EU partners we are considering what action we can take. A very important consideration in this regard is that we should be careful that any action in this highly complex area does not make matters worse.

The basic position of principle is quite clear: for as long as Israel remains in occupation of the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, it should facilitate unhindered access to those areas by international staff seeking to help the Palestinian people living under that occupation."

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

310 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been contacted regarding the possibility of seeking to assist those unemployed, such as builders, to continue to benefit from State welfare payment schemes if they were to volunteer for charity rebuilding programmes in Haiti or other countries suffering from natural disasters; his views on the fact that such a scheme would be beneficial in seeking to minimise and address unemployment and in addressing issues of isolation, loss of status and the purposelessness that the unemployed often face when they lose their jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8704/10]

Through the aid programme, which is administered by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Government currently funds the work of over 1,300 long term development workers, volunteers and missionaries in developing countries. Their contribution is an important and greatly valued aspect of the overall Irish contribution to the fight against global poverty and hunger.

A number of proposals have been put forward over the past year in relation to the promotion of volunteering opportunities at home and abroad among unemployed Irish workers. The issues involved, including those which relate to social welfare payments, fall under the responsibility of a number of Government Departments. Officials from Irish Aid are in ongoing discussions with other Departments on the promotion of volunteering opportunities.

International volunteering provides an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the fight against poverty in the developing world, while gaining valuable work and life experience. However, it is important to recognise that volunteering in some of the poorest and most difficult environments in the world can present serious challenges for all concerned. It is important for those volunteering, and for those they are helping, that all dimensions of the challenge are fully considered in advance.

As part of the Government's response to the devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti, six experts have been deployed so far from Ireland's Rapid Response Corps roster. They are providing specific skills for emergency operations in Haiti. Three have been assigned to work with the World Food Programme, one to support the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and two to work with the developments NGOs, Concern and Goal. The Rapid Response Corps consists of a roster of volunteers with highly specialised skills in areas such as logistics, engineering, and water and sanitation. They are available for secondment at short notice to the UN and other humanitarian organisations in need of their particular skills in response to disasters and emergencies. The Corps was established following the 2004 tsunami to enable members of the public with specific skills to make themselves available to assist in a humanitarian crisis. My Department is currently seeking to expand the size and range of expertise of the Corps.

More broadly, the Government will continue to give strong support to the volunteering sector. I have been hugely impressed by the interest which Irish people have shown in recent years in pursuing volunteering opportunities in developing countries. The Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre in Dublin was established in 2008 to promote and facilitate responsible volunteering. Last year, hundreds of people attended two Volunteering Fairs organised by the Centre in Dublin, to promote volunteering with the main development and humanitarian agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations. Irish Aid organised a further Volunteering Fair in Cork last weekend, and other events and activities are planned for the year ahead.

All aspects of the Government's aid programme are constantly under examination in order to ensure that they contribute effectively to the fight against global poverty and hunger. I can assure the Deputy that any proposals in relation to the further development of volunteering opportunities overseas receive will receive full consideration on this basis.

Counterfeit Passports.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

311 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason three suspects in the execution of a person, a Hamas commander in Dubai, were in possession of Irish passports; if they were real, or forged, passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8856/10]

The Deputy will understand that for the moment it would be premature and irresponsible for me to pronounce on the reason why false Irish passports were used in the assassination Mahmouh al Mabhouh on 20 January. I want to be perfectly clear that the supposed Irish passports were in fact fakes. The passport numbers corresponded to the numbers on genuine Irish passports. However, the photographs, signatures and identities were falsified. In all cases, the passports were counterfeit versions of the old Irish passport which was replaced in 2005 by the modern APS Irish passport. However, these are gradually being phased out over the next 5 years. In addition, since October 2006, all new Irish passports have a biometric chip embedded in the personal details page. This makes it even more difficult to alter.

The matter is still under investigation by my Department and the Gardaí, as well as by the authorities of the United Arab Emirates, France, Britain and Germany, and I would not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the investigation of such a sensitive matter. It remains unclear how the suspects came to be in possession of false Irish passports. I can assure the Deputy that, regardless of who was responsible, the Government takes grave exception to the forgery and misuse of Irish passports.

The Irish passport enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide, and the APS passport is considered a world leader in terms of the security of passports. This incident represents a threat to the reputation and integrity of our passport system, and moreover to the security of our citizens, and will be treated with the utmost seriousness.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

312 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action that is being taken to prevent the forgery of Irish passports; and the obstacles that are in place to prevent the forgery of Irish passports. [8857/10]

The current Irish passport is widely regarded and respected throughout the world as being of the highest quality. In recent years there has been very significant investment in enhancing the security features of the passport book to ensure that our citizens can travel in safety.

In 2005 my Department introduced a new Automatic Passport System (APS) which fundamentally redesigned the Irish passport. This new system involved the production of a more secure Irish passport personal details page (datapage). This new datapage is a polycarbonate substance containing the personal details and the photograph of the holder. The use of this polycarbonate makes it virtually impossible to reproduce without sophisticated production processes or alter without being detected by using standard examination techniques. The personal information is laser engraved to a level under the surface of the polycarbonate, making photo substitution impossible. The polycarbonate page is further protected by a series of additional production security measures which include the image of the applicant perforated through the datapage, optically variable ink and the use micro text.

In 2006 the security features of the APS passport, were further enhanced with the development of a new ePassport. The ePassport includes a new additional microchip, containing a digital image of the passport holder. This now means the image of the face is presented in three areas — the photo on the personal details page, the laser perforation through the personal details page and on the chip. All three must match and all three are impossible to alter without the alteration being easily detected. Data on the microchip is further protected using encryption technologies.

Passport forgery is a worldwide phenomenon and its solution requires the co-operation of all States. The development of passport security standards is under constant review by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Irish Passport Service works closely with ICAO and other passport agencies worldwide to ensure that these standards make passport forgery more difficult.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

313 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions which have taken place between this country and Dubai since the recent apprehension of three persons suspected of murder, all of whom were found in possession of Irish passports. [8858/10]

Immediately following publication on 4 February of local press reports that several suspects in the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh were believed to have entered Dubai on Irish passports, the Ambassador of Ireland to the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Ciarán Madden, contacted the UAE Foreign Ministry to seek clarification as to the veracity of these reports. On 8 February Ambassador Madden was received at the UAE Foreign Ministry and was informed that they had no information at that time but that the matter was under investigation.

Subsequently, on 15 February, the Dubai Chief of Police gave a news conference during which he gave the details of fake Irish passports. My Department, in cooperation with the Gardaí, immediately commenced an investigation into the apparent use of fraudulent Irish passports, including by making contact with the Irish citizens whose passport numbers had been stolen. Ambassador Madden has of course maintained close contact with the UAE Foreign Ministry, along with his German, French and British counterparts, and the Dubai police have shared with us the details of the fraudulent passports which were used.

On 18 February, the Political Director of this Department met with the new Ambassador of the UAE to Ireland, H.E. Khalid Nasser Rashed Lootah, who was in Dublin to present his credentials. He expressed to him our strong concerns about the use of Irish passports by those suspected of carrying out the assassination. Ambassador Lootah said that he fully understood our concerns and assured us that any information he received from his authorities would be relayed to us.

I also received a phone call from the UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed, during which I assured him of Ireland's cooperation in relation to this very serious incident. Following on from this, on 21 February, Ambassador Madden attended a meeting of EU Ambassadors convened by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Dr. Anwar Gargash, regarding the murder of Mahmoud al Mabhouh in Dubai, and Ambassador Madden again stressed our concern for the security of Irish citizens and our support for the UAE investigation.

We continue to cooperate closely with the UAE authorities, together with the Foreign Ministries of Germany, France and the UK, to establish the exact facts of the case.

Overseas Development Aid.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

314 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that US sanctions imposed on Cuba are preventing donations to fund Cuban medical teams (details supplied) working in Haiti from reaching them; and the steps he will take to remove this block on donations reaching front-line medical teams who have been in Cuba since before the recent earthquake in Haiti. [8887/10]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

317 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will call on the US Ambassador to ask the US Treasury Department to make an exception for US banks and financial institutions to allow them transfer funds to a specified account in Cuba (details supplied) established to receive international funds to support the work of the Cuban medical teams inside Haiti. [9065/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 317 together.

As the Deputies are aware, there has been a United States embargo on Cuba since 1962. Among the measures applied on foot of this embargo is a ban on the transfer of funds to Cuba involving United States financial institutions. The EU has a longstanding position on the US embargo, most recently expressed in the EU Presidency statement on 28 October 2009 during the debate in the General Assembly on the resolution on the " Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". In this statement, the EU said that while it believed that the United States' trade policy towards Cuba is fundamentally a bilateral issue, American legislation such as the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act of 1996 had extended the effects of the US' embargo to third-party countries. As a matter of principle the European Union firmly and continuously opposes such extraterritorial measures and rejects all unilateral measures directed against Cuba that are contrary to commonly accepted rules of international trade.

In relation to the question of transfer of funds in support of Cuban medical teams, I understand that Irish groups involved in coordinating the collection of donations have made alternative arrangements for their transfer.

Finally, I commend the swift and effective response by Cuba to the devastating earthquake in neighbouring Haiti.

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

315 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to the nuclear programme of Iran; the stance he has taken at EU level to ensure that the nuclear non-proliferation pact is complied with by all EU states; his views on the pressure that should be put on Iran to ensure it does not convert its nuclear energy programme into a nuclear weapons programme as Israel has done in the past in this region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8888/10]

I am deeply concerned at Iran's announcement on 11 February that it has produced its first batch of uranium enriched to 20%. This is in clear violation of successive UN Security Council resolutions calling on Iran to cease its uranium enrichment activities, and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This latest development coincides with the IAEA report of 18 February on Iran which expresses the Agency's concerns about "the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile". The IAEA continues to report that Iran is not providing the necessary cooperation to permit the Agency to confirm that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities. Until Iran cooperates fully as requested, the international community will continue to have legitimate concerns about the ultimate purpose of Iran's nuclear programme.

The EU has been active in trying to find a resolution to the Iranian nuclear dispute through its involvement in the E3+3 process. While Iran in recent months seemed to have revived its interest in a confidence building measure to have its existing stockpile of low enriched uranium sent out of the country for further processing, this opening now appears to have been closed by Iran's latest enrichment pronouncement.

Ireland has consistently supported the efforts of the E3+3. We have made clear in the past that in the event of continuing non-compliance by Iran, we could contemplate the adoption of further restrictive measures against Iran. Our strong preference would be for this to be agreed at UN level. If this cannot be achieved, we would be ready to support EU action.

Passport Applications.

David Stanton

Ceist:

316 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish passport holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9048/10]

The passport office estimates that there are approximately 4.3 million Irish passport holders worldwide.

Demand has risen from 388,000 in 2000 to 630,000 in 2005. Demand levelled off with approximately 600,000 passports being issued in 2006 and 2007 and fell slightly in 2008 to 580,000 passports. 2009 passport demand has been very similar to that in 2008, where 579,508 passports were issued.

Question No. 317 answered with Question No. 314.

Counterfeit Passports.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

318 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to impose diplomatic sanctions on Israel until they confirm that they had no involvement in the assassination of a person (details supplied) in Dubai in which the assassins used Irish passports to gain entry into the country. [9158/10]

Police investigations into the assassination in Dubai of Mr. Mahmoud al-Mabhouh on 20 January are continuing. The identities of those involved in the assassination, and the organization or group responsible, remain to be established.

I met with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr. Avigdor Lieberman in Brussels yesterday and made clear my serious concerns at the fraudulent use of Irish passports by those suspected of carrying out this assassination. I asked that the Israeli authorities provide whatever assistance they could in this matter. Minister Lieberman said that he had no information on the events in Dubai.

Similar points were made when officials of my Department met the Israeli Ambassador in Iveagh House on 18 February. The Government has made clear to the Israeli authorities that, regardless of who was responsible, we take grave exception to the forgery and misuse of Irish passports. Such action could serve to devalue the standing of the passports and potentially put at risk the safety of Irish citizens traveling abroad.

Passport Applications.

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

319 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a passport application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9202/10]

The Passport Office has no record of an application from the person in question.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

320 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9217/10]

The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The following are the details of expenditure under sub-head A7 (Consultancy) under both Votes in 2007, 2008, and up to 31st December 2009 (provisional outturn):

Expenditure under Consultancy Subhead (A07)

Vote 28

Vote 29

Total Vote 28+ Vote 29

2007

245,462

2,839,798

3,085,260

2008

243,781

3,838,561

4,082,342

2009 (provisional outturn)

58,425

1,109,000

1,167,425

I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on consultancy expenditure. The Department commissions consultancies only where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not available within the Department and, particularly in the case of Irish Aid (Ireland's official development assistance programme), where an independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. Given the overall scale of the Irish Aid Programme, this level of monitoring, review and evaluation is both prudent and proportionate.

Sports Capital Programme.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

321 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding an application under the sports capital grant in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9100/10]

A provisional allocation of €80,000 issued to the club in question under Sports Capital Programme on 8 August 2008. The letter of provisional allocation specified that, before the grant could be formally approved, the grantee must fully meet all of the Programme's terms and conditions. On 4 February 2009 the Department wrote to the grantee regarding a change in the Programme's terms and conditions whereby a declaration signed by all duly appointed trustees would be sufficient to safeguard the Department's interest in the grant assisted facility rather than a Deed of Covenant and Charge. A copy of the declaration form to be completed was enclosed with the Department's letter. While the club in question wrote on 12 August 2009 to inform the Department of a possible timeframe for completion of the project, none of the documentation requested by the Department from the grantee in August 2008 and February 2009 has been submitted. The Department wrote again to the grantee on 18 February 2010 enclosing a copy of the original letter of provisional approval and advising that the allocation cannot be formally approved until all of the documents required are received and cleared by the Department.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

322 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9209/10]

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular format below.

This Department observes the Department of Finance Guidelines for Engagement of Consultants in the Civil Service. Consultants are only employed by the Department in circumstances where specialised knowledge or expertise, which is not available in the Department or elsewhere in the public service, is required for a temporary period or where a specialist study/project must be completed within a very short time scale. In that context, I am satisfied that the consultants engaged represents good value for money.

Consultancy

Purpose

Year

Expenditure

Raymund Burke Consulting

Independent evaluation of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme Expenditure Review

2006-2007

3,355

O’Herlihy Communications

PR Consultancy for the Department

2007

15,245

Systems Dynamics Solutions Ltd,

To set up a database to record the results of a public swimming pool usage survey.

2007

6,775

Séan Cromien

Review of operation of the Heritage Fund Leading to revised updating legislation

2007

8,800

Q4PR

PR /Media services for Culture Ireland in the US

2007

15,245

CHL Consulting

Review of The James Joyce Centre

2007

17,000

Indecon International Economic Consultants

To research and prepare an economic evaluation of the benefits to Ireland arising from the proximity of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

2007

113,845

Jim McCaffrey

Mediation Consultancy

2007

2,000

Q4PR

PR and Communications for Culture Ireland

2007-2008

72,000

Holohan Leisure

To provide consultancy advice in relation to an analysis of sports facility provision in the development of a strategy for sports facilities

2007-2008

113,740

DKM Economic Consultants

Update of the Cost Benefit Analysis for the National Museum at Collins Barracks

2008

3,145

Farrell, Grant, Sparks

Review of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund

2008

19,440

Raymond Burke Consulting

Evaluation of Irish Sports Council Value for Money and Policy Review

2008

3,265

Anne Bonnar

To review the current proposals to combine the National Gallery of Ireland, Irish Museum of Modern Art and Crawford Art Gallery while retaining their separate brand identities.

2009

8,675 (excluding VAT)

DKM Economic Consultants

Economic impact of the Cultural Sector

2009

12,090

Arts Council — Price Waterhouse Coopers examination of Artists Exemption Scheme

Consultancy Services

2009

12,150

All rates quoted are inclusive of VAT unless otherwise stated.

National Drugs Strategy.

Joe Carey

Ceist:

323 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps he will take to deal with the dangers of products sold in head shops; the progress made to date; when a conclusion to this work will be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8749/10]

I have voiced my concerns in regard to the activities of headshops and substances represented as "legal highs" sold in these outlets on numerous occasions since my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy. The problem of "legal highs" is not unique to Ireland and headshops are causing concern across Europe. A number of countries, including the UK, have taken action, each taking their own approach to the matter in line with their own laws and experiences. However, no EU Member State has come up with a comprehensive response thus far. I have raised the issue of headshops, and the substances they sell, at various fora with a view to having measures implemented to address the dangers involved. A number of avenues are being explored to ascertain what actions might best be pursued in that regard.

My colleague, Mary Harney, T.D., Minister for Health & Children — who has overall responsibility for the Misuse of Drugs Act, the primary legislation through which these substances can be regulated — has indicated that her Department is currently preparing regulations to introduce controls on a range of substances. These regulations will make the possession and sale of these substances illegal and subject to criminal sanctions. In preparing the required regulations, officials of the Department of Health & Children are consulting with the relevant authorities to ensure that any legitimate uses of the substances involved are not impinged upon. The intention is that the regulations will be drafted within a month but a three month notification process to the EU may be involved. The advice of the Attorney General on the EU requirements has been sought by the Department of Health & Children in advance of the implementation of regulations.

Also, at my request, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) is carrying out some research on psychoactive substances sold in headshops. The NACD has established a Research Advisory Group for this project and they provided their first interim report to me last week, with recommendations for the regulation of a broad range of substances. I have endorsed this report and forwarded it to the Minister for Health & Children, urging that the advice of the NACD be taken fully into account in formulating regulations.

Meanwhile, the activities of headshops are also being closely monitored on an on-going basis by An Garda Síochána and Revenue's Customs Service with a view to ensuring that no substances that are currently illegal are being sold.

In addition, following correspondence with the Attorney General regarding other possible approaches to the matter, I have raised issues around public liability insurance, product liability insurance and consumer protection with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, as well as planning issues with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. The matters involved are being considered by their Departments and I expect to have their views shortly. From the range of approaches outlined, the Deputy can be assured that I am very committed to pursuing appropriate and comprehensive responses to counter the potential threats of headshops and "legal highs".

Dormant Accounts Fund.

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

324 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of money that remains in dormant accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8832/10]

The Dormant Accounts Acts provide for an annual transfer by credit institutions and insurance undertakings of monies in accounts determined to be dormant into the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF). Since its establishment in April 2003 to the end of December 2009, transfers to the DAF have totalled some €513.9m. Funds reclaimed by account holders for the same period have amounted to some €185.1m. The value of the DAF at the end of December 2009, net of liabilities, was some €41.5m. This figure excludes €49.4m maintained in a Reserve Account to meet future reclaims by account holders and to cover expenses associated with the operation of the Fund.

Full details of the financial position of the DAF and of the individual grants and organisations that have been approved for support and their geographical location are available on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie

Maoiniú Ranna.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

325 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Eamon Gilmore den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an mbeidh airgead á chur ar fáil i mbliana do bhóithre áise ar Oileán Árainn Mhór, Contae Dhún na nGall; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [8862/10]

Níl cinneadh críochnúil déanta go fóill maidir leis an méid sonrach airgid a bheidh ar fáil le caitheamh ar bhóithre áise sa Ghaeltacht in 2010, i gcomhthéacs na n-éileamh caipitil uile a bheidh freastal le déanamh orthu sa Ghaeltacht trí chéile. Chomh maith leis sin, ar ndóigh, beidh se riachtanach díriú i dtosach ar cheadúcháin atá déanta cheana, ach nach bhfuil íoctha go fóill, a ghlanadh.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

326 D’fhiafraigh Deputy Eamon Gilmore den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta chun foirgnimh feithimh do phaisinéirí atá ag taisteal ar na báid farantóireachta a sholáthar ag Cé Ailt an Chorráin agus ag Cé Leadhb Gharbh, Oileán Árainn Mhór, Contae Dhún na nGall; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [8863/10]

Is le Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall na saoráidí atá luaite ag an Teachta agus níl aon iarratas ar láimh ag mo Roinn chun foirgnimh feithimh do phaisinéirí a chur ar fáil ag na hionaid sin. Ach iarratas ina leith a fháil ón gComhairle Chontae, beifear sásta an cás a mheas tuilleadh, ag tógáil san áireamh an soláthar iomlán airgid atá ag mo Roinn i gcomhar fhorbairt oileán in 2010 agus na héilimh éagsúla ar an soláthar sin.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

327 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9211/10]

My Department has made available on its website details regarding consultancies (excepting those of minor value, i.e., less than €5,000 excluding VAT) from June 2002 to end-December 2009. The relevant link, which will take the Deputy directly to these details, including the information sought by him, is as follows:

www.pobail.ie/en/CorporateSupportServices/Finance/Consultancies

My Department has closely scrutinised the use of external consultants and I am satisfied that they are only engaged where they represent good value for money.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

328 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [8663/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

329 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she will publish the revised criteria for the back to education scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8709/10]

Since its introduction, the underlying objective of the back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme has been to equip people on social welfare payments with qualifications that will enable them to obtain employment in the labour market. It is a second chance educational opportunities scheme for people on welfare payments who wish to participate in full time education and who would not otherwise be able to do so.

The allowance replaces the applicant's existing social welfare income and, in addition, an annual €500 cost of education allowance is payable. Increases for qualified adult and child dependants are also payable, where appropriate. In addition, participants may continue to receive any secondary benefits to which they have been entitled.

To qualify for participation, an applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment and be at least 21 years of age prior to commencing an approved course of study. However, lone parents and recipients of jobseeker's payments can qualify at 18 years of age provided they are out of formal education for at least 2 years.

Changes to provide for earlier access to the scheme were announced in the April 2009 supplementary budget. In general, in order to qualify for participation an applicant must now be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for 3 months if pursuing a second level course or 12 months if pursuing a third level course. However, a two year qualifying period applies to participants coming from Illness Benefit.

The qualifying period for access to third level courses is reduced to 9 months for those who are participating in the National Employment Action Plan process or engaging with the Department's facilitator programme. People who are awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study.

The back to education allowance has an important role to play in enhancing the employability skills of jobseeker's. The nature and structure of the scheme will continue to be monitored in the context of the objectives of the scheme and changes in the economic climate.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

330 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will clarify the policy on the habitual residency clause; the number of persons who have been refused access to welfare entitlements in each of the past five years due to this clause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8721/10]

The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1st May 2004, in the context of the Government's decision to open the Irish labour market to workers from the new EU Member States.

The purpose of the habitual residence condition is to safeguard the social welfare system from abuse by restricting access for people who are not economically active and who have little or no established connection with Ireland.

A person who does not satisfy the habitual residence condition is not eligible for specified social welfare payments, regardless of citizenship, nationality, immigration status or any other factor. The social welfare schemes concerned are jobseeker's allowance, one parent family payment, disability allowance, carer's allowance, widow/er's (non contributory) pension, guardian's payment (non contributory), State pension (non-contributory), blind pension, supplementary welfare allowance (except urgent or exceptional needs payments), domiciliary care allowance and child benefit.

The determination of a person's habitual residence is made in accordance with Section 246 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended by Section 30 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 and Section 15 of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2009.

The Department's understanding of this legislation is detailed in the operational guidelines on the habitual residence condition which are published on the Department's website www.welfare.ie The legislation and the guidelines together constitute the policy on this matter.

The following table shows the numbers of claims refused on habitual residence grounds in each of the past 5 years. This does not include Supplementary Welfare Allowance as statistics on such refusals are not maintained by the various HSE areas.

Claims refused on HRC

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Total

4,599

4,361

5,123

6,297

10,582

John Deasy

Ceist:

331 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views that moneys available to former workers at a company (details supplied), under the EU globalisation fund, will affect the social welfare entitlement of these persons; the steps she will take to ensure that this funding is fully utilised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9346/10]

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

375 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the uncertainty surrounding the rights of applicants for the EU globalisation fund of former workers in a company (details supplied) and ancillary companies to retain their social welfare entitlements and to not have them affected by their use of the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8878/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 375 together.

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) exists to support workers who lose their jobs as a result of changing global trade patterns or the global economic and financial crisis so that they can be prepared to find another job as quickly as possible. Strict eligibility criteria apply subject to which Member States may make an application for assistance under the EGF. Under the operational terms 65% of expenditure on active labour market interventions can be reclaimed by the Exchequer where a sustainable case is made to and approved by the EU budgetary authorities.

An application was made by Ireland, and recently approved by EU, in the context of the DELL redundancies in Raheen, Co. Limerick. It is estimated that up to 2,900 workers are involved when qualifying downstream companies affected by this closure are included and a combined total of €22.8 million is available, between EU and Government funding, to provide complementary retraining, upskilling, entrepreneurial supports and educational opportunities for the relevant workers.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment is the responsible authority for making EGF applications and drawing down EU funding and FÁS is centrally involved at regional level in co-ordinating programmes of interventions and will also deliver appropriate training courses under their remit. Additionally, representatives of former workers will also be involved in the steering committee which FAS is establishing and will have an advisory role therein in relation to the implementation process.

The allocated funding will be available for spending until September 2011. Under the terms associated with the EGF, it is not envisaged in general that any monies from the fund will be paid directly to former workers and, therefore, the question of such monies affecting the social welfare entitlements of the former workers does not arise. Funding is being channelled through the relevant State agencies and educational institutions to deliver the require supports to eligible redundant workers.

Though the full programme of complementary measures and courses is still being finalised, former workers wishing to pursue courses of study, established within the auspices of the EGF, will be entitled to apply to my Department for access to the Back-to-Education Allowance (Second or Third Level) in respect of attendance at qualifying courses. In addition, former workers who wish to pursue qualifying courses that are organised on the basis of part-time attendance may apply, under the Part-time Education Option, to continue to receive their Jobseeker's payments, for the duration of their underlying entitlement, whilst studying on a part-time basis.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

332 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons claiming rent supplement more than 18 months; her views on the speed of transfer of persons from rent supplement onto the rental accommodation scheme; the steps she has taken to speed up this transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9236/10]

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme primary purpose is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer.

There are currently almost 93,200 tenants benefiting from a rent supplement payment — an increase of 55% since the end of 2005. Over half of these recipients have been in payment for more than one year, while over 33,000 have been in payment for 18 months or more.

The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), which was introduced in 2004, gives local authorities specific responsibility for meeting the longer term housing needs of people receiving rent supplement for 18 months or more. Details of these cases are notified regularly by the Department to the local authorities. Local authorities meet the housing needs of these individuals through a range of approaches including the traditional range of social housing options, the voluntary housing sector and, in particular, RAS.

Latest figures from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG) indicate that to date, local authorities have transferred over 13,400 rent supplement cases to RAS units. Housing authorities have also transferred a further 11,413 recipients to other social housing options; a total of over 24,800 transfers from rent supplement has occurred since 2005. It is accepted that progress in relation to RAS was initially slower than expected. However the pace of delivery has improved significantly, in total, 14,000 recipients were transferred in 2008 and 2009; achieving targets set for RAS transfers for these years. The target established for 2010 is 8,000.

In addition to this official target, due to the numbers of unsold affordable stock around the country, an opportunity has been created to make use of some of these properties for RAS and it is expected that additional transfers may be possible in 2010. The position regarding the availability of property is monitored on an ongoing basis, given the current market condition, and there may be an opportunity to achieve further transfers.

The Department continues to work closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in ensuring that RAS meets its objective of catering for those on long term rent supplementation while enabling rent supplement to return to its original role of a short-term income support. The Department provides regular reports to Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government highlighting rent supplement recipients in the 18 plus month target group. Regular meetings are conducted with the RAS program managers of the various local authorities, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and my Department. Again, the purpose of these meetings from my Department's perspective is to support in every possible way the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government's objective of ensuring RAS's success in transferring long term rent supplement recipients to a more sustainable housing model.

Question No. 333 answered with Question No. 80.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

334 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) is only receiving €163 a week social welfare allowance. [8642/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

335 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) is receiving €163 a week social welfare allowance. [8643/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

336 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a carer’s allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8645/10]

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

343 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made on a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8696/10]

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

370 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a jobseeker’s allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8843/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 336, 343 and 370 together.

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

337 Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8655/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

James Bannon

Ceist:

338 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding jobseeker’s benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8657/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals.

John Perry

Ceist:

339 Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will have an appeal on a habitual residence condition decision upheld in order to be awarded jobseeker’s allowance in view of the person's financial circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8661/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

340 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision on an application for disability benefit will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8665/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

341 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8688/10]

Due to the staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

342 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8695/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Question No. 343 answered with Question No. 336.

Pension Provisions.

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

344 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 was refused payment for a pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8714/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Insurance.

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

345 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8715/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

346 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made on an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8719/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

347 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an application for back to work allowance payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8732/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

348 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to backpayment of the child benefit compensatory payment; and if so, when payment will issue. [8752/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

349 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made in respect of the application for carer’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8753/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

350 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when social welfare appeal will be heard in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8754/10]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

377 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an invalidity appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9039/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 377 together.

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Tom Sheahan

Ceist:

351 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will expedite the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry to qualify for a vocational educational committee scheme which begins on 1 March 2010. [8757/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

352 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will issue on a claim for jobseeker’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8759/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Insurance.

David Stanton

Ceist:

353 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork who paid social insurance using a PPS number while in employment in 2005, was subsequently allocated a different PPS number in 2009; if social insurance records under each number will be amalgamated in the case of application for any future benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8762/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

354 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a claim for carer’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8763/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Insurance.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

355 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Cork has accrued enough contributions to be entitled to a contributory State pension on reaching retirement age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8771/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

356 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare. [8772/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

357 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an illness benefit payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo for a specified period. [8775/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

358 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding a claim for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8777/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

359 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the delay in awarding child benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [8780/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Pension Provisions.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

360 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the delay in awarding non-contributory State pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [8781/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

361 Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made on an unemployment assistance appeal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8782/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

362 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the maximum length of time a person may claim illness benefit in the circumstances where he or she were in receipt of illness benefit for several years, then returned to employment but subsequently claimed illness benefit again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8797/10]

From 5 January 2009, a person may claim illness benefit for a maximum period of 624 days. A person who had been in receipt of illness benefit for several years and returned to employment but subsequently claimed illness benefit would, assuming he satisfied the qualifying conditions, be subject to the 624 day limit provided the period between the two illness benefit claims is greater than 3 days.

Pension Provisions.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

363 Deputy Bernard Allen asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is only receiving €160 per week old age pension; and if this application will be reconsidered with a view to granting an increase. [8800/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

364 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when child benefit will be restored in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8801/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

365 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is in receipt of their entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8837/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

366 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made on a carer’s allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [8838/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

367 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the delay in processing a jobseeker’s application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if this will be expedited. [8839/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

368 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person switching from an invalidity pension to a retirement pension retains entitlement to the free schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8840/10]

A person, whose circumstances have not changed other than switching from an invalidity pension to a retirement pension, will retain his/her entitlement to the household benefits package and to free travel.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

369 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will issue on carer’s allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied). [8842/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Question No. 370 answered with Question No. 336.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

371 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for jobseeker’s payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8848/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

372 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if all matters relevant to a claim for carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny have been resolved; if the allowance will be approved and backdated. [8850/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

373 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is possible for a person to claim family income supplement as well as jobseeker’s benefit, when the person is on a three day week and receives jobseeker’s benefit for the other three days. [8864/10]

The Family Income Supplement is designed to provide support for people with families who are on low earnings. This preserves the incentive for them to remain in employment in circumstances where they might only be marginally better off than if they were claiming other social welfare payments. Family Income Supplement is paid on a weekly basis over a period of 52 weeks, taking into account a family's net earnings and the number of children under age 18 or aged 18 and 22 years who are in full time education. A person on a three day week in receipt of job seekers benefit for the other three days would not be entitled to Family Income Supplement.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

374 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the delay in awarding carer’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [8865/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Question No. 375 answered with Question No. 331.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

376 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded disability allowance. [9020/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Question No. 377 answered with Question No. 350.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

378 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason jobseeker’s allowance was not awarded for the week ending 5 January 2010 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; when same will be awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9040/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

379 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the means by which the value of farmland holdings are assessed in the means test for jobseeker’s allowance when no rental income is derived from the holding; and the way in which such holdings are assessed when a small rental income is derived from the holding. [9058/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Pension Provisions.

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

380 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will re-examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork to establish if the full pension entitlement is being awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9060/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code.

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

381 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the habitual residency clause for persons returning here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9062/10]

The determination of a person's habitual residence is made in accordance with Section 246 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended.

Subsection (4) specifically directs the deciding officer to "take into consideration all the circumstances of the case, including, in particular, the following:

(a) the length and continuity of residence in the State or in any other particular country;

(b) the length and purpose of any absence from the State;

(c) the nature and pattern of the person's employment;

(d) the person's main centre of interest, and

(e) the future intentions of the person concerned as they appear from all the circumstances."

These five specified factors have been derived from European Court of Justice case law which examined the concept of habitual residence in the context of social welfare benefits. The Department's guidelines go on to point out that "No single factor is conclusive. The evidential weight to be attributed to each factor will depend on the circumstances of each case. It is necessary to weigh up all the information and balance the evidence for and against an applicant satisfying the habitual residence condition".

The current guidelines address the issue of returning emigrants very specifically under the heading: Resuming previous residence. “A person who had previously been habitually resident in the State or within the Common Travel Area and who moved to live and work in another country and then resumes his/her permanent residence in the State may be regarded as being habitually resident immediately on his/her return to the State.

In determining habitual residence in such cases the deciding officer should take account of purpose of return e.g. expiry of foreign residence permit ; the applicant's stated intentions ; verified arrangements which have been made in regard to returning on a long-term basis e.g. transfer of financial accounts and any other assets ; length and continuity of the previous residence in the State; the record of employment or self employment in another State and whether s/he has maintained links with the previous residence and can be regarded as resuming his/her previous residence rather than starting a new period of residence."

I am satisfied that Irish nationals returning to live in Ireland on a permanent basis should experience no difficulty in demonstrating that they satisfy the requirements of the Habitual Residence Condition.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

382 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of an association (details supplied) that there appears to be a significant delay in processing carer’s allowance applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9063/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

383 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive the result of their application for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9066/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

384 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive the result of their application for jobseeker’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9067/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

385 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive the result of their application for jobseeker’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9068/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

386 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive the result of their application for jobseeker’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9069/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

387 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) will receive their result of their application for carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9070/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

388 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive the result of their application for disabled persons benefit or allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9071/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Pension Provisions.

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

389 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a decision will be made on a non-contributory State pension application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9074/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

390 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding arrears of jobseeker’s benefit claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9088/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

391 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be facilitated with a date and time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9101/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

392 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons in receipt of mortgage interest supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9117/10]

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) provides for a supplement to be paid in respect of mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department.

The purpose of mortgage interest supplement is to provide short term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only.

There are currently just over 15,400 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement, compared to 8,091 recipients in 2008, an increase of 91% in just over twelve months. Expenditure for the years ending December 2009 and December 2008 was €60.7m, and €27.7m respectively, a 119% increase year on year in terms of outturn.

There is a review of the administration of the mortgage interest scheme in progress. The main purpose of the review is to examine how the scheme can best meet its objective of catering for those who require assistance on a short-term basis, where they are unable to meet mortgage interest repayments on their sole place of residence.

The review group includes representatives from the Department, the Community Welfare Service, the Departments of Finance, Environment, Heritage and Local Government together with a representative from the Office of the Financial Regulator. The group is examining trends in programme and administrative costs, the impact of the Financial Regulator's statutory Code of Practice on Mortgage Arrears on the mortgage interest supplement scheme and legislative and operational issues arising, including the cap on hours of employment.

The review is also considering whether alternative approaches to achieving the scheme's objectives are warranted in the light of recent changes in the economic climate and the mortgage market. The full review should be completed in the coming weeks and the ensuing report will be available for publication in April 2010.

As part of this review, following consultation with the community welfare service, guidelines on specific and immediate operational issues for the community welfare officers operating the scheme have been finalised and were issued in June 2009. The guidelines are available on the Department's website www.welfare.ie

Jack Wall

Ceist:

393 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare did not receive all arrears of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9119/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

394 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and paid jobseeker’s allowance. [9137/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

395 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an application for one parent family payment will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [9138/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

396 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9140/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

397 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be furnished with a social welfare statement for 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9144/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Tom Sheahan

Ceist:

398 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be awarded jobseeker’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9163/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Pension Provisions.

Tom Sheahan

Ceist:

399 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will carry out investigations into a request for repayment of overpayment of the qualified portion of the contributory State pension in the case of a person (details supplied). [9165/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

400 Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will restore child benefit to 19 years old who are still in post-primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9207/10]

Child benefit (CB) is a tax free non means tested benefit paid monthly in respect of all children up to the age 16 years and in respect of children over 16 years of age up to their 18th birthday who are in full time education or have a disability. Child Benefit assists parents in the cost associated with raising children and it contributes towards alleviating child poverty.

Given the difficult economic and fiscal circumstances, the Government decided to limit overall expenditure on this scheme by lowering the upper age limit from 19 years to 18 years with effect from January 2009. The impact of this measure is being phased in, with payment being halved from January 2009 and payment stopping from the 18th birthday from January 2010.

A compensatory payment of €15 was provided during 2009 and will continue in 2010 for any week during which those affected by this measure are receiving a social welfare payment which includes an increase in respect of the 18 year old child or a family income supplement payment which includes payment in respect of that child.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

401 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount she has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if she is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9220/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Question No. 402 answered with Question No. 114.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

403 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she proposes to introduce full disability occupational injury payment or equivalent for those affected by pneumoconiosis whether or not they are deemed to be only partially affected by the illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9240/10]

Pneumoconiosis is a prescribed disease for the purpose of the Occupational Injuries scheme administered by my Department. The legislation governing the Occupational Injuries Scheme provides entitlement to benefit for persons suffering from certain prescribed diseases which are listed in the legislation and where that person has contracted that disease in the course of their employment.

Where a person has contracted one of the diseases listed in the legislation, benefits are payable if they were employed in an occupation which is specifically prescribed in relation to that disease or if they can show, to the satisfaction of the Chief Medical Advisor in the Department, that the disease was contracted through an employment not specifically prescribed in relation to that disease.

Employment under a contract of service is insurable for Occupational Injuries Benefit under the Social Welfare Acts. An insured person who contracts pneumoconiosis may qualify for disablement benefit under that scheme, in addition to disability benefit under the general social insurance scheme, subject to meeting the qualifying conditions. Medical assessments are undertaken in all such cases to determine the degree of disablement, which is calculated by comparison of the state of health of the applicant with a person of the same age and gender.

Persons claiming Occupational Injuries Benefit in cases of Pneumoconiosis are referred to Consultant Respiratory Physicians in the first instance for an examination and report. This examination consists of a clinical assessment and pulmonary function testing (PFT). Disablement benefit is awarded on the basis of the consultant's report, including the pulmonary function test result. The degree of disablement is expressed as a percentage of loss of faculty and the compensation payable varies accordingly.

Loss of faculty may be determined within a range of less than 1% to 100%, depending on the severity of the condition. A person must be assessed as having a minimum of 20% loss of faculty before they may be considered as being incapable of work due to their disablement. Where a person feels that his/her condition has deteriorated since the assessment was made under the scheme, it is open to that person to apply for a review of the percentage calculated.

There are no plans at this time to introduce changes to these arrangements.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

404 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to introduce further improvements in respect of the level of payments under family income supplement in view of the likelihood of a greater demand arising from increased levels of unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9241/10]

The Family Income Supplement (or FIS) payment provides income support for employees on low earnings with children. The manner in which the value of the payment is calculated is designed to preserve the financial incentive to take-up or remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might be only marginally better off on social welfare payments.

Fundamental to the design of the FIS scheme is that a person must be engaged in insurable employment for a minimum number of hours — currently 38 hours per fortnight. A couple may combine their hours of employment to meet the qualification criteria.

The payment amount is based on a fixed proportion of the gap between the assessable income of the household and prescribed FIS income thresholds. As these thresholds are linked with the number of dependent children in a household, FIS provides an important policy instrument in reducing child poverty in working households as well as improving incentives to work.

An example of how FIS works is as follows: If a family has one parent working full-time and the other working 19 hours a week — both on the minimum wage, their net income from employment would be around €500 per week. If they have four children they would be entitled to a FIS payment of about €190 per week, as a top-up to their wages, giving them a combined net income from employment and FIS of about €690.

If only one parent in the same family was working, and they were in full-time employment at the minimum wage, their gross income from employment would be around €340 per week and their additional income from FIS would be about €280 per week. Their combined net income from employment and FIS would therefore be around €620 per week.

In both scenarios they would also be entitled to child benefit of €155.53 per week.

Considerable improvements have been made to FIS since the late 1990s. These have improved its effectiveness as an instrument of support for low-income employees. These changes include a change in how income is assessed (that is, from a gross to net basis) and, in recent years, the re-focusing of income thresholds to include additional gains for larger families. Partly as a result of this, and partly reflecting higher levels of take-up, spending on FIS has risen from €33 million in 1997 to an estimated €215 million in 2010.

Increases to FIS thresholds were already announced as part of the Budget 2010 package. These increases effectively compensate low-income households on FIS for the necessary reduction in child benefit rates. I do not propose any further significant changes to the qualifying criteria of FIS at this time.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

405 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for child benefit received in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the numbers approved, rejected or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9242/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

406 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for back to education allowance received in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the number approved, rejected or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9243/10]

Participants in the back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme transfer from another social welfare payment. Annual statistics are collated by the Department for the number of participants on the basis of the relevant academic year. Statistics are not collated centrally on the number of applications received or the number who are refused entry to the scheme and, consequently, remain on their existing payment.

In the 2007/2008 academic year, there were 8,883 participants in the back to education allowance scheme and this rose to 11,646 in 2008/2009. At the end of December 2009, there were 20,808 participants and this number is unlikely to change significantly in the remainder of the 2009/2010 academic year. Changes to provide for earlier access to the scheme announced in the April 2009 supplementary budget would have contributed to the increased uptake in the 2009/2010 academic year.

The back to education allowance has an important role to play in enhancing the employability skills of jobseekers. The nature and structure of the scheme will continue to be monitored in the context of the objectives of the scheme and changes in the economic climate.

Social Welfare Appeals.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

407 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for a social welfare payment referred to appeal in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the number of such cases in respect of which the previous decision was upheld; the number overturned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9244/10]

The statistics requested by the Deputy in respect of appeals received in the last three years are given in the following table. The number of decisions upheld and overturned in the last three years is also shown but these do not necessarily relate to the claims received in those years as each year starts with a carry over of appeals from the previous year. Statistics in respect of 2010 are not available.

Year

Received

Decision upheld

Decision overturned

2007

14,070

7,314

6,531

2008

17,833

8,201

7,523

2009

25,963

9,219

8,568

With regard to the decisions overturned, in excess of half of these were revised decisions made by Deciding Officers of the Department who reviewed the claim following the receipt of the appeal. These revised decisions arose in many cases as a result of new facts or fresh evidence produced by the appellant in support of his or her appeal. In the case of decisions overturned by Appeals Officers, some of these are also made on foot of additional evidence adduced at oral hearing.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

408 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action she proposes to take to eliminate the backlog and dramatically reduce the waiting time of applicants for various social welfare payments regarding the current economic climate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9245/10]

The Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. To this end, operational processes and procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed and supported by modern technology in all areas of the Department. Claims are processed in the most efficient and expeditious way possible, having regard to the eligibility conditions that apply to each scheme.

Processing times vary across schemes because of both the volume of applications and the differing qualification criteria. For example, means assessments are required for all of the social assistance schemes; medical examinations are required for illness related schemes and customers must also satisfy the habitual residence conditions. In the case of the insurance based schemes, it may be necessary to ascertain details of foreign insurance records.

It should also be noted that many factors outside the Department's control can impact upon claim processing times e.g. the supply of relevant information by the customer, employers or other third parties. From January 2009, new processing targets, based on processing 90% of claims within a particular timescale, were introduced for all schemes. Specific process improvements have been introduced across many areas of the Department. Some recent examples of these are as follows:

Jobseekers

A range of process improvement initiatives to deal with the increased volume of Jobseekers claims has been introduced. In addition, six Local Office Support Units have been set up around the country to support the processing of claims. The number of claims awaiting a decision as of the 13th February 2010 was 54,534. This is a significant reduction on the 82,000 that were pending in July and illustrates that the additional resources that have been assigned to local offices coupled with the range of process improvement initiatives are having a positive effect.

State Pensions

In order to ensure that entitlement to a pension is decided by the due date all pensioners are advised to apply at least three months in advance of pension age and people are pro- actively invited to claim. In addition, a desk assessment process has been introduced in State Pension Non-Contributory, whereby claims are processed and decided based on the information provided by the customer on their application form without recourse to investigation by a Social Welfare Inspector.

Automated processing and On-line Application Forms

To ensure that claims are processed as efficiently as possible and that customers receive their entitlements in a timely manner all application forms have been designed to facilitate the use of scanning and automated processing. An on-line facility to enable applications for a number of schemes, i.e. State Pension (Contributory) and Household Benefits, to be completed and submitted on-line, has been implemented. This facility will be extended to other schemes in the coming months. The objective is to enable people to access services at a time and place that best suits their needs. The use of on-line application forms reduces the administrative burden for customers and facilitates efficient processing of claims by the Department.

The need to ensure that people can receive financial support from the Department as early as possible is of course appreciated, and I assure the Deputy that we continuously strive to improve processing times in all schemes. In the meantime, it is important to remember that people who have urgent income support needs can apply for the means tested supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) and that more than 95% of basic SWA applications are decided on and paid within a week.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

409 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for jobseeker’s, unemployment assistance, disability allowance or sick benefit received from persons who were previously self-employed in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the number of such applications approved, rejected or pending; the criteria applicable for qualification for such persons for a means tested payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9246/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

410 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for mortgage support received in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the number approved, rejected or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9248/10]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

411 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for rent support received in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the number approved, rejected or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9249/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 410 and 411 together.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department.

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support, to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Similarly, mortgage interest supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only.

The following tabular statements show the number of rent and mortgage interest supplement claims registered and awarded in: 2007; 2008; 2009; and up to the 12th of February 2010. The statement also sets out the number of claims pending at the 12th February 2010 and at the end of 2007, 2008 and 2009. Statistics are not available on the total number of individuals who applied for and were refused a rent or mortgage interest supplement payment.

Rent Supplement Claims Registered, Awarded and Pending — 2007 to 2010

Year

Claims Registered

Claims Awarded

Claims Pending

2007

43,832

41,197

429

2008

67,136

62,122

1,125

2009

97,523

87,802

1,674

2010*

9,983

8,788

1,818

*To 12th February 2010.

Notes

Claims registered include:

claims not pursued by the applicant and

re-application where a rent supplement recipient moves to new accommodation.

Claim details are recorded electronically where it is established that rent supplement is payable. Where an appeal has been lodged, claim details are also recorded electronically.

Given the pressure on the community welfare service, claim details are not always recorded on the system where no entitlement has been established to rent supplement.

The difference between claims registered and claims awarded is not necessarily a refusal rate, for the reasons outlined above.

In these circumstances, fully reliable statistics are not available on the total number of people who applied for and were refused rent supplement.

Claims pending are claims pending at the end of year in question and at 12 th February 2010 in the case of the 2010 year.

Mortgage Interest Supplement Claims Registered, Awarded and Pending — 2007 to 2010

Year

Claims Registered

Claims Awarded

Claims Pending

2007

3,694

2,985

119

2008

8,827

7,080

368

2009

18,796

13,724

734

2010*

1,898

1,339

708

* To 12th February 2010.

Notes

Claims registered include claims not pursued by the applicant.

Claim details are recorded electronically where it is established that rent supplement is payable. Where an appeal has been lodged, claim details are recorded electronically.

Given the pressure on the community welfare service, claim details are not always recorded on the system where no entitlement has been established to mortgage interest supplement.

The difference between claims registered and claims awarded is not necessarily a refusal rate, for the reasons outlined above.

In these circumstances, fully reliable statistics are not available on the total number of people who applied for and were refused mortgage interest supplement.

Claims pending are claims pending at the end of year in question and at 12 th February 2010 in the case of the 2010 year.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

412 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for farm assist received in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the number approved, refused or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9250/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

413 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for optical or dental benefit in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9251/10]

The number of applications for Dental and Optical Treatment Benefit received in the years 2007-2009 are as follows:

Year

Dental

Optical

2007

638,312

207,948

2008

675,880

220,405

2009

690,196

223,577

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

414 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of EU nationals who have been refused social welfare payments or entitlements on the grounds of failure to comply with the habitual residency clause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9252/10]

The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1st May 2004. The following table shows the numbers of claims from EU nationals which were refused on habitual residence grounds. This does not include Supplementary Welfare Allowance as statistics on such refusals are not maintained by the various HSE areas.

Period

Irish

UK

Other EU Member States

Total

Year 2009

738

692

7,770

9,200

Year 2008

985

165

4,346

5,496

May 2004 – end 2007

1,684

708

10,472

12,864

Total

3,407

1,565

22,588

27,560

About three-quarters of the claims refused were for jobseeker's allowance. Most of the remainder of the claims refused were for child benefit, disability allowance, one-parent family payment or carer's allowance.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

415 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for respite grants received, approved or rejected in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9253/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

416 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applicants for carer’s allowance received, refused, granted or pending in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the grounds on which refusals were based; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9254/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Pension Provisions.

John Deasy

Ceist:

417 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way an administrative error could have occurred in determining qualification for an old age contributory pension for claimants who were qualifying in recognition of their commercial partnerships, in view of the fact that entitlement to a contributory old age pension is the same for these applicants as anyone else; if she will explain exactly the way such an error occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9347/10]

Spouses who are actively engaged in a commercial partnership, including the operation of a farm, are treated as individual self-employed contributors. In these cases both spouses are liable to pay PRSI (Class S) contributions in a timely manner.

On foot of a Programme for Government commitment an information leaflet, ‘Working with your spouse: how it affects your social welfare contributions and entitlements', has been developed between the Department of Social & Family Affairs and the Revenue Commissioners to set out the social welfare and tax implications of families co-working in a shared business. It was published on the 25th of June, 2008. The leaflet clarifies that spouses who operate in a commercial partnership may be brought into the social insurance system, subject to certain criteria. In this way, both spouses incur a liability to pay self-employed PRSI and build up entitlement towards a contributory state pension and other social welfare benefits. It is open to any person to apply for recognition of a commercial partnership. There have been over 1,000 applications to Scope Section following its publication.

Following receipt of an application in Scope Section, a case is referred to a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation and on receipt of the Inspector's report a Deciding Officer in Scope Section determines if a commercial partnership existed for the period in question. Where the partnership is approved, both partners incur a liability to pay self-employed PRSI for the years in question and build up a social insurance record which will be used in determining their entitlement to a State Pension (Contributory) and other social welfare benefits.

Where a positive partnership decision is made, the case is referred to Self Employment Section, in Waterford, for determination and collection of any PRSI liability and subsequent updating of the person's record on the Central Records System, on receipt of payment. Where Scope Section decided that a commercial partnership did exist, some of the people concerned would then have been entitled to the State Pension (Contributory), provided they met the other conditions for that scheme.

The qualifying conditions for State Pension (Contributory) require the applicant to:

have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 56 years

have at least 260 paid contribution weeks since entry into insurance and

satisfy the yearly average condition.

In addition, Section 110 (1) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 provides that a self-employed contributor shall not be regarded as satisfying the qualifying conditions unless:

(a) the person has paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year before attaining pensionable age (66), and

(b) all self-employment contributions payable by him or her have been paid.

These conditions are designed to ensure that those qualifying for payment have an adequate and sustained history of contributions to the social insurance fund over their working lives.

However, following a review of pension claims, it was found that in certain cases, the self employment contributions were all paid after the persons concerned had passed their 66th birthday. They therefore had no an entitlement to a State Pension (Contributory), and should not have been paid under this scheme. As a result, some of the claims for State Pension (Contributory) which were in payment have been disallowed, while other customers have had their rates reduced. In addition, other customers failed to satisfy the qualifying conditions for State Pension (Contributory) and accordingly their claims have been refused.

All of the above disallowances carried out were on foot of failure to comply with the qualifying condition for State Pension (Contributory) under Section 110(1)(a) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 above. This Section has been on the statute books for over fifteen years and there has not been a change in policy in relation to the requirement to have paid at least one year's self employment contributions prior to reaching age 66, in order to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory).

All disallowed customers were advised of their right to review and appeal. Overpayments will be determined in the above cases and the customers will be notified and requested to repay the amounts involved. The total amount of overpayments arising in these cases has not yet been determined. However, a Recovery Officer may reduce or cancel an overpayment based on the circumstances of an individual case, in line with governing legislation.

In conclusion, therefore, it should be noted that while the publication of the leaflet ‘Working with your spouse: how it affects your social welfare contributions and entitlements' clarified existing procedures in relation to the recognition of commercial partnerships between husbands and wives for social insurance purposes, including retrospective payment of social insurance, it did not involve a change in existing policy or administration. In particular, the clarification of the position did not alter people's potential entitlements and all applicants for the State Pension (Contributory) must continue to satisfy the eligibility conditions as contained in legislation, and outlined above. The Department understands and apologises for the upset and distress caused to persons who had originally been awarded a State Pension in error and regrets the administrative error involved.

Social Welfare Appeals.

John Deasy

Ceist:

418 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason no cancellation system is in place whereby persons awaiting oral appeal hearings can avail of such a system; her views on the fact that the present system whereby members of the public do not turn up or make a late cancellation is most unsatisfactory and a waste of taxpayers money; if she will devise a system to ensure that there is a minimum waiting period to members of the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9348/10]

I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a cancellation policy is operated by that Office. In cases where appellants cancel in time a replacement appeal is scheduled to replace the resultant vacancy. Persons who wish to cancel their hearing for whatever reason are provided, in the notice of appeal, with a LoCall number for that purpose.

The notification of oral hearings to appellants carries a warning that the date of a hearing cannot be changed except in exceptional circumstances and, further, if they do not attend their hearing that the Appeals Officer may consider the appeal on the available evidence and may make a decision in their absence. It is accepted that it is unsatisfactory if appellants make late cancellations or fail to show up for their hearings and the Social Welfare Appeals Office endeavours to strike a balance in its approach to those cases between rescheduling the hearing (in cases where a valid excuse is accepted) and deciding the case on the basis of the available evidence in all of the other cases.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

419 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9349/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

420 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason child benefit payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth has ceased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9351/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Pension Provisions.

Dinny McGinley

Ceist:

421 Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Defence the number of veterans and veterans’ dependants who are in receipt of pensions (detail supplied); the number resident on a county basis; and the number abroad who are in receipt of allowance. [9054/10]

There are no Veterans of the War of Independence in receipt of a pension from my Department. Of the 370 widows of deceased Veterans currently in receipt of a monthly allowance from my Department, 8 are living in the United States. The remaining 362 recipients are resident in Ireland on a county basis as follows:

County

No. of Recipients

County

No. of Recipients

County

No. of Recipients

Antrim

2

Kerry

18

Monaghan

13

Armagh

1

Kildare

6

Offaly

4

Carlow

6

Kilkenny

8

Roscommon

10

Cavan

9

Laois

10

Sligo

6

Clare

28

Leitrim

8

Tipperary

29

Cork

39

Limerick

15

Tyrone

4

Donegal

10

Longford

10

Waterford

9

Down

1

Louth

4

Westmeath

12

Dublin

35

Mayo

14

Wexford

15

Galway

24

Meath

9

Wicklow

3

Overseas Missions.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

422 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Defence when Irish troops will be withdrawn from Kosovo and Bosnia; if any Irish military personnel will remain; the savings to the taxpayer here; if the equivalent of the savings could be allocated for the development of the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9118/10]

As outlined in the budget in December 2009, it has been decided that the Defence Forces commitments to overseas peace support operations will be scaled back in 2010 as one of the budgetary expenditure reductions. The operations where Ireland will be reducing its commitments will be NATO led mission in Kosovo (KFOR) and Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In April 2010, at the next rotation of this mission, it is planned to draw-down Irish personnel from KFOR from the current 236 personnel to approximately 50 personnel, and to retain a small residual component post October 2010.

In July 2010, at the end of the next rotation to Operation ALTHEA, Ireland will reduce its current contribution of 44 personnel to approximately 5 personnel.

Reductions in the numbers of personnel serving in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina will achieve savings of up to €7 million in 2010 and nearly €13 million in a full year. The savings referred to relate specifically to the Defence Vote.

Regarding the funding of development in this region, the EU continues to commit financial and other assistance to the Balkan region. The question of such funding by Ireland is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

423 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the cost to date of Ireland’s involvement in the European Nordic Battle-group. [9205/10]

In July 2009, the Government approved Ireland's participation in the Swedish-led Nordic Battlegroup 2011. The Nordic Battlegroup 2011 will be on standby for 6 months commencing on the 1st January 2011. To date Ireland has deployed four Officers to serve in staff posts at the Force Headquarters in Enkoping, Sweden and these officers took up their duties on the 28th August 2009.

The total cost to date of Ireland's involvement in the Nordic Battlegroup 2011 consists solely of the foreign allowance payments made to these four Officers and amounts to €137,085.73. Foreign allowance payments consist mainly of a local post allowance, rent allowance, children's foreign service allowance, a cost of living allowance, medical expenses and other miscellaneous expenses.

There have been no equipment procurement costs incurred to date for specific equipment for the Nordic Battlegroup 2011.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

424 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Defence the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9212/10]

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the amount spent by my Department on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 is set out in the table below. My Department is always mindful of the costs involved in engaging consultants. External consultants are engaged only when there is a clear need for specialised expertise and following a rigorous examination of skills and resources available in-house. The objective of using outside consultants is to ensure that my Department achieves value for money by implementing recommendations for improvements in order to maximise efficiency and effectiveness.

Year

Amount Spent

2007

482,748.21

2008

2,436,786.46

2009

383,606.72

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

425 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding a submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9672/10]

Seán Power

Ceist:

436 Deputy Seán Power asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when approval will be given to advance the construction of the new Ballymore Eustace waste water treatment plant, County Wicklow, as a serviced land initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8778/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 436 together.

The Ballymore Eustace Wastewater Treatment Plant was included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 under the Serviced Land Initiative measure.

In April 2009, following a review of the Serviced Land Initiative in light of developments in the economy at large, and in the housing market in particular during 2008, and having regard to the oversupply of housing in some areas, my Department informed all local authorities that the Initiative was being discontinued. All existing scheme approvals under the Initiative, for which contracts had not been signed or letters of intent had not issued, were withdrawn.

However, local authorities were also informed that where they were of the opinion that the continuation of a scheme is necessary for the proper development of an area, it was open to the relevant authority to make a case to the Department by 29 May 2009 for the scheme to progress. The Ballymore Eustace Wastewater Treatment Plant was the only Serviced Land Initiative scheme resubmitted by Kildare County Council. My Department has assessed the responses received and the decisions on the schemes to progress will be conveyed to the relevant local authorities in light of the finalisation of the Water Services Investment Programme for the period 2010 to 2012, which I expect to publish in the coming weeks.

Environmental Policy.

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

426 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will reply to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8646/10]

There is no legislation in Ireland that places restrictions on the height of hedges or trees. Planning legislation does not make any particular provision for recognition of a right to light or remedy from any other nuisance which may be caused by trees in an urban residential area.

Complaints relating to matters such as trees or shrubs overhanging a property are normally addressed, where necessary, under civil law between the parties concerned.

Capital Investment Projects.

James Bannon

Ceist:

427 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the checks he has put in place to vet companies prior to the awarding of contracts for major construction projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8660/10]

All capital investment projects initiated or funded by my Department are subject, inter alia, to EU and national public procurement requirements and to guidance relating to appraisal and management of capital expenditure proposals in the public sector.

Natural Heritage Areas.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

428 Deputy Pádraic McCormack asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of proposals for establishing a preferred route for a new road from Barna to Rossaveal, County Galway, there are restrictions in place to prevent this route from impinging on a proposed Natural Heritage Area or Special Area of Conservation that more than 80% of Connemara are proposed NHA or SAC areas. [8662/10]

Any plan or project likely to have a significant impact on a Special Area of Conservation must undergo an appropriate assessment in accordance with Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive to ascertain whether it would have an adverse impact on the integrity of the site, in view of its conservation objectives. In the case of roads projects, it is for the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála to carry out this assessment. The appropriate assessment will, in part, determine whether the project can be consented to. The Directive also provides for projects to proceed notwithstanding a negative assessment, where imperative reasons of overriding public interest can be demonstrated, where there are no alternative solutions and where compensatory measures can be provided.

Under S.19 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000, my consent, as Minister, is required for any activities which are liable to destroy or significantly to alter, damage or interfere with a Natural Heritage Area. Any application for consent under this provision is considered on its merits.

Special Areas of Conservation.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

429 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Heritage and Wildlife Service have reconsidered its opposition to the proposal to breach the causeway linking the Bull Island, County Dublin to the mainland in order to restore a tidal flow and prevent the island from silting up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8668/10]

Bull Island is both a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area under the EU Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respectively. Unless they could be described as necessary for the management of the site, any proposal to undertake such works would require an appropriate assessment as provided for in Article 6 of the Habitats Directive. This assessment would ascertain whether the proposed works would have an adverse impact on the integrity of the site, in view of its conservation objectives. The conclusions of such an assessment would, in part, determine whether such works could be consented to.

I understand that no proposal has been made to the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department in this regard, nor has it been asked for observations on such a proposal.

Planning Issues.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

430 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the power of local authorities to dezone land and or to alter a development boundary; when local authorities have such power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8691/10]

Section 10(8) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 states that there shall be no presumption in law that any land zoned in a particular development plan (including a development plan that has been varied) shall remain so zoned in any subsequent development plan.

Section 13(1) of the Act provides that a planning authority may make a variation to a development plan which is in force and this could, inter alia, include changes to zoning objectives.

The 2007 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans state that while the development plan should include strategic or county-wide objectives specifying the quantum and location of land, including general development boundaries for urban areas, the more detailed identification and zoning of lands involved could be undertaken in the context of local area plans.

Section 20 of the Act, as amended, provides that the making, amending or revoking of a local area plan is a reserved function of the planning authority and this would include setting or amending a development boundary for the purpose of the plan.

Copies of the legislation and Guidelines are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

431 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when approval will be given to proceed to contract stage for sewerage schemes at Johnstown, Freshford and Goresbridge, County Kilkenny. [8697/10]

The Freshford/Johnstown/Goresbridge Sewerage Scheme was included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. My Department approved Kilkenny County Council's brief for the appointment of consultants for the design and construction stages of the scheme, subject to some minor modifications, in September 2009.

Local authorities were asked in July 2009 to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services to my Department by 23 October 2009. My Department is currently considering these assessments, which form a key input to the development of the 2010 to 2012 Water Services Investment Programme. In conducting their assessments, local authorities were asked to prioritise schemes and contracts for progression over the coming years based on key environmental and economic criteria. I expect to publish the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012 shortly.

Environmental Policy.

David Stanton

Ceist:

432 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a plan for the south-western river basin district; if so, his plans to publish same; the actions he will take as a result of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8699/10]

The making of a river basin management plan is a function reserved to local authorities and the process of finalising plans, including that for the South-Western River Basin District, will be completed in the coming months. A National Advisory Committee has been established to co-ordinate this work across each of the Districts and to oversee the subsequent implementation of the plans.

Cork County Council is the co-ordinating authority in relation to the South-Western River Basin District. This project has been funded by my Department and to date in excess of €8 million has been granted to the South-Western RBD.

The plans will specify the environmental objectives to be achieved in relation to water-bodies and the measures to be implemented in order to achieve these objectives. The programmes of measures must be operational by the end of 2012.

Departmental Bodies.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

433 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he received the report on the Dublin Docklands Development Authority; the reason he has not published that report; when he expects to act on the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8720/10]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

444 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a report on the Dublin Docklands Development Authority; if he will release this report on receiving it; and if he will make a statement on its recommendations. [9159/10]

I propose to take Question Nos. 433 and 444 together.

On foot of my request to the Chair of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority last Autumn to undertake a comprehensive review of corporate governance within the Authority, two comprehensive independent consultants' reports were commissioned by the Authority to assess its planning and financial procedures.

These comprehensive reports were submitted to me in early February and are now being considered by my Department, in consultation with the Attorney General's Office. I expect that the consideration of the reports will be completed within a matter of weeks, at which stage I will bring my Department's analysis and recommendations to Government in response to the issues raised in the reports. Having initiated this governance review, I am determined to complete it in the public interest and will publish these reports in due course, subject to any legal constraints.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

434 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding a sewerage scheme (details supplied) in County Limerick. [8725/10]

The Kilmallock Sewerage Scheme was included for funding in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. My Department is currently examining Limerick County Council's revised contract documents for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Design/Build/Operate contract and a decision on it will be conveyed to the Council as soon as possible. My Department awaits the Council's contract documents for the collection network contract.

Further progress on the scheme awaits the finalisation of the Water Services Investment Programme for 2010 to 2012, taking account of the priority attached to the Scheme by Limerick County Council in its recent assessment of needs. In July 2009, local authorities were asked to submit an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services to my Department by 23 October 2009. My Department is currently considering these assessments, which form a key input to the development of the 2010 to 2012 Water Services Investment Programme. In conducting their assessments, local authorities were asked to prioritise schemes and contracts for progression over the coming years based on key environmental and economic criteria. I expect to publish the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012 shortly.

Proposed Legislation.

Andrew Doyle

Ceist:

435 Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the greyhound breeding kennels are exempt from the provisions of the proposed Dog Breeding Establishment Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8736/10]

Niall Collins

Ceist:

440 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received any correspondence or submission from an organisation (details supplied) seeking to have keepers and breeders of greyhounds excluded and exempted from the proposals in the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8885/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 440 together.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 commenced committee stage in the Seanad on 10 February 2010.

The Bill contains provisions to give statutory effect to the recommendations of the Working Group that reviewed the management of dog breeding establishments. A dog breeding establishment is defined in the Bill as a premises with not less than 6 bitches of 4 months old capable of breeding. There is no provision in the Bill to exempt greyhound breeding establishments.

I have not received any correspondence or submission from the Irish Coursing Club.

Question No. 436 answered with Question No. 425.

Fire Services.

John Deasy

Ceist:

437 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the guidelines that are provided to local authorities for the provision of fire brigade services; the money spent by each local authority in each of the past three years in providing fire services to the public; the number of fire fighters employed; the number of assistant fire chiefs employed in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8833/10]

The provision of a fire service in a fire authority's functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises, and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of the individual fire authority under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003. Section 26 of the Act requires each fire authority which maintains a fire brigade to prepare and revise plans for fire and emergency operations showing the provision made by it in respect of organisation, appliances, equipment, fire stations, water supplies and extinguishing agents, training, operational procedure and such other matters as may be relevant, and for dealing with operations of an emergency nature. The making and revision of such plans is a reserved function.

The Department's role is one of supporting and assisting local authorities in delivering fire services through the setting of general policy and the provision of funding under the fire service capital programme.

At the end of December 2009, there were 1,222 full-time and 2,049 retained firepersons employed by local authorities. The number of Assistant Chief Fire Officers employed by each authority at the end of December 2009 is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy when available.

Details of the expenditure by local authorities in 2007 and 2008 in providing fire services are set out on the following table. Details for 2009 are not currently available.

Expenditure 2007

Expenditure 2008

County Councils

Carlow

1,955,190

2,527,180

Cavan

3,079,486

4,117,754

Clare

5,037,205

5,773,672

Cork

13,662,421

15,034,079

Donegal

5,781,521

6,770,540

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown

14,286,815

19,370,460

Fingal

17,608,741

14,843,985

Galway

9,743,576

12,245,050

Kerry

5,543,656

6,186,064

Kildare

4,352,614

5,779,803

Kilkenny

4,446,662

5,035,520

Laois

3,239,886

3,720,931

Leitrim

1,943,858

2,203,939

Limerick

6,294,366

6,950,638

Longford

2,267,500

2,474,823

Louth

1,821,802

2,098,370

Mayo

8,964,519

6,836,607

Meath

3,827,180

4,417,193

Monaghan

2,172,476

2,571,688

North Tipperary

3,441,289

4,034,822

Offaly

3,446,287

3,796,290

Roscommon

3,463,726

3,774,270

Sligo

3,264,554

4,231,739

South Dublin

18,412,362

18,958,572

South Tipperary

3,605,697

3,588,415

Waterford

3,524,519

4,161,410

Westmeath

2,426,527

2,698,885

Wexford

3,800,586

4,803,012

Wicklow

4,006,730

4,502,397

City Councils

Cork City

13,635,222

16,389,555

Dublin City

109,526,711

120,678,105

Galway City

3,701,567

3,896,531

Limerick City

10,466,750

8,821,976

Waterford City

3,670,146

4,594,526

Borough & Town Councils

Athlone

974,657

1,023,572

Bray

447,990

545,553

Carrick on Suir

96,013

101,774

Cashel

58,211

61,704

Clonmel Borough

470,654

498,790

Drogheda Borough

2,275,731

3,150,561

Dundalk

2,639,600

3,193,982

Tipperary

138,918

147,253

Planning Issues.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

438 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the provision of drying facilities in new and old apartments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8872/10]

I am aware that many apartment management companies do not permit the drying of clothes on balconies and that this is stipulated in the lease/letting agreement.

Insofar as new apartment developments are concerned, I published Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Design Standards for Apartments in 2007, which state that communal facilities for drying clothes may be provided in well-ventilated areas in some larger schemes. Where such communal facilities are not provided, the Guidelines state that consideration should be given to the provision of drying facilities within each unit, such as the use of screened balconies. A copy of the Guidelines is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. There are no such guidelines in place for apartments which were granted permission or constructed prior to the publication of the 2007 Guidelines.

Housing Grants.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

439 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for the redevelopment of a premises (details supplied) in Dublin 1; the amount of funding he will make available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8875/10]

My Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides funding to approved housing bodies of up to 100% of the approved costs of accommodation for older people, the homeless, persons with special needs, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. I recently announced the approval of funding for some 75 voluntary and co-operative housing projects at various locations around the country, including the project referred to in the question.

My Department's involvement with the CAS relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the scheme, including the certification that projects comply with its terms and conditions, the processing of applications and the payment of capital grants in respect of approved housing projects, are the responsibility of the local authority.

It is therefore a matter for Dublin City Council to progress this project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the CAS and, in advance of procurement, it is not possible to indicate the level of funding needed to complete the project, which will be funded as part of the City Council's annual CAS allocation.

Question No. 440 answered with Question No. 435.

Planning Issues.

Niall Collins

Ceist:

441 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a person who is concerned about a zoning proposal in a draft local area plan or county and city development plan can make a submission or complaint directly to him; the course of action following same he will undertake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8886/10]

The making, reviewing and varying of a development plan or a local area plan is a reserved function of the elected members of the planning authority for the area. The statutory consultation process for such plans is set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended; any person can make a submission on a draft plan, including in relation to zoning issues, to the planning authority within the statutory timescales provided.

While there is no provision in the Act for persons to make submissions in relation to such issues directly to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Minister is a statutory consultee on draft development plans and ultimately has powers of direction under Section 31 of the Act where he considers that the draft development plan fails to set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of an area.

Company Closures.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

442 Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is dealing with the appeal of a company (details supplied) as headland of leases at Marino Point, Cork, in relation to rent increases for which a company may as a sub-tenant have partial liability; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is the only issue impeding the finalisation of the liquidation of the company; if he will expedite a decision to this appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9079/10]

Following the enactment of the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act 2009, my Department assumed responsibility on 15 January 2010 for a range of foreshore functions including all foreshore energy-related developments (including oil, gas, wind, wave and tidal energy).

The liquidation of Irish Fertilizers (IFI) is solely a matter for the liquidator. My Department is dealing with the appeal of the Port of Cork Company (previously Cork Harbour Commissioners) with regard to the two leases in relation to the Marino Point site in Cork. The position is that when the rent payable under these leases was last reviewed and increased in 2003 and 2004 the tenants, Port of Cork Company, appealed that increase. In accordance with the conditions of the Lease, the Department with responsibility for the Foreshore at the time, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food agreed to request the Chairman of the Society of Chartered Surveyors to nominate an Arbitrator. An Independent Expert has recently been appointed by that body in an effort to resolve the issue, and my Department will be informed of the outcome of his deliberations.

Planning Issues.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

443 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the task force to examine the planning implications of the siting and location of adult entertainment shops has completed its deliberations; when he expects to publish the findings; his plans to introduce legislation to ensure that such shops are not inappropriately located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9120/10]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

445 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects to publish the report from the task force his Department established in 2007 to examine the way the planning system could support the wider regulatory context around the siting and location of adult entertainment venues. [9200/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 445 together.

I refer to the reply to Question No. 587 of 9 February 2010.

In 2007, my Department established a task force to examine the planning and land use implications of the siting and location of adult entertainment venues. The task force was chaired by my Department and comprised representatives from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, An Garda Síochana and Dublin City Council.

The task force met on a number of occasions, and its work was informed by detailed consideration of a range of issues based on agreed terms of reference. Given the relevance of a number of different statutory codes to this matter, it was not clear whether planning regulation alone could adequately support an appropriate and effective local control regime, and the interaction of these various codes needed to be carefully examined to ensure that the best possible approach is taken.

The task force has finalised its work and I will make the necessary arrangements to publish the report shortly.

In advance of any new proposals, it is open to local authorities to use the powers currently available to them under the planning code, such as the development plan process, to ensure that new late night entertainment venues are not inappropriately located, for example in quiet residential areas.

Question No. 444 answered with Question No. 433.
Question No. 445 answered with Question No. 443.

Private Rented Accommodation.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

446 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the break down of all rental tenancies here by type (details supplied) from 1999 to 2009. [9201/10]

Information on the number of local authority tenancies and the numbers of households supported through the Rental Accommodation Scheme to end 2008 can be found in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins which are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies provide some 23,000 units of accommodation to meet the needs of various categories of tenants including older people, people with a physical or intellectual disability, the homeless, the elderly, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. Details of the number of units provided per year by the sector over the period 1999 to 2008 are also set out in the annual Housing Statistics Bulletins. Figures for 2009 will be published later this year in the 2009 Bulletin.

437 units had been leased under the long term leasing initiative up to the end of 2009. Information on activity under the long term leasing initiative — which first commenced in 2009 — will be carried in future Annual Statistics Bulletins.

The rent supplement scheme is the responsibility of the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

447 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9215/10]

Total expenditure through my Department's Vote in respect of consultancies for the years 2007 to 2009 is published in the Revised Estimates for Public Services for the relevant years and is set out in the following tabular statement. My Department continues to work to ensure best practice in the engagement and use of consultants and to achieve maximum value for money from the resources employed, having regard to the appropriate Department of Finance guidelines in this regard.

DoEHLG Expenditure on Consultancies

Year

2007

2008

2009

1,406,000

2,447,000

926,000

Waste Disposal.

David Stanton

Ceist:

448 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has issued any guidelines to the public regarding the disposal of video cassette recording tapes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9350/10]

My Department has not issued guidelines to the public regarding the disposal of video cassette recording tapes. In general, these items are disposed by way of landfill or they can be shredded and recycled with other plastics.

Fisheries Protection.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

449 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has received a submission from an organisation (details supplied) in respect of the control of Salmon Fisheries Order 2010; his views on this submission; when he will come to a conclusion regarding this matter in view of the improvements that this would make to the Order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8698/10]

The submission referred to by the Deputy has been received by my office. Salmon fishing licences are public licences issued on foot of applications received annually. The Control of Fishing for Salmon Order establishes the priority to be afforded by regional fisheries boards to applications for commercial licences. I can advise the Deputy that the Department is in the process of reviewing the existing Order in advance of the 2010 fishing season.

Energy Resources.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

450 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the European Union document (details supplied) in the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources; the way he plans to conduct a national renewable energy action plan; his plans to conduct a national renewable energy action plan; his further plans to consult with individuals, local and regional authorities in advance of the preparation of a plan in accordance with Article 23 of the directive and in particular with communities in areas in which the quality of the renewable resource is exceptional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8700/10]

Ireland was closely involved in the negotiations at EY level on Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. I was fully supportive of the Directive in discussions with the Commission and Ministerial colleagues at the successive Energy Councils.

Under the Directive, each Member State has been assigned an individual binding target. Ireland's target is to reach 16% of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. It is for each Member State to decide how to achieve their national target across the heating, electricity and transport sectors.

Under the Directive, each Member State has to submit a ‘National Renewable Energy Action Plan' to the Commission by 30 June 2010 setting out its plans for compliance with the Directive and delivery on the national targets. Under Article 4(3) of the Directive, an initial non binding forecast was required to be submitted to the European Commission in December 2009. Ireland, together with other Member States has submitted the preliminary forecast.

My Department chairs the ‘Renewable Energy Development Group' (REDG) which acts as a consultative forum for all stakeholders including the renewable industry and relevant Departments and Agencies.

The Renewable Energy Development Group (REDG) is fully involved in the preparations for the National Renewable Energy Action Plan and is being briefed on progress as well as providing inputs.

My Department, working in collaboration with Sustainable Energy Ireland and other key players, is currently progressing the many strands of work on the National Renewable Energy Action Plan including modelling of renewable energy targets covering the electricity, transport and heat sectors. The results will inform the planned trajectory towards reaching Ireland's national target by 2020. The Department will continue to consult with the Renewable Energy Development Group on the development of the National Plan and will undertake any additional consultation required at regional and local level.

In that context the Renewable Energy Development Group is also currently being expanded to include representation from the City and County Management Association to ensure that Local Authorities areas are aware of and involved in the preparation of the Plan.

Telecommunications Services.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

451 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when a community (details supplied) in County Donegal will be connected under the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8811/10]

I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question at this time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Broadcasting Regulation.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

452 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland levy remains high when costs are falling here; if he will provide a breakdown of the spending of the levy to commercial stations; if this levy can be reduced in view of the reduced advertising revenue commercial stations are experiencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9018/10]

Section 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the making of a levy order by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for the purposes of meeting the expenses of the Authority and its Committees in undertaking the performance of its statutory functions. The setting of the levy is a matter for the Authority and not one in which I have a function.

In addition, in accordance with section 37 of the Act, the setting of the budget for the BAI for any particular year is a matter for the Authority. While the legislation makes provision in section 37(1) for the Minister to be able to specify the form the estimates should take and any additional information as may be needed, it does not require the estimates to be submitted for specific Ministerial approval.

The budget for 2010 was set by the BAI at €7.6 million at its meeting in December 2009.

The BAI has indicated that the need for an increased budget over those previously provided for the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) is as a result of the increased role given by the Oireachtas to BAI. While the BAI has taken over the functions of the BCI and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC), it has also been given a range of new functions additional to those held by its predecessors, mainly in relation to public service broadcasting and the provision of digital broadcasting services. The BAI has also indicated that the extent to which any budget is actually expended will depend on the level of activity of the organisation in any one year. They have confirmed that they will discharge their functions in a cost effective manner and are conscious of not imposing an undue burden on the broadcasting sector.

In this context, section 32(4) of the Broadcasting Act, requires the Authority to ensure that regulation by the Authority and the statutory committees does not involve the imposition or maintenance of unnecessary administrative burdens.

As I stated in reply to a previous question on this matter, I have made it clear to the Authority the need to be particularly vigilant about keeping costs down in the current economic climate.

I understand that the Authority has requested the Chief Executive to review the detail of the 2010 budget with a view to reducing it where possible and that the Chief Executive will shortly report to the Authority on this.

In accordance with section 37(7) of the Act, any revised 2010 estimate of income and expenditure approved by the Authority will be published on the BAI's website, with my consent and that of the Minister for Finance.

The Authority has also asked the Chief Executive to continuously review its proposed expenditure throughout 2010 with the aim of reducing it where possible. In accordance with section 33 of the Act, any surplus of levy income over expenditure in 2010 shall be offset against future levies or refunded, as appropriate.

In addition, I understand that the Chief Executive has arranged meetings in regard to the levy and the 2010 budget with relevant stakeholders, including the commercial broadcasters, over the coming days to address any issues and concerns that these stakeholders may have on this issue.

Telecommunications Services.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

453 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the roll-out of high-speed broadband in areas not currently served by broadband, particularly where Eircom exchanges are not digital subscriber line enabled and where there are no plans for the provision of broadband under the national broadband scheme; his further plans to ensure high speed broadband is made available in these rural areas, communities and schools in view of the fact that individuals are being socially and economically disadvantaged as a result of not having access to what is an essential utility in 21st century Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9022/10]

It is accepted that even after the full roll-out of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) there will still be a small percentage of premises that will not be capable of receiving broadband services. This is primarily due to technical and other reasons (suitability of a telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, no line of sight etc.). The European Commission has set aside a portion of the European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP) funding for rural broadband initiatives. In this context, my Department is currently considering the detailed design and implementation of a scheme which would address the issue of broadband availability to unserved rural premises outside of the NBS areas.

It is hoped to commence the scheme this year with the identification of premises not capable of receiving broadband. State Aid approval has been granted by the European Commission as part of the overall process of securing the necessary approvals and funding for the scheme.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

454 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has a nationwide map of each State and semi-State owned or controlled broadband network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9028/10]

I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question at this time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

455 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when high-speed broadband will be available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9042/10]

I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question at this time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Postal Services.

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

456 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the protocols in place regarding delivery of registered post from here to the United Kingdom; if An Post has reported difficulties regarding the delivery of registered post to its final destination in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9098/10]

I regret to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action it is not possible to deal with his question.

Energy Resources.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

457 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects the new biofuel obligation of 4% of annual fuel sales to be reached; the amount of biofuel produced for the Irish market; the amount imported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9121/10]

The legislative basis for the national biofuel obligation, which will require suppliers of road transport fuels into the Irish market to ensure that 4% of their volumes sold is biofuel is provided for in the Energy (Biofuels Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which has recently been introduced in the Oireachtas with a view to its enactment in the coming month and entry into force by July next.

The Department calculates that in a full year, approximately 220 million litres of biofuels would be required to deliver the 4% target, depending on the overall volumes of fuel sold in the Irish market. In 2008, the last year for which complete data are currently available, 85 million litres of biofuels entered the Irish market. The only biofuels on which my Department is currently in a position to compile origin information are those biofuels being imported under the Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes (MOTR). Under the Schemes, approximately 30% of eligible biofuels are produced in Ireland in 2008, with the remainder being imported.

Energy Conservation.

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

458 Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding an application for the warmer homes scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [9131/10]

I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question at this time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

459 Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding an application for the warmer homes scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [9132/10]

I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question at this time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

460 Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding an application for the warmer homes scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [9134/10]

I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question at this time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

461 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9210/10]

I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question at this time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Live Exports.

James Bannon

Ceist:

462 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding section C(9) of the European Community Export Cert 64/432 F1 Bovine; if animals inspected for export to Northern Ireland by his Department officials and found to be correct can be removed anytime with the specified 24 hour period, without the presence his Departments officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8658/10]

Ireland attaches a high priority to ensuring that the export of bovines from Ireland is carried out to a very high standard in relation to compliance with animal health and welfare requirements. It is a requirement under the relevant EU legislation that the health certificate for livestock is certified on the basis of a veterinary inspection carried out during the 24 hours prior to scheduled departure.

My Department operates a policy whereby the loading of the trucks is carried out under veterinary supervision wherever possible to ensure compliance with requirements for welfare during transport in relation to critical issues such as stocking density, water and feed provisions and the standard of trucks. Thus for reason of operational efficiency and to ensure that the highest possible welfare standards apply, veterinary certification is carried out at the time of loading of the cattle, wherever possible.

Grant Payments.

Tom Sheahan

Ceist:

463 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he will take to resolve the issues surrounding REP scheme payments in County Kerry; and if a district superintendent will be put in place in Killarney, County Kerry. [8664/10]

As the Deputy will be aware there is a moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service. My Department has alternative arrangements in place to ensure the prompt processing of claims.

Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

464 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the new REP scheme; when the scheme will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8731/10]

Due to industrial Action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Grant Payments.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

465 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 280 of 10 February 2010, when a reply will issue. [8770/10]

Due to industrial Action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

466 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their single farm payment for 2009. [8774/10]

There is no record of an application under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme having been received by my Department from the person named.

Departmental Offices.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

467 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 1101 of 16 September 2009, the position regarding the local agricultural office in Ennis, County Clare; if agreement has been finalised on the redeployment of staff; if he is proceeding with his plan to relocate the office; if so, the plans, he has to ensure the continuation of services and facilities for farmers in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8783/10]

On 15th July, the Government approved my plan for a reorganisation of my Department's Local Office Network. The plan involves reducing, from 57 to 16, the number of offices from which the Department will operate District Veterinary, Forestry and Agricultural Environment and Structures support services in the future. This will result in a reduction of some 400 in the number of staff working in my Department. This reorganisation will yield significant savings for the Exchequer and no staff will be made redundant as a result of this rationalisation.

As part of this process, the Ennis Local Office will close on 16th April and all services will transfer to the regional office in Limerick. A ‘Lo-call' telephone number will be provided for the Limerick office. My Department is currently finalising discussions with other Departments in relation to the redeployment of administrative staff currently working in Ennis local office.

Grant Payments.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

468 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their payment under REP scheme four; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8799/10]

Due to industrial Action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Crop Losses.

John Deasy

Ceist:

469 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to provide compensation to farmers growing fodder beet who have suffered heavy losses due to the recent bad weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8822/10]

Following a preliminary assessment of the crop losses caused by the severe weather conditions in January, I recently announced the introduction of a limited scheme of financial assistance to certain potato and field vegetable growers who have suffered significant losses of produce due to frost damage. It is not proposed to extend the scope of the scheme to include fodder beet.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

470 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 575 of 16 February 2010, if he will carry out a survey of the crop losses in the hardy nursery stock sector caused by severe weather conditions in January; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8879/10]

Following a preliminary assessment of the crop losses caused by the severe weather conditions in January, I recently announced the introduction of a limited scheme of financial assistance to certain potato and field vegetable growers who have suffered significant losses of produce due to frost damage. It is not proposed to extend the scope of the scheme to include hardy nursery stock.

Grant Payments.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

471 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) will receive her REP scheme payment. [9050/10]

Due to industrial action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to reply to this question.

Dog Transporters.

Andrew Doyle

Ceist:

472 Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the conditions of approval for authorisation of dog transporters issued by his Department; the way these authorisations are reviewed to ensure compliance with conditions; the capacity of each transporter; the destination of each transporter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9052/10]

Certain categories of transporters of live animals, including dogs, must be authorised by the Department. An application form and explanatory information on the legislation that governs the transport of live animals, including Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 and S.I. No. 675 of 2006 [European Communities (Animal Transport and Control Post) Regulations 2006], are issued to a transporter on foot of request to my Department.

Completed application forms submitted by transporters are assessed by my Department. I have powers to refuse an application or to suspend or to revoke an animal transport authorisation if in my opinion, in relation to an application, information required has not been furnished or information that is false or misleading in a material respect has been furnished or there has been a failure to comply with a condition of an authorisation or where an offence has been committed that relates to animal welfare. An authorisation is reviewed should a complaint be made against the transporter. The legislation does not define a capacity for a vehicle transporting dogs nor require information on the destination of a transporter of dogs.

Grant Payments.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

473 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive his REP scheme 4 payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9072/10]

Due to industrial action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Fishing Industry Development.

John Deasy

Ceist:

474 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to allow commercial bass fishing off the coast of County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9109/10]

The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has made a proposal regarding the possibility of a limited offshore Sea Bass fishery to my colleague Minister Killeen. Minister Killeen is giving careful consideration to this proposal in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and is particularly conscious of the necessity of maintaining the existing protection afforded to the inshore Sea Bass fishery. This factor is also recognised in the FIF proposal which gives assurances that the inshore Sea Bass fishery around our coast would not be targeted for commercial fishing. Under the FIF proposal, vessels would be permitted to land Sea Bass caught south of (51.30'N) in area VII. This area is approx 50 KM off the SE coast of Ireland.

Given the overall economic situation and the challenges facing fishermen generally, Minister Killeen is anxious to pursue any proposal that would create additional commercial fishing opportunities for the Irish fleet. In that context Minister Killeen has written to Minister Lenihan in the Department of Energy, Communications and Natural Resources, who has responsibility for inland fisheries, seeking his views on this proposal before making any final decision in the matter.

Grant Payments.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

475 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive his payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9111/10]

Due to industrial action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Decentralisation Programme.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

476 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the planned decentralisation of his Department’s office from Cork city to another location in the county. [9114/10]

As part of the reorganisation of my Department's national network of local offices it is intended that the Mallow and South Mall offices in Cork City will be closed. The work from these offices will transfer to a new office to be located in the North County Cork area once a suitable location has been identified. The Office of Public Works together with my Department are examining various options. No date has yet been scheduled for this transfer to take place.

Animal Feedstuffs.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

477 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a farmer purchasing loose feedstuff at the premises of a local supplier can reuse half ton bags for this purpose or is it necessary to use a new bag on each occasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9126/10]

In line with the Regulations governing the supply/handling of feedstuffs for animal feed, a bag brought by a farmer for refilling with feed at a local supplier may only be used or reused if clean and in good condition.

Direct Payment Schemes.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

478 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive their 2009 single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9135/10]

Payment under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme has not issued in this case as the Single Payment entitlements in question are still registered in the name of the late previous owner of the herd number in question. An official of my Department will make direct contact with the person named regarding this matter.

Grant Payments.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

479 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their REP scheme payment. [9152/10]

Due to industrial action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Direct Payment Schemes.

Tom Sheahan

Ceist:

480 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will carry out an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the moving of entitlements to the national reserve (details supplied). [9162/10]

The first person named was allocated 7.92 Single Payment entitlements to the value of €127.79 each in 2005. The EU Regulations governing the Single Payment scheme provide that a farmer must use his/her entitlements at least once over a three year period otherwise they are lost to the National Reserve. A farmer uses entitlements by declaring one hectare of land per entitlement per year on a Single Payment application form. The persons named did not declare any land on a Single payment application form in the years 2007, 2008 or 2009 therefore the entitlements concerned were surrendered to the National Reserve at the end of 2009. A letter of notification regarding the expired entitlements issued on 25 January 2010 and includes an option of appeal. My Department had not been notified of the extenuating circumstances involved in this case but a representative of my Department will now make contact with the second person named with a view to having the entitlements restored to her under force majeure.

Farm Waste Management.

Tom Sheahan

Ceist:

481 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding a claim for payment under the farm waste management scheme in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9164/10]

Due to industrial action by staff in my Department, I am unable to provide a reply to this question.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

482 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9208/10]

Due to Industrial action in my Department I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Inquiry into Child Abuse.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

483 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science the procedures regarding the trust fund that is being established for victims of abuse in terms of financial compensation; the process by which this money will be discharged to the victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8693/10]

The present position is that I have received individual responses from the 18 religious Congregations that were party to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, to the call for them to make further substantial contributions by way of reparation, following publication of the Ryan Report. Details of the Congregations' offers of contributions, together with the report of the Panel appointed by the Government to assess the Statements of Resources submitted by the religious Congregations, are under consideration by the Government.

On the question of the uses to which the contributions will be put, the Deputy will be aware that in the meetings with former residents and the Congregations, support was expressed for the proposal that the use of a further substantial contribution from the Congregations should include a form of independent trust to be set up by the State which would be available to support the needs of survivors for general education and welfare purposes. The Government will consider the matter, in consultation with the representatives of the survivors and the Congregations.

Joe Behan

Ceist:

484 Deputy Joe Behan asked the Minister for Education and Science the names of the 161 services, schools, hospitals and other facilities apart from industrial and reformatory schools which were referred to in the Ryan report and the 259 witnesses who testified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8860/10]

Part 2 of the Confidential Committee's Report in Volume 3 of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, contains evidence given by 259 witnesses to the Confidential Committee in relation to 161 facilities, apart from Industrial or Reformatory Schools, that fell within the definition of an institution for the purposes of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, Acts 2000 and 2005. As outlined in Chapter 2 of the Confidential Committee's Report, the Acts give a commitment of confidentiality in relation to information furnished to the Committee and require that its Report should not identify or contain information that could lead to the identification of witnesses, or the persons against whom they made allegations, the institutions in which they alleged they were abused or any other person. As noted in the Report, it is a criminal offence to breach the assurance of confidentiality provided by the Acts to witnesses and to the work of the Committee.

Departmental Correspondence.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

485 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reply to correspondences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8644/10]

A reply to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy has issued from my Department.

Special Educational Needs.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

486 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants or full-time equivalents employed in Dublin 15 primary and secondary schools in the academic years 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10; the number of special needs assistants or full-time equivalents employed in each of the schools (details supplied) in Dublin 15 in 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8654/10]

The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants or full time equivalents employed in Dublin 15 primary and secondary schools is not readily available in the requested format.

The number of wholetime equivalent Special Needs Assistants employed in each of the three schools named by the D eputy in September of the school year 2006/2007, 2007/2008, 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 is provided in the table below.

Number of Wholetime Equivalent Special Needs Assistants

September 2006

September 2007

September 2008

September 2009

Loreto College

1

1

1

1

Holy Family JNS

2

4

4

6

Holy Family SNS

6

5

6

7

Higher Education Grants.

James Bannon

Ceist:

487 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford has been refused a third level training maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8656/10]

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant assessing authority, i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC.

Where the assessing authority decides to reject the appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department by submitting an appeal form outlining clearly the grounds for the appeal.

No appeal has been received by my Department to date from the candidate referred to by the Deputy.

State Examinations.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

488 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will support a matter (details supplied). [8685/10]

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Schools Building Projects.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

489 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will include a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3 on the priority building programme for 2010. [8712/10]

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers was included in my announcement on 16 February of major school building projects which are to progress to tender and construction this year.

The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning.

Representatives from the school and its design team recently attended a briefing by my Department on the requirements for completing stage 2(b) of architectural planning. The design team are currently working on completing the stage 2(b) submission.

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

490 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the development plans for a new school (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8713/10]

Joe Costello

Ceist:

527 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made on acquiring a site for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9123/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 527 together.

Following discussions with my Department, revised proposed school building drawings have been submitted to the club and the City Council for their consideration. A response is awaited.

Early Retirement Scheme.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

491 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on implementing an early retirement scheme in education or extending the scheme that is available elsewhere in the public service to the teaching sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8722/10]

The Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement for public servants over 50 years of age was announced in the Budget in April last year. The intention behind the scheme is that those that retire would not be replaced thus enabling cost savings to be achieved. This scheme does not apply to teachers. The moratorium arrangements within the education sector provide that teachers can be replaced in the normal way and that teacher numbers be capped at the aggregate overall number of posts in place in schools in September 2009.

The Early Retirement Scheme is aimed at civil and public servants who retire before the age of 60 and whose superannuation options are limited to receiving their entitlements at preserved pension age or, for people aged over 50, immediate payment of pension benefits subject to an actuarial reduction. It is not being applied to sectors who have fast accrual of service (eg An Garda Síochána, Prison Officers and the Army) or for those who have other preferential pension benefits such as the 55/35 year rule for teachers. Under the 55/35 year rule a teacher, other than a new entrant appointed after 1 April 2004, who has reached the age of 55 years and has at least 35 years of actual pensionable service, may retire voluntarily. There is no actuarial reduction in benefits and credit for certain pre-service training is given in order to assist teachers to reach the 35-year threshold for retirement.

Schools Building Projects.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

492 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the new school building projects that will commence in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8735/10]

As the Deputy will be aware, on 16 February, I announced details of 52 major school building projects which can go to tender and construction as part of the Government's €579 million school building programme for 2010.

Of these, 25 major school building projects which have planning permission will move to tender and construction shortly. A further 27 major projects which have not yet secured full planning permission have been authorised to prepare their tender documentation and they are expected to go to tender and construction later this year and early next year.

As well as that, 22 major school building projects approved to enter architectural planning in recent years will appoint design teams this year. Another 29 high-priority major school building projects will begin the design process and appoint design teams this year.

Details on all of these projects are available on my Department's website. For the Deputy's convenience, the lists which accompanied my announcement of 16 February are included below.

Projects authorised to prepare tender documents

County

Roll No.

School Name

Project

Cork

17609N

Rathcormac NS, Rathcormac

New school

Cork

17667E

SN Pádraig Naofa, Whitechurch

Extension/refurbishment

Cork

81008W

Ashton Comprehensive School, Blackrock Road

New school

Donegal

18052S

Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Letterkenny

Extension/refurbishment

Donegal

19971R

Gaelscoil Adhamhnain, Letterkenny

Extension/refurbishment

Donegal

16672P

St Patrick’s Primary School, Lurgybrack

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

19474D & 19742C

St Colmcille’s Junior and Senior NS, Knocklyon, Templeogue, Dublin 16

New school

Dublin

19878E

Ballycragh NS, Ballycragh, Firhouse, Tallaght, Dublin 24

New school

Dublin

76062B

Castleknock Community College, Carpenterstown Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

00697S

St. Brigid’s NS, Castleknock

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

18451J

Scoil Lorcain, Eaton Square, Monkstown

Extension/refurbishment

Galway

19795A

Tirellan Heights NS, Headford Road, Galway

Extension/refurbishment

Galway

20199O

Oughterard NS, Oughterard

New school

Galway

08512U

Iomair NS, Killimor

New school

Galway

12706J

SN Sailearna, Indreabhán

Extension/refurbishment

Kerry

20197K

Kenmare NS, Kenmare

New school

Kildare

17064U

Scoil Pádraig, Ballylinan, Athy

New school

Laois

17671M

Scoil Chomhgain Naofa, Killeshin

Extension/refurbishment

Limerick

64240G

St Munchin’s College, Limerick City

Extension/refurbishment

Louth

63920A

Dundalk Grammar School, The Crescent

Extension/refurbishment

Mayo

20142I

Scoil Íosa, Ballyhaunis

Extension/refurbishment

Sligo

19495L

Carbury NS, The Mall

New school

Tipperary

72370P

Borrisokane VS, Tipperary

Extension/refurbishment

Tipperary

65470F

Ursuline Convent, Thurles

Extension/refurbishment

Tipperary

65240L

Scoil Mhuire Presentation Secondary School, Thurles

Extension/refurbishment

Wexford

17017L

SN Phádraig, Crossabeg

Extension/refurbishment

Wicklow

19522L

St Catherine’s Secondary School, Newcastle

New school

Projects going to tender and construction

County

Roll No

School Name

Project

Carlow

17501Q

Bennykerry NS, Bennykerry

New school

Cork

62690E

Scoil Mhuire, 2 Sydney Place, Wellington Road

Extension/refurbishment

Cork

18279A

St Mary’s NS, Waterpark, Carrigaline

Extension/refurbishment

Cork

13450F

Rushbrook NS, Cobh

New school

Donegal

18219F

SN Chonaill, Machaire Chlochair, Bun Beag

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

60860Q

Our Lady’s School, Templeogue

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

19006Q and 17936F

Eoin Baisde B Sois and Eoin Baisde Snr, Clontarf

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

19374W

Garran Mhuire, Goatstown, Dublin 14

New school

Galway

19506N

Cappataggle Central School, Ballinasloe

Extension/refurbishment

Kerry

61440W

St Mary’s CBS Tralee

Extension/refurbishment

Kerry

17646T

SN Uaimh Bhreanainn, Ballymacelligott, Tralee

Extension/refurbishment

Kilkenny

61580P

Loreto Secondary School, Granges Road

Extension/refurbishment

Laois

14260F

Abbeyleix Sth NS, Abbeyleix

New school

Laois

20071L

Scoil Bhríde, Rathdowney

Extension/refurbishment

Limerick

18991S

JFK Memorial School, Ennis Road

New school

Longford

20128O

St Matthew’s Mixed NS, Ballymahon

Extension/refurbishment

Meath

17213L

SN Mhuire, Ma Nealta, Ceannanus Mór

New school

Offaly

17637S

SN Sheosaimh Naofa, Beal Atha na gCarr, Tullamore

New school

Offaly

18267Q

Croinchoill NS, Birr

Extension/refurbishment

Sligo

65170Q

Summerhill College, Sligo

New school

Tipperary

72440K

Nenagh VS, Nenagh

Extension/refurbishment

Waterford

64970U

Presentation Secondary School, Waterford City

New school

Westmeath

63290Q

Loreto College, Mullingar

Extension/refurbishment

Wicklow

20016D

Gaelscoil UÍ Cheadaigh, Bray

Extension/refurbishment

Wicklow

09760V

Powerscourt NS, Powerscourt, Enniskerry

New school

Projects to appoint design teams in Quarter Two 2010

County

Roll No.

School Name

Project

Cavan

16083T

Virginia Mixed NS, Virginia

Extension/refurbishment

Cavan

19608V

St Killian’s National School, Mullagh

New school

Cork

17848I

SN Mhuire National School, Gleann An Phreacháin, Glenville

Extension/refurbishment

Donegal

18625Q

Scoil Colmcille, Convent Road, Letterkenny

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

76129H

Ardgillan Community College, Castlelands

Extension

Dublin

20252P

Gaelscoil Baile Bhrigin, Balbriggan

Extension

Dublin

20282B

Bracken Educate Together NS, Balbriggan

Extension

Dublin

20201V

Tyrellstown Educate Together NS, Dublin 15

New school

Dublin

16675V

Mulhuddart NS, Dublin 15

New school

Dublin

20303G

Lucan East Educate Together NS, Lucan

Extension

Dublin

17472M

Baile Falbach, Lusk

New school

Galway

19858V

Gaelscoil Dara, Galway City

New school

Kildare

20192A

Scoil Átha Í, Athy

Extension

Laois

13386W & 18828H &19286C

Scoil an Chroí Naofa, St Paul’s NS and SN Mhuire, Portlaoise

New school

Meath

17705J

Scoil Cros Bán, Whitecross, Julianstown

Extension/refurbishment

Offaly

18057F

Scoil Mhuire, Tullamore

Extension/refurbishment

Offaly

72560U

Tullamore College, Riverside, Tullamore

Extension/refurbishment

Projects to appoint design teams in Quarter Three 2010

County

Roll No.

School Name

Project

Cork

91499E

Kinsale Community School, Kinsale

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

70080T

Lucan Community College, Esker Drive, Lucan

Extension/refurbishment

Kildare

19277B

St Anne’s Special School, The Curragh

Extension/refurbishment

Kildare

70700A

Maynooth Post-Primary School, Moyglare Road, Maynooth

Extension/refurbishment

Kilkenny

20255V

Bunscoil McAuley Rice, Callan

New school

Kilkenny

61520U

St Brigid’s College, Callan

Extension/refurbishment

Tipperary

18435L

Sacred Heart Primary School, Newline, Roscrea

Extension/refurbishment

Meath

20017F

Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, Laytown

Extension/refurbishment

Galway

18089S

Scoil Naomh Mhuire/Maree NS, An Gharran, Oranmore

Extension/refurbishment

Westmeath

18640B

Naomh Iosef NS, Rath Ghuaire

New school

Projects to appoint design teams in Quarter Four 2010

County

Roll No.

School Name

Project

Cavan

08490N

St Clare’s Primary School

Extension/refurbishment

Clare

16677C

Bunscoil na mBráithre, Ennis

Extension/refurbishment

Cork

15781P

Ballintemple NS, Ballintemple

New school

Cork

14839P

Clondrihid NS, Clondrihid

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

13217W

Holy Family NS, Rathcoole, Dublin

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

16461C

Caisleán Nua Liamhna, Newcastle Lyons, Dublin

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

17055T

NS Naomh Mhuire, Saggart, Dublin

New school

Dublin

19865S

Archbishop Ryan Junior NS, Balgaddy

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

20187H

Archbishop Ryan Senior NS, Balgaddy

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

70120F

St Finian’s Community College, Fingal

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

07546J

Goldenbridge Convent, Goldenbridge

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

19542R & 19676P

St Thomas’ NS and Scoil Áine Naofa, Esker, Lucan

Extension/refurbishment

Dublin

18671A

St Michael’s House Special School, 17 Grosvenor Road, Rathgar

New school

Dublin

19032R

Stewart’s Hospital Special School, Palmerstown, Dublin 20

New school

Kerry

19512I

St Oliver’s NS, Ballycasheen

Extension/refurbishment

Kildare

19796C

St Patrick’s Boys NS, Clane

Extension/refurbishment

Louth

14069P

Dun Dealgan NS, Jocelyn Street, Dundalk

New school

Meath

18106P

SN na Trionoide Naofa, Lios Muilinn

Extension/refurbishment

Roscommon

18395C

SN Cluain na Cille, Athlone

Extension/refurbishment

Waterford

19244J

St Joseph’s Special School, Parnell Street, Waterford City

Extension/refurbishment

Waterford

19108B

St Martin’s Special School, Ballytruckle, Waterford City

Extension/refurbishment

Waterford

18681D

Christ Church NS, Lower Newtown

Extension/refurbishment

Wexford

12372G & 16741I & 17457Q

Michael Street NS and CBS NS and Naomh Iosaf NS, New Ross

New school

Wicklow

20208M

St Joseph’s and St Ernan’s, Wicklow Town

New school

School Staffing.

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

493 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the names and addresses of primary schools where the number of English as an additional language teachers is less in September 2009 that it was in September 2008 on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8740/10]

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

494 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the names and addresses or primary schools where the number of English as an additional language teachers was the same in September 2009 as it was in September 2008 on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8741/10]

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

495 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the names and addresses or primary schools where the number of English as an additional language teachers was greater in September 2009 than it was in September 2008 on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8742/10]

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

496 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of English as an additional language teachers in primary schools in September 2008 and in September 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8743/10]

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

497 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the names and addresses of primary schools where the number of resources teachers is less in September 2009 than it was in September 2008 on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8744/10]

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

498 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the names and addresses of primary schools where the number of resource teachers is greater in September 2009 than it was in September 2009 on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8745/10]

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

499 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the names and addresses of primary schools where the number of resource teachers was the same in September 2009 as it was in September 2008 on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8746/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 to 499, inclusive, together.

The level of extra teaching support provided in respect of language support to any school is determined by the numbers of eligible pupils enrolled and the associated assessed levels of these pupils' language proficiency. This is done through an annual application process in the Spring/Summer of each year.

Following on from the Government decision in Budget 2009 in relation to language support provision my Department published Circular 0015/2009 which sets out a structured and transparent process for the allocation of up to 4 language support teachers to schools.

The Department's circular also states that additional support is available for those schools which have at least 25% of their total enrolment made up of pupils that require language support. Such applications for additional language support are dealt with through the Staffing Appeals process.

The total number of whole time equivalent Language Support posts in place at primary level in the current school year is 1,182. The challenge for schools is to ensure that this very significant resource is used to maximum effect. In the 2008/09 school year there were 1,620 language support posts at primary level.

The general allocation system of learning support/resource teachers provides teaching resources to schools to enable them to cater for children with high-incidence special education needs. It is a matter for the individual school to use its professional judgement to identify pupils that will receive this support and to use the resources available to the school to intervene at the appropriate level with such pupils. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers to schools to support children with special educational needs. The number of resource posts in individual schools change from year to year based on changes in the number and needs of their pupils.

The number of whole time equivalent learning support/resource teacher posts at primary level in the current school year is 6,192. There were 5,842 posts in place in the 2008/09 school year.

The level of detail sought by the Deputy in respect of each individual school would take some time to collate within my Department. My Department's Teacher Allocation Section is currently focused on the initial work for the allocation of staffing for the coming school year and I do not propose to divert them from this work at this key time in the allocation process.

Third Level Education.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

500 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he will take to deal with the increase in demand for third level places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8760/10]

The increasing demand for higher education is a very positive development in the context of Ireland's objectives for developing the ‘Smart Economy', which will rely heavily on a well educated, skilled labour force.

The number of applications received by the CAO by 1st February for the 2010/11 academic year is up approximately 6% on 2009. This increase is broadly in line with expectations and is in line with the increase seen the previous year.

Higher education institutions have been responding to the increasing demand through increasing the number of places they offer. In this regard, CAO acceptances in 2009/10 were up 8.3% on the previous year.

My Department will continue to work with the sector, through the Higher Education Authority, in monitoring demand and in identifying opportunities to maximise the use of available resources in responding to growing demand. The High Level Group which I have established to develop a new national strategy for higher education is also examining how well the system is performing, how it ranks internationally, how well existing resources are being used and how the system should be configured to best meet the many challenges it faces over the next decade, including a significant increase in demand. I expect this Group to complete its work before the Summer.

Schools Building Projects.

Simon Coveney

Ceist:

501 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Cork; the measures being taken to deal with the capacity issues faced by the school; and the time scale involved in the completion of this project. [8764/10]

As the Deputy will be aware, on 16 February 2010, I announced that a new school building for the school to which he refers will commence architectural planning later this year.

At this early stage of the process, it is not possible to give an indicative timetable for the completion of the project.

In the meantime, it is open to the Management Authority of the school to apply for additional temporary accommodation for September 2010 should there be an issue regarding capacity.

Higher Education Grants.

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

502 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1066 of 19 January 2010, the timeframe for the review and reform of the student grant system; if these reforms will be in place by the summer of 2010; the completion date for the programme of administrative and legislative reform undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8767/10]

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

503 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1066 of 19 January 2010, the number of staff working full time on his Department’s business process re-engineering exercise being conducted in respect of the administration of student grants; when this exercise will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8768/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the programme of legislative and administrative reform of student grants is being provided for within the framework of the Student Support Bill. This will facilitate progress on the development of a single unified grant scheme and the reform of grants administration. A number of amendments to the Bill in relation to legal and policy issues which have arisen since Second Stage are being advanced by my Department in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. I hope to be in a position to have these amendments finalised in order to move to Committee Stage as early as possible in the current session.

In light of the commitment to put the grants on a statutory footing, I am anxious to provide a statutory basis for all student grants, pending transition to new administrative arrangements. This transitional period will necessitate retention of the existing administrative structures in the immediate term. In bringing amendments to Committee Stage, I will therefore be endeavouring to provide for existing administrative arrangements for this transitional phase, while progressing to a single scheme of grants as provided for in the Bill at the earliest possible date.

In the context of the Government's wider programme of public service reform, I am also re-assessing organisational options for the grants administration function in the longer run, with a view to revisiting the current proposals provided for in the Bill. Possible options for a more significant centralisation of functions are now being explored with a view to streamlining operations and maximising administrative efficiency. This examination is being undertaken as part of a business process re-engineering exercise being conducted under the Transforming Public Services agenda. The staff of the Higher Education — Equity of Access section of my Department who are involved in the grants reform process are also engaged with the business process re-engineering exercise. In addition, the Department of Finance is providing assistance to my Department in conducting this exercise.

Transition to the new arrangements will depend on a number of factors, including:

Passage of the Bill

Commencement of the legislation

Completion of the regulations providing for the new single scheme

Development of new business processes through technical working groups

Development of a new IT system for the operation of grants

Other organisational and implementation requirements

Given the timelines and other implementation factors involved, it is necessary to continue with the existing arrangements for the 2010/11 academic year.

While it is not possible to say definitively at this point when the transfer of the new administration arrangements will take place, the situation is being kept under continuous review in the context of progression of the legislation and other implementation factors.

My Department is working closely with the VECs, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to develop a number of initiatives to support more effective delivery of student grants in the interim, including matters relating to application, assessment and payments arrangements. For example, work is currently being advanced on the development of an on-line applications facility in conjunction with the VEC and local authority sectors and on examining the possibility of introducing this for 2010. Other measures will include:

Earlier approval of the grant schemes for 2010;

Introduction of a new, more simplified application form for 2010;

Examining possible extension of the pilot electronic funds transfer (EFT) payments system introduced in 2009/2010;

Development of common renewal/re-assessment processes.

Local Drugs Task Forces.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

504 Deputy Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding available in 2010 under the local drugs task force administered by his Department; the funding that has been granted to a service (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that cuts to funding for this service may directly affect provision of services including the cessation of a project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8802/10]

My Department provides funds for over thirty projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas, including the project specifically referred to by the Deputy. These projects, through a variety of programmes and activities, seek, in the main, to encourage young people not to engage in drug-taking.

Arising from Budget 2010, it was decided that funding for these projects was to be reduced from €3,643,000 in 2009 to €2,461,000 in 2010 (a reduction of 32%) and to cease from 2011. The project referred to by the Deputy had an allocation of €69,283 in 2009 and is receiving an allocation of €65,313 in 2010. I acknowledge that this 6% cut may present difficulties for the project.

My Department is currently reviewing the implications of the budget decisions for the Local Drugs Task Force projects.

Departmental Reports.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

505 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 329 of 21 January 2010 and 668 of 2 February 2010, when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8804/10]

I would like to inform the Deputy that a reply to his Parliamentary Questions issued on 18th February 2010.

Third Level Enrolments.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

506 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of students who are enrolled in part-time and full-time access courses in third level institutions by these institutions and student numbers in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8817/10]

The table below is a summary by the Higher Education Authority of available data on access courses being delivered by publicly funded third level institutions. This data indicates that there are currently 1,176 students enrolled on 40 part-time and full-time access courses, being delivered by 16 higher education institutions, either alone or in collaboration with another higher education institution. Some 18 of these courses are full-time with an estimated 594 participants each year and 22 are part-time courses with an estimated 582 participants each year. It should be noted that there are also a number of access courses (7) being delivered by further education institutions in collaboration with a higher education partner.

In December of last year the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Education and Science convened a Taskforce on Access/Foundation Courses. This Taskforce includes representatives of both the further and higher education providers of access courses. The group are considering research and practice to date in the provision of access courses as well as routes of access more generally to higher education. The Taskforce is expected to report with its recommendations later this year.

Access Courses Delivered by Further Education in Partnership with Higher Education

Institution

Course

NFQ Level

Student Nos.

Liberties College (with TCD)

Certificate in Liberal Arts

FT

FETAC 5

30

Pearse College (with TCD)

Certificate in Liberal Arts

FT

FETAC 5

22

Plunkett College (with TCD)

Certificate in Liberal Arts

FT

FETAC 5

29

Dun Laoghaire College (with DCU)

Foundation Certificate in Education

FT

FETAC 5

15

Whitehall College (with DCU)

Foundation Certificate in Education

FT

FETAC 5

15

Rathmines College (with UCD)

Certificate in Liberal Arts

FT

FETAC 5

31

Donahies Community School

Certificate in Liberal Arts

FT

FETAC 5

7

Total

7 Courses

149

Access Courses Delivered Within the Higher Education Sector (available HEA data in respect of publicly funded institutions)

HEI

Course

Mode

NFQ Level

Student Nos*

UCD

Access to Arts/Human Sciences

PT

NUI 6

105

Access to Arts/Human Sciences

PT

NUI 6

Access to Arts/Human Sciences

PT

NUI 6

Access to Science/Engineering

PT

NUI 6

24

Cert in Access to Commerce

PT

NUI 6

11

NUIG

School Leavers Access Course

FT

NUI 6

38

NUIG (Partners: St. Angela’s College; GMIT, AIT, LyIT, DkIT, NUIM)

Access 21 (6 courses; Border Counties)

PT

NUI 6

166

Access 21 (2 courses; Midlands)

PT

NUI 6

56

Access 21 (2 courses; Midwest & West)

PT

NUI 6

38

NUIG

Mature Access

PT

NUI 6

18

NUIG

Mature Access (through Irish)

PT

NUI 6

11

NUIG

Access Certificate

PT

NUI 6

30

NUIG & GMIT

Foundation Course in Eng, Sci, IT

PT

NUI 6

40

NUIG & GMIT

Foundation Course Business/Commerce

PT

NUI 6

30

NUIM

Certificate in Return to Learning

PT

NUI 5

21

Certificate in Economics/Finance/Ventr Mgt

FT

NUI 5

7

Certificate in Science

FT

NUI 5

17

Certificate in Economics/Finance

FT

NUI 5

15

UL & MIC

Foundation Cert — Adult Learners

PT

MIC 6

32

UL

ACE Certificate — Foundation Studies

FT

UL 5

17

Mature Student Access Certificate

FT

UL 5

39

Certificate in General Studies

FT

FETAC 5

21

Certificate in Business Studies

FT

FETAC 5

21

TCD

Foundation Course — Young Adults

FT

TCD

27

Foundation Course — Mature Students

FT

TCD

20

IADT

Certificate in General Studies

FT

FETAC 5

30

ITB

Certificate in General Studies

FT

FETAC 5

3

GMIT

Foundation Certificate

FT

FETAC 5

78

LKIT

Cert. in Introductory/Preparatory Studies for HE (1 Course)

FT/PT

HETAC 6

179

Tralee IT

Certificate in General Studies (Preparatory Programme)

FT

FETAC 5

28

WIT

Certificate in Foundation Studies (1 Course)

FT/PT

FETAC 5

41

Tipp. Institute

Highway Programme (2 courses)

FT

FETAC 5

13

Total Full-Time

18

594

Total Part-Time

22

582

40

1,176

*Provisional data.

Special Educational Needs.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

507 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will intervene with officials at the special needs section, Trim, County Meath to enable replies to be obtained. [8826/10]

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency which is responsible for allocating special needs resources to schools in line with my Department's policy. The NCSE has advised my Department that it will ensure that a response issues to the Deputy within the coming days.

School Staffing.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

508 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of assistant principal posts and special duties posts that have been lost and not replaced at primary level and secondary level in 2008, 2009 and 2010; the number of principals and deputy principals that are likely to retire by the end of December 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8829/10]

The information requested by the deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him directly.

Teaching Qualifications.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

509 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of second level teachers of maths who have a full maths degree from university or third level college; if it is the situation that teachers in vocational education committee schools of maths must have had maths for their degree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8830/10]

Sean Sherlock

Ceist:

529 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the report (details supplied) on out of field teachers, particularly the finding that 48% of surveyed teachers teaching mathematics in post-primary schools have no qualification in mathematics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9136/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 529 together.

The report in question is based on questionnaires completed by 324 teachers in a representative sample of 51 schools. The report showed that all but one respondent were fully qualified as teachers, but 48% did not have a major qualification in mathematics. Of the latter group 35% had a Bachelor of Science degree, 34% had a Bachelor of Commerce or Business degree and 27% had a concurrent teacher education degree.

The study showed that 30% of students in the 51 schools were taught by a teacher without a major qualification in Mathematics. Such teachers were generally deployed to teaching Ordinary, Foundation Level or Leaving Certificate Applied students, mainly in the junior cycle. There were no teachers without a Mathematics qualification teaching at higher level in the Leaving Certificate classes, and only 4.5% and 3% respectively taught at higher level in the second and 3rd years of junior cycle.

The study did not undertake any analysis of the teaching approaches used by the respondents or associate the data in any way with student performance.

To be registered as a teacher of mathematics with the Teaching Council, a person is required to have a recognised teaching qualification, and a degree in which Mathematics represents at least 30% of the course over at least 3 years, and which qualifies them to teach the syllabus to the highest level. A teacher in a VEC school is required to hold a degree in Mathematics which meets these criteria, but is not required at present to hold a teaching qualification. From 1 April 2013, all post primary teachers registering with the Council will be required to have a teaching qualification.

The data from the Teaching Council in 2009 suggested that 65% of those teaching mathematics have Mathematics as a major qualification in their degree. This figure was deduced by applying the number of Mathematics teachers registered with the Council in February 2009 (3858) to the estimated number of Maths teachers in second level schools (5900). Registration with the Teaching Council does not mean that a teacher is currently employed or that they are deployed to teaching mathematics, but the figure of 65% is a reasonable estimate based on the data available. The updated information as of February 2010 from the Teaching Council indicates that 4005 teachers are registered with qualifications in Mathematics.

Once a teacher is recruited into a school the deployment of him/her to subjects and teaching duties is a matter for decision by the school authorities. Clearly the qualifications of the teacher is an important factor in this decision, but there are other constraints also, such as the numbers of students and class groups choosing different subjects, the overall pupil-teacher ratio, the mix of qualifications available among the staff, and the balance of full-time and part time staff available.

The deployment of teachers to subjects which are not part of their major qualification is also a feature of education systems in other jurisdictions. For example, the report shows that Finland, Canada and Australia, which ranked 2nd, 6th and 8th respectively in Maths out of 57 countries in the 2006 OECD PISA (Programme of International Student Assessment) study had 68%, 25% and 72% respectively of students taught by certified teachers with mathematics as a major qualification.

A major programme of reform in Mathematics is under way in 24 schools at present under the Project Maths Initiative. This will begin in all schools in September and is being supported by an extensive investment in professional development for teachers. Some €5m is being invested in this area in 2010, building on a €3m investment in 2009. The programme of professional development for teachers will continue to at least 2013. Upskilling teachers through post graduate programmes will form a major element of the implementation of Project Maths, and funds for intensive programmes have been provided in 2010 to begin this process. A particular target for intensive courses will be those teaching maths who do not hold a major qualification in the subject.

In addition to this, the Teaching Council will be examining the recent research report on the out-of-field teaching of maths and will work with the other education stakeholders in terms of developing appropriate responses to the issues raised.

School Staffing.

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

510 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsider proposals to reduce staff at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if his attention has been drawn to the impact such proposals will have on the pupils and staff at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8844/10]

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The Deputy will also be aware that the NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is at present carrying out a review of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria governing the allocation of such posts are properly met. This is an exercise in identifying surplus posts which are in the system and which do not meet the current criteria — posts that have been retained when a pupil's care needs have diminished or where the pupil has left.

The NCSE has advised the school that it is to reduce the number of SNAs by four and that this should have been achieved by 19th February. The NCSE has also advised the school that it will not alter the level of teaching staff in the school for the remainder of the current school year.

The NCSE is committed to engaging with the school authorities and all other relevant State agencies to manage the situation in the short term and to ensure a sound basis for staff levels in the interest of pupils. The NCSE has already met with the school and is arranging a further meeting. Without prejudice to the NCSE's role in allocating resources, my Department has indicated to the NCSE that it is prepared to attend a meeting with the school if this is considered helpful. The NCSE has already offered to meet with any parents who may wish to meet with them.

The Deputy is fully aware that I have prioritised the provision of special education supports to schools. This is a key Government policy. However, this does not mean that resources, allocated in response to various historical factors, are retained in schools ad infinitum. At a time of constrained resources it is essential that we ensure that public resources, both staff and resources, are deployed as effectively as possible. Resources left in an area that are not in accordance with criteria mean public resources are not available for another deserving area.

I am sure that the Deputy shares my concern to ensure that there is a consistent application of policy in relation to the allocation of special needs supports across the country. This is all that is happening at the moment. I can assure the Deputy that supports will continue to be made available to schools, including the school in question, in line with my Department's policy.

Schools Building Projects.

Chris Andrews

Ceist:

511 Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 4 received funding for a new classroom in 2009; the amount of funding that was granted and the progress to date of this build. [8853/10]

The school in question was approved funding in December, 2009 for the provision of additional accommodation. It is open to the school authority to utilise this grant to purchase temporary accommodation or to build a permanent structure.

I understand that the school authority are preparing an application for planning permission for submission to the relevant local authority in the near future.

As the works have not yet been tendered it is not possible to provide information on the level of grant aid approved.

School Enrolments.

Joe Behan

Ceist:

512 Deputy Joe Behan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of students in full and part-time education excluding first level, second level, universities and institutes of technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8861/10]

For learners who wish to access learning opportunities outside the mainstream provision identified by the Deputy, my Department allocates funds to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) to provide a suite of full-time and part-time further education programmes.

For the current academic year (2009/2010), there are just over 41,000 approved full-time places available in Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC, 31,688), Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS, 5,000), Youthreach (3,692) and Senior Traveller Training Centres (STTCs, 984).

In relation to PLC in particular, based on the annual school returns, the total enrolment nationwide was some 38,500. I understand that the other full-time programmes are fully subscribed.

Over 2010, part-time further education opportunities will be provided for an estimated 125,000 participants under the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI), Adult Literacy and Community Education schemes.

This gives an estimated total of over 170,000 learners in full-time and part-time further education funded by my Department.

Schools Building Projects.

Niall Collins

Ceist:

513 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the new school building contract for a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8884/10]

My officials are currently assessing the supplementary tender report which was received recently from the Board of Management. When this assessment is complete and assuming that no issues arise, the project will be authorised to proceed to construction.

Schools Refurbishment.

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

514 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science when a decision will issue on the upgrade of windows under summer works scheme 2010 at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9019/10]

An application under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers for a window replacement project.

Following an assessment process, projects will be selected for funding from all valid and approved applications on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria published with the Scheme.

The timetable for the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been published as part of the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0057/2009) is available on the Department's website www.education.ie.

In accordance with the timetable, it is my intention to publish a list of successful SWS applicants in March.

Information and Communications Technology.

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

515 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he will take to address the situation whereby schools being served by satellite broadband are not achieving reasonable speeds; his views on the fact that the students and teachers in schools without access to high speed broadband are being disadvantaged vis-à-vis their peers in other schools, in view of the fact that his Department should only be used as a last resort; his further views on the fact that it is therefore incumbent upon him to address this disadvantage; if it is possible for him to liaise with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to have Eircom exchanges digital subscriber lines enabled for schools that are currently experiencing very poor speeds with satellite broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9023/10]

All broadband contracts under the Schools Programme were retendered last year and new contracts were signed from September onwards. Under these new contracts it is expected that there will be approximately a 50% decrease in the number of schools reliant on satellite. The exact number of schools that will be reliant on satellite will not be known until the migration to the new services is complete and the level of technology failure is known.

For those schools that remain reliant on satellite, where a wireless or DSL solution becomes available they will be migrated to the improved service as soon as is practicable. Furthermore some schools on satellite should also see an improvement in their service as bandwidth speeds to a number of schools has been increased depending on their size.

Schools Amalgamation.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

516 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the level of priority attributed to a schools amalgamation project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when the level was decided upon; the next stage of the building process for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9025/10]

In 2004, agreement was reached to amalgamate the two primary schools referred to by the Deputy. The application was assessed and the project was assigned a band rating of 1.4. Details of other Band 1.4 rated building projects are available on my Department's website www.education.ie.

A technical inspection was carried out on the existing school buildings to determine which would be suitable to facilitate the amalgamated school. The report produced following this inspection concluded that the most suitable building to facilitate the amalgamation would be the girls' school. It also found that an additional portion of land would be required from the Sisters of Mercy to facilitate the development. The Sisters of Mercy have indicated that they would, in principle, be disposed to selling land to the Department to facilitate the proposed works.

The progression of this building project and the acquisition of the additional land required to facilitate the amalgamation, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

517 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the level of priority attributed to a schools amalgamation project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when that level was decided upon; the next stage of the building process for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9026/10]

I presume the Deputy is referring to the proposed acquisition of a site for the Gaelscoil referred to. I am advised that an examination of two proposed sites was recently concluded by my Department and on foot of same my officials intend approaching the Local Authority with a view to discussing terms for a possible land transfer. Upon acquisition of a suitable site, the proposed building project for the school will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

518 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the level of priority attributed to a schools amalgamation project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when that level was decided upon; the next stage of the building process for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9027/10]

I can confirm that the schools to which the Deputy refers had agreed to amalgamate in 2002 but due to accommodation concerns the amalgamation did not progress at that time.

The application has been assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and assigned a band 1.4 rating.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme. However, in view of the level of demand on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression the project at this time.

However, my Department is aware of a situation in relation to the accommodation issues in the schools in question. My Department recently wrote to the schools' Patron and Boards of Management seeking agreement for the amalgamation to progress on certain terms. My Department is still awaiting a reply from one of the schools.

Teachers’ Remuneration.

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

519 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding reconciliation of payments for part-time resource teachers from his Department; if staff have started to process payments for the 2008-2009 academic year; his views that significant amounts are still outstanding from his Department to schools around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9029/10]

Since 1 September, 2009 all part-time resource teachers are paid through my Department's payroll. Prior to that the teachers were paid by individual Boards of Management under a grant system. A reconciliation process between grant issued and salary payment made by boards is carried out by my Department in the school year following grant payment.

In November, 2009 my Department issued Circular 0067/09 to primary schools seeking applications to reconcile grant payment for part-time teachers for the 2008/09 school year. This circular is available on my Department's website.

Priority of work in the current school year has been to sanction allocations to schools for resource teaching support and to facilitate putting part-time teachers on the Department payroll. Work on the reconciliation process for the 08/09 school year has commenced and applicant schools will be contacted in this regard.

Special Educational Needs.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

520 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if funding will be provided for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo. [9053/10]

The project to which the Deputy refers is not a recognised school.

The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers who may draw from a range of autism-specific interventions, including ABA, special needs assistants, and the appropriate school curriculum with the option where possible of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils.

In excess of 380 autism-specific classes have now been approved around the country at primary and post primary level. I will continue to be advised by the National Council for Special Education concerning the need for additional special education provision in schools, including special education provision for children with autism.

Departmental Schemes.

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

521 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the details of the devolved grant scheme available for schools in respect of certain building works; the maximum amount which can be made available to a particular school under this scheme; and when he plans to announce such grants for 2010. [9081/10]

In addition to the major capital projects funded by my Department, there are grant schemes in which responsibility for project managing and overseeing the delivery of these projects within budget is devolved to the school authority.

Schemes such as the Summer Works Scheme, the Permanent Accommodation Scheme and the Small Schools Scheme operate on this basis.

The amount of grant aid available under the schemes depends on the level of need presenting in the individual school.

The closing date for the Summer Works Scheme was last November and the applications received are currently being assessed. Applications for the Permanent Accommodation Scheme, whereby schools require additional mainstream or ancillary accommodation, can be submitted by schools at any time.

Applications for the Small Schools Scheme have not been sought this year due to the focus of the schools building and modernisation programme on major projects in areas experiencing a rapid growth in demand for school places.

However, the situation will be kept under review by my Department. In the meantime, it is open to small schools to apply for funding under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme and the Summer Works Scheme, which continue to operate.

Pension Provisions.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

522 Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the estimated amount to be received from teachers by way of their pension contributions, including pension levy, in the 2010 calendar year, separated by primary and post primary teachers; the estimated amount of expenditure on payment of pensions to retired primary and post-primary teachers and their dependants in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9097/10]

The following are details of profiled pension expenditure and receipts for 2010 for teachers in primary and post-primary schools (excluding VECs): Primary Teacher Pension Payments €371,655m; Post-primary Teacher Pension Payments €254,367m; Primary Teacher Pension Receipts €107,300m; Post-primary Teachers Pension Receipts €68,500m; Primary Teacher Pension Related Deduction €109,994m; Post-primary Teacher Pension Related Deduction €64,014m

The Deputy should note that figures for post-primary teachers who are VEC teachers are not readily available to the Department, as data in respect of pension contributions of all VEC employees, including teachers, is held by VECs, whereas data relating to all retired VEC employees is held by local authorities, which administer the pension payrolls for such staff.

School Accommodation.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

523 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if the forward planning section of his Department has carried out the detailed analysis of more than 40 locations of highest population growth to identify the school accommodation requirements up to and including the 2014-2015 school year; if the results of this survey will see the expansion of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16 in order to meet the demands of the increasing population; if a new school is envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9099/10]

The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis of over 40 locations of highest population growth in order to identify the school accommodation requirements up to and including the school year 2014/2015. Given the increase in the birth rate in recent years the initial focus of this analysis is on primary school accommodation requirements and this will be followed by a more detailed analysis of post-primary school accommodation requirements.

When the required reports have been completed for these initial areas selected the Forward Planning Section will continue to work on preparing reports on a priority basis for the remainder of the country.

Overall post-primary Forward Planning, including the position of the school referred to by the Deputy, will be considered in this regard.

Schools Refurbishment.

Sean Sherlock

Ceist:

524 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science if an application for the summer works programme by a school (details supplied) in County Cork is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9102/10]

An application under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers for a windows replacement project.

Following an assessment process, projects will be selected for funding from all valid and approved applications on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria published with the Scheme.

The timetable for the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been published as part of the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0057/2009) is available on the Department's website www.education.ie.

In accordance with the timetable, it is my intention to publish a list of successful SWS applicants in the Spring.

Schools Building Projects.

Sean Sherlock

Ceist:

525 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for funding in respect of a new building by a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9115/10]

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating.

Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project referred to by the Deputy, are now available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. There are four band ratings under these criteria, each of which describes the extent of accommodation required and the urgency attaching to it. Band 1 is the highest priority rating and Band 4 is the lowest. Documents explaining the band rating system are also available on my Department's website.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Sean Sherlock

Ceist:

526 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for funding in respect of a new building by school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9116/10]

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating.

Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project referred to by the Deputy, are now available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. There are four band ratings under these criteria, each of which describes the extent of accommodation required and the urgency attaching to it. Band 1 is the highest priority rating and Band 4 is the lowest. Documents explaining the band rating system are also available on my Department's website.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Question No. 527 answered with Question No. 490.

Schools Patronage.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

528 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science if he proposes to grant approval to Educate Together to become a patron of second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9124/10]

My Department is considering a number of broad policy issues relating to the recognition process for second level schools and the application from Educate Together to be recognised as a patron body at second level is being fully examined within the context of the relevant legal, financial and other factors.

In view of the range of issues involved, it has not been possible to bring this matter to a conclusion as quickly as I would have liked. However, it is my intention to finalise this matter and convey a decision to Educate Together at the earliest date possible.

Question No. 529 answered with Question No. 509.

Higher Education Grants.

Seán Barrett

Ceist:

530 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the Budget 2010 withdrawal of maintenance grants under the back to education allowance scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the impact of such a drop in expected income on long-term unemployed persons seeking to get back into third level education; if the back to education allowance maintenance grants will be restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9147/10]

From September 2010, as announced in the Budget, all new applicants who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance for all schemes, and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, will be ineligible for maintenance grants. The cost of the student services charge and any fees payable to colleges will continue to be met, for eligible students, by the Exchequer on their behalf. Students should apply to their assessing authority to have their eligibility assessed.

Students currently in receipt of the BTEA or VTOS allowances and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided they meet the terms and conditions of the scheme. Students progressing to a new course, with effect from 2010/11, will no longer be eligible for maintenance grants but can apply for assistance towards the cost of the student services charge and any fees payable.

It was decided to discontinue the practice of allowing students to hold both the BTEA or VTOS allowance and a student maintenance grant simultaneously as this represents a duplication of income support payments.

Schools Building Projects.

Brian Hayes

Ceist:

531 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools that have planning permission and have tender documents with his Department but are still waiting for approval to proceed to construction. [9206/10]

There are 31 major projects currently at tender stage. When the tendering process is complete, these projects will progress to construction. A further 7 major projects have planning permission and have tender documentation under consideration by my Department. These projects will proceed to tender and construction as soon as possible.

In addition to the above, the Deputy will be aware that I recently announced 52 major projects to proceed to tender and construction. Of these projects, 25 have full planning permission and are currently in the process of preparing tender documentation under stage 2(b) of the architectural planning process. These projects will receive authorisation to proceed to tender and construction shortly.

A further 27 projects have been authorised to prepare their tender documentation and complete the planning application process with a view to going to tender and construction during 2010 and in early 2011.

Consultancy Contracts.

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

532 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount he has spent on hiring or use of outside consultants in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form; if he is satisfied that this practice represents good value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9213/10]

The information is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Barr