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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Jul 2010

Vol. 714 No. 4

Adjournment Debate

Consular Assistance

I thank the Minister for allowing me the opportunity to raise a sensitive issue concerning Paul Barrett from Market Hill in Fethard, County Tipperary, who is detained in prison in Lille, France.

The story of Paul Barrett goes back to 7 March when a truck he was driving was impounded by the French authorities. He was allowed home and left the truck behind him. A week later he was contacted by his employer who told him the truck was to be collected in France. Paul Barrett was arrested by French police on his return to France on 14 March when he arrived to collect the truck and he has been detained in France since then. Last Friday he was brought before a magistrate. Documents that were required for the investigation were to be provided by the Government to the French authorities. That is my understanding but I need clarification on the matter. To his horror and that of his family and all belonging to him he was put back in prison.

I and others have listened to the family talk about the case in recent months. They are in a state trying to find out what is happening to their son. I have a letter which he wrote from prison some hours after the case was heard last week. I have never read an account of such a frightened person in a letter from anyone. A person in detention in a prison in another country is bound to be frightened. Mr. Barrett is worried about his representation in particular. Much of what I say I have heard from the family which is highly respected in the community. I have known them for a long time. They are extremely worried about their son. They are concerned about the handling of the case by the solicitor, which is not to their satisfaction. That concern is expressed in the letter which Mr. Barrett's mother handed to me in my constituency office this morning. The reason I raise the matter is because those people are living in fear. They are extremely concerned about the representation their son is receiving. His mother said she is extremely concerned that her son will come home in a box. As a representative of the Government the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, has a responsibility to this man.

I did not refer in my contribution to the implications of the case or how the truck came to be there and what was in it. My concern is the individual involved and the human aspect of the case. The Government has a responsibility to this young man. Usually when we raise matters on the Adjournment we do not get an answer. I accept that officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs have been in contact with the family, but someone in the Government needs to take the case firmly in hand to give Mr. Barrett his legal right to choice in terms of being properly represented. If the Irish Government has documentation on Mr. Barrett, it should be sent to the French authorities. The French courts will be in recess in two weeks and this will mean he will be in prison until next September.

I am thankful for the opportunity to raise this very sensitive matter. In the absence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, who has met the family in question, I want the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, to do everything he can, in spite of the ongoing frustration, to save the young man's life. His mother, brothers, sisters, father, everyone belonging to him and the people of the Fethard area are extremely shocked at what is happening and believe he is innocent. The Government has a responsibility to help him.

I can well understand the concerns of any family with a member detained, for whatever reason, in another jurisdiction. It is difficult. It is very traumatic for a young man to be detained in a jurisdiction with whose legal processes he may be unfamiliar. Mr. Paul Barrett is an Irish citizen and is currently in detention in Lille in France. He was arrested on 16 March this year by the customs authorities in Caen on charges relating to the transportation of a large amount of illicit cigarettes.

I understand the worries of Mr. Barrett's family and empathise with it, particularly his mother, regarding his arrest and detention. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, has met the family and assured it every assistance will be offered. The consular assistance section of the Department and the embassy in Paris have been heavily involved in this case. We have maintained close contact with Mr. Barrett's family on all consular matters associated with the case. However, there is a clear distinction between the provision of consular assistance, which we can and do provide, and legal proceedings in another jurisdiction, which we cannot interfere with.

On this subject, a lawyer was appointed to represent Mr. Barrett by the French court. The Department has provided Mr. Barrett, through his family, with a list of alternative lawyers should he be unhappy with his current representation. It is solely a matter for the French court to decide on Mr. Barrett's guilt or otherwise in this case.

Our embassy in Paris has made, and will continue to make, every effort to ensure that Mr. Barrett is treated no less favourably than a local citizen would be treated if he were charged with a similar offence. The assistance provided thus far has included, inter alia, two visits by a member of our embassy staff in Paris, who has travelled to Lille expressly for this purpose.

The Deputy made a very clear case that there are concerns regarding Mr. Barrett's health. The Department of Foreign Affairs has been in continuous contact with his family on that issue. We have raised the family's concerns with the prison authorities. Our embassy has gone so far as to make contact with the prison kitchen staff to convey recommendations made by Mr. Barrett's family as to his dietary requirements.

The embassy is informed that Mr. Barrett is assessed and monitored on a regular basis by the prison doctor and the prison psychologist, who lived for a number of years in Ireland and who speaks fluent English. That is important in such a case. The replies we have received from the prison, following the many requests for clarification that we have made, confirm the prison had no significant physical or psychological issues to report regarding the health and general welfare of Mr. Barrett. The latest such request for an update was received today and notes that, at present, Mr Barrett is not deemed what has been described as "a danger to himself". This should be of assurance to the family. The doctor has advised that if there were any doubt in this regard, Mr. Barrett would be placed under observation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has a large number of consular cases and has a good record in respect of them, particularly traumatic cases such as this. I assure the Deputy and, through him, the Barrett family, that the Department will continue to liaise with the French authorities on Mr. Barrett's behalf through the embassy in Paris, which has worked very hard on his behalf. We will keep in contact with the family on developments pertaining to the case.

Planning Issues

Deputy English is giving way to Deputy McEntee.

I wish to thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me and my Oireachtas colleagues to raise the extremely important issue of the 400 kV Meath-Tyrone interconnector passing through Cavan-Monaghan. We want to know where the Minister stands on this issue given that EirGrid withdrew its application on 29 June due to misinformation that was put on the planning notice, and possibly on other issues.

Community groups and individuals made a great voluntary effort to brief themselves on the planning laws and how this application would affect their homes and communities. They collected significant moneys in their communities and this has been spent on costs of legal and other experts whom they had to pay. I urge the Minister to ensure that these groups are reimbursed their out-of-pocket expenses in light of the fact that EirGrid withdrew the application.

Under the relevant section of the relevant legislation, section 182, the cost does not have to be reimbursed in a Bord Pleanála case for electricity or gas lines. On EirGrid's own admission, however, the application in this instance was faulty, in which context the circumstances are totally different.

Under ordinary planning laws, a plan would be examined and validated by the planning authorities before acceptance. However, no such requirement exists regarding An Bord Pleanála, which is unfair. It is also unfair that a differentiation should be made between an interconnector and a road structure. Section 182 must be changed as it is unconstitutional and unfair under EU law.

Can the Minister of State advise when the planning structures will be put in place in Northern Ireland? If there is a public hearing, it could take up to six or seven years. Does the Minister of State not agree that, in the present economic circumstances, the scheme should be put on hold until the legal issues are sorted out and until more research is done regarding underground cabling, which is becoming more possible technically by the day.

I thank my colleague Deputy English and all my colleagues in the north east for the opportunity to speak on this matter.

I want to make a few basic points on the recent embarrassing withdrawal by EirGrid of its planning application for the Meath-Tyrone interconnector project. I live in the heart of the north east where serious stress and anxiety have been visited on many constituents on foot of EirGrid's proposal. There are a number of lessons that need to be learned from the sorry state of affairs brought about by EirGrid's performance and actions at the oral hearing into its planning submission.

An issue arises regarding respect for the integrity of the public consultation process, which is a central pillar of our democracy. Three years ago, EirGrid announced its intention to place over 100 km of extra-high-voltage lines and over 300 massive pylons across the region. The public responded by engaging fully in the democratic process of public consultation. It formed local representative groups, such as NEPP and others, and met elected representatives. They made submissions at joint Oireachtas committee hearings, met EirGrid and even went abroad to meet other transmission system operators. The people of the north east raised significant funds to examine acceptable alternatives, especially the undergrounding of the cables. They have never resorted to any activities other than those associated with dialogue and persuasion, based on well-researched evidence. They have participated fully with the oral hearing process and have at all times behaved in a respectful and professional manner.

The groups were met by a semi-State company that has shown total disregard for its duties and its responsibility to the very public it is charged with serving. It is unacceptable that EirGrid, which through the taxpayer had access to unlimited resources and consultant expertise, could have been allowed to submit such a shoddy application, withdraw it whenever it suited and then walk away with no apparent accountability or penalties. This is an injustice to the people of the north east, an injustice which we as elected representatives cannot ignore, nor can we stand idly by. EirGrid may or may not have a statutory obligation to reimburse the public participants and voluntary groups for their reasonable costs, but it certainly has a moral obligation to do so. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has an even greater responsibility to ensure they are reimbursed. Ignoring the issue will only serve to alienate the public even further from the democratic process and will harden their resolve in vigorously opposing the project. EirGrid has lost all credibility in the eyes of the people of the north east. Let us not join it by sitting on our hands.

The second lesson we need to learn is that the oral hearing has shown yet again that undergrounding cables is a practical, win-win solution for all concerned. However, EirGrid has remained steadfastly opposed to examining this option properly. There is deep frustration in rural communities that EirGrid can ignore this alternative without any accountability. In contrast with other countries, we have not been subjected to a blight of pylons across our countryside and we should not allow it to occur. When established, they impose significant negative effects in terms of visual and environmental impact, land and property devaluation and health and safety concerns. This clear fact is neither addressed by EirGrid nor factored into its project cost estimates.

I call on the Minister to compel EirGrid to return to the drawing board, rid itself of its inherited bias towards pylons and get real about addressing the practical option of undergrounding. I understand there are technical challenges around this option, but technology moves quickly and we need to move with it rather than against it. For EirGrid to submit a patched up version of its original planning application would waste taxpayers' resources further because it would be a futile exercise.

The Deputy's time has elapsed.

The confrontational approach taken by EirGrid and its complete reliance on using large pylons have a low likelihood of making constructive progress in upgrading the national grid in a realistic timeframe. Fresh thinking allied with a new mindset is required.

The long oral hearing by An Bord Pleanála on EirGrid's application for the construction of an overhead pylon-supported 400 kV interconnector from County Meath to County Tyrone has exhausted individuals, families and whole communities through counties Meath, Cavan and Monaghan physically, emotionally and financially. The time expended, the energy employed and the financial outlay demanded of all concerned has been considerable.

Given EirGrid's decision to withdraw its application in the later stages of the hearing process, the Government must commit to meeting all reasonable costs incurred by these individuals, families and communities. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources must also undertake to amend the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 to provide for automatic reimbursement in such cases and for a verification by An Bord Pleanála of the detail of all applications made under this legislation in future.

In light of all that has been exposed and the toll the process has taken on so many ordinary citizens, the Minister should instruct EirGrid to place a stay on any further application of at least 24 months, inform itself of the prospects of approval and the intention to proceed to work stage if approved of the NIE application North of the Border, and undertake to set international best standards in preparing any future application by committing to employ underground cabling in place of the overheard pylon-supported power lines.

I wish to apologise on behalf of my constituency colleague, Deputy Conlon, who had hoped to be present. Unfortunately, she cannot attend due to illness. She had intended to share time.

Last night, I attended a meeting of North East Pylon Pressure, NEPP, in Monaghan. Much anger and concern was expressed at the fact that EirGrid needed to withdraw its application from An Bord Pleanála on the 22nd day of the hearing because of errors in the public notices, something that should not have occurred. The concern was at the prospect of needing to go through the whole procedure again, given the amount of time and expense involved, particularly on the part of members of the public with legitimate interests in this development. Those at last night's meeting were anxious that Oireachtas Members would draw the Minister's attention to section 182 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and that the Act would be amended to ensure provision for legitimate expenses for members of the public with an interest who wish to give evidence.

Will the Minister consider the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 given its apparent defect? An Bord Pleanála does not need to validate applications, which local authorities must do when they receive applications for planning permission. It is important that this matter be examined. If An Bord Pleanála was obliged to validate an application, we would not be in a situation in which an application was withdrawn after a 22-day hearing.

A great deal of time will pass before we get back to the point at which we left off last week at the hearing. I hope that, during this time, everyone concerned will examine the rapidly developing technology to determine whether it is technically feasible and economically viable that the cable would be placed underground, as requested by me and my Fianna Fáil colleagues in counties Cavan, Meath and Monaghan in our submission to An Bord Pleanála.

Does that include the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food?

I thank all of the Deputies who raised this matter. Having dealt with EirGrid and its predecessor, the ESB, it is not a pleasant experience for any public group. It is unforgivable that an error appeared in an advertisement taken out by a body such as EirGrid. Under strategic planning legislation, the expectation would be that EirGrid would at least get its advertisements right. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has provided a long reply, but I will truncate it to suit the time allotted.

The Government's overall policy objective is to ensure that energy is consistently available with minimal risk to supply disruption to meet the needs of businesses and domestic consumers. No Deputy would argue against this objective. The Minister has no direct role in the operational planning and construction of transmission systems,——

We got that first page previously. The Minister of State can skip it if he wants.

——which are operational matters for EirGrid, or in the planning process, which is a matter for An Bord Pleanála.

EirGrid has been developing proposals for a 400 kV interconnection project from County Meath to County Tyrone. It is a large interconnector. This transmission and interconnection project is a key policy priority from a number of perspectives. It will further consolidate the all-island single electricity market, with which every Deputy agrees, providing for the seamless transfer of electricity across the island of Ireland, delivering greater competition and reducing the need for further investment. It will assist in the integration of renewable electricity and provide security of supply, new business opportunities and more sustainable energy. It will also enhance competitiveness and opportunities for inward investment.

EirGrid applied for planning consent for the development in December 2009 under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as inserted by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. An Bord Pleanála convened an oral hearing on the matter in May 2010. On Thursday, 24 June, it was drawn to EirGrid and the inspector's attention that there was an error in the newspaper public notice and site notice relating to pylon height ranges. Full details of the correct heights of the towers concerned were fully described in the environmental impact statement, EIS, and in the accompanying planning drawings, but the error was in the advertisement. Following consultation with its legal advisers, EirGrid was advised that, under the applicable legislation, there was no mechanism to correct the error within the context of the application. When the original legislation was drafted, there was a presumption that statutory agencies like EirGrid would get something right. EirGrid notified An Bord Pleanála on 29 June of the withdrawal of its application. The Meath-Tyrone 400 kV interconnection project is of significant strategic importance from an all-island electricity market perspective. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has already made clear his strong disappointment that EirGrid has had to withdraw its planning consent application for this important development.

EirGrid is undertaking a full review of the circumstances which led to the error in the public notice and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has asked to be fully informed of the findings of this review. It is estimated that the total costs incurred by EirGrid on this project since 2006 are approximately €8 million. EirGrid advises that most of this work remains valid and applicable to the new planning consent application and that the new application will largely reflect the original application.

EirGrid has been working closely with its Northern Ireland counterpart, Northern Ireland Electricity, NIE, on development of this important strategic project. The planning application for the Northern Ireland section of interconnection development project was submitted by NIE to Northern Ireland's Department of the Environment Planning Service in December 2009. The Minister understands that the planning authorities in Northern Ireland are considering the application and the Deputies will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me or Minister Ryan to comment on a live planning consent application in either jurisdiction.

The two application processes are entirely separate and will be the subject of a separate decision in each jurisdiction. The Minister is advised that EirGrid's revised application will largely reflect its original application, and it is not anticipated that the revised application should have any bearing on the Northern Ireland process. While the Minister has no operational role in respect of transmission development or planning, he expects that EirGrid will work assiduously and quickly to prepare the new planning consent application, with a view to avoiding any further delays in progressing this important project. Once the updated application is submitted, it is a matter for the relevant planning authority, in this case An Bord Pleanála, to bring the process to its conclusion, and the Minister cannot prejudge the outcome of the process. As Deputies will be aware planning legislation is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the issue of costs borne by applicants or participants in any particular planning consent process are appropriate to that legislation.

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources works closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the question of any amendments to the existing legislation is obviously a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is advised by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that since the introduction of the Strategic Infrastructure Act in 2007 over 35 formal applications for major strategic infrastructure projects have been received with 26 now completed. The overall rate of compliance with the statutory objective to decide these cases within 18 weeks is high, with nearly 70% of cases being determined within this period.

I will pass the very specific points that Members have made to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and draw his attention to the points that were made, regarding the cost imposition in particular. The point made by Deputy O'Hanlon as regards the delay perhaps being a mixed blessing in giving developing technology an opportunity to look at under-grounding, is particularly interesting. In my view, however, it is unforgivable for a State agency such as EirGrid to make such a fundamental error as to get an advertisement wrong in a local newspaper. That should not happen.

Schools Recognition

Táim an-bhuíoch don Cheann Comhairle tar éis deise a thabhairt domsa labhairt faoin scoil náisiúnta i gCnoc, Ros Cré, Contae Thiobraid Árann, ag smaoineamh é a oscailt arís.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to raise the issue in relation to the proposal before the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Mary Coughlan, at the moment to reopen Knock national school as a recognised school of status in the charming village of Knock, south east of Roscrea, County Tipperary.

The parish of Kyle and Knock enjoyed the presence of a national school from 1900 until the 2003-04 school year when it was closed because of the rapid decline in numbers in the village and the surrounding areas of Knock. However, the last census has shown an increase of 13% in the local population and as a result there is an urgent need to reopen this lovely building, which is in very good condition. It is a school building that continues to serve the local community as a meeting place, and in recent times acted as a community crèche until the service provider saw fit, owing to the increased population, to move in 2003 and open a private state-of-the-art building.

The empty building in the little village remains unused despite that in the school year 2011-12 it is envisaged that 32 children will be of school-going age and seeking to attend a school in their local area. Plenty of research has been undertaken by a dedicated parents' committee, which has identified that these 32 children, at least, will have to find a school to attend. Many schools in Roscrea are experiencing over-capacity as it is.

There is a clear and strong case already on the Minister's desk for the reopening of this school, and its closure in 2003-04 is now seen to have been a temporary arrangement because of the decline in numbers. Now the population figures present a strong case for its reopening and the parents' committee has fund-raised tirelessly to bring the building up to standard. I took the opportunity recently to visit the building and see its condition at first hand. It is a credit to the local community, with a tarmaced school yard, tennis courts and an impressive stone protective boundary wall. The school lies at the heart of the four roads in the little village of Knock, Roscrea.

It would be a small call on the Minister to give it the status it needs under section 11(4) of the Education Act 1998, whereby recognition may be restored to a school where the Minister sees fit and a patron takes on the responsibility to act in patronage. The Bishop of Killaloe has stated his commitment to repatronise that school, should the Minister see fit to open it. The request is for two teachers to be installed for the school year 2011-12, with 32 pupils ready for attendance and where a very small amount of refurbishment work is required, which could be undertaken by a community employment scheme that would restore the school to a very high standard. This is necessary to restore the laughter, music and games associated with any school yard in a rural village.

I believe this is a very reasonable request. It has been before the Minister for some months, and I am asking that she seriously considers the reopening of the school. We hear a good deal about sustainable rural development. I believe this request is a typical example, where we want to see populations remaining in rural areas. It is compatible with Government policy to see the growth of villages, and the development of hurling and camogie teams as well as all types of activities that are integral to the nature of rural communities.

I thank Deputy Hoctor for her very heartfelt presentation. I have a response from the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills but, unfortunately, it does not contain the positive response the Deputy was hoping to elicit. I will pass on the Deputy's well made and sincere comments to the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills who, for family reasons, cannot be in the Chamber tonight.

The Department of Education and Skills took the decision to close Knock national school at the end of the 2002-2003 school year because of the downward trend in enrolments with no prospect of a reversal in the decline at the time. Numbers dropped from 37 pupils in 1993-1994 to three pupils in 2002-2003. The decision to close the school under rule 36 of rules for national schools was taken after consultation with the patron, the school's chairperson, the local school's inspector and the INTO.

In taking this decision the Department was aware there was sufficient school accommodation in the area to cater for the numbers of preschool children in the area. Representations on behalf of the school concerned, seeking to have recognition restored, have recently been made to the Department by local and other elected representatives, including Deputy Hoctor.

The forward planning section in the Department utilises the latest in geographical information systems, GIS, technology to assist in planning school requirements. The GIS contains information on all schools in the country, at both primary and post-primary level. Utilising GIS, the forward planning section has carried out a national study to identify areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. This study has been conducted using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the Department of Social Protection, in addition to recent schools' enrolment data.

The study indicates the requirements for additional primary provision in the coming years is likely to be greatest in more than 40 identified locations across the country based on significant changes to the demographics of those areas.

The forward planning section is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis of over 40 locations of highest population growth to identify the school accommodation requirements up to and including the school year 2014-2015. When the required reports have been completed, the section will continue to work on preparing reports on a priority basis for the remainder of the country.

The sting, however, is in the tail. Initial demographic analysis on the Roscrea area indicates there will be no requirement for significant additional accommodation in the short to medium term. It is not envisaged that Knock national school will be re-opened.

I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Knowing Deputy Hoctor as I do, I have no doubt as to the sincerity of the case she has presented. I will make the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills aware of the concerns of the people Deputy Hoctor so ably represents on this issue.

The Dáil adjourned at 10.55 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 7 July 2010.
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