Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 9 Feb 2023

Vol. 1033 No. 2

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Deputy Matt Carthy

The Nuremore Hotel and Country Club in Carrickmacross has been an important part of the south Monaghan economy and its regional tourism generation for several decades. The hotel was purchased in 2018 by Mr. Kai Dai, who is one of the biggest cash for visa brokers that has benefited from the immigrant investor programme.

Serious issues have arisen at the hotel. On numerous occasions employees at the company were not paid for several weeks. On 1 January last most of the staff were placed on a temporary 12-week layoff, ostensibly for renovation works to be carried out but there has been no evidence of any works commencing. Since then, the staff that have remained have again not received their pay. The leisure centre, which was supposed to remain operational is now closed because the company did not pay its energy bills. There are widespread community concerns regarding the future use of the hotel and its associated facilities.

My question and my request for the Minister is that considering the immigrant investment programme was supposed to bring a benefit to the State, but in this case could actually result in a large layoff, will the Minister bring this matter to the attention of relevant ministerial colleagues and also to State agencies such as Revenue, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Health and Safety Authority?

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

I know the hotel. I have been in Monaghan many times over the past number of years. If the Deputy provides the details to us we can certainly look into it for him. I am not sure of the background but I will say that where workers are due pay they should be paid. This is very clear. If threats of layoffs that have been made, the State agencies will get involved to support workers. Thankfully, we have an economy where there are many vacancies. I am not sure of the specifics in the context of the Nuremore Hotel and County Club, but if the Deputy provides the details I will certainly look into it.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

It is more than 12 months since the Labour Party brought a motion to this House calling for a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies, which was back in January 2022.

In the year since, we have seen Shell plc record a record profit of $40 billion and during the same year BP plc's profits have doubled to €28 billion, even as it scaled back its albeit modest climate action plans. During that year a windfall tax could have recouped money from those profits to assist with the shift to a green economy across the EU and to ease the immense burden of the cost of living and rising energy bills for so many households. Yet, while the planet burns, we are seeing oil magnates and corporates like BP and Shell just cashing in.

I raised this yesterday with the Taoiseach on the Order of Business and asked him when we would see the introduction of a windfall tax by Government and he indicated it was under consideration. I am asking the Minister now when we will see that debate on the introduction of the necessary windfall tax on the profits of energy companies, particularly as families and households are now grappling with severe hardship and poverty due to rising energy bills.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

I thank Deputy Bacik. There is no question but that some of the profits we have seen published recently by energy companies, including Shell and BP, are eye-watering. The Taoiseach responded yesterday and it is a matter that will be discussed at European level also. As a State, we have brought in very targeted measures to help households such as the energy tax credit. There is one further payment due to help people through the winter. We were correct in our approach to ensure those supports were targeted as part of an overall cost-of-living package.

We had many people catastrophising the situation, although not Deputy Bacik, talking about people being cut off and bills being run up, but the State has stepped in in a very targeted way. We will certainly keep the Deputy informed of progress in regard to her question and I believe it will be matter for discussion at EU level also.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

I ask the Minister how much money the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is returning to central Exchequer funds from 2022. According to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, approximately €241 million of the Minister’s housing budget from 2022 is being returned to the central Exchequer. This is money should have been spent on building much-needed affordable homes. Is this figure of €241 million accurate and how much of his 2022 housing budget is being returned to central Exchequer funds?

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

I thank the Deputy for his question. First, that would be a matter for the appropriation accounts. We spent more money and had a bigger budget than we have ever had in housing in 2022. There were some constraints on delivery, which I believe the Deputy might accept, in respect of the supply chain difficulties and some projects are running into this year. We said very publicly that we will use our full 10% carryover, which we are doing. We have reallocated moneys within the fund to bring forward things like the land activation fund and to write down debt for local authorities on sites they could not develop because they were encumbered with debt.

We have used the money very wisely. I know the Deputy will welcome the social housing figures when we publish them within the next few weeks. We will have delivered more new-build social homes than the State has done in 50 years, even with the constraints we had earlier in the year. I look forward to the Deputy welcoming that-----

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

How much of the Department's funding has the Minister returned?

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

------30,000 new homes have been built in this State. The Land Development Agency-----

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

The Minister has not answered my question.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

-----delivered homes for the first time in 2022.

Deputy Seán Canney

I have a question in respect of the housing adaptation grant which the local authorities look after in each county. It is a great scheme and I know the Minister is carrying out a review of it but there are a number of things he might consider. First, the maximum amount of money available is €30,000 at present. In light of the increasing costs which have occurred in the construction industry, and the fact that the €30,000 was set approximately 11 years ago, I ask him to increase that figure to €60,000. Second, in the area of income threshold and assessment, where a person has a disability, it is very unfair to take the family’s entire income into account when it is being assessed for these grants. The person with the disability is the person who needs the adaptations done to the house and this might keep people at home longer.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

I thank Deputy Canney for his question. The review of the housing adaptation grant is nearing completion and will come to me very shortly. Amendments are required to it and it needs to keep pace with the increased costs we have seen. A review of it has not been carried out in many years. It is a very effective grant and helps many people stay in their homes, where they want to and should stay. We are looking at extending the works which can be included in the housing adaptation grant. We work closely with the Department of Health on this, in particular in respect of hoists, for example, which were not included. We will cover these this year. The review will be published in the coming weeks. We have taken into account the situation in respect of income thresholds and the maximum grant amounts. We have secured an additional budget this year for an additional spend in that space. Once we publish these, they will be there for everybody to see. I appreciate the Deputy’s input into this matter.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

The Minister may be aware the Carrick-on-Suir St. Brigid's hospital committee is meeting the Joint Committee on Public Petitions today. During the Order of Business on 18 January, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, gave a response to questions I raised in respect of the closure of St. Brigid’s hospital. I am asking that the record of the House is set straight because the Minister of State said the hospital was more than 200 years old. It is, in fact, 180 years old and that reply was clearly untrue and misleading. The Minister of State said that it was no longer fit for purpose, as deemed by a HIQA report. That is incorrect or misleading because we cannot get the HIQA report which stated that. Perhaps she does not have that report. In addition, the Minister of State said there were health and safety issues with regard to fire. There are no such reports on that either. The last fire report was done in 2019 which deemed the hospital to be fit and safe. I was in the hospital on many occasions and it should not have been closed. It was bad enough for the Government to close it but to give misleading and false information is not acceptable. Will the Government correct the misleading and false information on the floor of the House?

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

I stand over the every piece of information I said in the Dáil. The building was constructed in 1817. I received a report again today where the HSE attended the committee. The hospital has been repurposed; it has not been closed. There are currently 24 people working in the hospital. It is a community healthcare network supporting people with-----

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Where is the HIQA report?

Deputy Mary Butler

-----chronic disease-----

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Where is the HIQA report?

Deputy Mary Butler

-----and with diabetes and helping people to live and age well in the community.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Balderdash.

Deputy Thomas Pringle

I want to take this opportunity to thank Laura, who has been doing work experience of my office, for today’s question. She, like many other transition year, TY, students in my constituency in Donegal, and indeed across the country, are very concerned about leaving certificate reform. On 29 March 2022, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, announced a plan for major reform of the leaving certificate from 2024 onwards. This will mean students will be starting the new course this coming September.

However, since making this announcement, minimal information has been given to students and teachers about that new course. It is not fair for students to be given information about new course changes while they are at the same time preparing for their leaving certificate. I ask the Minister when will students and teachers be given sufficient information about the leaving certificate reform. Will the Minister ensure this is done in a timely manner?

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

I thank Deputy Pringle for his question and Laura for its preparation. This is a matter which is obviously of great interest to those in secondary school and to those who will be coming up to do the leaving certificate. The Minister, Deputy Foley, and her Department have been actively engaged. We have made quite significant reforms to both the junior certificate cycle and, indeed, the leaving certificate cycle just in the past year.

On the examination process and how that is working through, I will relay the points raised by the Deputy and by Laura to the Minister, Deputy Foley, for her to come back to them with a full update on the progress made.

Deputy Paul McAuliffe

This week, Dublin Bus announced it is back to pre-pandemic passenger levels. That places Ireland ahead of the international curve with places like the Netherlands and Canada still at 70%. There are, however, pressures on the system and both Dublin Bus and the private operators who appeared at the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications said they are having issues with recruitment and meeting service levels. Will the Government continue to put pressure on the people who have put themselves forward to carry out these contracts to deliver the services, so people can get to work? People are experiencing delays with buses which are full passing them by. Can these issues be resolved so we can get back to the situation where we are able to provide basic bus services for people who need to travel?

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

I thank Deputy McAuliffe. This is a very serious issue for many people. As the Deputy rightly said, public transport use is back to pre-pandemic levels. We want to ensure we are investing in public transport. It is a better way for people to travel. There are issues with recruitment and filling of vacancies, which have been raised. We have also had significant complaints in respect of buses not turning up or, in fact, turning up late. We in government will do everything we can to support both Dublin Bus and private operators to ensure they have the human resources they need to provide the services the citizens of Dublin need.

Deputy Emer Higgins

The 25% reduction in childcare fees has been very much welcomed by parents. However, the increase in demand for childcare in my constituency of Dublin Mid-West has not been met by a corresponding increase in available childcare places. In fact, an early childhood care and education service in Lucan is currently facing an accommodation crisis in September. If it has to reduce its service, it would be a disaster for the community and would further exacerbate the shortage of childcare places locally.

New crèches in new developments always seem to be the last thing built. We have a situation where childcare facilities are promised by developers, approved by local authorities and needed by parents, but still do not exist in places such as Adamstown, Newcastle and Rathcoole. The Government has shown a commitment to reduce the cost of childcare. What commitment can the Minister provide that we will be able to increase the supply of childcare for families that really need it?

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

Particularly in growing and developing places mentioned by the Deputy, such as Adamstown and others, families need to have childcare facilities in place. That is why, as regards the planning system, we very clearly tied the provision of childcare services in particular with new homes being delivered within estates. Where that is not being provided, I put it to the Deputy that it is a matter for planning enforcement. Planning has a role in making sure that what is granted in the permission is actually delivered.

As the Deputy rightly said, this Government is investing significantly in childcare in the amount of approximately €1.25 billion. The 25% reduction in childcare fees has been welcomed by many families throughout the country and it really helps. We also have to ensure that more places are available. There have been issues with recruitment in that sector in getting qualified people to work in our childcare facilities. We are making strides in that regard.

Deputy Mark Ward

I will bring up the matter of pandemic bonus payments for workers in the Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme, CASP. It is a unique service in Clondalkin whereby a person with an addiction issue can avail of both medical and holistic treatments. Its methadone dispensing clinic caters for approximately 70 clients on a daily basis in respect of harm reduction. This clinic did not close during the Covid pandemic when HSE and CASP staff worked side by side. HSE staff have rightly and deservedly received their pandemic bonus payments. However, CASP staff who worked alongside them have not. The board of CASP has written to the HSE and I wrote to the Minister regarding this matter. We have not received an adequate answer or explanation. Will the Minister explain why this has happened? Will he ensure that the HSE recognises the vital service these workers provided during the pandemic?

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

There are many addiction services throughout the country. I am chair of the North Dublin Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force. I see the work done in addiction services throughout the country and in the area in which I live, which is invaluable and continued during the course of the pandemic. I am not familiar with the specific case the Deputy raised regarding the Clondalkin addiction service. If he provides the details to me, I will certainly raise it with the Minister for Health and ask him to respond directly to him.

Deputy Claire Kerrane

I will ask the Minister about co-operation between Departments to support communities where refugees have arrived. Ballaghaderreen in my constituency is a prime example. More than 400 refugees and international protection families have arrived since 2017. This is a small, rural town that has seen zero supports and nothing additional for it. There are issues around healthcare and education, and additional resources are needed for the likes of the local family resource centre. This is not fair to the refugees who are arriving or on those already living in the town. I cannot understand why Departments cannot all do their bit in providing additional resources.

In 2017, a healthcare professional was to be put in what is called the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre, EROC, in Ballaghaderreen to assist with Syrian refugees. That never happened. The promise was broken. There are two GPs in the town who are running waiting lists and cannot cope. I cannot understand why we just let this mess happen when Departments should step up. If they did so, we would avoid all the frustration in these towns.

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development (Deputy Joe O'Brien)

I thank the Deputy. I am aware of the issue she raised. She forwarded correspondence to my office regarding it. I will flag a couple of points of note. A community recognition fund of €50 million is available through the Department of Rural and Community Development, although that does not address the specific issues raised by the Deputy. I will talk to the Minister of Health, Deputy Donnelly, regarding the healthcare issues, which are coming up quite a bit. My Department has supplied additional community resources to the county. We are looking at bumping up the level of engagement. The Department of the Taoiseach is now involved in developing a new form of community engagement as we go forward in the context of the current crisis. I acknowledge the pressures that Ballaghaderreen in particular is under.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

As we speak, legislation on the matter I will raise is progressing in the Seanad and will soon come to the House. I take this opportunity to ask the Minister to use his influence to strike from the judicial conversation and script any reference to the phrase "parental alienation", on the basis it has done nothing except destroy public trust, and the trust of women in particular, in the system, who have become victims of horrendous hardship as a result of it.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

I thank the Deputy. I look forward to the legislation coming to the House and debating it fully here. His point is very valid. I am not familiar with the exact details of the legislation but I certainly take his point on board.

Deputy Johnny Guirke

I have raised the issue of the new Enfield Community College in the House on many occasions. Parents have been in touch with me who want to know when the school will start construction. Has the project gone through all stages of the architectural planning process? Has the new build gone out to tender? Has a contractor been successful as regards this tender? When will the project start and when will it be completed? The Department of Education gave an undertaking that temporary capacity would be constructed on a new site and would be available for the 2023-2024 school year. Will that be in place? We need dates and we need to stick to them.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Enfield Community College. I assume he has tabled parliamentary questions regarding it. If he gives me the details following this debate, I will raise the matter directly with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and ask her to respond to the Deputy.

Deputy Carol Nolan

As the Minister knows, many families are grappling with the cost of living, especially the cost of fuel. There is huge anxiety and concern about the fuel costs that motorists, farmers and hauliers, who cannot plan for the future, are paying at present. Will the Government extend the excise duty reduction we currently have? We are hearing mixed messages from the Government. It appears the Green Party is of a different opinion to Fianna Fáil, from what is being reported in the media. Will the Minister give certainty to families, farmers and hauliers in respect of this issue? One haulier, Mr. Ger Hyland in County Laois, has been in contact with me regarding this issue. Hauliers are very concerned. They provide much employment in rural Ireland where there are little or no opportunities. We need the excise duty reduction to be extended. I call on the Minister to do that.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

As the Deputy knows, budget 2023 provided a total package of €11 billion, some €4 billion of which were one-off measures that took effect from the final quarter of last year. One of those measures related to a reduction in excise duty. Those matters will be discussed by the Government in the coming weeks in February. A collective decision will be made by the Government and the House will be advised accordingly.

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan

In light of recent dog attacks throughout the country, the then Taoiseach and current Tánaiste committed to a review of dog control. I understand that is under way, perhaps between the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Agriculture, Food and the Marine. That is welcome but will the Minister confirm or clarify whether that review will include the issue of equine welfare and horse issues? I will point out that in the part of Cork city in which I live, 25 horses were found abandoned last night, many of them unregistered, with no microchips, in a fairly poor state and, in many cases, emaciated. This is becoming a regular occurrence. I hope that horse welfare will be included in the upcoming review.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

This is a very serious and real issue. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, held a meeting regarding the control of dogs on 9 January. The working group met on 8 February. Two senior officials from my Department are involved in that group. It is a very serious issue for people. We need to make sure that proper controls are in place, especially for certain breeds of dog. That work is ongoing and we want to do it as speedily and efficiently as possible.

On the issue of equine welfare, we all saw videos on social media of horses being raced on motorways throughout the country. There was also a terrible situation with regard to a donkey being towed by a car a number of weeks ago. The cruelty shown to animals is, in some instances, frankly, disgusting and the perpetrators need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The control of dogs working group is looking specifically at that matter. The Deputy is right about animal welfare and animal safety, on which we have very strong laws in this country. In some areas they need to be enforced more efficiently. I will certainly take the Deputy's views on board and relay them to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Deputy Pauline Tully

Milltown National School, in Milltown, Belturbet, County Cavan, has had sanction for an extension to be built. It was sanctioned last year. Changes were made to the original plan. Extra rooms, including an autism classroom, were added, which is very welcome. The works are ready to proceed but are being held up by the Department of Education, which needs to produce an updated schedule. The Department is aware of this. It said that it was marked as urgent in December of last year, but there has been no movement since and the work cannot go ahead without it. Will the Minister please ask the Department to stop delaying? The longer the delay, the more costly materials or labour becomes, or the contractor may have other commitments. The school needs the space as soon as possible.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

Again, I assume the Deputy has tabled parliamentary questions about this and is pursuing the matter herself. Certainly, I will raise those matters directly with the Minister for Education on the Deputy's behalf and ask the Minister to respond to her on the query she has raised.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are you substituting for Deputy Pringle, Deputy Connolly?

Deputy Catherine Connolly

No, a Cheann Comhairle, but I certainly can.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

Deputy Connolly does not have to do so.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

I want to raise with the Minister the closure of Munster Technological University, MTU, campuses in Cork due to the attack on IT systems. Have personal data - bank details and so on - been impacted? When will normal college activities resume? Students are losing out in the meantime on lab time, for example, and there is a backlog building. There are 13,000 students and 1,200 staff there. In addition, there are tens of thousands of former students and former staff. For example, former students may have had to get transcripts of results and so on for job applications. Is that available? There are banking details of current and former students and their parents as well. Has the extent of the attack been determined? Is personal information involved? When can normal college activities resume? Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeadh eolas cinnte ar fáil.

An Ceann Comhairle

Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. Tá an t-am istigh.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

Aontaím leis an Teachta faoin gceist seo faoi Munster Technological University. I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Harris, just this morning about this. Cybercrime and cyberterrorism are ever-present. This is a significant breach. MTU is involved with all relevant authorities, including An Garda Síochána, the National Cyber Security Centre, the Higher Education Authority and the Department. There is a contingency plan in place for such events. That means that the core systems, such as HR, finance, payroll and others, are unaffected by the breach and are continuing to operate as normal. The Minister, Deputy Harris, informed me this morning that he expects a phased return for students from next Monday. I cannot give Deputy Moynihan details as to what the nature or the extent of the breach is other than to say that the matter is being taken very seriously. All the support of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is being given to MTU. We want students to be back on campus and back being able to work as quickly as possible. I expect that to happen from the start of next week on a phased basis.

Deputy Alan Dillon

I wish to raise with the Minister the multi-annual rural water programme, an issue I have raised previously with him. It impacts communities in north Mayo - Porturlin, Carrowteige, Srahataggle and Portacloy - where many rural dwellers are living without a piped water supply, which is severely impacting their quality of life. They have no drinking water and no heating system that can reach high enough temperatures. With condemned wells, they cannot even shower. A water pre-connection application was submitted to Irish Water and was accepted as part of a feasibility study. My concern, however, is that Mayo County Council has yet to receive the framework for submission process from the Department in order to submit its funding request in respect of the measures. The Minister said in May 2022 that a working group report was with him and that its recommendations would be reviewed. Where is the process now and when will local authorities be able to make applications under the scheme?

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

It is a very important issue, particularly for the communities in his constituency that the Deputy mentioned. That work is nearing conclusion, as is the review of the multi-annual rural water programme. As for water pre-connection applications, if an application has been submitted to Uisce Éireann and the Deputy has not heard back from it, I ask him to get the details to me and, through my team in the Department, we will follow up on the specific water pre-connection applications that have gone in. The overall review is nearing completion. I expect that to be done this quarter.