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Wednesday, 26 Sep 2012

Written Answers Nos. 39-46

Child Protection Issues

Ceisteanna (39)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

39. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will publish the independent external assessment of the two out-of-hours pilot projects providing emergency social care services in counties Donegal and Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40715/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As part of the ongoing ‘change agenda’ in Child and Family services I am committed to developing the capacity of our child protection services to appropriately and effectively address the needs of children who present in emergency situations outside of normal working hours.

Two out-of-hours pilot projects, one in Donegal and the other in Cork, were commenced by the HSE in 2011. The Donegal project started mid-year and the Cork project started in the third quarter. Both projects were internally evaluated by the HSE, which then commissioned an independent external assessment, undertaken by Trinity College Dublin. This external assessment has been completed and examined by the HSE which is now developing a national out of hours service model. It was never intended that the assessment of the pilot projects was to be published. Rather, the purpose of the assessment was internally focused with a view to informing the development of a proposal for a national model of service delivery outside normal hours.

What is important is that children in crisis, no matter where they are, have access to 24 hour social work assistance, and this is what the HSE's National Director for Children and Family Services and I are working towards. Clearly whatever model emerges will need to address the challenges of varying demographic demands in both rural and urban settings. I have discussed this issue with Gordon Jeyes, National Director for Children and Family Services in the HSE and I expect the HSE to bring forward an implementation plan for the roll out of a national service model, later this year, for implementation by the new Child and Family Support Agency.

It should be noted that at present the Health Service Executive provides out-of-hours emergency services for children at risk in the greater Dublin area through the Crisis Intervention Service, and outside the greater Dublin area through the Emergency Place of Safety Service.

Children in Care

Ceisteanna (40)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

40. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce a statutory right to aftercare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40705/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As I outlined in my response to an earlier question regarding aftercare, the HSE National Aftercare Service is underpinned by a National Policy and Procedures Document which has been developed in cooperation with the key stakeholders, including the voluntary sector agencies involved in aftercare provision and my Department. The policy which was finalised in April 2011, commits to promoting and achieving the best outcomes for young people leaving care and in ensuring consistency of support to these young people. The HSE has established an intra-agency National Aftercare Implementation Group to monitor progress in implementing the national policy and to identify gaps in current resources. The work of this group is ongoing and I have asked Gordon Jeyes, National Director for Children and Family Services in the HSE to prepare a report on aftercare. This report will include inter-alia the key findings of the group, examples of best practice, assessment criteria and effective aftercare supports. This will guide the policy on strengthening the legislation for services in this important area, to which I am committed.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Ceisteanna (41)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

41. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the statutory powers that have been delegated to Ministers of State in his Department; and the date on which the statutory powers were delegated. [40781/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1977 provides for the delegation of statutory Ministerial powers and duties to Ministers of State. This may be done at the request of the Minister concerned, by Government Order. The statutory powers of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade relate to consular, passport and other technical matters and it has never been the practice, or considered necessary, to delegate these.

Proposed Legislation

Ceisteanna (42)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

42. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the process of scrutinising EU legislative proposals; the effects if such proposals are not scrutinised within six weeks; the effect of the summer recess on scrutinising and implementing such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40829/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

This Government is committed to working with the Oireachtas to ensure that EU legislative proposals are scrutinised effectively. An effective scrutiny system is central to the task of bringing EU issues closer to ordinary people. Under the terms of the EU Scrutiny Act 2002, as soon as practicable after a proposed measure is published by the European Commission, the relevant Minister should submit to the Oireachtas a copy of the text concerned along with an information note outlining the content, purpose and likely implications for Ireland of the proposed measure to the Oireachtas. Under guidelines for Departments, which were updated in January 2012 in consultation with the Oireachtas, this should be done within 20 working days of publication by the Commission.

To this end, EU Division of the Department of the Taoiseach alerts Departments of new proposals as they arise. Nearly all information notes are supplied by Departments within deadline. Where it may not be possible, perhaps due to the complexity of an issue, it is the responsibility of the lead Department concerned to notify the Oireachtas in good time of any possible delays. As EU proposals are rarely published during the month of August the summer recess should not impact unduly on the provision by Departments of information notes to the Oireachtas.

In the 31st Dáil, the Houses decided to delegate responsibility for scrutiny and detailed consideration of EU documents and related matters to the relevant Oireachtas Committee. This mainstreaming to sectoral Committees allows members with specialist knowledge of the relevant sector to apply their knowledge and expertise to scrutiny of EU legislative proposals relating to that sector. The 2002 Scrutiny Act provides that Ministers shall have regard to any recommendations made in relation to a proposed EU measure.

The scheduling for scrutiny of EU documents and information notes provided by Departments is a matter for the Oireachtas Committees themselves.

Tax Yield

Ceisteanna (43)

Michael Conaghan

Ceist:

43. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for Finance the additional revenue he estimates that would accrue to the State if a higher rate of income tax of 48% was introduced on all pay over €100,000 per annum. [40740/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It is assumed that the threshold for the proposed new tax rate mentioned by the Deputy would not alter the existing standard rate band structure applying to single and widowed persons, to lone parents and married couples. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated full year yield to the Exchequer, estimated by reference to 2013 incomes, of the introduction of a new 48% rate would be of the order of €365 million. However, given the current band structures, major issues would need to be resolved as to how in practice such a new rate could be integrated into the current system and how this would affect the relative position of different types of income earners.

This figure is an estimate from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using latest actual data for the year 2010, adjusted as necessary for income and employment trends in the interim. It is, therefore, provisional and subject to revision.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Ceisteanna (44)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

44. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the statutory powers that have been delegated to Ministers of State in his Department; and the date on which the statutory powers were delegated. [40780/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In response to the Deputy’s Question no statutory powers have been delegated to Deputy Brian Hayes in his role as Minister of State in the Department of Finance.

Banks Recapitalisation

Ceisteanna (45)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

45. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown for each financial institution, of the €7.5 billion of the bank recapitalisation which was paid in relation to mortgage debt; the action that was taken by each bank to ensure that these moneys were used for their intended purpose. [40790/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish banks were required to raise €24.0bn in capital following the 2011 Prudential Capital Assessment Review (PCAR) in order to remain above a minimum capital target of 10.5% Core Tier 1 in the base scenario and 6% Core Tier 1 in the stress Scenario. The Central Bank made its decision on required recapitalisation based on loan-loss projections along with further calculations concerning the prospective income, expenditure, and deleveraging plans of the banks as outlined in the 2011 Financial Measures Programme (FMP) Report.

In order to arrive at a stressed loan-loss estimate that was fully credible to the international markets, the Central Bank engaged BlackRock Solutions, a specialist in analysing potential loan losses under stressed conditions. However I must again reiterate that the stress test scenarios were designed to represent extreme but plausible events, but they were not forecasts.

In terms of mortgages, the Central Bank has informed me that the following projected losses for the period 2011-2013 were used for capital determination purposes:

€million

AIB

BOI

ILP

EBS

Total

-

Base

Stress

Base

Stress

Base

Stress

Base

Stress

Base

Stress

Residential Mortgages

2,005

3,066

1,361

2,366

1,624

2,679

848

1,380

5,838

9,491

Total

9,545

12,604

7,380

10,119

2,114

3,421

975

1,577

20,014

27,722

In terms of troubled mortgage customers, the Central Bank is now engaging with all regulated mortgage lenders to ensure that each lender has appropriate strategies and plans to deal appropriately with all its customers experiencing mortgage difficulties. In addition, the protections of the Central Bank’s Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears will continue to be available to co-operating borrowers who are experiencing difficulty on their mortgage in respect of their principal private residence.

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Capital

Ceisteanna (46)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

46. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the amount of funding held within the Strategic Investment Funds; the level of fund earmarked for particular projects; and the amount of funds spent to date from the SIF on infrastructure projects. [40796/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The establishment of the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) was announced by the Government in September 2011. The SIF will channel commercial investment from the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) towards productive investment in the Irish economy. The amount of the fund earmarked for potential projects requires an amendment of the investment policy of the NPRF, which is set out in the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000. Officials of my Department are liaising with the National Treasury Management Agency, which is the Manager of the NPRF, in identifying and drafting the necessary amendments to the legislation. I am informed by the National Treasury Management Agency, that the NPRF announced in November 2011 a commitment of €250 million to a new Irish infrastructure investment fund which is seeking up to €1 billion from institutional investors in Ireland and overseas and which will invest in infrastructure assets in Ireland, including assets designated for disposal by the Government and commercial State enterprises and also new infrastructure projects. Marketing of this fund commenced in the first quarter of 2012 (in Ireland by Irish Life Investment Managers and abroad by AMP Capital). Normally the period from commencement of marketing of an investment fund targeting illiquid assets to closure of financial commitments by investors in such a fund can extend up to one year.

The NPRF has also committed, subject to certain pre-conditions, €450 million to finance the national roll out of domestic water meters.

In July 2012 Minister Howlin announced the €2.25 billion Government Infrastructure Stimulus comprising a number of PPP projects in Education, Health, Transport and Justice. It is anticipated that the funding structure would involve a combination of funding from a number of sources including the domestic banks, the European Investment Bank and the National Pensions Reserve Fund.

It is anticipated that the NPRF will be an important investor in Phase 1 of the PPP programme and will decide on investment in individual projects in accordance with its commercial investment mandate.

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