Written Answers Nos. 561-571
561. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on an appeal to the disadvantaged area appeals committee in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50050/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named is one of a number, their derogation applications having been unsuccessful, who have now appealed my Department’s decision to the recently constituted, independently chaired, DAS Appeals Committee. Immediately that Committee has adjudicated on the appeal, the person named will be advised of the Committee’s decision, in writing.
562. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant approval will be granted for the special construction of a bridge on a forestry road in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50066/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application by the person named under the Forest Roads Scheme has yet to be activated by the applicant’s registered forester. As soon as it is activated it will be examined and eligibility determined. The Roads Scheme provides for grants paid in two instalments of up to 80% of eligible costs incurred in the construction of a forest road subject to (i) a maximum of €35 per linear metre and (ii) a limit of 20 metres of road per hectare of forest served. There are no additional payments for special construction works.
563. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a single farm payment application in respect of a person (details supplied). [50118/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named is an applicant under the 2012 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes.
In order to meet EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for inspection. As soon as the inspection related processes are completed, the processing of this application will be completed and any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
564. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on the disadvantaged area scheme appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50133/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the person named applied for derogation under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas scheme, as the application included insufficient information to process the claim, the person named was requested, by letter dated 16 October, to forward additional supporting documentation. On receipt of the necessary information the derogation application will be progressed.
565. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on an appeal for the disadvantaged area scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50148/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named is one of a number, their derogation applications having been unsuccessful, who have now appealed my Department’s decision to the recently constituted, independently chaired, DAS Appeals Committee. Immediately that Committee has adjudicated on the appeal, the person named will be advised of the Committee’s decision, in writing.
566. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on agri environment option scheme 2 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50152/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks issues were identified in relation to the claimed areas on the Species Rich Grassland and Traditional Hay Meadow actions. My Department is currently examining these issues and once satisfactorily resolved, payment will issue at the earliest opportunity.
567. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the opportunities that persons in lower grades of the Public Service have been afforded in contributing to the reforms of the public service as sought in the Public Service Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50637/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring the second half of 2011, and as part of an initiative to improve internal communications in the context of the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement, my Department held a series of staff seminars throughout the country. The seminars gave senior management an opportunity to communicate with staff members and receive feedback regarding the changes that have already taken place and the changes that will be necessary in the coming years. A ‘Staff Suggestion Scheme’ was subsequently launched, which seeks the input of all staff members and gives them an opportunity to contribute ideas and suggestions at any time.
The Department also seeks the views of staff members on major initiatives. For example, views were sought when the Department published its revised ‘Action Plan’ under the Public Service Agreement. A Department-wide consultation process was also held for the Statement of Strategy 2011-2014.
My Department also has a formal ‘Partnership’ structure, which is a structure within the Civil Service established to enable management, unions and staff members at all levels to actively participate in discussing and resolving issues and challenges.
568. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how well funded all semi-State company pension schemes are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50650/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding of pension schemes for the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Agencies themselves.
569. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of new social workers that have been appointed since she has taken office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49580/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE compiles a monthly census of employment in the public health and social care sector. Figures supplied by the HSE indicate that the number of whole-time- equivalent (WTE) social workers employed in the Children and Families Service area of the HSE was 1,300 at the end of July 2012. The number of social workers employed in the Children and Families Service area at the end of February 2011 was 1231. This represents an increase of 69 whole-time-equivalent (WTE) social workers since the end of February 2011. The total number of individual social workers employed in child and family services has increased by 86 in the same period.
The HSE has made considerable progress over recent years in recruiting additional social workers, with 260 social workers recruited under the Ryan Implementation Plan at end 2011. A further 10 social work posts are currently at various stages of recruitment, with four already in position.
The National Director of Children and Family Services, Gordon Jeyes, will continue to apply his discretion to the filling of social work vacancies, taking account of identified need and subject to services being delivered within available resources.
It is important to emphasise that work is ongoing within the HSE on the disaggregation of the Children and Families resource base from the HSE as part of the process of establishing the new Child and Family Support Agency next year. Consequently the number of social workers assigned to the Children and Families Service area will continue to be subject to change as the mapping/classification of posts into care groups is further refined between now and year end.
570. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for the early childhood care and education scheme; her views on the benefits of this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49582/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides for one free pre-school year for all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school.
In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has maintained the pre-school year on a universal and free basis. The universal nature of this programme is critical for childhood development by providing every child with early learning and preparation for school. In this context the funding for the pre-school year was increased from €163 million in 2011 to €175.8 million in 2012 to cater for changing demographics.
The objective of the ECCE programme is to make early learning in a formal setting available to eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. Services participating in the programme are required to promote age-appropriate activities and programmes within the Síolta framework for early learning. They are also encouraged to implement the Aistear curriculum which has been developed for children aged 0 to 6 years.
The ECCE programme has been extremely successful to date with almost every pre-school service in the State involved in its delivery and approximately 66,000 eligible children participating. Access to quality and affordable child care has a major impact on the lives of children, and this programme has been particularly important for those children who may be socially or economically disadvantaged and would not otherwise be in a position to avail of quality pre-school care and education.
Future developments relating to early years care and education will, of course, be considered during preparation of the new National Early Years Strategy 2012.
571. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the legislation required to establish the new Child and Family Support Agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49583/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra575. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline to Dáil Éireann the timeframe, structure and other details of the establishment of a new Child Protection Agency; if it will involve negotiating with Social Workers and other professionals’ Trade Union and representative groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49667/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 571 and 575 together.
Work is proceeding as a priority of Government on the preparation of the legislation necessary to give effect to the establishment of a new Child and Family Support Agency. The intention, subject to the passing of the legislation, is that the new Agency will be established in January 2013.
My Department is working closely with staff representatives in preparation for the establishment of the new Agency. I very much welcome the support of the unions for this process and their commitment to work constructively with management to improve outcomes for children through the creation of a high performing, properly resourced and fully functioning agency for children and families.
I am firmly committed to the transformation of Ireland’s child protection and welfare services, and confident that the establishment of the Agency will bring a dedicated focus to child protection, family support and other key children’s services for the first time in the history of the State. The new Agency and the wider transformation of children's services represents the largest, and most ambitious, areas of public sector of reform embarked upon by this Government.
