Written Answers Nos. 489-508
489. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of CCTV cameras in Castlerea Prison, County Roscommon; the number of those in use; the number that can be viewed simultaneously on monitors within the prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13087/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that there is a comprehensive system of CCTV coverage in place at Castlerea Prison including its perimeter boundaries.
The detailed information requested in relation to the number and operation of the various cameras and equipment cannot be supplied. As the Deputy will appreciate its disclosure could potentially compromise the security of the prison.
490. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total projected cost of the refurbishment of Harristown House, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13088/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraHarristown House is a 22 roomed two storey property constructed circa 1920. It is located just outside of the boundary wall of Castlerea Prison. It was most recently used for accommodating persons who were under the care of the Probation Service. The property has been in disuse for the past four years and it suffered significant water damage as a result of burst pipes in the Winter of 2010/2011. Following a competitive tender process completed in the latter part of 2012, the Irish Prison Service appointed a contractor to undertake a complete refurbishment of Harristown House. The objective of the works is to leave the property in a suitable condition for use as a low security pre-release facility for selected prisoners. The anticipated total cost of the project referred to will be €180,000 including VAT.
491. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a security assessment has been completed regarding the use of Harristown House, County Roscommon as an open prison adjoining an existing secure facility; if such models exist in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13089/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs advised to the Deputy during the Adjournment Debate on 27 February 2013, Harristown House will not be an 'Open Prison'. The house will be utilised as a low-security facility to be managed and staffed by Castlerea Prison which it adjoins.
No decision has yet to be made in relation to the type of prisoner to be housed there, however, the normal selection criteria will apply and the safety of the public will be the over-riding consideration.
492. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Defence the cost of providing security by the Defence Forces to Shannon Airport for 2003 to 2012 on a year by year basis and the money recouped by the State from Shannon Airport or others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12748/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, an Garda Síochána), which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations, the provision of certain security escorts etc. The Gardaí, who undertake threat assessments for Shannon Airport on an ongoing basis, requested the Defence Forces to provide assistance in securing the Airport. Such assistance has been rendered by the Defence Forces since 5 February 2003. The following items are taken into consideration when calculating the costs involved in providing aid to the civil power at Shannon Airport i.e. Security Duty Allowance, rations and fuel. The table below sets out the amount of costs incurred for the period in question.
|
Year |
Amount (€) |
|
2003 |
1,113,200 |
|
2004 |
760,500 |
|
2005 |
225,900 |
|
2006 |
403,375 |
|
2007 |
275,054 |
|
2008 |
286,273 |
|
2009 |
258,040 |
|
2010 |
203,366 |
|
2011 |
259,739 |
|
2012 |
275,008 |
These costs are met from within the Defence Vote.
493. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence the number of aeromedical call outs by the air ambulance based in Athlone since its inception; the number of patients transported for each category of emergency including STMI patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12347/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA twelve-month pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service was established on 4 June 2012 by agreement between my Department and the Department of Health for the Air Corps to support the HSE’s National Ambulance Service. The purpose of the pilot is to assess the level and type, if any, of dedicated emergency aeromedical support needed to assist the National Ambulance Service in the west of Ireland for certain types of patient, particularly in light of the requirements of the HSE Clinical Care Programmes such as Acute Coronary Syndrome and Stroke.
The EAS service is operated by the Air Corps out of Custume Barracks, Athlone. A full evaluation of the service is to be undertaken by the stakeholders within three months of the end of the pilot programme (June 2013) and submitted for consideration by my colleague the Minister for Health. This evaluation process is now underway.
In the first 9 months of the service, up to 3 March 2013, there were 150 EAS missions completed. An analysis of these missions indicates that 46 were segment elevation myocardial infarction ( STEMI) patients, 43 were trauma, 38 were medical, 10 were pediatric and 13 were other time-critical cases, as tasked by the HSE’s National Aero-Medical Coordination Centre.
494. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence the costs of providing hardware and software to his home and the home of Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12364/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra495. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence the costs of providing telephone in the homes of Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12382/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra496. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence the cost of telephones and ICT provided to the constituency offices including monthly telephone bills of Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12401/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra497. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence if any additional costs other than telephones, ICT and monthly telephone bills are being paid to constituency office by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12419/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 494, 495, 496 and 497 together.
There are no costs relating to the provision of hardware and software to my home and the home of Junior Minister in the Department. There are no costs relating to the provision of telephone in my home and the home of Junior Minister in the Department. There are no costs relating to the provision of telephones and ICT to the constituency offices including monthly phone bills of Ministers and Junior Ministers in the Department since March 2011. There are no additional costs other than telephones, ICT and monthly phone bills being paid to constituency office by the Department.
498. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence the number of mobile phones in use by him and Junior Minister and politically appointed staff; the total costs of the mobile phones since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12437/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no mobile phones in use by me. The details of mobile phones in use by the Junior Minister and politically appointed staff and the costs of same since March 2011 are detailed below.
|
- |
Number of Mobile Phones |
Total Cost Since March 2011 |
|
Junior Minister |
1 |
€3,784.57 |
|
Politically Appointed Staff |
1 |
€786.92 |
499. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence the cost of drivers of each vehicle assigned to him and Ministers of State in his Department since March 2011; the mileage and other costs claimed in respect of each since March 2011; the overall yearly costs of ministerial cars in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12455/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with Government Decision of 15 March 2011, I retain a State car and Garda drivers in my capacity as the Minister for Justice & Equality. The cost of this service is funded from the Vote for an Garda Síochána. The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Defence, Paul Kehoe T.D., was assigned two civilian drivers in May 2011. Any mileage and car related expenses due to Minister Kehoe are met by the Department of the Taoiseach. The costs associated with the drivers are met by my Department and amounted to €183,763 for the period 1 May 2011 to 8 March 2013.
500. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence the number of credit cards issued to staff and Ministers in his Department; the total costs of each card since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12474/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring the period March 2011 to date, a total of five post-holders in my Department were authorised to use credit cards. The total cost of each card is set out in the table below:
|
POSTHOLDER |
CHARGES from March 2011 to date |
|
Secretary General |
€91.00 |
|
Human Resources Manager |
€6,865.24 |
|
Principal Officer ISDP Branch |
€6544.07 |
|
Private Secretary to Minister |
€664.20 |
|
Private Secretary to Minister of State |
€3280.28 |
The decision to issue an official credit card is made on the basis of business need having regard to the individual’s duties. Official credit cards are intended to obviate the need for staff to use their personal credit cards where substantial business-related costs are likely to be incurred. Their usage is restricted solely for official purposes. There are currently four postholders authorised to use official credit cards.
501. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Defence his plans for a building (details supplied) in north County Dublin and if it will be handed to the local community for its use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12850/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building in question, currently used by the Reserve Defence Force, is one of the properties identified for closure under the re-organisation programme for the Reserve. All RDF properties identified for closure under the programme, including the property in question, will be vacated by the end of March. At that stage my Department will be inviting Government Departments and other Public Bodies to identify any interest in the properties in question including the building in North County Dublin. If no interest is expressed by any other Government Department or Public Body the property will be disposed of by public tender/auction.
502. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that for many years employees of his Department were seconded to the Irish Horse Board Cooperative Society Ltd and Horse Sport Ireland Ltd to administer the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, if he will confirm whether this practice continues; if there are other cases in which civil servants have been seconded to work in private companies and their salaries have continued to be paid by the Irish taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12770/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn answer to the Deputy’s question, I can confirm that two Executive Officers have been seconded from my Department since 1994 to Horse Sport Ireland Limited. The salaries in respect of the two individuals are recouped from Horse Sport Ireland Limited.
One Superintending Veterinary Inspector has been seconded to Animal Health Ireland as its Chief Executive in September 2009 and my Department continues to pay his salary as part of its annual subvention to AHI. No other civil servants have been seconded from my Department to work in private companies.
503. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consideration that has been given to including removing the current distinction between owned animals and those animals living in a wild state in the proposed animal welfare Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12296/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra529. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that protection is given to feral cats by removing the distinction between owned cats and animals living in a wild state in the animal health and welfare Bill. [12842/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 529 together.
All animals will be given protection under the Animal Health and Welfare Bill. Section 12 of the Bill outlaws cruelty to all animals irrespective of whether they are classified as protected.
The term “protected animal” is applied to animals under the protection i.e. ownership of humans. The difference between “protected animals” and those living in the wild lies in the specific obligations placed upon their owners or keepers. Wild animals, including feral cats, are defined as having no owner or keeper. It would not be sensible to apply the same provisions to these animals because it is not possible to impose an obligation on any owner to care for them. In my view, to remove the distinction between domesticated and feral animals would significantly weaken the protection given to those animals with an identifiable owner, while not serving to increase the protection for those animals living in the wild.
504. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the costs of providing hardware and software to his home and the home of Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12360/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not incurred any costs in relation to the provision of hardware and software in the homes of the Minister and the former Minister of State.
505. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal for grassland sheep scheme payments for 2010 and 2011 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12377/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications under the Grassland Sheep Scheme for years 2010 and 2011 have been received from the person named. As per the Terms and Conditions which govern the Grassland Sheep Scheme, applicants are required to submit a Sheep Census each year to my Department.
In view of disparities in data submitted by the applicant at different times, relating to the number of breeding ewes on the holding, my Department has requested submission of the flock book in order to verify the position at the time of census.
506. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the costs of providing telephones in the homes of Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12378/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not incurred any costs in relation to the provision of telephones in the homes of the Minister and the former Minister of State.
507. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of telephones and ICT provided to constituency offices including monthly phone bills of Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12397/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the telephone and ICT costs incurred by my Department in relation to constituency offices since March 2011 are shown in the table below. The provision of ICT to the constituency offices of the Minister and the former Minister of State in my Department is via a managed ICT support service provided by the Houses of the Oireachtas Service.
|
Costs including VAT. |
Constituency Office of the Minister |
Constituency Office of the Minister of State |
|
ICT Costs |
€8,712.00 |
€9,280.70 |
|
Telephony Costs |
€7,174.38 |
€5,800.98 |
|
Total |
€15,886.38 |
€15,081.68 |
508. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any additional costs other than telephones, ICT and monthly phone bills are being paid to constituency offices by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12415/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not pay any additional costs of my constituency office.
