Tuesday, 16 Dec 2014

Written Answers Nos. 528-548

Health Services Access

Ceisteanna (528)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

528. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 381 of 23 September 2014, if he will provide a long-term transport arrangement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, in view of the fact that the public transport system does not meet the person's needs and the cost is causing some hardship; and if a Health Service Executive official will contact the person to arrange a suitable transport plan as a matter of urgency. [48455/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Home Care Packages Provision

Ceisteanna (529)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

529. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for the Health Service Executive to intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is heavily dependent on home care and has been having difficulties with the supply of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48462/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Disability Services Provision

Ceisteanna (530)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

530. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health to set out the position regarding access to a psychologist or counsellor who is experienced working with persons with an intellectual disability in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48464/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Each Local Health Office area in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a dedicated Disability Manager to coordinate the delivery of services to people with disabilities. It is open to the individual and their family to pursue this matter with the Disability Manager for their area who can be contacted at the County Clinic, Navan, Co. Meath, telephone: [phone].

In relation to the specific question asked by the Deputy, as it relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

HSE Investigations

Ceisteanna (531)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

531. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on allegations of abuse at the Áras Attracta care home, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48466/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I am shocked and distressed by the revelations of extremely poor and unacceptable standards of care and mistreatment of vulnerable residents in Áras Attracta. Every person who uses disability services is entitled to expect and receive supports of the highest standard and to live in an atmosphere of safety and care. This is particularly important for vulnerable people in residential care whose families have entrusted them to the care of professional staff.

The allegations of mistreatment in the Prime Time programme are very disturbing and need to be fully investigated. In that regard, I welcome the immediate response of the HSE, following receipt of these serious allegations, to alert the Gardaí and HIQA and for the protection of both residents and staff themselves, to put a number of staff ‘off-duty’ while the allegations are being investigated. I am assured that staffing levels are being appropriately maintained to deliver safe care to all residents.

I also welcome and support the HSE’s initiation of both an expert investigation into these serious allegations chaired by Mr Christy Lynch and an independently chaired review of the services provided at this facility, led by Dr Kevin McCoy.

Mr. Lynch's investigation will examine in particular the practices, behaviours and attitudes of the staff of Unit 3 and will form an important input into the disciplinary process which must be undertaken by the HSE.

Dr. McCoy's review will focus on assuring the quality and safety of care of residents in Áras Attracta. This will be informed by earlier work done by both the HSE and HIQA and will seek to identify any gaps and any contributory and/or causal factors. It will make recommendations so as to eliminate, in any way it is possible to do so, any risk of harm occurring in the future.

I understand that the Director General of the HSE has written to all staff informing them that the onus is on them to take personal responsibility to ensure that the individuals supported by the HSE in any setting are treated with dignity and respect.

The HSE’s new National Policy and Procedures for Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse, which I launched with the HSE on 5th December 2014, clears the way for staff members in HSE and non-HSE facilities, and members of the public, to refer allegations of abuse to designated reporting individuals.

This new policy, places an onus on providers of services to vulnerable people to appoint a Designated Officer to both receive and follow up on concerns and reports of abuse. Under the new policy it is the responsibility of all staff and service providers to ensure the protection and welfare of vulnerable people. In each Community Healthcare Organisation, a Safeguarding and Protection Team will work in partnership with all relevant service providers to ensure that concerns and complaints are addressed.

This policy complements the statutory inspection by HIQA of nursing homes and residential centres for people with a disability and is very welcome. I also welcome the public appeal made by the Chief Executive of HIQA to encourage any persons who have concerns about the treatment of vulnerable persons in our disability services to contact HIQA. He has emphasised that the matter will be taken very seriously and looked at in the context of HIQA’s very significant regulatory powers of inspection of residential facilities.

A system wide process is now commencing, with the establishment of a National Implementation Taskforce. A 6 step programme will be implemented and monitored and will focus on:

- Implementation of Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse - National Policy & Procedures

- Advocacy

- Evaluation and Practice Improvement

- National Summit (Tuesday 16 December) - to improve Client Safety, Dignity, Respect & Culture Change

- Implementation plan for any recommendations arising from the assurance review of residential services in Áras Attracta when complete

- Development of long term sustainable & evidence based safeguarding practices and training programmes specific to residential settings

- implementation of Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse - National Policy & Procedures

I have been fully briefed by the HSE since they became aware of these allegations and I have asked it to ensure that all appropriate resources are put in

place to ensure that the safety and care of residents at Áras Attracta is maintained at the highest possible standard. I have also asked the HSE to brief me

on the outcome of these investigations as soon as possible.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (532)

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

532. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the shared services projects commenced across the public service since 2011; the costs associated with these projects for each year; when these projects will generate an overall net saving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48800/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Department of Health provides shared payroll and financial services to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal without charge.

I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with details of HSE projects. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Public Sector Staff Redeployment

Ceisteanna (533)

John Deasy

Ceist:

533. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of public sector workers under the aegis of his Department who have been approved for inter or intradepartmental or agency work transfers to and from County Waterford in each of the past five years. [48808/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The information being sought by the Deputy in relation to non-commercial semi-state agencies under the remit of the Department is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy on completion. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the aspect of the question that relates to them. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Consular Services Provision

Ceisteanna (534)

Seán Kenny

Ceist:

534. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to set out the assistance available to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17 who has family members in Libya; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47749/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The advice of my Department for Irish citizens in Libya is that they should leave that country by commercial means, if they can do so safely. The Embassy of Ireland in Rome, which is accredited to Libya, has been aware of this individual’s intention to leave Libya for some time, and has been in frequent contact with the person throughout 2014. The Embassy has assisted the person concerned in obtaining a passport for her youngest child, as well as advising them on obtaining an Irish visa for her spouse. I am aware that processes have been made more difficult by the closure of all EU Consulates in Benghazi and disruptions to post and courier services to that city. However, I understand that the necessary documents for the person’s family to travel to Ireland are now in place.

The most recent information available to my Department is that commercial flights continue to leave from Al Abraq airport, which services Benghazi, though with limited availability.

My Department remains available to provide further consular assistance to this family. The person concerned can make direct contact with either the Consular Assistance Section of the Department in Dublin, or with our Embassy in Rome, at any time.

Diplomatic Representation

Ceisteanna (535)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Ceist:

535. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the representations or expressions of concern he has made to the British Government following reports that Irish subsea telecommunications cables have been targeted by Britain's Government Communications Headquarters, that is, that there has been mass interceptions of the Internet, telephone communications and activities of Irish citizens by a foreign government. [47755/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

My Department has been in contact with the British Embassy on the subject of these reports. The messages that were conveyed to the British Embassy were along the lines contained in a letter from the Secretary General to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on 9 December. It was pointed out in this letter that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade works to ensure the best possible bilateral relations between Ireland and other countries, including our nearest neighbours in Great Britain. It was also pointed out that it is generally understood that friendly relationships between States, including between Ireland and Britain, include acceptance of the principle that the privacy of communications must be respected. This is a principle Ireland has outlined in international fora and in policy statements.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remains in close contact with the other Departments concerned, namely the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. They lead respectively on the justice/home affairs and communications (including cyber security) aspects of any issues arising from these reports.

Consular Services Provision

Ceisteanna (536)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

536. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to set out the position regarding an assistance fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47765/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through the Embassy of Ireland in Madrid and the Consular Assistance Section in Dublin, has been providing ongoing consular assistance to the family of the missing person since first being informed of this case. I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department and our Embassy in Madrid will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to the family concerned. However, the consular assistance available through my Department does not include financial assistance to cover travel expenditure costs.

Departmental Meetings

Ceisteanna (537, 538)

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

537. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department held meetings separate to the management advisory committee meetings which were attended by him or the Minister of State and the management advisory committee; if so, if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of such meetings that occurred in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47864/14]

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

538. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of management advisory committee meetings which were held for each of the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of management advisory committee meetings that were attended by him, the Minister of State, the political adviser, the Secretary General and all other titles of attendees in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47880/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 538 together.

I refer the Deputy to my response to parliamentary question 45478/14 of 26 November 2014 concerning meetings of my Department’s Management Advisory Committee. Since then there have been two further meetings which took place on 4th December and 16th December. I attended the Management Advisory Committee meetings on 15th July and 18th November. The special advisers also attended these meetings.

Ministerial Travel

Ceisteanna (539)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

539. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of all official foreign trips he and Ministers of State in his Department plan to take between now and the end of 2015; if he will provide the names of the persons he and Ministers of State in his Department will meet on these trips; the purpose of the trips; the duration of the trips; if there are plans to use all of these trips to promote Ireland as a good place for doing business and as a destination for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48033/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

My Department performs a wide range of functions in pursuit of Ireland’s values and interests overseas. These include advancing reconciliation and cooperation on the island of Ireland; representing and advancing Government policies with other States and in international organisations; economic, trade and cultural promotion; front-line consular and passport services to Irish citizens; engaging with Irish communities abroad; and programme management, particularly in Irish Aid priority countries. These tasks require extensive engagement with our international partners, including through face-to-face Ministerial meetings. Trade promotion and economic messaging are key elements in all visits abroad undertaken by Government Ministers. Every effort is made to ensure that, as far as is practicable, opportunities are taken for a substantive economic and promotional dimension to all official visits. An intensive programme of Ministerial-led trade missions is a key commitment in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs in 2014. Planning is underway for the programme of trade missions in 2015. It should be noted also that a substantial programme of Ministerial visits will be planned to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations around the world. Between 14 and 19 December, Minister of State Murphy, who has responsibility for European Affairs, will attend the Foreign Affairs, General Affairs and European Councils in Brussels.

Next year's plans for all Ministers at my Department are still under development but I expect to travel to New York in late September 2015 to participate in the General Assembly of the United Nations and to address that body on Irish foreign policy priorities. I will also meet with Foreign Ministers and UN leaders there, to discuss a range of international issues as well as bilateral issues and Ireland’s candidature for election to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2020. Given the importance of our economic relationship with the United States, I anticipate, as on previous visits, to prioritise opportunities to advance our economic interests and will work closely with the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland on an appropriate economic promotion programme.

In addition, I plan to attend EU related meetings, including meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and Informal Meetings of EU Foreign Ministers, on a regular basis throughout 2015. I expect that my colleagues will be similarly engaged on EU and other matters.

My schedule over the coming months will include a visit to Kiev and, following my recent visit to Cairo to participate in the Gaza reconstruction conference, I intend to visit the Middle East at the earliest opportunity.

The Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan T.D., will travel to London and Birmingham on the 15-16th January 2015. The purpose of the visit is to engage with the Irish Communities in these cities, including members of the business community. He will also travel to Washington on 21-22nd January next where he will have a series of meetings on the issue of US Immigration Reform. While the Minister’s main role is to engage with Irish communities overseas, in those contacts and others, he will avail of every opportunity that arises to promote Ireland as a good place to do business and as a destination for foreign direct investment.

Middle East Issues

Ceisteanna (540)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

540. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to set out his views on correspondence (details supplied) outstanding since September 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48298/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I have written to the Deputy in response to this representation, as follows: The recent appalling conflict in Gaza understandably prompted many people to think of what specific action we could take, and it has been frequently suggested that the Government should support a trade ban on Israel. However, Ireland has a long-standing policy, under successive Governments, of not supporting boycotts or sanctions against Israel, for a number of reasons. Firstly, we do not believe such measures are likely to prove effective and would only lessen any influence either Ireland or the EU could exert on Israel to alter its policies in relation to the continuing occupation. It would also marginalise Ireland’s voice in discussing Middle East policy within the EU and elsewhere, which is one of the main ways in which we can seek to help the Palestinian people.

Secondly, Ireland exists within a large free trade area in the EU. It would not be possible for us to exclude products legally available in the EU, and it is clear that there is no possibility whatever of obtaining agreement at EU level on a trade ban. Finally, although this is a minor point, it is worth noting that trade between Ireland and Israel is very much in our favour, so any disruption of this would impact largely on Irish employers, workers and consumers, rather than Israeli.

Ireland therefore supports normal trade access for Israeli goods and services to the EU single market, consistent with the treatment of other countries with which the EU has trade and political agreements (many of whom are also the subject of serious human rights concerns). However, Ireland has argued successfully that any rights granted to Israel under these agreements cannot be applied to Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, and in response the EU has acted in a number of ways to give effect to its disapproval of, and long standing position of opposition to, illegal Israeli settlements:

Goods from settlements are excluded from the low tariff rates applied to Israeli goods.

EU funding may not be disbursed to Israeli entities based in settlements.

Ireland and a number of EU Member States have recently published advice to citizens and businesses against investing in, or engaging in any form of economic activity with, settlements.

Ireland is pressing for the adoption of EU-wide guidelines on labelling of settlement products, which will enable consumers to identify settlement goods and make their own decision about whether they wish to purchase them. If preparation of EU guidelines becomes stalled, then we will actively look at issuing our own national guidelines.

Ireland remains a strong and consistent critic of Israeli policies relating to the occupation, and in particular those connected with the construction of settlements on Palestinian land. We have stated repeatedly that we do not consider that the international community has been sufficiently active in combating these policies. We are a consistent voice within the EU in particular calling for stronger action.

In regard to your constituent’s view that we should expel the Israeli Ambassador, every Irish Foreign Minister is regularly called upon to expel the Israeli Ambassador, although such a suggestion is almost never made in relation to other representatives. There are many states around the world in relation to which Ireland has serious human rights concerns. Ireland’s foreign policy has always been based above all on the resolution of conflict by dialogue. We do not therefore respond to crises by expelling the interlocutor, except in very exceptional circumstances. In diplomatic language, expelling an Ambassador essentially means you are no longer interested, at least for the moment, in dialogue.

Ambassadors exist to allow clear communication between Governments, and are more necessary in bad times than in good. The Government have continually conveyed our views to the Israeli Government through the Ambassador here, or the Irish Ambassador in Tel Aviv. The corollary of course would be the recall or expulsion of our Ambassador in Israel, and the crippling of our own Embassy. Our Ambassador in Israel, as well as communicating our views to the Israeli government, reported regularly to me on the Israeli view of and politics relating to the crisis, and was also personally engaged in the evacuation of Irish citizens and their families from Gaza. For all of these reasons, no Irish Government has felt it would be a helpful response to act in this manner.

An Fhoireann Rannach

Ceisteanna (541)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

541. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála an bhfuil iniúchadh déanta fós ar na poist agus na réimsí oibre ina mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Bhéarla agus sa Ghaeilge ag teastáil, de réir mar a thug an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe treoir don Roinn a dhéanamh; má tá an t-iniúchadh déanta, cad é líon agus cad iad céimeanna na bpost atá i gceist; cén líon de na poist sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla ann cheana féin; cén plean atá ann chun na poist eile a líonadh le daoine a bhfuil na cáilíochtaí cuí acu; cén cháilíocht Ghaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [48375/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Tá mo Roinn go h-iomlán tiomanta do sheirbhísí trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar agus freagraí a thabhairt ar chomhfhreagras trí Ghaeilge nuair atá siad de dhíth. Is iad Oifig na bPasanna agus an Rannán Consalachta na príomh rannóga ina mbíonn idirghabháil idir an Roinn agus an pobal agus tá riachtanais acu i dtaca le hoifigigh le scileanna Gaeilge. Freisin, tá riachtanais ghinearálta tríd an Roinn i dtaca le hoifigigh atá ábalta deileáil le comhfhreagras agus fiosrúcháin trí Ghaeilge.

Cuireadh iniúchadh scileanna i gcrích in 2012 a thaispeáin go bhfuil scileanna Gaeilge ar chaighdeán líofa nó ardleibhéal ag 55 oifigeach i mo Roinn, agus dhearbhaigh 160 oifigeach eile go bhfuil scileanna Gaeilge acu ar chaighdeán idirmheánach; is é seo timpeall ar 20% den fhoireann bhuan ag ceanncheathrú na Roinne.

Cuirtear ranganna Gaeilge ar fáil go rialta go hinmheánach i mo Roinn agus, ó 2010 go 2014, chláraigh 200 oifigeach chun freastal ar na ranganna seo. Tá ranganna Gaeilge seancheaptha, inmheánach ar fáil in Oifig na bPasanna i gCorcaigh agus beidh siad ar fáil go luath in Oifig na bPasanna ar Shráid Theach Laighean. Spreagtar oifigigh na Roinne chun a scileanna Gaeilge a fhorbairt ina n-am féin agus tá mo Roinn sásta chun tacú le agus maoiniú a thabhairt do na hiarrachtaí seo.

Millennium Development Goals

Ceisteanna (542)

Eoghan Murphy

Ceist:

542. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to set out his views on concerns expressed that the Government has reneged on its commitment to the millennium development goals; and the current position regarding same. [48450/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Government is very strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Irish foreign policy. Our programme and our development policy are centrally based on our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, which were adopted by world leaders at the UN in 2000 and which set out clear targets in the fight to end poverty and hunger in the world. Our commitment has been recognised internationally, and Ireland has been asked by the UN to co-facilitate the negotiations next year on the new framework for global development to succeed the MDGs after 2015. The OECD has recognised in recent weeks in the peer review of Ireland's aid programme that "Ireland continues to excel in the delivery of effective aid". Our commitment to development cooperation is clear in the Programme for Government and was further enhanced by the launch of our policy for international development - One World One Future. The policy sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world in which people are empowered to overcome poverty and hunger and to fully realise their rights and potential. One World One Future has a clear focus on the poorest countries and communities in sub-Saharan Africa and sets out three goals: reduced hunger and stronger resilience; sustainable development and inclusive economic growth; and better governance, human rights and accountability. It provides a clear framework for the prioritisation of activities and for the allocation of resources across six priority areas for action deriving from those goals. These areas are closely aligned with the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals.

In the context of the very difficult economic circumstances facing the country, the Government has successfully managed to stabilise allocations to Ireland’s aid programme. For Budget 2015, we were again determined to protect the aid programme, and we have provided a total allocation of just over €600 million for next year. This clearly demonstrates our commitment to the aid programme and represents a very significant and generous contribution on behalf of the people of Ireland to assist those less fortunate than ourselves. I will set out the case for building further on this commitment over the coming year.

Shannon Airport Facilities

Ceisteanna (543)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

543. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any legal or other assistance by his Department will be provided in respect of people (details supplied) who, according to the rendition project, reprieve, travelled on aircraft that had stopped in Shannon on the way to or from being picked up and rendered elsewhere but did not travel through Shannon and have been at Guantanamo for ten years and eight years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48456/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Programme for Government states that the Government will enforce the prohibition of the use of Irish airspace, airports and related facilities for purposes not in line with the dictates of international law. Ireland does not tolerate and will not tolerate the use of our airspace or airports for any illegal purpose, including torture, rendition or the unauthorised detention of any individual. I welcome the publication last week of the United States Senate Intelligence Committee’s summary report on its investigation of the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation programme. The report does not identify specific countries where interrogation or detention took place, nor countries through which prisoners were transferred. No information has been provided to substantiate assertions that Ireland has permitted such activity or that any person has been subjected to extraordinary rendition through Irish airspace and airports. It has been made clear by the current and previous Governments that such activity would be considered completely unacceptable and illegal.

Together with our EU partners, Ireland has encouraged the US to bring about the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in the shortest possible time and that detainees should be brought to trial or released as soon as possible. The Government has previously agreed to receive former detainees for resettlement in Ireland.

I am not aware of any request to the Irish Government from or on behalf of the individuals in question for assistance. As with all foreign nationals, any request for consular assistance would be a matter in the first instance for their own Governments.

Public Sector Staff Redeployment

Ceisteanna (544)

John Deasy

Ceist:

544. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a breakdown of the number of public sector workers under the aegis of his Department who have been approved for inter or intradepartmental or agency work transfers to and from County Waterford, in each of the past five years. [48807/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

During the period in question, one officer applied for a transfer to a Government office in County Waterford and transferred to the Waterford office of the Department of Social Protection in 2010.

School Transport Provision

Ceisteanna (545, 546)

John Deasy

Ceist:

545. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown by county of the number of primary and secondary school transport routes operated by Bus Éireann in each of the past five years; the overall numbers of pupils or students catered for in each county; and the receipts collected from school bus tickets in each county over this period. [47976/14]

John Deasy

Ceist:

546. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown of the number of free primary and secondary school transport places currently provided in each county accruing from family medical card cover. [47977/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 546 together.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the day to day operation of my Department's School Transport Scheme. Bus Éireann has advised that the information requested by the Deputy in relation to school transport routes operated by the Company is not readily available on a per county basis. If the Deputy has a particular county in mind the Company could undertake an exercise and furnish details for that county directly to the Deputy in respect of the last three years. The following table shows the overall numbers of primary and post primary children availing of school transport in each county, for each of the past three school years 2011/2012, 2012/2013 and 2013/2014. Bus Éireann has confirmed that receipts from parental contributions are not disaggregated by county. Some 90% of parental contributions are paid online through a centralised system. The audited accounts for the school transport scheme show that the total receipts from parental contributions for the past five years are:

Year	Receipts
2009	€11,628m
2010	€11,651m
2011	€11,486m
2012	€12,570m
2013	€12,772m

The total number of mainstream primary and post primary children availing of transport in the 2013/2014 school year, the latest year available, was 48,040 and 62,749 respectively. Of these 10,517 primary (35%) and 26,623 (50%) post primary children, who held valid medical cards (GMS scheme) were exempted from paying the charge. A breakdown of these figures is not maintained on a county basis.

Table School Transport Scheme - Tickets Issued Per County - Mainstream Only

County	2011	2011	2012	2012	2013	2013
-	Total PP	Total P	Total PP	Total P	Total PP	Total P
Carlow	949	821	1010	831	1059	840
Cavan	210	1641	1813	1649	1806	1653
Clare	1969	1401	2406	1431	2076	1340
Cork	8294	4783	8284	4815	8481	4819
Donegal	5700	3495	5691	3577	5706	3570
Dublin	974	1289	1139	1288	1101	1252
Galway	5374	2595	5435	2583	5682	2471
Kerry	3400	2100	3338	2022	3276	2033
Kildare	1948	1881	2023	1833	2174	1835
Kilkenny	1408	1859	1577	1783	1574	1770
Laois	859	568	897	563	870	567
Leitrim	1088	1051	1042	1045	1081	1047
Limerick	2792	1184	2834	1196	2845	1154
Longford	1440	783	1444	838	1438	859
Louth	2099	852	2033	609	2048	648
Mayo	3465	1590	3452	1568	3408	1563
Meath	2206	1705	2316	2047	2384	1977
Monaghan	2213	1443	2175	1433	2163	1389
Offaly	1626	1184	1633	1091	1646	1061
Roscommon	937	944	938	924	897	849
Sligo	1098	1042	1190	1032	1157	998
Tipperary	3193	1750	3230	1746	3136	1715
Waterford	1426	1119	1427	1067	1397	1054
Westmeath	1499	990	1502	953	1521	1053
Wexford	3200	2027	3295	1939	3319	1943
Wicklow	1886	1347	1925	1383	1975	1393
Totals:	61253	41444	64049	41246	64220	40853

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (547)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

547. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline her plans to review, amend or repeal sections 28 and 34 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002, which deals with prohibition of victims of disclosing information regarding their cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48041/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Section 28 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2000 (as amended by section 34 of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Amendment Act 2005) prohibits the disclosure of information provided to the Redress Board and Review Committee other than in specified circumstances. It also prohibits any person from publishing any information concerning an application or an award made under the Act that refers to any person (including an applicant), relevant person or institution by name or which could reasonably lead to the identification of any such other person, relevant person or institution. The legal advice available to my Department is that this provision does not prohibit applicants from recounting the stories of their childhood. The section also provides that the Board and Review Committee, shall prior to the making of an Order for their dissolution, determine the disposal of the documents concerning applications made to them. The Government agreed in principle to legislative proposals being brought forward to allow for the retention of the records of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, the Residential Institutions Redress Board and the Residential Institutions Review Committee. These proposals will include amendments to existing legislation where necessary. It is intended that the records will be retained in the National Archives and completely sealed for a period of at least 75 years. I expect to be in a position to report to Cabinet in this regard shortly.

State Examinations Commission

Ceisteanna (548)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

548. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a scribe will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for examinations in 2015; and if this application will be expedited and approved. [48171/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.