Written Answers Nos 94-120
94. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be reimbursed by the Health Service Executive for the cost of specialised glasses for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3984/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
95. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding respite care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3985/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
96. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will alter medical card guidelines in order that those under 26 years of age who are in receipt of less than €164 per week are ineligible for medical cards as they are deemed dependent on parents (details supplied). [4013/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the statutory function of the HSE to decide on entitlement to a medical card and the Medical Card Assessment Guidelines developed by the HSE is the basis upon which they assess eligibility.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
97. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if extra funding will be found for Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital in view of the fact that the orthopaedic surgeon has said that level of funding for the hospital has been nowhere near sufficient to look after persons in a timely way and this lack of funding is preventing a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 from having an urgent hip replacement which they are in critical need of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4016/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has advised that it has been engaging with Cappagh Hospital on an on-going basis to identity potential initiatives that would allow for a reduction in waiting times for patients for surgery. The HSE has provided Cappagh Hospital with additional resources in 2015. The 2015 budget allocation process has made provision for the opening of closed and underutilised capacity at Cappagh Hospital. This will enable the opening of an additional 1.5 theatres per day, bringing the total to 4 and will allow Cappagh to increase activity levels. The hospital will target this new capacity to significantly address its current waiting list breach volumes.
The HSE has also advised that it will continue to engage with the hospital to explore mechanisms to ensure optimal use of resources, including theatre capacity, at the hospital within the overall resources available to the acute sector.
98. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding red eye doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4034/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department together with the Department of Justice and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation have given consideration to visa and work permit arrangements for doctors who come from non-EU countries. Recent immigration and visa changes have been aimed at ensuring, in the first instance, that they support the recruitment of doctors from abroad to fill vacant posts. The revised arrangements enable doctors to be recruited on an agency basis, however they are aimed primarily at facilitating the filling of posts on a permanent basis.
In July 2013 a Working Group was established, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures. The Group submitted its final report in June 2014. The final Report of the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structures (3rd MacCraith Report) stated – in relation to doctors in service posts in the acute hospital sector that:
“Career structures and pathways for these doctors are limited. The Group recommends that processes are put in place by the HSE, as a matter of priority, to consider how best to address this issue, having due regard to the following:
- The needs and requirements of the public health system, including service reconfiguration and integrated models of care;
- Patient safety and quality of the patient experience;
- Registration, qualifications and training, clinical governance, CPD and supervisory arrangements.”
My Department, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, is pursuing implementation of the recommendations made by the MacCraith Group to support NCHD and consultant recruitment and retention.
We are currently finalising with the HSE a proposal for the re-grading of non-training NCHD posts to a Service Grade doctor post. This proposal will soon be issued to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for sanction.
99. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a nerve conduction operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4037/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up with them.
100. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 962 of 17 September 2014, and to the correspondence from the Health Service Executive (details supplied), his plans to introduce national policy in on antenatal screening and foetal abnormality testing. [4051/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Clinical Programme for Obstetrics and Gynaecology was established in 2010. One of the programme's key objectives is to develop and disseminate national guidelines. Such guidelines provide standardised guidance for all maternity units in the country on a range of clinical issues relating to women's health.
As the query raised relates to a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
101. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the problems with growing waiting lists in Cappagh Hospital, Dublin 11 being caused due to a lack of nursing staff which means that one theatre for elective surgeries has remained closed; his plans for staffing levels which will see the theatre opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4052/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
102. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 365 of 25 November 2014 that as the terms of reference relating to a systems analysis investigation rely on the identification of a particular incident, the particular incident that lead to the systems analysis investigation in the case (details supplied). [4055/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for the question raised.
In relation to the terms of reference referred to by the Deputy, as this issue is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the HSE. Therefore, I have referred this issue to the HSE for attention and direct reply. 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.
In regard to the particular incident that led to the systems analysis, as this is still the subject of investigation, it would not be appropriate to provide details at this time.
103. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant geriatricians currently working here; the hospitals they are attached to and the cohort attached to each hospital; his plans to hire additional consultant geriatricians in 2015; if they will work in a community setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4062/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra104. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant geriatricians working here in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4063/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. 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.
105. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure agencies that provide care for persons in their homes are regulated by the Health Information and Quality Authority or any other State agency. [4081/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment for National Recovery, 2011-2016 commits to developing and implementing national standards for home support services which will be subject to HIQA inspection. Primary legislation and resources will be required for the introduction of a statutory regulation system for home care services. This will be considered by Government on a prioritised and phased basis as resources, legislative and planning processes allow. In the meantime the HSE is progressing a range of measures to improve Home Care provision overall, to standardise services nationally and to promote quality and safety.
106. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent protests in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that the protests are in opposition to proposed legal reform to keep President Joseph Kabila in power, that the security services are reported to have killed more than 40 political protesters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4014/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo involves one of the most complex and enduring humanitarian crises in the world. This is the result of decades of political and economic mismanagement, exacerbated by difficult relations with neighbouring countries, ongoing violence in the Great Lakes region and chronic underdevelopment.
I share the strong international concern at the violence during demonstrations in Kinshasa last week. Demonstrators were protesting against proposed changes to the electoral law, which many believed would permit President Joseph Kabila to stay in office beyond his mandated two-term limit. Reports indicate that some 36 people, including one police officer, were killed during the demonstrations in Kinshasa. It is reported that the security forces were responsible for the deaths of at least 21 people. Additionally, on 22 January, at least four people were killed during demonstrations in the eastern city of Goma.
On 17 January, the Congolese National Assembly had adopted modifications to the electoral law that would require the holding of a national census ahead of the next election, a step that could significantly delay presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for 2016. On 23 January, the Congolese Senate adopted an amended version of the law, clarifying that the holding of elections would not be conditional on a census being completed and that the constitution’s electoral timeframe would be respected. If signed into law, the amended law would address a main concern of the protesters.
I attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 19 January, just as the protests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were taking place. We adopted Conclusions on the situation, which, while primarily addressing the ongoing civil conflict, also stressed the need for political action that will also build a long-term basis for stability. Key to this is the organisation of credible and free elections.
The violence has been widely condemned internationally, including by the Secretary General of the United Nations, who additionally called on all key stakeholders to resume political dialogue and ensure that issues relating to the elections are discussed in an inclusive and peaceful fashion in the appropriate forum. Ireland fully supports this call.
Ireland’s long engagement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which dates back to its independence in 1960, continues today and we are a significant humanitarian donor in the region. Since 2009, through Irish Aid, the Government has provided over €44 million in humanitarian assistance for the people of the country, including through the work of the former UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Mary Robinson. We are continuing to monitor developments closely.
107. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of Abdallah Abu Rahme, a Palestinian human rights activist and advocate of non-violent protest, that Catherine Ashton recognised him as a Human Rights Defender in 2010 and the Elders called for his immediate release, calling him a prisoner of conscience, that he is due to stand trial in an Israeli military court on 8 February 2015, that Mr. Abu Rahme is being charged with military laws which are at odds with international and human rights law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4015/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the case of Abdallah Abu Rahme, who was convicted of obstructing military operations in the West Bank, by blocking a military bulldozer engaged in construction. His is one of a series of cases of concern related to the protests around construction of the separation barrier on Palestinian land belonging to the villagers of Bil’in
The size of the Irish mission in Ramallah makes it impossible to attend such court cases on any but an exceptional basis. Cases can be long and unpredictable, and are frequently adjourned, and access to them is not always permitted.
Nonetheless, in certain cases it can be important to have an international presence at court hearings, to demonstrate clearly that proceedings are under scrutiny. For this reason EU missions in the Palestinian Territory regularly exchange information on upcoming cases, and consider if it will be possible for one or more partner to be present at a given case.
It is planned that EU representatives will attend the hearing in this case on 8 February 2015.
108. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if anti-bullying and suicide prevention numbers have been published on homework journals for second level students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3952/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraHomework journals are generally used by pupils every day and can therefore be a useful mechanism for schools to communicate important information to pupils in relation to matters such as anti-bullying, mental health and suicide prevention. However, my Department has not prescribed that schools must use such journals or that they should contain specific information.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department, along with the Department of Health and the HSE, jointly published 'Well-Being in Post- Primary Schools: Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention' in 2013. The guidelines provide practical advice to post-primary schools on how they can promote mental health and well-being in an integrated manner within the school environment. The Guidelines build on the significant work already taking place in schools, including through the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, the whole-school guidance plan, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) continuum of support model and the HSE Health Promoting Schools Process. Information is also provided on how to access support from the SPHE Support Service and other external agencies and support services.
The Deputy will also be aware that new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools were published at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year. The purpose of these procedures is to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. In that regard, the procedures recognise that a positive school culture and climate is the cornerstone for preventing bullying and the procedures contain provide practical tips for building such a positive culture and climate. Under the procedures, the Board of Management must also ensure that the school's anti-bullying policy is regularly highlighted and promoted on a school-wide basis with particular attention being given to incoming pupils and their parents. The procedures are not prescriptive in relation to how this should be done and it is open to schools to do so in the manner that best suits their individual circumstances.
109. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that the primary online database operated by her Department is in compliance with data protection legislation; and the basis upon which she is making this statement. [3956/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Skills has consulted with the Data Protection Commissioner in relation to the collection and retention of individual pupil information for the Primary Online Database in December 2013. That office has stated that PPSN can now be collected by schools with the purpose being it is a requirement of the Primary Online Database. The ODPC was satisfied the Department of Education had a "legitimate and proportionate" purpose for requesting personal details on primary school pupils for a new national database. The retention policy was discussed with the Data Protection Commissioner's office and no issues of concern were raised.
110. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on progress for new accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; if she will provide an update on the application for an additional temporary classroom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3962/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the project for the school, referred to, is being progressed into architectural planning and has been assigned for the appointment of a design team.
As the Deputy will be aware, the school in question is one of a number of schools which it was not possible to include in the 5 Year construction programme. However the school project is being progressed to the final planning stages so that it will be well placed for further progression in anticipation of further funds being available to the Department.
With regard to the application for an additional temporary classroom, approval in principle was granted to the school in March 2014 in respect of the accommodation in question. Details of the tendered costs were only recently submitted to the Department for consideration. I can confirm that the documentation submitted has been examined and a final approval letter will issue to the school authorities in the coming days.
111. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school development application (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3963/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has recently submitted an application for additional accommodation to my Department. The application will be assessed and a decision conveyed to the school authorities as soon as this process has been completed.
112. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will take steps to have an application for a higher education grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath at Galway Mayo Institute of Technology finalised, as all the additional information required has been furnished; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3975/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.
This service compliments the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure all forms of social protection payment, including supplementary welfare allowance, are recognised as evidence of income in part or entirely in the determination of applications for higher education grants, thereby ensuring natural justice for applicants for higher education grants who may have no other evidence of income or who may only have partial evidence of income in view of the fact that eligibility for the payment is the subject of a means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4003/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is necessary that information regarding all income is accounted for when completing the grant application form. In this regard the assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on the applicant's gross income from all sources and his/her parent(s)/legal guardian where applicable; with certain social welfare and health service executive payments being exempt.
Persons in receipt of the supplementary welfare allowance may apply for a student grant. Assuming that students satisfy all of the relevant terms and conditions of the student grant scheme, eligible students on this payment qualify for the maintenance grant and student contribution or fees where applicable.
For 2014 SUSI improved its data sharing arrangements with existing and additional Government agencies. The arrangement with the Department of Social Protection allows direct access by SUSI to information on social welfare payments in respect of the applicant and other relevant parties. This arrangement reduces the volume of documentation required from grant applicants.
The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications for the 2014/15 academic year is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).
114. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers who availed of the voluntary redundancy scheme in 2013 and 2014; and if these teachers were primary, secondary, or third level, in tabular form. [4017/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government decided in late 2012 that voluntary redundancy can be introduced in certain targeted sections of the public service where staff surpluses are identified by management and where redeployment is not suitable. The purpose of the scheme is to assist Government in implementing restructuring and reform in a strategic and targeted manner. In terms of my own Department, there is currently no Voluntary Redundancy scheme in operation for teachers and none is planned.
However, it should be noted that the Teaching Council Act 2001, as enacted by the Oireachtas, provides for the regulation of the teaching profession. A primary function of the Council is to maintain the register of teachers and to determine the requirements for entry onto the Register. Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act provides that only registered teachers should be paid from Oireachtas-voted funds.
My predecessor as Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, signed the commencement order on 1 November 2013 for section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 to become operational from 28 January 2014. From that date, regulations now govern the limited conditions under which an unregistered person may be employed where a registered teacher is not available.
Circular 52/2013 which was issued by my Department and which is available at the following link http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0052_2013.pdf provided details of the procedures to be followed by school managerial authorities and Education and Training Boards on commencement of section 30 of the Teaching Council Act.
A number of options were made available for people employed as teachers in a permanent/CID capacity in recognised schools who were not eligible for registration and who would be unregistered with the Teaching Council on or after 28 January 2014. These were outlined in Circular letter 52/2013 as follows:
"Where staff cannot be reclassified they will have the option of availing of one of the following:
(a) Teaching Council Non Registration (TCNR) leave, subject to a maximum duration of 6 years, or
(b) Voluntary redundancy in accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreement Redundancy Payments to Public Servants (June 2012), or
(c) Redeployment to non-teacher posts for such persons who are comprehended by the Haddington Road Agreement.
Twelve (12) staff who were employed as teachers in a permanent/CID capacity in recognised schools prior to the introduction of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act on 28 January 2014 opted to avail of the voluntary redundancy option that was made available to them at that time.
115. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of secondary schools without a sports hall, the number that have applied for funding for construction of same; her plans for capital funding for sports halls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4021/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department fully recognises the key role of physical exercise within the school environment and continues to respond to the need to improve PE facilities for all pupils attending schools within the constraints of the available funding.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that the Physical Education curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many post primary schools have a PE hall and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are used for teaching different aspects of the P.E. programme. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
The provision of playspace, where site conditions and circumstances allow, is one of the issues considered in the architectural design of new schools and major extensions. My Department's design guidelines for schools include guidance in the provision of P.E. Halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor hard play areas such as basketball courts.
116. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the provision of new buildings for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the progress of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4060/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the schools in question have applied to my Department for significant funding to undertake major capital works. In this regard, my Department undertook a site visit to the schools and is currently considering the outcome of this visit. My Department expects to be in further contact with the schools regarding their application shortly.
117. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a capital assistance scheme application in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Limerick will be signed off by his Department's inspector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4019/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe implementation of projects under my Department’s Capital Assistance Programme is a matter for each individual local authority.
My Department issued approval in principle to the local authority in July 2012 for this project, subject to it complying with the requirements of the Capital Works Management Framework.
Additional information in connection with this scheme sought by my Department was received from the local authority in late December and is currently under consideration. My Department will be in further contact with the local authority when this correspondence has been fully assessed.
118. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has allocated the planned expansion of social housing across each local authority in the State; the criteria being used to determine the greatest need and to ensure a fair demographic spread of the extra investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3676/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced for social housing in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 in November 2014, which sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of households on the housing list. The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the local authority housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand.
Action 1 of the Strategy requires the agreement of national targets for delivery of social housing on a local authority by local authority basis this year and in subsequent years. Action 4 of the Strategy requires the 4 Dublin local authorities to agree similar targets. Action 1 will be delivered by the Project Board while Action 4 is the responsibility of the Dublin Social Housing Delivery Taskforce. Both actions will be delivered in quarter 1 2015 and to this end both Groups have recently met and have agreed the process on setting targets for each local authority. Consultation with individual Local Authorities is now taking place.
The Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2013 identified 89,872 households assessed by local housing authorities as being eligible and in need of some form of social housing support. The results of this assessment have informed the Project Board, the Dublin Social Housing Delivery Taskforce and local authorities in terms of the target setting process underway. Furthermore, the Strategy commits to the undertaking of the Housing Needs Assessment on an annual basis from 2016 to ensure that social housing supports delivered continue to match the variable profile of those in need. This action will also support the commitment in Construction 2020 that a National Framework for Housing Supply be established to ensure the supply of housing is matched with projected demand.
119. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that community development is provided a separate funding steam away form the SICAP. [3951/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years with funding of €281 million over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional basis until March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in April 2015.
The SICAP is one of my Department’s key priorities. The Programme’s target groups are:
- Children and Families from Disadvantaged Areas
- Lone Parents
- New Communities (including Refugees/Asylum Seekers)
- People living in Disadvantaged Communities
- People with Disabilities
- Roma
- The Unemployed (including those not on the Live Register)
- Travellers
- Young Unemployed People from Disadvantaged areas
Community development is an integral part of SICAP and underpins the entire programme.
In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice, good practice internationally and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of services to clients, SICAP is subject to a public procurement process, which is currently underway.
The public procurement process is a competitive process that is open to Local Development Companies, other not-for-profit community groups, commercial firms and national organisations that can provide the services to be tendered for to deliver the new Programme. The outcome of the procurement process will be known next month.
120. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the funding from the social housing strategy will be provided to Meath County Council in order that it may start to build new homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3954/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provision made for the area in Budget 2015. The overall social housing funding provision for 2015 has been increased by in excess of €200 million, with capital funding increasing by €180 million, which will allow for significant expansion in social housing provision. The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. Importantly, the Strategy restores the State to a central role in the provision of social housing.
The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units , through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand. In committing to provide these 35,000 new social housing units, at a projected cost of €3.8 billion, the strategy marks a fresh start for social housing in Ireland.
Actions 1 and 4 of the Strategy require the agreement of national targets for delivery of social housing across local authorities in 2015 and in subsequent years. The Project Board responsible for oversight of the delivery of actions and targets under the Social Housing Strategy, and the Dublin Social Housing Delivery Taskforce have each agreed a process on setting social housing delivery targets. The allocation of funding to local authorities, in the context of the increased funding now available, will be based on the targets that are set and the plans of individual authorities to deliver on those targets. Consultation with individual local authorities in this regard is currently taking place.
