Written Answers Nos. 111-121
111. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will support the placement of community gardaí in areas with high incidences of anti-social behaviour (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18092/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that it is the policy of An Garda Síochána to deploy personnel to establish a highly visible and accessible service to communities to tackle crime, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. Community policing is a central feature and core value of policing policy and current policing strategies are predicated on the prevention of crime, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. In this regard local Community Gardaí engage with residents, businesses and schools and address any issues that arise.
As the Deputy will be aware the deployment of policing resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, I have, however, requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the specific matter referred to and I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.
112. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the right of persons with visual impairment to have access to pedestrian pavements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18093/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that I have no direct role in operational road traffic enforcement which is principally a matter for An Garda Síochána. I can, however, assure the Deputy that one of An Garda Síochána's strategic objectives is to provide a safe environment for all road users, including pedestrians, and I have brought the Deputy's particular concerns regarding parking on footpaths at the locations in question to the attention of the Garda authorities.
113. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on when the new closed-circuit television camera scheme promised for the general Finglas area in Dublin 11 will be installed, and become operational. [18096/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two distinct categories: Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems.
A community-based CCTV Scheme was launched in 2005. This scheme provided financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of a local community CCTV system. Two major rounds of funding were advertised under that scheme. I am advised by Pobal, who administered the scheme on behalf of my Department, that no applications were received under the two previous rounds of funding under the Community Scheme for the Finglas area.
The current position is that all available funding provided under the previous two rounds has been fully allocated and there are currently no plans to further extend the Scheme. However, the matter will continue to be kept under ongoing review in the context of overall policy considerations and the availability of funding.
Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of An Garda Síochána's identified operational needs and priorities. Accordingly, decisions in relation to the introduction or extension of such systems are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I am advised by the Garda authorities that current Garda CCTV arrangements are kept under ongoing review in the context of An Garda Síochána's operational requirements.
In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that proposals to extend the existing Garda CCTV system in Finglas are currently being examined.
114. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to the Exchequer of the payment of increments to all public sector staff under her remit per year since 2008. [18335/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to disaggregate the cost of increments from the overall pay bill. However, I can inform the Deputy that the number of increments awarded to staff of my Department is set out as follows:
|
Year |
Number of staff in receipt of an increment |
|
2008 |
1523 |
|
2009 |
1597 |
|
2010 |
1335 |
|
2011 |
1191 |
|
2012 |
1069 |
|
2013 |
913 |
|
2014 |
655 |
|
2015 (to date) |
191 |
As the Deputy will be aware, increments are awarded subject to satisfactory performance and attendance.
115. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding an adoption agreement between Ireland and Russia; the progress that has been made on the issue to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17943/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when it is expected that a bilateral deal will be concluded with Russia in respect of the adoption of children to Ireland from that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18081/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.
Efforts are ongoing in my Department in relation to a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation. It was intended to visit Russia in January of this year. However it has been decided to liaise with officials in the Ministry of Education and Science in Russia to ensure that Irish proposals in regard the provision of post placement reports are acceptable to the Russian Federation.
The Irish Constitution protects the integrity of family life and that once adopted in Ireland the child is treated in the same way as other Irish children. This means that the ability of the State to intervene in a family, when a child’s welfare and protection is not compromised, is limited. The Department has advised the Russian Federation of this Constitutional imperative in instances where families, who had given commitments to the Russian authorities in regard to the provision of post placement reports, fail to adhere to those commitments. In these instances the State has no legislative power to enforce compliance with the commitments given by Irish families, legal or otherwise, to provide post placement reports. It is imperative that this matter is fully addressed so as to ensure that further discussions on other aspects of the bilateral agreement are beneficial.
117. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost to the Exchequer of the payment of increments to all public sector staff under his remit per year since 2008. [18328/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFigures for the cost to the Exchequer of payment of increments to staff within my Department since its establishment in 2011 are currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as they become available.
As the costs in respect of agencies under the auspices of my Department are not routinely compiled by my Department, I have requested that the agencies supply the requested information directly to the Deputy. As the Child and Family Agency was established in January 2014, it will only be in a position to supply the Deputy with the information with effect from that date.
118. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) may expect to be provided with necessary treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17905/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.
119. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to address a Labour Court agreement in respect of €7.5 million owed to 400 social care workers in counties Galway and Roscommon in twilight premium time payments, which extends over an eight-year period and which is not being honoured due to the Health Service Executive pleading inability to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17959/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has advised that following a national engagement with staff representatives, agreement was made by the HSE to pay unsocial hours to designated staff.
This payment commenced on 1 January 2015 and no agreement was made in relation to arrears.
Currently the issue of a backdated claim for arrears is being reviewed by the State’s industrial relations processes and the claim is currently before the Labour Relations Commission.
120. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the dental treatments that are provided for under the free dental scheme for low-income families who have a general medical services card; and if he will provide an update on the matter. [18021/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides access to dental treatment for adult medical card holders. The service is provided by contracted dentists. The HSE prioritises for treatment patients with special needs, high risk patients and those who have greater clinical needs. A free oral examination every calendar year and free emergency dental treatment with a focus on relief of pain and sepsis are available to all eligible patients, regardless of their medical condition. This includes 2 fillings per year, all extractions, including surgical extractions, and a number of complex treatments.
121. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to a company (details supplied) in Dublin 6 for transport services in each of the past three years; the amount estimated that will be paid in respect of transport services at a hospital for the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17904/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
