Written Answers Nos. 198-210
200. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of new State bodies and agencies under his remit that have been established since February 2011; the number of such bodies subject to a sunset clause; the number of new public bodies currently being planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41271/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo new statutory bodies or agencies have been established under the aegis of my Department since February 2011. There are no new bodies currently being planned.
201. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding allocated to emigrants and the diaspora for 2016. [40958/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish.
Over €135 million has been provided to organisations dealing with Irish emigrants since the establishment of the Emigrant Support Programme in 2004.
A total of €11.6 million has been allocated to the Emigrant Support Programme, in the Department of Foreign Affairs for 2016. It is anticipated that the grant round will open early in 2016 with decisions on funding for 2016 taken by July next year (the ESP funding year runs from July – June). Additional funding of €1 million has been allocated to the Department of the Taoiseach for diaspora related expenditure in 2016.
Details of all organisations who have previously received funding under the Emigrant Support Programme are available on my Department’s website at https://www.dfa.ie/our-role-policies/the-irish-abroad/emigrant-support-programme/.
202. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total funding allocated to organisations (details supplied) for 2016. [40959/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish.
A total of €11.595 million has been allocated to the Emigrant Support Programme for 2016. The funding cycle for the Programme runs from July – June annually and decisions on 2016 funding will only be made mid-year next year.
However, for the Deputy’s information, I am setting out as follows the funding that was awarded to these organisations in 2015:
|
Organisations |
Funding Awarded |
|
Irish in Britain |
GB£405,000 |
|
London Irish Centre |
GB£429,000 |
|
Aisling Project |
GB£95,000 |
|
Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres |
US$68,000 |
|
Irish Australian Support and Resource Bureau, Melbourne |
AUD $170,000 |
|
Irish Australian Welfare Bureau & Resource Centre, New South Wales |
AUD $202,500 |
Please note also that, in line with a commitment outlined in Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy, Irish in Britain was the first organisation to receive multi-annual funding from the Emigrant Support Programme this year. In addition to their 2015 grant as outlined above, they have also been provided with indicative funding for the following two years based on a Service Level Agreement.
203. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting, with particular reference to the terrible atrocities committed recently in Paris in France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40986/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels on 16 November.
The Council took place in the shadow of the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday night. At noon, Foreign Ministers joined people across Europe in observing a minute’s silence in memory of those killed.
I also personally conveyed the condolences of the Irish people to France’s representative at the Council, Minister of State for European Affairs, Harlem Désir, saying that Ireland stood in solidarity with the people of France at this time of great difficulty and mourning. As Minister Désir himself pointed out, the French people were the ones attacked, but the whole of Europe, its values and freedoms are threatened, and European solidarity and cohesion are vital to the response. I stressed the Irish Government’s continuing commitment to working with France and EU partners to protect Europe’s citizens and safeguard our values against further terrorist attacks.
In the discussion on migration, Member States stressed the importance of not linking the issues of migration and terrorism. As regards the EU’s engagement with Turkey, there was general agreement that Turkey is an important strategic partner for the European Union across the broad range of international cooperation, including migration. There was also unanimous welcome for the outcome of the Valletta Summit, where it was agreed to establish a Trust Fund to address the root causes of migration in Africa.
The Council also discussed the Middle East Peace Process, in particular the recent visits of HRVP Mogherini and EU Special Representative Gentilini, which explored the possibility for a resumption of political talks at this time. Ministers also discussed the unrest and violence during the last two months, and also the publication by the European Commission of an interpretative notice on indications of origin of produce from Israeli settlements. In my intervention, I addressed the violence on the ground, the need for a response wider than just security measures, which would address also the underlying issues. I also stressed the need for concrete actions and improvements, particularly in relation to Gaza and to Area C. The discussion is expected to continue at the December Council.
The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, also briefed Foreign Ministers on the outcome of the discussions of the International Support Group in Vienna on Saturday 14 November and the prospects for a political resolution to the conflict.
204. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the raid on a hospital in Hebron in Palestine by Israeli security forces that resulted in the death of a Palestinian man. [41043/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra205. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the raid by Israeli security forces on a hospital in Hebron in Palestine that resulted in the death of a Palestinian man with the Israeli authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41044/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.
While the circumstances around this event are unclear, I am very concerned about such an operation taking place in a hospital and there are clearly questions to be answered in that regard.
In the present tense and dangerous circumstances in the area, I have made clear that any security actions need to be proportionate and carefully judged, lest they inflame the situation further.
I have already had these concerns conveyed to the Israeli authorities at a senior diplomatic level.
206. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for details of all instances from 1 January 2000 to 2015 to date where legislation introduced by him or on his behalf, which is enacted and still in force, contains a provision amending the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose towards another specific purpose, in tabular form; the financial cost of creating and administering such databases, by case; the projected financial cost for databases not yet complete; the specific legislative provision which enabled such data transfers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41138/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not introduced any such legislation since 1 January 2000 to date.
207. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of defined benefit pension schemes currently listed for employees under his remit; the number that are in deficit; his plans to consolidate any of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41290/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to staff of my Department, the calculation and payment of superannuation benefits is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Staff of the former Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO) were integrated into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2003. Two former APSO staff and a spouse of a deceased APSO staff member are in receipt of public sector pensions paid by my Department.
In my Department, there are no defined benefit pension schemes in deficit.
208. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for a major extension at a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40916/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, I announced details on Tuesday, 17th November last, of the major school building projects that are scheduled to proceed to construction over the next six years, as part of the Government's €2.8 billion capital investment programme. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a project for the school to which she refers was included in this announcement. Information in respect of all schools included in the Six Year Programme is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.
209. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a person (details supplied) from County Longford to Student Universal Support Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40920/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra223. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Longford to Student Universal Support Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41127/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 223 together.
As 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. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe.
210. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding school funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40980/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department will review the application of the appeals process in relation to the school referred to by the Deputy and revert to the school should there be a requirement.
