Written Answers Nos. 175-186
175. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be made available to address a flooding threat at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27924/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a matter for Kerry County Council (KCC) in the first instance to investigate and address issues of coastal protection and flooding at the location indicated. If, following assessment, KCC can identify any economically and environmentally viable measures to address the flooding problem at this location it is open to KCC to undertake any required remedial works using its own resources. Alternatively, it may apply for funding to carry out proposed works under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding for flood risk management. Application forms and related guidelines are available on the OPW website under Flood Risk Management. http://www.opw.ie/en/floodriskmanagement/operations/minorfloodworkscoastalprotectionscheme/.
176. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current totals in the Thirty-second Dáil paid to individual Independent Deputies under the category, leader's allowance, or any subsequent equivalent category name; if the monthly amounts involved have been increased since the Thirty-first Dáil; if the amounts available to Independent Deputies differ depending on circumstances; if so, the reason; if these payments must be vouched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27937/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would refer the Deputy to my Department's website at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/supports-to-the-democratic-process/parliamentary-activities-allowance/ where the information sought has been published.
177. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he is taking to satisfy himself that accurate information was furnished to his Department in respect of the appointment of the chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland; the basis upon which the said appointment proceeded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27945/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the fact that appropriate and necessary ministerial consent provided by him, which permitted the reappointment of the chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, may have been made on the basis of facts which did not accord with the reality of the situation whereby there was no board approval made by HRI on 21 July 2016 or any other date; if, in that context, his views on whether he might have been misled concerning such approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27946/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, in respect of the appointment of the chief executive officer of any organisation, it is critical that the board would submit their approval concerning such appointment to the relevant Minister; if, in respect of the reappointment of the chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland, it was made clear that the request of ministerial sanction and consent was subject to the advice of the board of duly appointed directors signalling their agreement to such appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27947/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 179, inclusive, together.
The appointment of the Chief Executive is a matter for the Board of Horse Racing Ireland under the relevant legislation.
The Board of Horse Racing Ireland formally reappointed the Chief Executive Officer on the 21st of July on terms and conditions approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
180. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the reappointment of the chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland clearly breached the Government guidelines as set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which specified strict time limits of the duration for time in which the CEO of a commercial semi-State body should serve; if, in the context of the reappointment of the chief executive officer for Horse Racing Ireland, this was clearly breached insofar as at the end of this contract period they would have served in excess 19 years, which is clearly not in accordance with the prescribed guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27948/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my answer to PQ Ref 25170/16 on the 15.09.2016.
Generally, the Chief Executive Officer of commercial state bodies is appointed by the Board and holds office on terms and conditions determined by the Board with the consent of the relevant Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Guidelines on Contracts, Remuneration and Other Conditions of Chief Executives and Senior Management of Commercial State Bodies issued in 2006 provided general guidance at that time on remuneration, contracts, performance related pay and related matters for newly appointed Chief Executives of commercial state bodies. However, terms and conditions of appointment remain a matter in each case for consent by the line Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of policy developments on the remuneration and conditions applicable to CEO appointees the terms of which have been revised significantly from the 2006 guidelines in light of the national financial constraints.
The recently published (effective 1 September 2016) updated Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies includes current guidelines on the contractual terms and conditions of appointment for CEOs in commercial state bodies. The Code provides that the term of a contract of a CEO in such bodies is normally limited to a single contract period of between five and seven years. Notwithstanding this provision there is however no maximum length of service specified for CEOs in such contractual arrangements.
181. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Departments position in relation to the following INTERREG and PEACE cross-Border projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27964/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe projects referred to by the Deputy all relate to the INTERREG Programme, which has a total value of €283 million over the period 2014-2020 and which is 85% funded by the European Union.
While all of the projects have been the subject of an assessment process led by the Special EU Programmes Body, uncertainty surrounds the availability of EU funding as a consequence of the UK decision to leave the EU. My officials are working to address the financial, legal and technical issues that arise to ensure that programme beneficiaries can be made robust offers of funding that will survive the impact of Brexit.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains firmly committed to the full implementation of both the PEACE and INTERREG programmes.
182. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Office of Government Procurement, OGP, has cancelled the tendering process for interpretation and translation services; when the tendering process will commence for translation services by the OGP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28013/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Interpretation Services framework was established in February 2016. There are 3 framework suppliers. The Translation Services framework was established in March 2016. There are 6 framework suppliers. Both frameworks are for the provision of services in respect of some 90 languages and are both are still in place.
Draw down from both the Interpretation Services framework and the Translation Services framework is by way of supplementary request for tender (SRFT) amongst framework members. SRFT award criteria are based on a combination of quality and price.
One SRFT for Interpretation Services has been cancelled pursuant to clause 6.5 of the Framework Agreement. This clause allows for cancellation at any stage of the process in advance of the award of contract. As there was a question as to the process, it was deemed appropriate to cancel the SRFT in the interest of timely delivery of services to the public. This does not affect the status of the Frameworks which are still in place. A new SRFT to replace the one cancelled under the Interpretation Services Framework will issue in the coming weeks.
183. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will outline her efforts on behalf of the post office network in budget 2017 negotiations; if she will seek a major funding increase for the network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27918/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe post office network includes approximately 1,130 post offices, which are either owned by An Post, or contracted to An Post for the delivery of services. An Post is a commercial State body that generates its income from its business operations, including through the provision of various services for Government Departments and agencies. The company does not currently receive financial support from the Exchequer outside of the funding it receives for the provision of those services.
The postal sector has been undergoing systemic change both nationally and internationally in recent years, with the increased use of electronic communications leading to the decline in core mail volumes year on year. In recognition of this changing business environment, the Post Office Network Business Development Group, chaired by Mr. Bobby Kerr, was established in late 2014 to examine the potential for new and existing Government services to be transacted through the post office network, and to identify new business opportunities for the network.
The final report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group, which was published in January of this year, made a number of recommendations to support the future sustainability of post offices. These include recommendations in relation to the renewal of the post office network, the development of a basic payment account, the provision of motor tax services, and the creation of hubs around which local economic and social activity could revolve. The report also recommended that An Post should, following appropriate consultation with postmasters and others, review and amend the five-year strategy for the post office network.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to acting on the recommendations in the report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group. A number of Working Groups have been established to progress the recommendations, including through the establishment of a Network Renewal Implementation Group, which is being independently chaired by Mr. Kerr. This Group is examining the number and spatial distribution of post offices, branch modernisation, the streamlining of products and services, postmaster payments and contracts, and training and qualifications for post office employees.
I have separately established the Post Office Hub Working Group, to identify potential models under which the post offices could act as community hubs, especially in rural areas. My officials are also examining the potential for the post offices to deliver services such as Motor Tax payments and a basic payment account.
The Government is therefore taking a range of measures to support the post office network to adapt to the changed business environment in which it operates. The network will, however, continue to operate within the context of An Post’s commercial mandate.
184. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will assess the budget submission from Nexus Arts (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27846/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received this submission and it is being considered. In this regard, it should be noted that the Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work progressively to increase funding to the arts, including funding to the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy improves.
I assure the Deputy that I am engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in the context of the forthcoming Estimates and budgetary processes.
185. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the full cost of the arts budget in 2016; and the cost of increasing arts funding to 0.6% of GDP. [28031/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMore than €188 million is being provided in 2016 for the arts, culture and film sector, an increase of 20% on the figure for 2015. In addition, a further €6.158 million is provided for 2016 by way of a capital carry-over.
A key driver of the increase in funding for the arts and in cultural expenditure in my Department in 2016 is the ongoing Commemorations Programme. The allocation in 2016 is almost €49 million, including €31 million in capital and €18 million in current expenditure.
The capital allocation of almost €31 million for commemorations, supplemented by €6.158 million in carryover from 2015, has provided for a number of flagship projects or permanent reminders that are being progressed this year.
Funding for 2016 has also supported projects which form part of the Ireland 2016 commemorative programme. In addition, the major refurbishment of the National Gallery of Ireland continues in 2016 as well as an investment of more than €39 million this year in our national cultural institutions.
The important and valuable work of the Arts Council has also been recognised. This is reflected in the 2016 current allocation of more than €60 million, which is an increase of €1.2 million over the 2015 allocation. Funding of €5.5 million is provided in 2016 for Culture Ireland, which includes €3 million for "I am Ireland", or "Mise Éire", the Culture Ireland international programme that forms part of the Ireland 2016 centenary programme.
The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. I assure the Deputy that I am engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in the context of the forthcoming Estimates and budgetary processes.
I understand that the Deputy's reference to a figure of 0.6% of GDP is an extrapolation from a Council of Europe research project called Compendium - Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe. Compendium collects figures on expenditure on culture in some European countries. I understand that many European countries including ten EU member states are not included in the figures. The data for the Compendium project are provided by independent researchers and it is not a standardised system for collection of statistics. Apparently the Compendium itself warns that data provided by the researchers are not comparable across countries because each researcher includes different elements in the definition of culture and these elements are reflected in the figures for public expenditure. For example, local authority expenditure on the arts, artists exemption tax relief, expenditure on public service broadcasting and the Irish language are all examples of elements not included in the Council of Europe figures for Ireland but included in the figures for some other countries.
Expenditure on the arts in Ireland comes from multiple sources, both public and private. I understand that the CSO does not produce national statistics that capture the totality of this expenditure as a percentage of GDP.
As I have previously stated, I consider that further research on this issue is warranted. The issue of a definition of culture and of capturing public expenditure on culture is an element of the draft Framework Policy Éire Ildánach/Culture 2025 which I forwarded to the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in July.
186. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise investment in community and home-based care for persons suffering with Alzheimer's disease in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27875/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra200. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health his plans to invest in home-based care to support and enable persons with dementia to remain living at home in budget 2017; and his views on whether an initial investment in the budget is necessary of at least over €50 million which then must be built yearly. [27843/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra205. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on the call by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland to increase home care funding for those with dementia by €67 million in 2017; if he will increase funding for home care for those with dementia to provide support for them and their families and to avoid persons entering residential care where not appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27870/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra207. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise investment in community and home-based care for persons suffering with Alzheimer's disease in the context of his Department's discussions on budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27876/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 200, 205 and 207 together.
The Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014, with the objective of increasing awareness, ensuring early diagnosis and intervention and developing enhanced community based services.
In parallel with the Strategy the Department of Health and the HSE have agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to implement significant elements of the Strategy over the period 2014-2017. This Implementation Programme represents a combined investment of €27.5m, with the Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12m and the HSE €15.5m.
Key elements of the initiative include the roll-out of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Home Care Packages for people with dementia valued at €22.1 million over a three year period; the provision of additional dementia-specific resources for GPs, to include training materials and guidance on local services and contact points valued at €1.2 million; measures to raise public awareness, address stigma and promote the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia valued at €2.7 million.
The roll out of Intensive Home Care packages commenced in January 2015 and monitoring of the allocation and uptake of these packages to persons with dementia is ongoing. To date 133 people living with dementia have benefited under the funding allocated from the National Dementia Implementation Programme at an average cost of €1,000 per package per week. There are currently 85 people with dementia in receipt of an Intensive Home Care Package. In addition to the Intensive Home Care Packages the HSE will continue to provide mainstream home help and routine Home Care packages to people with dementia whose needs have been assessed as requiring these supports and within available resources. Up to 500 people with dementia and their families are expected to benefit from Intensive Home Care Packages over the lifetime of the implementation programme.
It is Government policy that, wherever possible and appropriate, people should be cared for in their own homes and communities, and the National Dementia Strategy specifically restates this commitment to those living with dementia.
The HSE’s National Service Plan for 2016 provides for a target of 10.4 million Home Help Hours to support about 47,800 people. It also provides for 15,450 Home Care Packages and 130 Intensive Home Care Packages for clients with complex needs. A further 60 clients with dementia will be supported with co-funding from Atlantic Philanthropies under the Irish National Dementia Strategy.
Home support services across the country are being stretched by demands from more people, and for more hours at times outside of core hours, in the evenings and at weekends, all of which cost more. Activity in the first quarter of 2016 was ahead of the same period last year as efforts continued to alleviate pressure on the acute hospital system.
The Government has been able to respond to this demand by providing an extra €40m for home care in 2016. This will ensure that the home support services provided in 2015 are maintained and that the rate of service allocation can be maintained during the summer months. €10m of this money has been ring fenced for home care as part of the new winter initiative. The targets for 2016 will be reviewed in light of these additional resources.
The Programme for a Partnership Government also commits to increasing provision for home care in the years ahead. While the proposal from the Alzheimer Society will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Estimates exercise for 2017, at this stage I cannot predict what the outcome of that consideration will be.
