Written Answers Nos. 101-120
101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when jobseeker's allowance will issue in the case of a person (details suplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32473/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the records of this Department, the person concerned has no jobseeker's allowance claim registered and there is no record of a claim being submitted.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum payment in respect of disability allowance and disability benefit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32474/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe maximum weekly personal rate of both disability allowance and illness benefit is €188.00. The maximum personal rate of invalidity pension is €193.50.
The lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 17 December 2015. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 10 November 2016. Any arrears due from 17 December 2015 to 9 November 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 25 October 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the full extent of entitlement to the contributory State pension based on their contributions in respect of employment and self-employment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32475/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned will reach the age of eligibility for State pension (contributory) in April 2017. A claim form has been sent to him. On receipt of his completed application, his entitlement to pension will be fully examined and he will be notified of the outcome without delay. Periods of social insurance from employment and self-employment will be taken into account in the assessment of his pension entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
104. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal by a person (detail supplied). [32488/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
105. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32493/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from this man on 11 October 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the man will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
106. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the proposed relocation of Seanad Éireann to the ceramic room of the National Museum; the planning requirements for such a move; if he will liaise with colleagues in the Upper House on a more suitable location for the duration of the refurbishment works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32413/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently, the House of the Oireachtas and the National Museum of Ireland are in discussions regarding the proposed temporary use of the Ceramics Room for the relocation of Seanad Éireann while works are being undertaken at Historic Leinster House. Once these discussions have concluded and the final arrangements are confirmed, the process for the relocation of the Seanad Chamber from its current location in Historic Leinster House will commence, this process taking full cognisance of any and all obligations of prevailing planning legislation.
As the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has no function in the determination or management of the accommodation requirements of the Houses of the Oireachtas or of the National Museum of Ireland, it would not be appropriate for him to comment on the matter.
107. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered bringing the role of the Director of Public Prosecutions under the Public Service Management Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32416/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 2(1) of the Public Service Management Act 1997 and Part I of the Schedule to the Act provide for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to be subject to the Act, subject to the written consent of the office holder - in this case the Director of Public Prosecutions. Any such consent would be binding in respect of any subsequent holder of the office concerned. Section 2(2) of the Act also provides for a number of exemptions to the Act for the public bodies specified in Part I of the Schedule to the Act, including the DPP's Office.
To date, none of the holders of the position of DPP has consented to the application of the Act to their Office. I understand, however, that the current Director has continued the practice of her predecessor of applying the principles underlying the Act and procedures set out therein, insofar as she can do this, on an administrative basis.
108. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the inaugural meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum. [31700/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 34 on 19 October 2016.
109. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will provide a breakdown of the staff complement of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, excluding personal details; the total number of staff; if she will provide a breakdown of positions held and area of expertise; and the level of qualification in relation to the role held. [32419/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the total number of staff currently working in the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is 283. In addition, my Department recruits a number of seasonal staff each year to meet demand during the busy tourist season at the National Parks. A number of fixed-term contract workers are also employed by my Department at present on two EU LIFE projects - the restoration of Active Raised Bogs and the Kerry LIFE project.
I am advised that all personnel in scientific and technical posts in NPWS meet the requisite qualifications for those posts, and indeed many have acquired additional professional skills and accreditations, both before and since being recruited by my Department. My Department actively supports staff seeking to engage in appropriate further educational and training opportunities and encourages this through its learning and development programme.
The table below outlines a breakdown of the 283 NPWS staff referred to above.
|
Administrative staff |
Non-Administrative staff |
||
|
Position Held |
No. |
Position Held |
No. |
|
Principal Officer |
4 |
Divisional Manager |
4 |
|
Assistant Principal |
10 |
Wildlife Inspector Grade 1 |
4 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
17 |
Wildlife Inspector Grade 2 |
7 |
|
Executive Officer |
17 |
Regional Manager |
7 |
|
Staff Officer |
3 |
GIS Manager |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
31 |
Wildlife Inspector Grade 3 |
6 |
|
Deputy Regional Manager |
2 |
||
|
Divisional Ecologist |
4 |
||
|
District Conservation Officer |
17 |
||
|
Conservation Ranger |
64 |
||
|
GIS Technician |
2 |
||
|
Superviser Guide |
3 |
||
|
Head Guide |
6 |
||
|
Visitor Guide |
11 |
||
|
Education Guide |
1 |
||
|
Store and Office Superviser |
2 |
||
|
Storekeeper Grade 1 |
5 |
||
|
Storekeeper Clerk in Charge |
6 |
||
|
Craftsman |
9 |
||
|
Craft Foreman |
4 |
||
|
Craft Chargehand |
2 |
||
|
Foreman Grade 1 |
1 |
||
|
Foreman Grade 3 |
4 |
||
|
General Operative Band 2 |
21 |
||
|
General Operative Band 3 |
8 |
||
|
Total |
82 |
Total |
201 |
|
Grand Total |
283 |
110. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she is satisfied that the mandate for the Arts Council is being fulfilled with regard to funding, developing and promoting Irish traditional music, in view of the fact she has responsibility for the appointment of 12 members and a chair to An Chomhairle Ealaíon; and if she is satisfied that representation at board level has the necessary expertise in the art forms of traditional music and song, while recognising an arms-length principle. [32426/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council, which is the main channel of State current expenditure on the arts. The mandate of the Arts Council includes traditional music. The strategic context for the Arts Council’s support of artforms and arts practice, including all forms of music, is set out in its Strategy Statement Making Great Art Work. This sets out the Council’s plans to lead the development of the arts in the decade to 2025.
I was pleased to secure significant additional funding for the Arts Council as part of Budget 2017. This will see an increase in the Arts Council allocation of €5m, or 8%, and will allow the Council to enhance support to artists and arts organisations.
It should be noted that there are currently 6 vacancies on the Arts Council. The process for selecting the new members of the Arts Council, in line with that for all State Board appointments, is being managed by the Public Appointments Service.
111. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on a recent claim that the Arts Council has displayed a remarkable indifference to opera's long-term development. [32449/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Arts Council is the primary State agency for funding the arts, and in this regard, I was pleased to secure significant additional funding for it as part of Budget 2017. This will see an increase in the Arts Council allocation of €5m, or 8%, and will allow the Council to enhance support to artists and arts organisations.
The strategic context for the Arts Council’s support of all artforms and arts practice, including opera, is set out in its Strategy Statement Making Great Art Work. This sets out the Council’s plans to lead the development of the arts in the decade to 2025. The Arts Council has also published its policy on opera, which is available at http://www.artscouncil.ie/Arts-in-Ireland/Opera/.
I understand that the Council’s approach is rooted in supporting and enabling opera artists and practitioners to connect with the public, and that it intends to deliver on this policy by supporting indigenous production and presentation of opera and by direct support of individual opera artists and practitioners. The Arts Council is, of course, statutorily independent in relation to the performance of its functions regarding funding of the arts.
112. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will consider an extension of the deadline by which notice must be given to lodge an external appeal against the inclusion of lands in the Connemara bog complex proposed special area of conservation, due to the long delay in communicating to turf cutters the process for lodging such an appeal. [32454/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the completion of a Departmental review of an objection to the proposed designation of a site as a special protection area or special area of conservation, landowners and occupiers may opt to take their cases to the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board. This is an independently chaired Board, which makes recommendations to me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, on such cases. The appeals process includes the production of an appropriate scientific report and an oral hearing. I have no input as Minister to the deliberations of the Board.
Appeals against the inclusion of land within the Connemara Bog Complex proposed Special Protection Area are scheduled to be heard by the Board. I understand that the secretary of the Board recently advised all the appellants that the appeals relate to the Connemara Bog Complex Special Protection Area, rather than to the Connemara Bog Complex Special Area of Conservation. The deadline for appeals in relation to the special area of conservation site expired some years ago.
Unless an appellant decides to withdraw an appeal against the proposed inclusion of land within the Connemara Bog Complex Special Protection Area, I understand that the secretary of the Board will again write to all appellants to outline the next steps in the appeals process itself, including in relation to the timeline for the production of the scientific report.
113. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a decision has been approved to increase the extended mooring fee from €278 to €1,260 per annum for the Grand Canal area at Sallins, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32491/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Canals Act, 1986, (Bye-laws) 1988 set out the tolls and charges for use of the Royal Canal, Grand Canal and Barrow Navigation.
Waterways Ireland has developed draft amended bye-laws for the Royal Canal, Grand Canal and Barrow Navigation which propose changes in the charging for moorings in key locations. The maximum charge under the current bye-laws for use of a boat on the canals for a year and for an extended mooring for a year is €278.
The proposed new bye-laws provide for the management of house boats, extended moorings and residential moorings. They will also modernise the charging regime which has remained unchanged for almost a quarter of a century.
My Department is currently progressing within the Heritage Bill 2016 amendments to the Canals Act 1986 so as to allow for the subsequent making of bye-laws to regulate boating on the canals and to manage the use of the canals. The proposed changes would allow Waterways Ireland to make new bye-laws to proactively manage the Royal and Grand Canals, as well as the Barrow Navigation. Once this is complete, Waterways Ireland will bring forward the proposed bye-laws for consideration.
114. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil cúnamh ar fáil le ranganna Gaeilge a chur ar siúl in áit (sonraí tugtha); má tá, cén eagraíocht ar cheart teagmháil a dhéanamh léi faoi seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [32054/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá cuid de na bailte fearainn sa Thoghroinn Cheantair atá luaite ag an Teachta laistigh den Ghaeltacht. Sa chás sin, is féidir go mbeadh cúnamh nó comhairle ar fáil ó Údarás na Gaeltachta, a bhfuil scéim ar leith acu chun tacú le heagraíochtaí agus le coistí i ndáil le ranganna Gaeilge a eagrú sa Ghaeltacht.
Más ranganna lasmuigh de na ceantair Ghaeltachta atá i gceist, is féidir go mbeadh cúnamh nó comhairle ar fail ó Fhoras na Gaeilge agus ó na ceanneagraíochtaí cuí faoina scáth, eadhon, Conradh na Gaeilge, Gael Linn agus Glór na nGael.
Is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil nó teagmháil a dhéanamh leis na heagraíochtaí thuasluaite ar na suíomhanna gréasáin seo a leanas: Údarás na Gaeltachta, www.udarasnagaeltachta.ie; Foras na Gaeilge, www.forasnagaeilge.ie; Conradh na Gaeilge, www.cnag.ie; Gael-Linn, www.gael-linn.ie; Glór na nGael, www.glornangael.ie.
115. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to have the necessary support put in place for a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is due to be discharged from hospital and convalescence care shortly [32352/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
116. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32355/16]
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.
117. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the details of patients on waiting lists for the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital for outpatient appointments, inpatient procedures and other lists, who have been waiting for six months, 12 months, one year, two years and more than two years, broken down by speciality, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32357/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is responsible for the collection, collation and publication of Inpatient and Day Case waiting lists. Waiting list information is published on the NTPF website at the end of each month. The information is presented in different report formats, i.e. by National/Trend, by Hospital/Group, and by Specialty on www.ntpf.ie.
In relation to the specific query raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
118. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the details of patients on waiting lists for Cappagh hospital for outpatient appointments, inpatient procedures and other lists, who have been waiting for six months, 12 months, one year, two years and more than two years, broken down by speciality, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32358/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is responsible for the collection, collation and publication of Inpatient and Day Case waiting lists. Waiting list information is published on the NTPF website at the end of each month. The information is presented in different report formats, i.e. by National/Trend, by Hospital/Group, and by Specialty on www.ntpf.ie.
In relation to the specific query raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
119. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the details of patients on waiting lists for the Mater hospital for outpatient appointments, inpatient procedures and other lists, who have been waiting for six months, 12 months, one year, two years and more than two years, broken down by speciality, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32359/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is responsible for the collection, collation and publication of Inpatient and Day Case waiting lists. Waiting list information is published on the NTPF website at the end of each month. The information is presented in different report formats, i.e. by National/Trend, by Hospital/Group, and by Specialty on www.ntpf.ie.
In relation to the specific query raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
120. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the protocols in hospitals to deal with persons who are homeless and, upon discharge, have no home to go to recuperate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32360/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
