Written answers Nos. 623-643
623. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the delay in the processing of Garda vetting for early childhood professionals, which can take in excess of ten weeks; if she has raised this with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality; if priority will be given in view of the importance of vetting in this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2555/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that there have been difficulties in relation to obtaining vetting disclosures for early years staff. I understand that these difficulties do not relate to the National Vetting Bureau, but to administrative procedures associated with processing applications. My Department provides funding to two organisations, Early Childhood Ireland and Barnardos, to process vetting applications for the early years sector. I have provided additional funding to both organisations to assist the clearance of the backlog of vetting applications that built up during the changeover from paper to e-vetting. In addition, officials from my Department will be meeting with both organisations this week to discuss the administration of vetting applications, with the objective of endeavouring to ensure that the process works as efficiently as possible in the interest of early years services and the children attending those services.
624. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of concerns regarding children lodged by sports clubs to Tusla in the past five years. [2658/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that data on the number of concerns regarding children lodged by sports clubs is not presently collected. As required under Section 8 of the Child Care Act 1991, my Department also receives the annual 'Review of Adequacy' report compiled and published by Tusla, which reviews the adequacy of the child and family services provided by the Agency. This Report includes a breakdown of the source of referral which was first included in 2013. Figures are available by source of referral for 2013, 2014 and 2015 as set out in the following table. Figures for 2016 are not yet available.
Table 1: Combined Total of Child Protection (Abuse) and Child Welfare Referrals 2013 - 2015 By Source
|
Combined Total of Child Protection (Abuse) and Child Welfare Referrals |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
An Garda Síochána |
7,714 |
8,645 |
10,282 |
|
Tulsa/HSE: Non-Designated Officers |
6,106 |
6,223 |
6,471 |
|
School |
4,456 |
5,114 |
4,999 |
|
Parent/Guardian |
3,828 |
4,330 |
4,039 |
|
Tulsa/HSE: Designated Officers |
3,492 |
3,976 |
4,004 |
|
Voluntary Agency |
2,660 |
3,154 |
3,544 |
|
Other Sources |
2,212 |
2,626 |
2,113 |
|
Anonymous |
2,101 |
2,163 |
2,108 |
|
Other Family Member |
1,487 |
1,627 |
1,544 |
|
Member of the Public |
1,191 |
1,297 |
1,180 |
|
General Practitioner |
1,064 |
1,276 |
1,200 |
|
Government Agency/Dept. |
590 |
968 |
749 |
|
Local Authority |
505 |
491 |
463 |
|
Self-Referral |
290 |
433 |
301 |
|
Courts Section 20 |
292 |
294 |
344 |
|
Probation Service |
133 |
153 |
135 |
|
Foreign National Services |
107 |
101 |
101 |
|
Total Referrals |
38,249 |
42,914 |
43,596 |
625. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will legislate to make it mandatory for all sports clubs to have a child welfare officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2659/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Children First Act 2015 was signed into law on 19 November 2015, in accordance with a key commitment in the Programme for Government, and provides for, inter alia-
- mandatory reporting by key professionals,
- mandated assisting,
- comprehensive risk assessment and preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements by services for children, and
- the establishment of the Children First Interdepartmental Implementation Group on a statutory basis.
The Act imposes obligations on certain individuals working with children and on relevant service providers as follows-
- Certain persons, who are mandated persons under the Act, will be required by the legislation to report child welfare and protection concerns to the Child and Family Agency and to assist the Agency, on request, in the assessment of such reports. Mandated persons will also be required to report to the Agency any disclosures of harm made to the mandated person by a child.
- Providers of relevant services to children will be required to develop a Child Safeguarding Statement which involves undertaking a risk assessment of any potential harm to a child while availing of the service and the measures that will be take to ensure, as far as is practicable, that a child is safe from harm while availing of the service.
These provisions will apply to any organisation, including sporting organisations, where any work or activity consists of the provision of recreational, leisure, social or physical activities to children.
- My focus has been on the introduction of these measures under the Children First Act 2015 and I believe that these two significant legislative obligations will put in place a robust system to protect children while they are availing of the relevant services.
The Act will operate side-by-side with the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011 which provides in Section 3.3. that organisations providing services to children should identify a designated liaison person to act as a liaison with outside agencies and a resource person to any staff member or volunteer who has child protection concerns.
Given the protections outlined above, I do not consider it necessary to legislate to require organisations to have child welfare officers.
626. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of Secretaries General in her Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within her Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2903/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra627. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of assistant secretaries general in her Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary general in her Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2919/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 627 together.
There is one Secretary General and three Assistant Secretaries General in my Department.
The details in respect of their annual salaries are in the following table:
|
Annual Salary at 1st January 2017 |
|
|
Secretary General |
€167,300 |
|
Assistant Secretary General |
€130,706 |
|
Assistant Secretary General |
€124,917 |
|
Assistant Secretary General |
€119,572 |
Under the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015 (FEMPI Act 2015), for those on salaries in excess of €110,000 the salary reductions imposed under the FEMPI Act 2013 will be restored in three equal phases on 1 April 2017, 1 April 2018 and 1 April 2019. A circular setting out the revised salary rates applicable from 1 April 2017 to general Civil Service grades, including Secretaries General and Assistant Secretaries General, is currently in preparation and will be issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in due course.
628. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childminders in the home that are registered with Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3197/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department have made enquiries with Tusla on this matter. I can confirm that there are 119 childminders registered with Tusla.
629. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding status for a project (details supplied). [3208/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a joint prevention and early intervention initiative led by my Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies. It is a time bound co-funding arrangement with resources of €29.7m from 2013 to 2017. The aim of the ABC Programme is to test and evaluate prevention and early intervention approaches to improve outcomes for children and families living in poverty in 13 areas of disadvantage.
The ABC Programme was preceded by the Prevention and Early Intervention Programme (PEIP) (2007-2013) in which three sites participated: Preparing for Life Programme, Youngballymun, and the Childhood Development Initiative Tallaght. Youngballymun received €15m as a participant in the Prevention and Early Intervention programme. The total original funding for Youngballymun under the ABC programme was €5m bringing the total funding received by Youngballymun under both programmes to €20m.
Owing to their earlier transition into the ABC programme, Youngballymun and the other two sites were contracted to deliver services in their areas until mid-2016. In July of 2016, my Department and co-funder The Atlantic Philanthropies furnished additional funding to Youngballymun of €500,000 to enable the organisation to extend its service provision for a further year, to end July 2017 bringing their total budget under the ABC Programme to €5.5m.
My Department is currently working with ABC programme managers to identify the full running costs for each site to end December 2017 with a view to ensuring all sites are extended to end 2017. My Department also anticipate seeking additional funding in the 2017 estimates process to meet the Programme for Government commitments and ensure findings from the ABC Programme Evaluation can be fully considered in meeting those commitments.
I look forward to the continued engagement of Youngballymun, and all other ABC sites with my Department as we work towards the implementation of quality prevention and early intervention initiatives in order to achieve our shared goal of improving the lives of children and families throughout the country.
630. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of days' leave that have been surrendered to the State on foot of paragraph 16 of Defence Force Regulation A11, which limits an annual carry over to 19 days regardless of whether members of the Defence Forces can actually avail of their leave entitlement due to tours of duty, leave cancellation and post-tour rest and recuperation; if he will have the regulations altered to ensure members of the Defence Forces can avail of their full leave entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2610/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnfortunately it has not proved possible to compile the information requested regarding the number of annual leave days lost on foot of paragraph 16 of Defence Force Regulations A.11 in the time available. My officials are working with the military authorities to obtain the information and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
Defence Force Regulations A.11 which governs the granting of leave, other than sick leave, in the Permanent Defence Force, provides that leave is an entitlement, the granting of which is a privilege and that unless otherwise provided for within the regulation, all leave other than statutory leave is subject to the exigencies of the service. Paragraph 16 of this regulation provides for the carry-forward of annual leave, not granted or availed of in the leave year concerned and provides that officers may be allowed to carry forward a maximum of 24 days, non-commissioned officers and privates in the Army and Air Corps, a maximum of 19 days and non-commissioned officers and ordinary or able seamen of the Naval Service, a maximum of 24 days.
My Department received a claim under the Conciliation and Arbitration scheme from the Permanent Defence Forces Representative Association (PDFORRA) representing enlisted members of the Permanent Defence Force, to remove the provisions limiting the carry forward of annual leave of 19 days for their members. Following consideration, my officials were not in a position to accede to their claim on the basis of the case made.
I have been advised by my officials that legal proceedings have been commenced in relation to this matter and as it is currently before the courts, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
Further to the recent Parliamentary Question. please find in the table the additional information which I indicated in my reply that I would provide to the Deputy. Following clarification sought by my officials, I understand that the Deputy is seeking details of the number of days leave lost as a result of the 19 day limit on carry forward leave for the year ended 31 December 2016. The details are as follows:
|
Days lost |
|
|
Officers |
10669 |
|
Enlisted Pers |
26941 |
|
All Ranks |
37610 |
631. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will effect the necessary changes to Defence Forces regulations to allow post-1994 and pre-2004 entrants to the Defence Forces extend their service beyond 21 years in order that they may accumulate 21 years pensionable service if their initial 21 years service was broken by a career break, unpaid maternity leave or term-time leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2611/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue referred to by the Deputy primarily impacts upon female participation and retention in the Defence Forces. I have always taken an active interest in recruitment and retention matters. Under the heading of Gender, the White Paper commits to equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the development of initiatives in this regard.
Officials in my Department are currently considering the matter with a view to ensuring that there is no unnecessary disadvantage to those members of the Defence Forces who were unable to accumulate 21 years pensionable service due to periods of unpaid maternity leave, term time leave and career breaks. I will make the necessary decision upon receipt of such considerations.
632. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on representations that have been made to his Department and-or the Irish Prison Service by representatives from the Defence Forces regarding the substandard conditions of work they have to endure at Portlaoise Prison; the steps that are being taken to address these grievances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2612/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Defence Forces continue to provide a 365 day armed guard at Portlaoise Prison by Government direction using accommodation which is provided and maintained by the Irish Prison Service. Officials from my Department have on a number of occasions recently met with officials from the Irish Prison Service regarding the military accommodation in Portlaoise. The Irish Prison Service have today confirmed that they will be going to tender shortly for a major refurbishment of the military compound. Discussions are ongoing regarding the logistics around accommodating the military personnel while the refurbishment is taking place and responsibilities regarding the ongoing maintenance of the facility.
633. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason members of the Civil Defence did not receive the 1916 Commemoration medal; if he will reconsider and present these medals to them in view of the invaluable service that they carry out on a voluntary basis for the State (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2629/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government provided for the award of a commemorative medal to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. This was a special acknowledgement from the Government to the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann, both Permanent and Reserve, who served during the centenary year of 2016.
I am fully aware of the excellent service given by the volunteer members of Civil Defence right across the country, both in emergency and non-emergency situations. Civil Defence played a full part in contributing to the success of many of the events which were held across the country last year to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising. The type of support Civil Defence provided ranged from a marching element in the State ceremony held in Dublin on Easter Sunday to the provision of first aid at local community events.
In recognition of the efforts of Civil Defence volunteers I recently approved the commissioning of a special 1916 commemorative medal be awarded to all members of Civil Defence who were active in 2016. Arrangements for the presentation of the medals will be made in due course.
634. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the engagement he has had with the Irish Red Cross in terms of funding operations domestically. [2670/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Defence provides an annual grant-in-aid to the Irish Red Cross Society. The grant in 2017 will be €869,000 of which €130,000 represents the Government’s annual contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The balance goes towards the salary and administration costs of running the headquarters of the Irish Red Cross Society. The grant does not contribute towards the funding of operational activity.
The annual grant is paid in quarterly instalments and by agreement, as a condition of payment, the Department of Defence receives a report from the Irish Red Cross providing full details of how the grant was utilised in the previous year and details of how it is to be used in the current year.
635. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to further develop the military museum on the Curragh, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2693/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current Defence Forces infrastructure plan does not include plans to further develop the Curragh Visitor Centre (known locally as the Military Museum). As part of the White Paper implementation process, which is currently being rolled out across the Defence Organisation, assessments of infrastructure requirements within each military installation including the Curragh Camp are being completed. These assessments will assist in the completion of a rolling 5 year programme for infrastructure development across the military organisation. The programme will set out projects prioritised in line with Defence Forces capability requirements and having regard to the available resource envelope.
636. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the single force concept for the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Forces has achieved its stated goals of 4,069 persons. [2695/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra637. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the figures for recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces for each of the years 2013 to 2016. [2696/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra638. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the numbers in service and the number of discharges of the Reserve Defence Forces for each of the years 2013 to 2016. [2697/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra639. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he plans to stand down the Reserve Defence Forces. [2698/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 636 to 639, inclusive, together.
The major re-organisation of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) was implemented in 2013 and the RDF is now organised alongside the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) within a more efficient single force structure. In practice, this provided for the retention of 4,069 personnel spread countrywide based in barracks and 16 other locations. As part of the subsequent re-organisation, all RDF units have been disestablished and amalgamated within PDF units. The re-organisation has provided significant advantages in terms of training and development with PDF units having Reserve components rather than the previous parallel structure. Reserve units are supported by their parent PDF unit and the 16 units outside of PDF installations are supported by dedicated full time PDF personnel.
There are, therefore, no plans to stand down the Reserve. On the contrary, in the White Paper on Defence 2015, the Government recognises the important role that the Reserve Defence Force has played in contributing to Ireland’s defence capability, and in particular, to the spirit of voluntary service which has been the hallmark of the Reserve. The Government appreciates the service of the members of the Reserve and the White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve.
In that regard, the White Paper also sets out a developmental path for the RDF. It provides that the overarching establishment of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) is to be set at 4,169 personnel, consisting of 3,869 Army Reservists and the expansion of the establishment of the four NSR Units from currently 200 personnel to 300.
Initiatives for the Reserve outlined in the White Paper include the following:
- The potential to utilise the Reserve in a voluntary unpaid capacity will be progressed in consultation with the Representative Associations.
- Consideration will be given to activating Reserve Sub-Units for short periods of training with PDF Units or other support tasks.
- Specialist members of the RDF will be placed on a panel, to be known as the Specialist Reserve and, subject to their availability, they will be considered as an option to meet specialist skills shortages.
- The terms and conditions of membership of the First Line Reserve will be revised to include capping the length of service of members, reactivating annual paid training and introducing criteria for retention as an effective member. The case for the current gratuity will also be examined.
- Consideration will be given to establishing a database of former members of the Army Reserve, Naval Service Reserve, First Line Reserve and Permanent Defence Force who could be called upon to volunteer in a crisis situation, by listing these as an “Inactive Reserve”.
The strength of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) at the end of December, 2016 (the latest date for which figures are available) was 2,049 effective personnel.
As the Deputy will be aware, a key challenge is to recruit, train and retain sufficient personnel to meet the reserve establishment provided for in the White Paper. It is necessary to strike an appropriate balance in terms of both PDF and RDF recruitment so as to deliver the desired effects in terms of maintaining the capacity of the Defence Forces to undertake all roles assigned by Government and to advance the single-force concept. However, within that framework and having regard to the training capacity of the Defence Forces, I am anxious to accelerate the rate of recruitment to the RDF.
For administrative reasons, the military authorities were unable to provide the data sought. Figures relating to RDF recruitment, the numbers in service and discharges for the years 2013 to 2016 will be provided to the Deputy within the allowed timeframe.
|
2013 |
Year |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
1 |
No. of Recruits |
157 |
344 |
78 |
|
Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
No. of RDF personnel |
3,665* |
2,302* |
2,280* |
2,049* |
|
Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
No. of discharges |
1,004 |
848 |
362 |
267 |
640. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason one unit in Cork City, 1 Brigade Artillery Regiment, BAR, Collins Barracks, was selected to be decommissioned. [2699/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a comprehensive review of expenditure carried out in 2011, the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force was established at 9,500 personnel and, as a result, a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces took place. As part of the re-organisation, 1 Brigade Artillery Regiment (BAR), Collins Barracks, was established in 2013 and I can confirm that there are no plans to disestablish this unit.
641. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2905/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra642. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Assistant Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Assistant Secretary General within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2921/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 642 together.
There is one Secretary General in my Department whose annual pay at 1 January 2017 is €167,300.
There are two Assistant Secretaries in my Department. The Assistant Secretary pay scale as at 1 January 2017 is €119,572, €124,917, €130,706, €136,496.
Under the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015 (FEMPI Act 2015), for those on salaries in excess of €110,000 the salary reductions imposed under the FEMPI Act 2013 will be restored in three equal phases on 1 April 2017, 1 April 2018 and 1 April 2019. A circular setting out the revised salary rates applicable from 1 April 2017 to general Civil Service grades, including Secretaries General and Assistant Secretaries General, is currently in preparation and will be issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in due course.
643. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when a meeting will be scheduled with the veterans' association in order to discuss the awarding of commemorative 1916 medals. [2954/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI informed the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 1737, ref 1934/17, which I answered on 17th January 2017 that the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal is being awarded as a commemorative medal, personal to an individual’s service in the Defence Forces in the course of 2016. It serves to honour the central role of the Defence Forces across all seven strands of the Centenary Programme throughout 2016.
As I outlined in my answer dated 17th January 2017, I met with the Veterans Organisations on the 15th December last, and whilst I reiterated to them that there are no plans to award the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal to Veterans, it was proposed that a further meeting be held between the Department and the Veterans Organisations to explore alternative means of recognition including exploring further the Department’s existing proposal of issuing a commemorative plaque. The meeting between senior officials of the Department and the Veterans Organisations will be arranged shortly.
