Written Answers Nos. 174-182
174. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied) in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14540/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s consular officials, at headquarters in Dublin and in our mission network worldwide, provide advice and practical support to Irish people who find themselves in difficult or distressing circumstances abroad.
However, the Department has no role in relation to immigration or visa decision-making abroad, and so neither I nor my officials are in a position to intervene on an individual immigration case with the Australian government. It is for an individual citizen’s immigration lawyer to advise on the best course of action in regards to their immigration case.
I can, however, assure the Deputy that Embassy officials in Canberra are both aware of the specific case raised and have provided assistance to the family, within the parameters of what my Department can offer in such cases. I would encourage the individual and family concerned to raise any requests for assistance they may have with Embassy officials in Australia.
175. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to put additional staff in place in the Passport Office to deal with the large number of applications which are currently being experienced; when additional staff will commence in order to deal with the unprecedented waiting times and the fact that applications are not being dealt with according to the advised timelines. [14542/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is currently a very high volume of passport applications in the system - over 60,000. Between 1 January and 16 March a total of 191,428 applications were received compared to a total of 155,163 for the same period last year. This represents an increase of over 23% in volume.
The Passport Service is working extremely hard to manage the ongoing surge in passport applications. A total of 230 Temporary Clerical Officers have been assigned to the Passport Service to assist with the processing of passport applications and to respond to customer queries including via phone calls, emails and social media. This is an increase of 59 officers over the number recruited in 2015. The majority of the TCOs are already in place and the remaining officers will join in the coming weeks.
In addition to the recruitment of Temporary Clerical Officers, my Department has requested the Public Appointments Service to assign additional Clerical and Executive Officers to fill recent vacancies in the Passport Service.
The turnaround times for the each category of passport applicant are updated weekly on the Passport Service website. The average processing time for renewal applications submitted through Passport Express is currently 16 working days (our aim is a 15 day turnaround). First time applicants or those with lost/stolen passports take longer because of additional anti-fraud measures and these applications are being processed in an average of 23 working days (our aim is a 20 working day turnaround).
The Passport Service advises customers to apply at least six weeks prior to travelling and to submit their application through Passport Express if they have no immediate travel plans. There are a limited number of appointments available at the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork for those travelling in three weeks or less. These appointments can be made online.
The Passport Service offers a free email reminder service to holders with passports due for renewal and I would urge the Deputy to promote use of this facility where possible. See: https://www.dfa.ie/passports-citizenship/top-passport-questions/when-should-i-apply-for-a-new-passport.
As the Deputy will be aware, we are engaged in a significant programme of passport service reform which will result in greater efficiencies and convenience for applicants. I expect to make further announcements on this matter in the near future.
I will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure the effective deployment of staff and other resources in order to minimise the impact of the exceptionally high demand on turnaround times for applicants and on customer service.
176. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of his discussions to date with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly regarding the urgent need to restore the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14545/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the particular challenges and difficulties arising for all of the island due to Brexit are part of the discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly regarding the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14547/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 178 together.
Following the Assembly election, I spoke on 5 March with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Taoiseach spoke with Prime Minister May. Both Governments agreed on the need for intensive engagement to address outstanding issues and commitments to ensure the early establishment of an Executive.
As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, both Governments have a role to play in supporting the effective operation of the devolved institutions, and in upholding both the letter and the spirit of the Agreement as a whole, in the interests of all in Northern Ireland.
In this context I am representing the Government in the ongoing talks at Stormont Castle. The discussions are focused on addressing outstanding issues, including the implementation of past agreements and addressing the legacy of the past, as well as on the formation of a new power-sharing Executive. Both parts of these discussions are essential and inter-dependent.
All parties have shown a willingness to engage on the key issues. However, there is a limited timeframe for the formation of a new Executive. In the time remaining, all sides, including the two Governments and the parties, will have to work hard and with a spirit of compromise, to achieve the collective objective of re-establishing the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.
Particular responsibilities attach to the parties who are entitled to nominate a First Minister and deputy First Minister to engage with each other, and to advance discussions with the other political parties, on the formation of a new Executive.
As part of my engagement with the Secretary of State and with each of the parties in the current discussions, I have emphasised the critical importance of forming a new Executive so that Northern Ireland’s interests can be represented as effectively as possible in the preparations for the EU-UK negotiations. I very much hope that the new Executive will be in place as soon as possible so that it can directly represent the interests of the people of Northern Ireland in these vital negotiations.
The interests of the island as a whole and protecting the gains of the peace process will remain a priority for the Government in the upcoming EU-UK negotiations and the Government will continue to be proactive in the interests of the people of Northern Ireland, including through engagement with the Northern Ireland parties. The Government’s All-Island Civic Dialogue is also a central strand of our approach to preparing for and managing Brexit.
I expect to be intensively engaged this week in Belfast, working with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the political parties to see the power-sharing Assembly and Executive restored to effective and harmonious operation. As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement the Government is determined to uphold the principles of the Agreement and to protect its institutions.
177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent concerns expressed by the Council of Europe regarding the lack of progress in approving Acht na Gaeilge in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14546/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Good Friday Agreement recognised the importance of respect, understanding, and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity, including in Northern Ireland, the Irish language, Ulster-Scots and the languages of the various ethnic communities.
The Irish Government ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities in 1999 further to the commitment to do so under the Good Friday Agreement. The UK Government had previously ratified the Convention.
The Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities published its Fourth Opinion on the United Kingdom on 9 March 2017. The Advisory Committee made a number of observations and recommendations in relation to the status and protection of the Irish language in Northern Ireland, which relate to provisions of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements.
The Committee’s recommendations include the adoption of appropriate legislation by the Northern Ireland Assembly as a necessity to protect and promote the Irish language. The Committee also called on the UK Government to help create the political consensus needed for such adoption. The Committee made further recommendations in relation to support for Irish-medium education, Irish language teaching and shared education in Northern Ireland. The Committee also made a recommendation on funding under the BBC Charter for programming in minority languages, in particular the Irish language.
The Council of Europe Advisory Committee report is a welcome and timely contribution to the current discussions on ensuring respect for linguistic diversity and the Irish language in Northern Ireland, consistent with the principles of the Good Friday Agreement.
Further to the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, a specific commitment to an Irish Language Act in Northern Ireland to be enacted by the British Government was part of the St Andrews Agreement in 2006. Successive Irish Governments have advocated in favour of an Irish Language Act and continue to do so. Regrettably to date, there has been no agreement within the Northern Ireland Executive to take forward what is now a devolved matter.
As part of the outstanding commitments under previous Agreements, the question of an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland was discussed on several occasions during the Stormont House negotiations in late 2014. While I and other Irish Government representatives advocated for this commitment being honoured and implemented, regrettably it was not possible to reach agreement for such an explicit undertaking. Nevertheless, in the text of the final Stormont House Agreement, the Government and the British Government, recalling the commitments from previous Agreements, endorsed the need for respect for and recognition of the Irish language in Northern Ireland.
The Stormont House Agreement provides for regular review meetings with the participation of the Government, the British Government and the Executive party leaders. At the last two Review Meetings – most recently in December – I had the opportunity to draw attention to these outstanding commitments, including in relation to the Irish language, and asked that they remain on the agenda for future review meetings.
As part of the current talks process in Northern Ireland, I have engaged in discussions with the British Government and the main political parties on outstanding commitments and the implementation of past agreements. In relation to the Irish language in my discussions with the British Government and each of the parties, I have noted clearly the Government’s support for a statutory basis for the Irish language in Northern Ireland, consistent with our support for an Irish Language Act over many years.
The Government will continue to support the Irish language on an all-island basis, including through financial support for the work of Foras na Gaeilge. The Government will continue to work with the British Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland to seek the full implementation of all provisions of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements, including those relating to the Irish language.
179. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the action he will take to tackle coastal erosion at The Burrow, Portrane; the way in which his Department's approach to the situation facing residents in The Burrow has changed following the recent ministerial visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14281/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management of problems of coastal erosion at Portrane is a matter for Fingal County Council in the first instance. The Council must assess the problem and, if it is considered that specific measures and works are required, it is open to the Council to apply for funding under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the eligibility criteria, which include a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding.
As the Deputy is aware, I visited Portrane on 21 February 2017 to view myself the effects of coastal erosion in the area. I met with local Deputies, local representatives, residents and property owners and I was impressed by the level of engagement locally and with the Council officials in exploring options to address the problem. I know that Fingal County Council is working hard to identify an appropriate and sustainable solution to the problem at Portrane in advance of submitting an application to the OPW for funding to carry out works. Any application that is received from the Council will be considered promptly and in line with eligibility criteria of the scheme.
Fingal County Council applied for and was approved funding of €57,800 under this scheme in 2012 to carry out a Coastal Erosion Risk Management Study of Portrane to Rush which included Burrow beach. The funding was drawn down in 2013 following completion of the study.
180. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter (details supplied) with regard to water pumps in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pumps at Rattoo referred to by the Deputy were installed as a pilot project and are maintained by the Office of Public Works (OPW) for the purpose of providing outfall during the farming (summer grazing) period, generally for 6 to 7 months of the year. They are not intended for use outside of this period, except in the event of low-lying properties being at risk during a flood event. There have been ongoing difficulties with electricity supply to this remote site, and these difficulties are being addressed. The OPW intends to have the pumps in use again during the 2017 farming season, similar to previous years.
181. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if progress will be made on a flood risk in Killarney (details provided); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14407/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined to the Deputy in my previous reply of 2 November 2016 (PQ number 248 of that date refers), the Office of Public Works (OPW) has maintenance responsibility only for those Catchment Drainage Schemes and Flood Relief Schemes completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995.
Neither Lough Leane nor the River Laune form part of an arterial drainage scheme under the auspices of this Office and, as such, the OPW has no responsibility for their maintenance.
Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Kerry County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources.
The Office of Public Works operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website at http://www.opw.ie. It is open to Kerry County Council to submit a funding application under the Scheme. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the overall availability of resources for flood risk management and the scheme's eligibility criteria, available on the OPW website.
182. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase bed capacity at the Central Mental Hospital; the number of beds available from 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14544/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlanning permission for a new modern forensic mental health facility in Portrane, to replace the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum together with associated new facilities, was granted in June 2015. Phase 1 of the project comprises of a new 120 bed hospital, along with a new 10 bed Child and Adolescent Mental Health unit and a new 10 bed Mental Health Intellectual Disability unit. I was pleased to secure significant additional capital funding in Budget 2017 to progress this project this year. A preferred bidder for construction of the new hospital has been identified, and award of the contract is expected to be completed shortly. The HSE estimate that the new facility will open in late 2019. In relation to bed capacity at the existing Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the HSE in respect of the detailed operational information sought for direct reply.
