Written Answers Nos. 176 - 200
176. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive a GLAS payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15726/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
The first instalment of 85% of the payment due for 2016 has issued to the person named and the balancing 15% will issue in due course.
177. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of private investigation firms hired by his Department in the past five years and to date in 2017; the names of the firms; the amount they were paid; if they supplied his Department with a report on completion of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15730/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no private investigation firms hired by this Department in the last five years.
178. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to reopen the rivers Nore and Suir for snapnet fishing for this season (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15582/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the State Agency responsible for the protection, management, development and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries. IFI manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s 147 salmon rivers (including river sections and estuaries) has its own genetically unique stock of salmon.
IFI is supported in its management role by the independent Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon (SSC), comprising scientists from a range of organisations. Scientific and management assessments of each stock, including the Suir and the Nore, are carried out every year with IFI engaged in an extensive stock monitoring which feeds into the scientific committee's annual reviews.
The SSC estimates the number of salmon likely to return to each river in the next fishing season based on salmon runs over the most recent five years to determine if each river is meeting its individual conservation limit to maintain a healthy population. If the estimate of returning salmon is above this limit, then salmon from that individually genetic river population may be harvested commercially or by rod and line.
The primary index for evaluation of likely returning numbers is the recorded rod (harvest or catch and release) and commercial catch (if any) averaged over the previous 5 years. The scientific committee applies a range of rod exploitation rates for recreational fishing activity and adds the commercial catch to calculate the total run of salmon.
For the 2017 season, based on rod catch and exploitation rates, the Suir was estimated to be meeting 79% of its conservation limit (CL) and the Nore achieving 70% of the CL. Management advice is that as both rivers are meeting greater that 65% of the CL they can be open for catch and release angling but this is not sufficient for harvest fisheries either commercial (including snap net) or angling.
The percentage of the CL achieved on the Nore and Suir for the last 5 years is shown in the following table.
|
- |
% CL achieved |
% CL achieved |
% CL achieved |
% CL achieved |
% CL achieved |
|
River |
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
2013 |
|
Nore |
70 |
60 |
91 |
121 |
153 |
|
Suir, Clodiagh, Lingaun, Blackwater |
79 |
68 |
80 |
83 |
117 |
The salmon assessment methodologies used in Ireland are considered internationally as best practice. Many other countries are moving towards the development of similar scientific assessment models for salmon stock conservation.
179. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider investing in infrastructure to prevent future power outages following snow events; his views on whether such an investment might actually yield future cost savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15605/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEirGrid, as the transmission system operator and ESB Networks, as the distribution system operator are continually working on ways to improve the electricity system for the benefit of the people of Ireland. As set out in the ‘Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure’ the State owned Networks Companies are mandated to deliver the State’s network investment programmes in the most cost efficient and timely way possible in the interests of all energy consumers who need the investment and who also pay for it. Decisions on works to undertake are a matter for EirGrid and ESB Networks, but I am advised that in 2016, ESB Networks invested over €370m in reinforcement and construction of new networks.
180. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if insurance companies are permitted to use eircodes in assessing the eligibility of a person for insurance purposes and in particular flood insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15630/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapita Business Support Services trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement and maintain the national Postcode System "Eircode".
Some of the industries using Eircode data in their business include retail, logistics/delivery, utilities, public sector bodies, financial services and insurance. Eircode licensed End Users to use the Eircode data to improve the quality of the services they offer including address verification and deliveries, as well as for risk assessment purposes. This could include risk assessment practices in the insurance industry.
181. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider exploring the option of giving the post office service responsibility for the compilation of the electoral register and enumeration of census data to make the service more viable in view of the urgent crisis in the delivery of postal services; if he will include this in the list of extra tasks being considered for the post office network on foot of the report of the post office hub working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15634/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the post office network is a day to day operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function.
On foot of the reconfiguration of Government Departments last year, responsibility for the post office network transferred to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
182. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a feed-in tariff for electricity generated via solar photo voltaic systems will be introduced. [15635/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy in Ireland. This builds on the 2015 Energy White Paper and recognises that solar has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future.
My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions out to 2030. Analysis is on-going on a range of technologies to be included. This analysis includes an assessment of the cost of supporting Solar Photovoltaics - both rooftop and ground-mounted.
The new scheme design requires detailed economic analysis, currently underway, on the viability and cost effectiveness of supporting several renewable technologies at various scales. Once this analysis is complete, my Department will publish a second public consultation on the design of the new support scheme. Details will be advertised on my Department's website at www.dccae.gov.ie. There will be several decisions to be made on this scheme with regard to scale, technologies and, in particular, how communities will have a greater involvement than in previous schemes.
Before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and State Aid clearance from the European Commission. Subject to this, it is expected that the new scheme will become operational in the first half of 2018.
183. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of private investigation firms hired by his Department in the past five years and to date in 2017; the names of the firms; the amount they were paid; if they supplied his Department with a report on completion of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15733/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo private investigation firms have been hired by my Department in the past five years or to date in 2017.
184. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of operating driver test centres nationwide under the headings of the rent paid for each location and the metre squared of each location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15620/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.
I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
185. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of meetings of the dedicated project steering group for metro north to date; the details of the membership of the steering group; the details of each stage of the work to be undertaken by the steering group; the timeframe for the completion of each stage of this work programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15543/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the new Metro North project.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
186. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a capital sports grant application by a company (details supplied); when an announcement of funds allocated is expected under the sports capital programme; the number of the 2,320 applications it is envisaged will be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15576/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme.
All of the 2320 applications received under the Programme will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months. An announcement regarding allocations will be made later this year.
It is not possible to estimate how many allocations will be made in advance of completion of the assessment process.
187. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to upgrade the N24 road between counties Waterford and Limerick; if he has given consideration to bypassing towns on this route such as Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Tipperary town, Mooncoin, Piltown and Limerick Junction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15583/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects (including the N24) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
188. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a project (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15584/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) provides grant aid to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. It should be noted that the maximum possible grant available under the LASPP is €3.8 million. There are four stages in the development of a project under the programme, namely Preliminary Report, Contract Documents, Tender and Construction.
Edenderry is in the 2000 round of the LASPP for a refurbishment/replacement pool. Offaly County Council and representatives of the local Pool Committee which runs the pool met with officials from my Department in May 2016. At the meeting it was agreed that the Committee would look at revised plans to scale down the non-essential costs and revert to the Department with those plans. The County Council and Committee were reminded that they also need to submit a more robust feasibility study. Revised plans were received by my Department last week and are currently being examined.
In relation to the future funding of swimming pools, my Department is currently undertaking a review of national sports policy which includes a specific focus on how Government should fund sports facilities including swimming pools in the years ahead.
189. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will allocate funding to Kerry County Council to allow it to proceed with the Tralee to Fenit greenway now that all land ownership issues have been resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15602/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraKerry Council Council submitted an application to my Department for the construction of Phase 1 of the Tralee-Fenit Greenway under the 2014-2016 National Cycle Network funding programme. While no funding was awarded under that programme, €345,000 was subsequently awarded from the Government Stimulus package 2014 for infrastructural development which allowed Kerry County Council to commence Phase 1, the Rock Street to Casement Station section of the Greenway.
My Department is aware of the further works required to complete this greenway as is the case in many other Greenway projects around the country. However, it is not intended to issue a further funding call in the immediate future. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Partnership Government commits to making additional funding available for greenways and I am pursuing this funding in the context of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan.
In addition, my Department is developing a new Strategy to underpin investment in Greenways and I expect that the Department will go out to public consultation in the near future seeking views on relevant issues to inform the development of the Strategy. When the capital plan review is finalised and there is clarity on the totality of the funding that will be available for greenways in the coming years, my Department will issue further funding calls and local authorities would then be able to submit projects for funding.
190. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a sports capital grant application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15617/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the application referred to by the Deputy was submitted under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme.
All of the 2,320 applications received under the Programme will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months.
An announcement regarding allocations will be made later this year.
191. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an application under the sports capital programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15639/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme.
All of the 2320 applications received will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months.
An announcement regarding allocations will be made later this year.
192. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost incurred from the Vote of his Department to meet payments to PPP companies in respect of performance clauses contained in PPPs, with particular reference to the Limerick tunnel and the M4 toll schemes. [15643/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects (including PPP schemes) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority.
More specifically, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws, to enter into toll agreements and for the operation of concessions with private investors in respect of national roads such as the Limerick Tunnel and the M4 scheme is vested in TII under the Roads Act 1993, as amended.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's Questions to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
193. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of tests carried out at each location in 2016 with regard to each operating driver test location nationwide; the success and failure rates at each location in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15657/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the driver testing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.
I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct reply.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days
194. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount allocated to voluntary and community organisations in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by his department, including a breakdown of all funding schemes and or streams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15693/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraVoluntary and community organisations can apply for funding from my Department under the Sports Capital Programme. Details of the scheme and the organisations that have received funding over the years in question are available on the Department's website - www.dttas.ie.
My Department also provides grants to some organisations such as the Community Rescue Boats, Irish Cave Rescue and Mountain Rescue Ireland which includes various regional mountain rescue teams, all of which are run on a voluntary basis.
195. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans and the timeframe for planning and delivery of a western Dublin orbital route link between the N4 and N7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15713/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra196. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans and the timeframe for planning and delivery of the Fonthill Road junction improvement works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15714/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans and timeframe for planning and delivery of a Rathcoole bypass in Dublin mid-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15715/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable. Arising from the arrangements in place in relation to Local Property Tax receipts the four Dublin Councils became self funding for regional and local roads under the main road grant categories from 2015.
Provision was made in the Capital Plan for the upgrade of roads in the vicinity of Grange Castle Business Park and the Department is providing grant assistance for that strategic scheme at present.
As regards the possible measures identified in the TII/South County Dublin County Council N4/N7 Corridor Study, the further assessment of options is a matter for the local authority.
198. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of private investigation firms hired by his Department in the past five years and to date in 2017; the names of the firms; the amount they were paid; if they supplied his Department with a report on completion of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15745/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of payments made to external service providers are always available on my Department's website at the following link: Expenditure on External Services. In the case of private investigation firms my Department has not hired any.
199. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures she will take regarding the announced 220 job losses in a bank (details supplied); if she will meet the bank and the Financial Services Union regarding this threat to employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15649/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department remains focused on creating the most competitive environment for enterprise to succeed so that we can achieve our goal of sustainable employment for all. Working with our enterprise agencies and with colleagues across Government, we are committed to delivering a range of actions outlined in our National and Regional Action Plans for Jobs to ensure that quality and sustainable jobs continue to be created throughout all regions of the country.
Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation, which offers extensive protections to employees. Those protections include the Protection of Employment Acts 1977-2007, which provide for a process of information and consultation between the employer and the employee representatives in circumstances where a collective redundancy is proposed, the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005, which give employees entitlements to specified notice periods or payment in lieu of such notice and the Payment of Wages Act 1991 which protects outstanding wages, holiday pay, commission and bonuses. In addition, the Redundancy Payments Acts, which are administered by the Minister for Social Protection, provide for minimum statutory redundancy payments.
The Protection of Employment Act 1977 provides that, where employers are planning collective redundancies, they are obliged to supply the employees’ representatives with specific information regarding the proposed redundancies and to consult with those representatives at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes place, to see if the redundancies can be avoided or lessened or their effects mitigated.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights legislation. The WRC’s Customer Service Section provides information in relation to employment, equality and industrial relations rights and obligations, and how to obtain redress where appropriate. WRC information officials are available to meet staff, either individually or collectively, to discuss their employment rights, including matters related to redundancy. The WRC’s Customer Service Section can be contacted at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90. The website http://www.workplacerelations.ie also provides extensive information on employment rights.
200. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the Workplace Relations Commission in preparing a code of practice under section 42 of the Industrial Relations Act 1990 to set out best industrial relations practice in managing the engagement between employers and employees in the run up to retirement, including requests to work beyond the normal retirement age in the employment concerned; the way and with whom the commission has consulted in preparing this code of practice; if a deadline has been set by when she expects the commission to complete its work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15718/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 42 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990, I have requested the WRC to prepare a Code of Practice around the issue of longer working lives. The Code of Practice is to set out best industrial relations practice in managing the engagement between employers and employees in the run up to retirement, including requests to work beyond what would be considered the normal retirement age in the employment concerned. As is standard practice for this process, the WRC is consulting with relevant stakeholders for their views, including employer representatives, Trade Unions and Public Sector. It is anticipated that a draft Code will be submitted to me shortly.
