Written Answers Nos. 430-444
430. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress on the actions to date for each of the 276 actions in the Action Plan for Rural Development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16217/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, Realising our Rural Potential, was launched on 23rd January 2017. The Action Plan contains 276 actions for delivery across Government, State agencies and other bodies to support the economic and social progress of rural Ireland. Each action has been assigned to a lead body which will be responsible for implementation of the action within a definite timescale, as set out in the Plan.
Realising our Rural Potential is a three year plan to be delivered over the period up to 2020 and actions will commence at different points over that period. However, priority actions for delivery over each 6-month period will be identified on a rolling basis and reported on at the end of the 6-month period. Progress Reports on the implementation of the actions will be published twice yearly, with the first report due by the end of July 2017.
Progress on the implementation of the individual actions, and of the Plan as a whole, will be overseen by a Monitoring Committee, which I chair. The first meeting of the Monitoring Committee took place on 23rd March 2017. Progress on the delivery of the Plan will also be considered by the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs on a regular basis.
While the Action Plan was published less than three months ago, there has already been good progress on a number of the actions. For example, I recently announced capital funding of more than €9 million for arts and culture centres, of which over 80% are in rural areas. Minister Ring launched the 2017 CLÁR programme on 31st March, and I will shortly be launching the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for this year.
In addition, Minister Varadkar has increased the number of places on the Rural Social Scheme by 500 places, and Minister Creed recently announced the award of over €1.8 million in grants to 19 seafood enterprises under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme for the seafood sector.
431. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the level of CLÁR programme funding on an annual basis over the period 2008 to 2016; the allocation in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16218/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CLÁR programme was originally established in 2001, but was closed for new applications from 2010. I re-opened the scheme last year and allocated €8.238 million to 651 projects across three measures:
Measure 1: Safety Measures for Schools and Community/Sports Facilities
Measure 2: Playgrounds and Multi-Use Games Areas
Measure 3: Local Access Roads.
The following Table 1 provides details of the total funding provided through the CLÁR programme each year from 2008 to 2016. All funding provided over the period 2010-2015 was in respect of prior commitments under old programme rounds. The 2016 figure also includes a small amount of funding in respect of previous commitments.
I launched the 2017 CLÁR programme on Friday last, 31st March 2017. The allocation for CLÁR for 2017 is €5 million and funding is available under the following measures:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures
Measure 2: Play Areas
Measure 3: Targeted Community Infrastructure Needs
Measure 4: First Response Support Measure
The closing date for all applications under all measures is 5 May 2017. Further details are available on my Department’s website at www.ahrrga.gov.ie/minister-of-state-ring-launches-2017-clar-programme.
Table 1 - Funding provided under the CLÁR programme 2008-2016
|
Year |
Funding provided (€) |
|
2008 |
24,178,000 |
|
2009 |
13,598,000 |
|
2010 |
5,721,000 |
|
2011 |
348,000 |
|
2012 |
91,000 |
|
2013 |
105,000 |
|
2014 |
49,253 |
|
2015 |
0 |
|
2016 |
8,293,463 |
432. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the grants available for a church in County Limerick to put in an alarm system in view of the fact the church was broken into recently. [16269/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra436. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the grants available for a church in County Limerick that requires funding to repair the church roof. [16537/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 436 together.
Financial support is provided by my Department through a number of structured schemes for the conservation and protection of heritage buildings, including the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the Structures at Risk Fund and other initiatives operated by the Heritage Council.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures (i.e. structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures). The scheme is expected to support over three hundred projects across the country in 2017 and to create employment in the conservation and construction industries, while helping to regenerate urban and rural areas.
Applications from members of the public for this €2 million Scheme were accepted in local authorities throughout the month of February and have now closed.
The Structures at Risk Fund enables conservation works to heritage structures in both private and public ownership, which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. Structures must be on the local authority Record of Protected Structures. The fund, administered through the local authorities, seeks to encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and to help to secure the preservation of protected structures which might otherwise be lost. Applications from members of the public for the 2017 Structures at Risk Fund were accepted in local authorities throughout the month of February and have now closed.
Details of both these schemes are available on all local authority websites.
In the context of a particular building, especially one which is on the Record of Protected Structures, the best advice for the owner may be to contact the Architectural Conservation Officer from the Local Authority who will be able to advise on the various types of funding available to assist with the building.
The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports annually having regard to competing priorities for limited resources. Grant schemes for 2017 are advertised by the Heritage Council on its website www.heritagecouncil.ie.
433. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of requests her Department received for material to be made available in Braille format in each of the years 2014 to 2016; the number of these requests which were accommodated by her Department; and the cost implication and the person or body which provided the translation service. [16383/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that my Department did not receive any requests for material to be made available in braille format during the period in question. I would also advise the Deputy that my Department's website (www.ahrrga.gov.ie) adheres to a minimum of conformance level Double-A with the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and also complies with the National Disability Authority IT Accessibility Guidelines.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the Irish language version of the website incorporates an Irish Language screen reader Abair. This software was developed by Trinity College with the support of the Department.
434. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the scheme announced by her on 23 January 2017 to assist in the restoration of older buildings in towns and villages across the country will be rolled out; the detailed conditions that will apply to this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16473/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23rd January, contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential.
From my own Department’s perspective, I have secured funding of €12 million for an enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme this year. I intend to launch the first phase of this scheme shortly, with a focus on improving the economic development of our towns and villages. Full details of the initiative will be available when the scheme is launched.
I also intend to launch a second phase of the scheme later this year. This will be a pilot project to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. My intention is that the scheme will be targeted at owner-occupiers and will assist with the cost of bringing buildings back into use for residential purposes.
The pilot will be launched in the second half of the year, when details of the scheme have been finalised in consultation with relevant Departments. Full details of the criteria to apply will be announced when the pilot is launched.
435. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén t-ardú atá ceadaithe do na “mná tí” don bhliain 2017 faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [16475/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs cúis áthais dom a rá go bhfuil an deontas a íoctar le teaghlaigh Ghaeltachta a mbíonn Foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge ar iostas acu méadaithe agam ó €9.50 go €10.00 in aghaidh an lae (€70.00 in aghaidh na seachtaine) ó 1 Aibreán 2017.
De réir an chomhthuiscint atá idir mo Roinn agus na Coláistí Samhraidh, íocann na coláistí íosmhéid de €1.20 as gach €1 a íocann mo Roinn faoin scéim. Mar sin, beidh buntáiste breise á fháil ag teaghlaigh Gaeltachta as an ardú seo. Tá sé an-tábhachtach ó thaobh cur chun cinn na Gaeilge de, laistigh agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht, go leanfar leis an scéim seo mar is cuid lárnach í de chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030.
Íocadh deontais i leith breis agus 26,000 foghlaimeoirí faoin scéim in 2016, rud a léiríonn an tsuim mhór atá ag an aos óg taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht i bhfoghlaim na Gaeilge. Is cinnte go bhfuil an tionscail seo ar cheann de na tionscail is tábhachtaí sa Ghaeltacht chomh maith, mar go bhfuil tábhacht eacnamaíoch chomh maith le tábhacht buanú agus sealbhú na Gaeilge ag baint léi.
437. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if persons with modest UK pensions, which entitle the recipients of the pension to a medical card here under EU law, will be affected with the onset of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16304/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to health services, ensuring that there is minimum disruption and that essential services are maintained on a cross-border, all-Island and Ireland/UK basis will be a key concern for the Department of Health over the period ahead. As part of its analysis and contingency planning in relation to Brexit, the Department of Health is currently examining these issues and planning for a range of possible scenarios. However, it is important to be clear that until the UK formally withdraws from the Union, it remains a full member, with all of its existing rights and obligations and that there are no immediate changes in the area of health as a consequence of the UK's decision to leave the EU.
438. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the reason there was no ambulance available for dispatch on the night of 18 March 2017 from Sligo University Hospital; the availability of ambulance services at Sligo University Hospital; if there are periods for which there is a reduced service or areas in which a service is not provided; when and the location these occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16005/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
439. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16006/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
440. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16007/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
441. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16008/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
442. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the reason lutein omega 3 was taken off the medical card list in view of the fact that medical card holders now have to pay €21.50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16009/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes. Therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
443. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place overseeing the removal of medical card holders from patient lists upon death; the scrutiny that is undertaken to ensure that doctors are not being paid for deceased persons with particular reference to whether there is cross-referencing between death certificates and medical card lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16010/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
444. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the amount of money refunded in each year since 2011 by general practitioners who were paid under the medical card scheme for persons who had died; if he has satisfied himself that all such moneys have been refunded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16011/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
