Written Answers Nos 296-315
296. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the location of the bus based park and ride facilities he is considering and has submitted as part of the mid-term capital review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23896/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority's (NTA) Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) 2016-2035 includes the planned development of a network of strategic rail-based park and ride facilities where rail services intersect with the national road network. In addition, at the end of May, the NTA will launch an important new initiative proposing a radical transformation of the bus system in the GDA that will involve, inter alia, the development of a network of 'next generation' bus corridors and a complete redesign of the network to be accompanied by a network of bus-based park and ride sites at strategic locations.
I am seeking additional funding for public transport investment in the mid-term review of the Capital Plan to support these initiatives. The extent to which the bus based park and ride network will be rolled out and the locations of the sites will be dependent on the level of additional funding that may become available for public transport following the completion of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan.
298. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the details of the establishment and dissolution of companies in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23642/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Companies Registration Office (CRO) is the statutory authority for registering new companies in Ireland and is the central repository of public statutory information on Irish companies.
Statistics on the incorporation and dissolution of companies are published in the Annual Reports produced by the Companies Registration Office, which may be accessed for free on the website www.cro.ie.
Details of the number of companies incorporated and dissolved in the years 2005 to 2016 are set out in the table.
|
Year |
Incorporations |
Dissolutions |
|
2005 |
17,206 |
14,643 |
|
2006 |
19,190 |
10,140 |
|
2007 |
18,704 |
9,333 |
|
2008 |
14,723 |
11,650 |
|
2009 |
13,321 |
12,513 |
|
2010 |
14,013 |
13,399 |
|
2011 |
14,615 |
15,023 |
|
2012 |
14,009 |
14,839 |
|
2013 |
15,506 |
13,583 |
|
2014 |
17,782 |
13,008 |
|
2015 |
19,404 |
9,128 |
|
2016 |
20,951 |
15,221 |
299. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding grants for a play centre for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23671/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business.
In the first instance, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, Credit Review Office, Microfinance Ireland. The LEOs can also offer advice and guidance in areas such as Local Authority rates, Public Procurement and other regulations affecting business.
The LEOs can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within three main categories, i.e., Feasibility Grants (investigating the potential of a business idea) Priming Grants (to part-fund a start-up) and Business Development Grants for existing businesses that want to expand. It should be noted that the LEOs do not provide direct grant-aid to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services, construction/local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses.
For anyone interested in starting or growing a business, the LEOs offer ‘soft’ support in the form of training (e.g. a Start Your Own Business course) or provide a mentor to work with the business proposer.
Anyone with a viable business proposal can also use the LEO to make an application to MicroFinance Ireland, which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 to start-ups with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks.
Contact details for each LEO can be accessed at https://www.localenterprise.ie/.
I should also draw your attention to the ‘Supporting SMEs’ Online Tool, which is a cross-governmental initiative to help start-ups navigate the range of Government business supports for which they could be eligible. The tool is available at https://www.supportingsmes.ie/BusinessDetails.aspx.
By answering the eight questions in the Online Tool, a small business will, in one location, be able to:
- find out which of the over 170 Government business supports from 27 different Government Departments, Agencies and Initiatives are available to them;
- obtain information on the range of Government supports for accessing credit;
- identify their nearest Local Enterprise Office where they can discuss the outcomes of the guide further;
- download all these filtered results into a document for their further use.
300. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if British construction certificates are recognised by the HSA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23685/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra301. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if Lantra-accredited tickets granted in the UK are recognised by the HSA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23686/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together.
This Government is fully committed to promoting and delivering on safe and healthy workplaces.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the national statutory body under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for enforcing occupational safety and health law, promoting and encouraging accident prevention, and providing information and advice to all companies, organisations and individuals.
However, the responsibility for recognition of qualifications is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills and in particular SOLAS, the national further education and training authority.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 291 of 2013) requires anybody engaged in certain tasks to be in possession of a valid Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card for the activity. Only a SOLAS CSCS card meets this requirement of the Regulations.
The Construction Regulations allow for a person to get the CSCS card in a number of ways.
- A worker can successfully complete the training/assessment and attain a QQI certificate and get a CSCS card.
- Alternatively the Regulations allow for SOLAS to recognise other awards from other EU Member States as equivalent to the QQI award and to issue a CSCS card on this basis.
- An application can also be made to SOLAS for recognition of other jurisdiction training under the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 8 of 2017).
Anybody with a British construction certificate, LANTRA or any other qualification, will need to contact SOLAS directly in order to enquire about recognition of their award.
302. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 11 May 2017, the detail of Ireland’s ranking overall when compared with small economies in the latest World Bank Doing Business rankings available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23824/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the time of developing Enterprise 2025, Ireland ranked 13th overall in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business rankings and 7th when compared with small economies. Enterprise 2025 lists the comparator small countries with higher rankings.
In its latest publication, Doing Business 2017 which was released in October 2016, the World Bank ranked Ireland 18th overall and 9th when compared with small economies. The comparator small countries with higher rankings were as follows - New Zealand (1st), Singapore (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Hong Kong (4th), Norway (6th), Estonia (12th), Finland (13th), Latvia (14th) and Ireland (18th).
303. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on recent ESRI reports (details supplied) and the data showing that the vast majority of export earnings in 2015 were generated by foreign companies. [23827/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe evidence provided by the report, Expanding and diversifying the manufactured exports of Irish-owned enterprises April 4, 2017, undertaken by the ESRI on behalf of my Department and Enterprise Ireland, highlights the balance of exports between multinational corporations and indigenous enterprises. This research on manufacturing exports examines how firms launch, adapt, diversify and grow their exports and provides insights into the opportunities, risks and challenges of operating in the global marketplace.
It shows that exporting is highly concentrated in a relatively small percentage of firms and that most exporters sell a small number of products to few markets. 11% of highly globalised Irish-owned firms (exporting more than 20 products to over 20 destinations) account for 46% of total exports. The picture for foreign-owned firms shows that the 40% of firms with over 20 products to more than 20 markets accounted for almost 80% of export volumes.
The value of exports is dominated by a relatively small group of exporters. Whilst the largest proportions of exporting firms are Irish-owned and small and medium-sized, the most export value is accounted for by large, foreign-owned firms.
Many of the key features of Ireland’s export behaviour and export performance identified in this research are also present in other small open economies. For example, exports in Belgium are concentrated amongst large and most productive firms; in Denmark, largest exporters have the highest share of total exports; in Hungary foreign ownership is important in export patterns; and in Luxembourg 10% of exporters account for 91% of export value.
Notwithstanding Ireland’s unique position with respect to different export behaviour by indigenous and foreign-owned firms, this research shows the similarities Ireland shares with such countries.
304. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure the continuation of the counselling grants scheme for schools (details supplied) in view of the fact the withdrawal of this funding would be a regressive step; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23594/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 1994 the Department of Social Welfare opened a grant scheme to provide counselling supports to children who had experienced bereavement or loss. This grant scheme then passed to the Family Support Agency (FSA) when it was established in 2003 and subsequently to Tusla on establishment in January 2014.
Up until 2011 applications were invited through an annual public advertisement, however in 2011 due to austerity, this scheme was closed and no new applications have been accepted. Since 2011 the grantees who received funding in 2011 have continued to receive an annual grant equivalent to their 2011 grant. This Counselling Grants Scheme is for a total of €245,900 annually and currently there are only 64 grantees nationwide benefitting from this scheme. With over 4,000 schools in Ireland 64 grantees means that less than 2% of schools are in receipt of support from this scheme currently.
The Counselling Grants Scheme which was originally established to provide counselling support for children affected by bereavement or loss was affected by austerity cuts in 2010. The need for bereavement and loss counselling still exists in schools right around the country however without a significantly increased budget it is unfair and unethical to continue providing support to a small number of areas (64 grantees) while excluding all other schools from the scheme. Opening up the scheme nationally with a current budget allocation of €245,000 is not an option as this equates to less than €60 per school. Hence the decision was made to cease the scheme in its current format.
Tusla Educational Welfare Services is very supportive of the provision of appropriate school counselling supports and the option of continuing the scheme with adequate funding to provide the opportunity to all schools and School Completion Programmes nationally. All School Completion Programmes have been requested to identify unmet needs as part of their annual plan for 2017/18. Responses identifying gaps in service, including counselling provision for bereavement and loss, are currently being reviewed by Tusla Educational Welfare Service and a report will be forwarded to my Department when this process is complete.
305. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children that will benefit from the second ECCE year in 2017; the number that have benefitted from it in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23614/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntry to the ECCE programme is based on a programme year that runs between September and August, so for the purpose of this PQ we propose to answer your query based on 2016 - 2017 and then 2017- 2018 programme years.
To date, approximately 14,000 children have registered for both 2015 - 2016 and 2016 - 2017 cycles and based on current registrations we would estimate that a similar number of children will register for both 2016 - 2017 and 2017-2018. A full year's registration won't be known until the Summer when the programme closes for that cycle. The rate of uptake of the second year is dependent on a number of external factors including parental choice with regard to school starting age.
306. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children who applied for an assessment for the access inclusion model; the average waiting time for an assessment; and the number of children qualifying for each level of support. [23615/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAIM is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can fully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early years care and education. AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the pre-school setting.
Where a pre-school provider, in conjunction with a parent, considers that they may need some additional support in order to meet the needs of a child with a disability in an inclusive way, they can apply for a suite of more targeted supports.
As of the 15th May, there have been 2,372 applications for AIM Level 4 support, seeking expert advice and mentoring from AIM Early Years Specialists within the Better Start Early Years Specialist Service.
The current turnaround between the submission of AIM Access and Inclusion Profiles and decisions in relation to AIM Level 4 supports is 8 working days on average. Applications are first reviewed by an Early Years Specialist, who makes contact with the pre-school provider to request more detail and begin the review process. If the pre-school provider requires AIM Level 4 support, a visit, at a mutually agreed time, is arranged. Immediate phone support can also be provided where relevant.
A pre-school provider, in partnership with a parent, can apply for AIM Level 7, which is additional capitation to fund an extra person in the pre-school room or enable the reduction of the adult to child ratio where this is critical to ensuring a child's participation in the ECCE programme. The current turnaround between the submission of AIM Access and Inclusion Profiles and decisions for AIM Level 7 support is 50.5 working days on average. This would include some parents/ pre-school providers who submit an AIM Access and Inclusion Profile with the intention of receiving supports under another level of AIM and later going on to apply for AIM Level 7.
As of the 15th May, AIM has provided 2,160 children with varying degrees of support to ensure that they can fully participate in the ECCE programme:
- Under Level 4, (Expert Early Years Educational Advice and Support), 2,100 applications have been approved.
- Under Level 5 (Equipment and Minor Alterations), 199 applications for equipment and 29 applications for minor alterations have been approved.
- Under Level 7 (Additional Assistance in the Pre-school Room), 1,228 applications have been approved.
307. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding that has been provided to the ABC schemes on an annual basis since 2011. [23616/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ABC Programme is a joint prevention and early intervention initiative, led by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) in conjunction with The Atlantic Philanthropies (Atlantic). The ABC Programme commenced in 2013 and was designed as a time-bound, co-funding agreement in the amount of €29.7m to 2017. In late 2016, my Department secured additional funding to ensure that all 13 existing ABC sites are to remain in contract to the end of December 2017. Addendums to contracts are currently being issued to sites to facilitate these extensions.
The aim of the ABC Programme is to test and evaluate prevention and early intervention approaches to improve outcomes for children and families in 13 areas of disadvantage. The focus of the work under the ABC Programme covers, in the main: Child Health & Development; Children’s Learning; Parenting; and Integrated Service Delivery.
Below are the funding amounts received by each ABC site from 2013 to 2016 inclusive, alongside the total allocations for the period 2013 to 2017 under the ABC Programme.
|
Total Allocation 2013-2017 (ABC) |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
Ballyfermot - Family Matters |
0.75 |
- |
- |
0.19 |
0.41 |
|
Ballymun - YoungBallymun |
5.5 |
0.50 |
1.75 |
1.75 |
1.20 |
|
Young Knocknaheeny |
1.8 |
- |
- |
0.45 |
0.63 |
|
Bray SPECS |
0.84 |
- |
- |
0.21 |
0.29 |
|
Clondalkin Blueskies Initiative |
1.13 |
- |
0.27 |
0.38 |
0.25 |
|
Dublin Docklands NCI |
1.2 |
- |
0.12 |
0.18 |
0.66 |
|
Northside PFL (Incl. Midlands) |
3.74 |
0.30 |
1.20 |
0.50 |
0.77 |
|
Better Finglas |
1.21 |
- |
- |
0.55 |
0.42 |
|
Louth - The Genesis Programme |
1.51 |
- |
0.15 |
0.76 |
0.45 |
|
Limerick ABC Start "Right" |
1.58 |
- |
- |
0.39 |
0.55 |
|
CDI Tallaght |
4.63 |
0.41 |
1.42 |
1.42 |
0.41 |
|
DIT Grangegorman ABC |
0.94 |
- |
- |
0.24 |
0.33 |
|
24.83 |
1.21 |
4.91 |
7.02 |
6.37 |
The ABC Programme was preceded by the Prevention and Early Intervention Programme (PEIP) (2007-2013) in which three sites participated: Youngballymun, CDI Tallaght, and the Preparing for Life Programme. Total funding for the PEIP amounted to €36 million.
It is the intention of my Department to seek additional funding in this year’s estimates process, to extend the ABC Programme to the end of August 2018. This extension brings the existing programme closer in line with the expected timeline for delivery of the national evaluation report in 2018.
My Department is working to ensure that we take full account of the learning from all the interventions across the 13 ABC sites, and the national evaluation. We will utilise this learning to inform the delivery of prevention and early intervention initiatives in order to achieve our goal of improving the lives of children and families throughout Ireland.
308. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons employed as staff in the child and family social work department in the Tusla office in Dundalk; and if she will provide a breakdown of those staff members' roles and qualifications in the specific area of child and family protection. [23681/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise that this is an operational matter for Tusla and my officials have requested that they reply directly to the Deputy.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
309. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of cases that have been received by the child and family social work department in the Tusla office in Dundalk between May 2016 and May 2017; and the length of time that passed between each case being received and contact being made with each family or person. [23682/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation on the number of referrals received by child and family social work services is not collated by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in the format requested by the Deputy. The latest referral figures published by Tusla are for each administrative area, and indicate that a total of 2,509 referrals had been received in the Louth/Meath area in the first three quarters of 2016.
When a referral is received, the first step is to conduct a preliminary enquiry, to substantiate the details provided by the reporter. Preliminary enquiries should normally be completed within 24 hours, and 100% were completed within this time frame in the Louth/Meath area.
For the Deputy's information, I would note that at the end of February 2017 there were 1,444 open cases in the Louth/Meath area. 274 were awaiting allocation, and 5 of these were high priority.
I only have national figures for the cases awaiting allocation, but I will ask Tusla to provide you with the waiting time for high priority cases for the Louth/Meath area.
310. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the discrepancy in the guidelines for the 2017 youth grant scheme (details supplied); if she will ensure that the recent changes to the 2017 criteria are changed back to the 2016 scheme criteria, including that 75% of the club or group members must be under 21 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23708/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country.
I am pleased to confirm that I have allocated an extra €5.5m in current funding to support the provision of youth services in 2017. This will bring the total youth funding by my Department to €57.4m, an increase of 10% over last year's allocation. The additional funding is being used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services.
After a period of consultation with key stakeholders it was agreed that in line with the National Youth Strategy 2015–2020 it would be a condition of the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme that at least 75% of the club/group membership should be between the ages of 10 and 21. The clarification will ensure that the Scheme will have the maximum impact on the targeted cohort, as identified in the National Youth Strategy 2015 - 2020.
The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme supports youth work activities at a local level. These grants are made available to all youth clubs and groups through the local Education and Training Boards. The scheme is open to some 1,600 youth groups and clubs, with an estimated 89,000 club members around the country. The scheme, which is open to new entrants, is advertised locally and applications for funding are invited by the Education and Training Boards from local groups in their respective areas. Each year, some 600 local youth clubs benefit from the scheme. In 2016, €1.065m was allocated to this scheme. In 2017, I have provided an additional 10% in funding to the scheme, bringing the total allocation to €1.1715.
311. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing financial difficulties for community child care services in areas of disadvantage due to the unique nature of the children and families they serve and the additional needs they have; the action she is taking to ensure that community child care settings in areas of disadvantage are supported by a sustainable funding system; if she will consider the granting of a separate funding stream for providers in designated areas of disadvantage as exists under the DEIS scheme in respect of schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23710/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity childcare facilities are important partners in the delivery of affordable, accessible, high quality childcare. The majority of community childcare services are operating well and have been able to manage issues they face within the structures available, including by availing of support from County and City Childcare Committees, Pobal and my Department. Nevertheless, I have implemented a number of substantial measures in the past year to assist these services.
Most recently, I announced a substantial increase and expansion of the Community Childcare Subvention programme from September 2017, which will provide significant additional funding to families but also to services. In addition, Strand Two of the 2017 Early Years Capital programme, which closed for application on May 5th, made €500,000 available in grants of up to €20,000 to Community services who are seeking to make building improvements or undertake maintenance or refurbishment. These applications are currently being assessed, and I anticipate recommendations on funding in the coming weeks.
I have also taken steps to provide payment to community services for ‘non-contact time’ for the first time, and this will be available in summer 2017. A total of €14.5 million is available across community and private services.
The Deputy will be aware of the challenges faced by a small number of community services who have been facilitating the training of Community Employment participants. I made €1m in funding available to services that identified themselves as having difficulties in this regard. The funding will ensure that regulatory changes do not hinder service delivery or the availability of childcare places. I will also be considering how this funding can best be deployed in 2018 to address the most urgent challenges facing childcare services.
In the longer term, the Independent Review of the Cost of Quality Childcare, which will be commissioned later this year, will include consideration of factors that affect the financial viability of the childcare sector. The review is likely to examine issues such as the total average cost of provision; costs and revenues for services operating in disadvantaged communities; and sustainability issues. The review will inform future policy development and the Estimates process.
My priority is to ensure we provide access to high quality and affordable childcare. I am committed to doing all I can to continue to attract the necessary investment to deliver on this objective.
The following revised reply was received on 24 May 2017
Community childcare facilities are important partners in the delivery of affordable, accessible, high quality childcare. The majority of community childcare services are operating well and have been able to manage issues they face within the structures available, including by availing of support from County and City Childcare Committees, Pobal and my Department. Nevertheless, I have implemented a number of substantial measures in the past year to assist these services.
Most recently, I announced a substantial increase and expansion of the Community Childcare Subvention programme from September 2017, which will provide significant additional funding to families but also to services. In addition, Strand Two of the 2017 Early Years Capital programme, which closed for application on April 27th, made €500,000 available in grants of up to €20,000 to Community services who are seeking to make building improvements or undertake maintenance or refurbishment. These applications are currently being assessed, and I anticipate recommendations on funding in the coming weeks.
I have also taken steps to provide payment to community services for ‘non-contact time’ for the first time, and this will be available in summer 2017. A total of €14.5 million is available across community and private services.
The Deputy will be aware of the challenges faced by a small number of community services who have been facilitating the training of Community Employment participants. I made €1m in funding available to services that identified themselves as having difficulties in this regard. The funding will ensure that regulatory changes do not hinder service delivery or the availability of childcare places. I will also be considering how this funding can best be deployed in 2018 to address the most urgent challenges facing childcare services.
In the longer term, the Independent Review of the Cost of Quality Childcare, which will be commissioned later this year, will include consideration of factors that affect the financial viability of the childcare sector. The review is likely to examine issues such as the total average cost of provision; costs and revenues for services operating in disadvantaged communities; and sustainability issues. The review will inform future policy development and the Estimates process.
312. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that youth services in Cabra have been directed by the Department of Education and Skills of revised pay scales for youth workers as part of the Haddington Road pay restoration deal and consequently increased funding allocated must be used in the first instance to increase youth workers’ pay and will not be used to increase services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23732/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra313. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the directive on revised pay scales for Cabra youth services or others was issued after programmes and agreements were devised with staff; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this has put further strain on the voluntary boards of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23733/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together.
My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country.
I am pleased to confirm that I have allocated an extra €5.5m in current funding to support the provision of youth services in 2017. This will bring the total youth funding by my Department to €57.4m. The additional funding is being used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services.
This year, I approved a 5% increase in funding to each of the targeted youth services operating across the country.
With the exception of a small number of services staffed by Education and Training Board employees, staff employed in youth projects and services funded by my Department, are not public servants. City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB) acts as my Department’s funding intermediary in the administration of targeted youth funding to youth services in Dublin City, including those in Cabra. I am advised that a number of youth workers, employed in projects administered by CDYSB, are on scales linked to public pay scales. It has been brought to my attention that Department of Education and Skills Circular Letter 0027/2017 may apply to these individuals.
In this regard, I am further advised that the costs associated with the implementation of this Circular is considerably less than the 5% increase in allocation that each of these services received this year.
314. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if consideration is being given to the requests of an association (details supplied); the proposals there are to enable Defence Forces personnel to have access to the State's industrial relations agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23767/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the right to trade union status for the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, I wish to advise that under the terms of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990 the Defence Forces Representative Associations are prohibited from being associated with, or affiliated to any trade unions, or any other body. Accordingly, the Representative Associations cannot be affiliated to ICTU at present. The basis for the prohibition is that it would be inappropriate to apply the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990 to members of the Defence Forces. The taking of any form of industrial action is irreconcilable with military service. This is a long standing policy position taken by respective Governments since the foundation of the State. The Defence Forces may be called on to contribute to maintaining vital services in times of industrial action. The potential for serious difficulties and conflicts could arise in these circumstances if the Defence Forces Representative Associations were associated with, or affiliated to ICTU, given ICTU rules in relation to such matters.
The Conciliation and Arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) provides a formal mechanism for the PDF Representative Associations, RACO and PDFORRA, to engage with the Official side. The purpose of the scheme is to provide a means for the determination of claims and proposals from the Associations relating to remuneration and conditions of service.
It is open to the Representative Associations to submit claims to the Official side in relation to matters falling within the C&A scheme. Generally claims relate to pay and conditions, award of allowances etc. When submitted, these claims are generally the subject of negotiations and where agreement is not reached it is open to both sides to seek the assistance of an adjudicator to settle the matter.
In addition, a framework exists which facilitates the Associations engaging with the official side in talks parallel to those taking place between ICTU and the official side at National level.
I have received representations from PDFORRA seeking to have access to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court made available to them in the event of any future legislative changes being made to provide An Garda Síochána with access to same. I am advised that the proposals in relation to An Garda Síochána being granted such access will require detailed legislative changes and the Department of Justice and Equality have established a Working Group to examine in detail what future legislative changes are required.
I remain satisfied with the present arrangements in place for the Defence Forces. However, in the light of PDFORRAs representations the matter is being kept under review, including in the context of any future arrangements to be made for An Garda Síochána.
In relation to wage restoration it should be noted that rates of remuneration and conditions of employment in the Irish Defence Force have traditionally been set by reference to relative levels of pay across the various parts of the Irish public sector. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009-2013 and the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (the Lansdowne Road Agreement) define current pay policy for Public Servants and members of the Permanent Defence Forces.
I believe that measures contained in the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA), which PDFORRA have recently signed up to, and the provisions introduced in Budget 2016 and 2017 will be of benefit generally to members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF).
The LRA proposes to increase salaries during 2016 and 2017. These benefits come in the form of increases in gross pay in 2016 for those earning up to €31,000 and in 2017 for all those earning up to €65,000. In addition the Government has introduced legislation which has commenced the process to reduce the pay reduction applied under the Financial Emergency Measures in Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2013. As you may be aware PDFORRA, the representative association for enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force, have recently accepted the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement and the above pay provisions will now also apply to their members. Currently my officials are engaged in arranging the payment of these pay increases.
In relation to the Pensions Related Deduction (PRD), which is commonly referred to as the ‘Pension Levy’, the exemption threshold for payment of the ‘Pension Levy’ will increase substantially during the course of the agreement from €15,000 to €28,750 which means that annual income subject to the levy below €28,750 will no longer be liable to the deduction.
With regard to the post 1994 soldier, Military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that its members be physically and mentally prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations and to undertake their duties on deployment overseas. To this end, it is vital the age and health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised in any way.
In regard to the use of Laraum in the Defence Forces, it is the policy of the Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness for overseas service and medical suitability, i.e. a medical risk assessment for Lariam is carried out on an individual basis. The choice of medication for overseas deployment, is a medical decision made by the Medical Officers in the Defence Forces, having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member.
Significant precautions are taken by the Defence Forces Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of the Defence Forces to take any of the anti-malarial medications, including identification of any contraindications and assessment of any reported side effects that may occur. While overseas, all personnel have access to either an Irish military Medical Officer or to the UN provided medical service (depending on the particular mission) to whom they could report any complaints, including potential side effects of any medications.
There are no plans at this time to withdraw Lariam from the range of anti-malarial medications available to the Defence Forces.
315. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the Defence Forces budget and expenditure on information technology in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [23780/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Defence Forces budget and expenditure on information technology in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 is outlined in the table below.
|
|
Budget |
Exp |
Budget |
Exp |
Budget |
Exp |
Budget |
Exp |
Budget |
Exp |
Budget |
Exp End April |
|
|
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
€’000 |
|
Total |
6,250 |
6,419 |
6,330 |
7,022 |
6,340 |
7,623 |
7,140 |
10,810 |
10,130 |
11,098 |
9,933 |
4,534 |
