Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:243. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24994/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (243)
Freagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (244)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:244. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24999/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
GLAS Applications
Ceisteanna (245)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:245. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, application by a person (details supplied); the reason a decision has not been made to date in view of the fact that they only have ten days to carry out the action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24859/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person named submitted an application under Tranche 3 of GLAS and has been approved into the scheme with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017.
My Department has contacted the person named to confirm his acceptance into the scheme and informed him to proceed with his GLAS actions. The Scheme approval letter for the person named will issue shortly.
GLAS Applications
Ceisteanna (246)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:246. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a GLAS application by a person (details supplied) was refused; if he will review same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24903/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
In 2016 the person named withdrew the action that had elevated his GLAS application to tier 2 for approval into the scheme. In accordance with the Scheme terms and conditions as this was the only Tier 2 action, the non-delivery of the action has resulted in the rejection of the GLAS application.
It is understood that the person named has lodged an appeal with the Agriculture Appeals Office. The person named will be informed in writing of the decision of that office when the appeal has been finalised.
Commission for Energy Regulation Staff
Ceisteanna (247)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:247. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is satisfied the staffing resource levels of the Commission for Energy Regulation is sufficient; if there has been a review of the staffing levels; his plans to increase staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24846/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The current staffing levels and grading structure at the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) were agreed early last year following an extensive engagement between the CER, my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. There have been no requests to my Department for any additional staff posts since then.
National Broadband Plan Data
Ceisteanna (248)
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:248. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes in County Cork which were provided with a new broadband connection in 2015 and 2016; the number of homes his Department expects will have access to a new connection in 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24996/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated. A key principle of the NBP is to support and stimulate commercial investment through policy and regulatory measures. Commercial investment since the publication of the NBP has considerably exceeded expectations. To date, the commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2.5bn in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband and mobile telecoms services.
There has been significant progress in relation to broadband rollout so that today, approximately 1.4m or 61% of premises in Ireland can get high speed broadband of a minimum of 30 Megabits per second. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector, which is continuing to expand this footprint.
On the 4 April, I signed a commitment agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide broadband to an additional 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. This figure includes over 25,300 premises in County Cork. Eir has committed to doing this work over a 90 week period, with an average of 500 premises passed per day. My Department will be monitoring this rollout to ensure that eir meets its obligations under the Agreement. A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my website www.dccae.gov.ie.
In total, over 192,500 of the 267,361 premises in County Cork will be able to access a high speed broadband service through commercial providers by the end of 2018. The remaining c.75,000 premises will be covered by the NBP State Intervention.
Nationally, there were over 50,700 new fixed broadband subscriptions in 2015, and over 50,800 in 2016. This brought the total number of fixed broadband subscriptions to over 1.36m. Further information on this issue is available in ComRegs Quarterly Key Data Report for Q4 2016 which is available at www.comreg.ie.
Road Projects Status
Ceisteanna (249)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:249. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposed Narrow Water bridge that will link counties Louth and Down; the details of reference for the planning approval expiry dates; and if he will provide other relevant details on the progress of the project. [24967/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Fresh Start Agreement, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Government agreed to undertake a review of the proposed Narrow Water Bridge project with a view to identifying options for its future development, for consideration by the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC).
The current status of the project is that, as part of the ongoing work by both administrations on the options review, a series of discussions with stakeholders have been held by officials of my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern with stakeholders, most recently on 20 February 2017 in Newry, Co. Down. Following these discussions, I understand that it is intended that the North South Ministerial Council will consider a paper on the options for the project, taking account of key objectives, at its next meeting in Transport sectorial format.
The position in relation to planning permission for the bridge at Narrow Water as previously proposed is a matter for the relevant authorities and my Department has no role in that.
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Ceisteanna (250)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:250. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a capital sports grant application by a club (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. [24823/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I 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 2,320 applications received will be assessed by officials in my Department over the coming months. Given the number of applications received and the detailed information submitted, it will take a number of months to complete the assessment process with allocations not expected until September.
Swimming Pool Programme Funding
Ceisteanna (251)
Darragh O'Brien
Ceist:251. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to open applications for grant aid funding for new swimming pools and refurbishment of existing facilities, in view of the fact they are specifically excluded from the capital sports grants programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24862/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP), which is administered by my Department, provides grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. There are four projects in the current programme and the priority in 2017 is on progressing these projects to the next stages, as appropriate.
In relation to future funding, last November Minister Ross and I launched a major consultation process for the development of a new Sports Policy. The examination of the responses received is being finalised at present and we expect to present the policy to Government before the summer break. The policy will include a specific focus on how Government should fund sports facilities and future funding support for swimming pools will be considered in this context.
Road Tolls
Ceisteanna (252)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:252. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he has taken or will take to ensure that an organisation (details supplied) will not be subject to toll charges and the related queuing delays that can occur at toll stations throughout the State. [24880/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII, formerly NRA) under Part V of the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015. The Roads Act 1993 sets out the legislative provisions regarding tolling and section 62 of the Act specifies the categories of vehicles which are exempt from the payment of toll charges.
Only ambulance, fire brigade vehicles and vehicles used by members of An Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces, in the performance of their duties as such members, are exempt from the payment of tolls. In that regard, it is important to note that the Irish Coast Guard of this Department, the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, mountain rescue teams and other community-based voluntary emergency services and groups are not exempt from the payment of tolls.
Although voluntary and community organisations such as river and sea rescue provide a valuable service, it is still essential, for the purpose of implementation of a fair and robust system of tolling enforcement, that it is applied equally to all users. It would thus be very difficult to provide an exemption for one voluntary or community organisation and not to another. In addition, making the voluntary and community sector generally exempt from tolls would incur a cost to the Exchequer as the PPP toll operators would have to be reimbursed for losses.
Noting the above position, I have referred the matter to TII 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.
Fáilte Ireland Staff
Ceisteanna (253)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:253. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff and personnel employed by Fáilte Ireland by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24881/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Matters regarding staffing are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for further information and direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Vehicle Registration
Ceisteanna (254)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:254. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review a case (details supplied); if he will provide an explanation for same; and the number of errors of this nature that have been made by the VRT centre to date in 2017. [24884/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Overall responsibility for matters relating to the re-registration of imported vehicles lies with the Revenue Commissioners, a body under the aegis of the Department of Finance. As the issues raised in this Question would be more appropriately addressed to the Minister for Finance, I would advise the Deputy to contact that Department.
Driver Test
Ceisteanna (255)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:255. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a driving test can be expedited to facilitate a person (details supplied) in County Donegal who requires a driving licence for work purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24913/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Tourism Project Funding
Ceisteanna (256)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:256. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will develop an inshore marine tourism strategy to support small boats and other inshore marine activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24962/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy.
It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, such as the development of individual strategies to promote marine or other tourism products. These are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to the Deputy. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Arms Trade
Ceisteanna (257)
Clare Daly
Ceist:257. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 16 May 2017, if she will clarify the fact that the weapons category ML5 is not defined as electronic control devices and components, per the common military list of the European Union published on 21 April 2015, and that the components which fall under the ML5 category include other equipment (details supplied). [24864/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Electronic control devices and components are included under category ML5 of the list referred to by the Deputy.
The EU Common Military List, as published on 21 April 2015, specifies the following as being included under category ML5 -
"Fire control, and related alerting and warning equipment, and related systems, test and alignment and countermeasure equipment, as follows, specially designed for military use, and specially designed components and accessories therefor:
a. Weapon sights, bombing computers, gun laying equipment and weapon control systems;
b. Target acquisition, designation, range-finding, surveillance or tracking systems; detection, data fusion, recognition or identification equipment; and sensor integration equipment;
c. Countermeasure equipment for items specified by ML5.a. or ML5.b.;
Note For the purposes of ML5.c., countermeasure equipment includes detection equipment.
d. Field test or alignment equipment, specially designed for items specified by ML5.a., ML5.b. or ML5.c."
All license applications for goods exported under ML5 state the nature and end use of those goods.
Brexit Issues
Ceisteanna (258)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:258. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of engagement and the number of occasions in which she has had discussions with her European counterparts since the Brexit referendum in which she has made the case for a declaration of compatibility to be made on state aid to remedy a serious economic disturbance in accordance with Article 107 of the treaty in response to the harmful economic consequences of Brexit on the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24882/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Since the Brexit Referendum, I have attended three meetings of the Competitiveness Council. While State Aid did not feature on the agenda, in my engagements with both EU Commissioners and Ministers from other Member States since the UK decision, Brexit has been a central part of the discussions at these meetings.
As the Deputy is aware, there is a lot that can be done within the existing State Aid Framework and my Department is taking all necessary steps to ensure that we are in a position to support companies in ways that are compatible with the State aid framework as and when they need that support. Last autumn, officials of my Department initiated discussions with DG Competition to sensitise the Commission to potential difficulties likely to be encountered by Irish firms from the Brexit referendum result. These discussions continue at the highest levels to address all relevant issues relating to any proposals emerging from our work in developing targeted supports for businesses impacted by Brexit.
On foot of extensive engagement with industry, my department is working with the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Enterprise Ireland and the SBCI to develop appropriate, tailored and targeted responses to mitigate the economic impacts of Brexit on businesses. This work, along with market developments as a result of Brexit, and ongoing engagement with the business community, will inform further discussions with the Commission and the development of any further initiatives to business.
IDA Site Visits
Ceisteanna (259)
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:259. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits that have been made to the north Cork area by the IDA in each of the years 2013 to 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24995/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
IDA Ireland collates its data on site visits on an entire County basis only. In the period referenced, there were 158 IDA-sponsored site visits to County Cork. As the following table shows, there has been a steady growth in the number of visits to Cork over the past four years with an additional nine site visits having taken place in the first three months of 2017.
IDA Ireland Site Visits to Cork 2013-2016
|
Year |
Cork |
|
2013 |
31 |
|
2014 |
30 |
|
2015 |
48 |
|
2016 |
49 |
|
Total |
158 |
Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Ceisteanna (260)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:260. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will expand the terms of investigation into mother and baby homes to include a home (details supplied) and in particular issues surrounding the illegal and abusive testing of vaccinations at that home. [24848/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under its terms of reference the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (and certain related Matters) is currently investigating 14 named Mother and Baby Homes and a representative sample of County Homes.
The list comprises those homes which can clearly be identified as having both:
(i) the primary function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children, which included both board and lodgings; and
(ii) an ethos which those running the institutions considered to promote a regime of work, training or education as part of an overall approach to either rehabilitating single mothers before they left the institution, or to give them training for living independently.
The information available about the institution in question does not indicate that it meets these criteria.
In its Second Interim Report, the Commission did not make any recommendations regarding an extension of their terms of reference at the present time. The Commission stated that it was satisfied that the institutions it is investigating are ‘unquestionably’ the main such homes that existed during the 20th century and that it does not currently recommend that other institutions be investigated. In its report the Commission commits to including relevant information on other institutions which have come to its attention in its social history report which will form a key part of its final report. At this future point, the report notes that the Commission may also be in a position to comment on the need for any further investigations in respect of these institutions.
I am conscious that the Commission's terms of reference already include mechanisms to ensure that any additional matters which the Commission may deem to warrant investigation can be brought to the attention of Government and Government would consider any such recommendations.
While the report states that the commission is not seeking an extension to its current remit, I have indicated that I want to conduct a scoping review to consider if broader terms of reference would help answer some of the questions which have been raised again in public debate. In this context it is useful to remind ourselves that many of the additional issues being raised again in public discourse were examined when the commission was being established. While I am open to examining the calls for an extension, it is essential that we do so with a full understanding of the considerable breadth and scope of its current terms of reference.
Child Care Services Provision
Ceisteanna (261)
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:261. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress which has been made in conducting an independent review on the cost of providing quality child care in private and community settings consistent with the principles of ongoing professionalisation of the sector; the factors which will be considered in the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24872/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Given the importance of financial sustainability for the provision of quality childcare, the Irish Programme for Government commits to conducting and publishing an independent review of the cost of providing quality childcare in Ireland. This commitment aligns closely with work on the design and development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme and is currently being progressed in that context. Work on preparing a Request for Tenders (RFT) for this 'Independent Review of Cost' is currently underway and it is envisaged that this RFT will be published in the coming months.
The Independent Review on the Cost of Providing Quality Childcare will, among other things, examine the link between wages, the quality of provision, and public funding. Its conclusion will be of great assistance to my Department as we consider the policy tools available to us to address the issues of wages and working conditions.
Issues that the review may consider include (1) the total average cost of quality childcare provision, (2) variation in cost and the reasons for same, (3) the link between cost and quality, (4) the cost of providing childcare services in disadvantaged communities and (5) the likely impact of future cost pressures, including the ongoing professionalisation of the sector.
€19m extra for families from September to the end of the year is a good start. But more must be done if we are truly to have affordable accessible quality childcare.In the negotiations for Budget 2018 I will be asking for extra funding so we can address some of the issues raised by childcare practitioners. It is clear more funding is needed so we can continue our radical new approach that improves both affordability and quality simultaneously.
Child Care Services Provision
Ceisteanna (262)
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:262. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which the universal child care scheme will be administered from September 2017; if the existing platform will be used; when providers will be given detailed information on the way in which the scheme will operate in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24873/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As I have previously announced, the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) will not be introduced in September 2017, but will be introduced at the earliest possible date.
However, I do not want to delay the benefit of higher childcare subsidies for families. I am pleased to confirm that major improvements in childcare subsidies will therefore come into effect this September, including increases of up to 50% in targeted childcare subsidy rates and a new universal childcare subsidy for children aged between 6 months and 36 months. September’s changes will be delivered through existing childcare schemes, pending the introduction of the ACS.
Childcare subsidies will be provided directly to Tusla-registered childcare providers. All Tusla-registered childcare providers, community and private, can sign up to provide these schemes, ensuring accessibility throughout the country in a range of services to suit the needs of parents.
Childcare subsidies will be administered using the Programme Implementation Platform (PIP); a system that childcare providers are familiar with through the delivery of the ECCE (free pre-school) programme and existing targeted schemes supported by my Department. In the case of the universal childcare subsidy, parents must provide both the child and parent PPS number to their childcare provider to qualify.
In order to raise awareness among both childcare providers and parents, I promised a comprehensive public information campaign before the end of May. I am delighted to report that over this week each childcare provider in the country will receive an information pack on the changes to the schemes I have just outlined. In addition City/County Childcare Committees have been briefed in order to offer local support to childcare providers; a dedicated website has been launched (affordablechildcare.ie) and officials from the DCYA will shortly commence a series of information events throughout the country.