Written Answers Nos. 639-656
639. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of opt outs for individual new dwellings under SI 365 of the building regulations 2015 for each local authority, by quarter and as a percentage of overall commencements in each of the years 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30095/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue referred to in the question is a matter for local Building Control Authorities, who are independent in the use of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 - 2014.
Building Control Authorities are required to keep certain information pertaining to building works that come under the Building Control Regulations 1997-2015 on a statutory register, including particulars in relation to Commencement Notices and Declarations of Intention to Opt Out of Statutory Certification.
The Building Control Management System (BCMS) provides a common platform for clear and consistent administration of building control matters across the local authority sector. The BCMS is an IT enabler, set up to facilitate building control authorities, building owners, builders and construction professionals in discharging their separate responsibilities under the Building Control Act 1990.
The BCMS is centrally hosted by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of the 31 Local Authorities and has enabled this information to be hosted on a central nationwide register, readily available and updated quarterly at https://www.localgov.ie/en/link-type/bcms.
642. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made in the establishment of a register of vacant sites in advance of the introduction of the vacant site levy due to come into operation in 2018; the guidance that is given to local authorities in the event of difficulties in identifying the ownership of a site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30177/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas. Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their areas, beginning on 1 January 2017, and to issue annual notices to owners of vacant sites by 1 June 2018 in respect of vacant sites on the register on 1 January 2018. The levy will be applied by planning authorities, commencing on 1 January 2019 in respect of sites which were vacant and on the vacant site register during the year 2018 and will subsequently be applied on an annual basis thereafter, as long as a site remains on the vacant site register in the preceding year.
My Department issued general guidance to planning authorities on the implementation of the vacant site levy in July 2016, by way of Circular Letter PL 7/2016, entitled Implementation of the Vacant Site Levy, which is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/pl_072016_guidance_on_implementation_of_the_vacant_site_levy.pdf.
Planning authorities are presently engaging in the necessary preparatory work, prior to the application of the levy with effect from January 2019 in respect of sites identified on the register in 2018. As required under the Act, this includes the identification of specific vacant sites for entry on the register as well as the registered owners of the sites in question along with undertaking a site valuation. Vacant site registers were established in January 2017 by planning authorities and the registers will be populated as the preparatory work progresses during the course of this year. My Department will monitor the implementation of the levy by local authorities to ensure that it is being fully utilised, in line with its intended purpose.
643. Deputy James Browne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to grant Defence Forces personnel access to the Workplace Relations Commission to raise pay and pension concerns. [29495/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra644. Deputy James Browne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding Labour Court access for Defence Forces personnel. [29496/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra646. Deputy James Browne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress which involves the inclusion of Defence Forces' representative associations in line with the work of the Department of Justice and Equality working group regarding access to the industrial relations structures for An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29498/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 643, 644 and 646 together.
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 scheme provides a formal means for the determination of claims and proposals from the Associations relating to remuneration and conditions of service and provides access to independent arbitration and adjudication.
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 remain satisfied with the present arrangements in place for the Defence Forces. However, I am keeping the matter under review pending the output of the Working Group on Industrial Relations Structures for an Garda Síochána, which has been established by the Department of Justice and Equality.
645. Deputy James Browne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way he plans to address the concerns of post-2013 entrants to the Defence Forces who will no longer be entitled to a supplementary pension when aged between 58 and 60 and must wait to receive retirement benefits when aged over 66. [29497/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe occupational pension scheme terms of post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service, including the Permanent Defence Force, are governed by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. The Single Public Service Pension Scheme (“Single Scheme”), which was introduced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, commenced with effect from 1 January 2013. All first-time new entrants to pensionable public service employment on or after that date are members of the Single Scheme.
The new Single Scheme was one of the key structural reform commitments agreed by Government with the EU/IMF under the programme of financial support for Ireland. In the context of the Government’s decision to introduce the Single Scheme, a stated primary objective is to help significantly reduce the cost of public service pensions in the longer-term through far-reaching transformation of the public service pension system. With that in mind, the terms and rules of the Single Scheme are fundamentally different to the superannuation arrangements of all public servants recruited before 1 January 2013. The terms/rules of the Single Scheme, which are set down in the 2012 Act, make no provision for the concept or award of supplementary pensions for any new entrants joining any public service group on or after 1 January 2013. This position has been confirmed to the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations.
Under the 2012 Act, overall statutory responsibility for the formulation of the Single Scheme pension terms/rules rests with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
647. Deputy James Browne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to address the concerns surrounding the use of Lariam in the Defence Forces while on overseas missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29499/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMalaria is a serious disease and is a threat to any military force operating in areas where the disease is prevalent. There are three anti-malarial drugs in use by the Irish Defence Forces, namely Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline. The choice of medication for overseas deployment, including the use of Lariam, is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces, having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Irish Defence Forces.
Significant precautions are taken by Irish Defence Forces Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of our Defence Forces to take any of the anti-malarial medications. It is the policy of the Irish Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness for service overseas and medical suitability.
The health and welfare of the Defence Forces are a priority for me. Anti-malarial medications, including Lariam, remain in the formulary of medications prescribed by the Medical Corps for Defence Forces personnel on appropriate overseas missions, to ensure that our military personnel can have effective protection from the very serious risks posed by Malaria.
648. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the staffing complement of his Department in whole-time equivalents as at the end of 2016. [29601/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of wholetime equivalent civil servants in my Department at the end of 2016 was 339.12.
649. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding Traveller support and services provided by his Department in each county; the groups, agencies and voluntary bodies involved; the cost of same for each county for the past three years and to date in 2017; his plans to set up an advisory group to report on the minimum levels of support and services from his Department that should be available in each county to address the needs and the rights of Travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29690/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of supports and services to address the needs and the rights of Travellers does not come within the remit of the Department of Defence. Consequently my Department does not provide any supports and services in this regard.
650. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details and county location of capital projects announced by his Department in March, April, May and to date in June 2017. [29779/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe capital building programme focuses mainly on infrastructural projects comprising the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings and facilities and is designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. This programme is implemented on the basis of identified requirements and priorities.
The following tables outline, in respect of capital building projects for the period between March 2017 and 27 June 2017:
(1) The details of construction contracts awarded by the Department under the capital building programme.
|
Project |
Barracks |
County |
|
Redevelopment of Secure Storage Compound |
Defence Forces Training Camp |
Kildare |
|
Installation and Commissioning of Communications and Electrical Ducting Network |
Casement Aerodrome |
Dublin 22 |
(2) The details of capital projects, where Invitations to submit construction tenders were issued by the Department in the period referred to above.
|
Project |
Barracks |
County |
|
Fuel Storage Facility Fire Fighting Upgrade |
Haulbowline Naval Base |
Cork |
651. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Civil Service clerical officers in full-time employment in his Department as of 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29846/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of civil service clerical officers in permanent employment in my Department as of 31 May 2017 by county is as follows:
|
County |
No. of Clerical Officers in Full Time Employment as of 31 May 2017 |
|
Kildare |
31 |
|
Galway |
59 |
|
Dublin |
6 |
|
Tipperary |
8 |
|
Cork |
2 |
|
Total Clerical Officers by county |
106 |
In addition there is one clerical officer serving in our Brussels Office bringing the total number to 107 as at 31 May 2017.
It must be noted that while there are 107 permanent clerical officers in my Department a number of these work reduced hours under the various family friendly policies in operation in the civil service.
652. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of full-time Civil Service clerical officers in his Department who have either retired, resigned or been promoted from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017, by county, in tabular form. [29862/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of permanent civil service clerical officers in my Department that have either retired, resigned or been promoted from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017, by county is as follows:
Permanent Clerical Officers who retired from the Department of Defence From 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 (up to 31 May) |
|
Galway |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Dublin |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Permanent Clerical Officers who resigned from the Department of Defence From 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 (up to 31 May) |
|
Kildare |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Permanent Clerical Officers who were promoted in the Department of Defence From 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 (up to 31 May) |
|
Kildare |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Galway |
0 |
8 |
0 |
653. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of full-time Civil Service clerical officer appointments made in his Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29886/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra654. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of temporary Civil Service clerical officer appointments made in his Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29904/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 653 and 654 together.
The number of full time civil service clerical officer appointments made in my Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county is as follows:
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 (up to 31 May) |
|
Kildare |
0 |
2 |
3 |
|
Galway |
1 |
2 |
4 |
The number of temporary civil service clerical officers appointments made in my Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county is as follows:
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 (up to 31 May) |
|
Kildare |
1 |
4 |
1 |
|
Galway |
0 |
2 |
2 |
655. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Army Ranger Wing has increased its counter terrorism training in collaboration with An Garda Síochána in view of continued terrorism attacks and threats in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29984/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra656. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the commitment which has been made to date in 2017 to further enhance the capabilities of the Army Ranger Wing as part of the implementation of the White Paper 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29985/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 656 together.
Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2015) is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.
The security environment is kept under constant review including the threat from international terrorism. On-going coordination and liaison meetings take place between the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána and, based on on-going threat assessments, the Gardaí and the Defence Forces liaise with regard to possible Defence Forces supports required for a range of contingencies. An Garda Síochána can request a broad range of supports from the Defence Forces including the Army Ranger Wing and in this context the Army Ranger Wing are trained and equipped to undertake a range of specialist roles.
Details with regard to the precise training of the ARW are not released into the public domain for security and operational reasons.
The White Paper on Defence sets out the capability agenda for the Defence Forces for the next decade. It contains a commitment to further enhance the capabilities of the ARW. Work to identify a range of options in this regard is ongoing as part of the implementation of the White Paper.
