Written Answers Nos. 596-619
596. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she is taking to support education and upskilling to facilitate persons entering the animation sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46558/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Film Board is the national development agency for Irish film making and the Irish film, television and animation industry. Screen Training Ireland is part of the Irish Film Board and is the national training and development resource specifically created for Ireland’s film and television industry. Screen Training Ireland works with national and internationally recognised industry professionals to identify, design and deliver training for Irish professionals. Training programmes are offered to enhance expertise in Film, Television, Animation and interactive screen content.
The Irish Film Board (IFB) and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) commissioned a National Strategy for Training and Education for the Audio-visual Industry which was recently published https://www.irishfilmboard.ie/news/bai-and-ifb-report-calls-for-government-policy-on-training-for-the-film-tel .
In partnership with the Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Business, Enterprise and Innovation, my Department commissioned an economic analysis of our screen based creative.
The recommendations of both studies are providing inputs for the development of an industry-wide long term plan for Ireland as a global hub for the production of Film, TV Drama and Animation under Pillar 4 of the Creative Ireland Programme, including the issues around training.
597. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide copies of each of the applications made to her Department seeking assistance and or wildlife licences in cases (details supplied); and if she will further provide copies of wildlife licences and complete copies of written determinations including relevant letters paper or electronic sent by her Department to each of the applicant organisations. [46611/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra598. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the evidence used to approve action on public health grounds in regard to three cases (details supplied); and if her Department consulted other Government Departments or State agencies for advice or assistance in making these public health and safety determinations. [46612/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 597 and 598 together.
As requested I will arrange for my Department to provide the Deputy with the documents on the licence applications under the Wildlife Acts referred to by the Deputy. Applications received by my Department for activities licensed under the Wildlife Acts are considered by relevant officials in the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department and in the cases referred to in the question, the licences were granted following consideration and recommendations from such officials. On balance the expert ornithological officials of my Department are qualified to make such judgements and consult, as appropriate, when more specific expertise from other agencies are needed. Often the applicant is an expert in a field germane to the rationale for the derogation request.
599. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the statistics in each of the years 2000 to 2016, inclusive, and to date in 2017 on gull numbers by urban and rural areas. [46613/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds various bird monitoring projects which provide some data on gull numbers, but not detailed information on urban versus rural populations. Indeed, in a bird of flight and range such distinction is anomalous.
The main source of bird monitoring data for the over wintering period is the Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS), co-ordinated by BirdWatch Ireland. Data is compiled annually and is available via the IWeBS online portal (https://f1.caspio.com/dp.asp?AppKey=f4db3000060acbd80db9403f857c). As many gulls feed inland, they may not be recorded in urban or coastal wetlands.
Detailed species specific reports, including for several species of gull, are produced from time to time, and the last major report covered the period 2001/02 – 2008/09. This report is also available online (http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=y06hHCtXkyc=&tabid=281). The next major report is scheduled to be produced in 2018.
A synthesis report on breeding seabirds (including gulls) based on surveys undertaken during the period 2015 – 2018 will be published when analysis is complete; however the surveys are targeted mainly at cliff and island colonies.
600. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 257, 258 and 264 of 17 October 2017, the population database that will be used in the comprehensive review. [46614/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra604. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider a phasing strategy for the derogation review project currently underway in her department (details supplied). [46637/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 604 together.
My Department is currently examining tenders from contractors to undertake this review. It will be a matter for the successful contractor to take account, in the first instance, of all relevant factors, including population data available on various bird species in national and international studies. I expect that the review will be completed in a time frame to allow for any relevant recommendations to be considered by me as part of the renewal of the declarations on 1 May 2018.
601. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to a report (details supplied), if she will provide a copy of the full application case made by a group to her Department for the approval and licence to conduct the study. [46633/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra602. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to a report (details supplied), if she will provide a copy of the licence issued by her Department for the conduct of the study. [46634/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra603. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the date on which her Department received a copy of the final report of a study (details supplied). [46635/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 601 to 603, inclusive, together.
My Department did grant a licence in 2013 under the Wildlife Acts to the study team to disturb starlings as part of their work. A copy of the report was sent to my Department in July this year. I understand that the Minister for Health has addressed the issue of AMR in response to Parliamentary Questions Nos 271 and 272 of 17 October 2017.
605. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which the requirements regarding trainee recruitment under section 481 are enforced; the way in which the number of trainees per production are recorded; and the number of trainees hired under this scheme since 2010. [46749/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 481 is an incentive to film and television production in Ireland. One of the requirements for receipt of the tax relief is the employment of trainees by the producer company. Specifically, the project must employ a minimum of two trainees for each €355,000 of corporation tax credit claimed, up to a maximum of 8 trainees. Statistics in relation to Section 481 are compiled and published by the Revenue Commissioners.
The Irish Film Board (IFB) and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) commissioned a National Strategy for Training and Education for the Audio-visual Industry which was recently published https://www.irishfilmboard.ie/news/bai-and-ifb-report-calls-for-government-policy-on-training-for-the-film-tel.
In partnership with the Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Business, Enterprise and Innovation, my Department commissioned an economic analysis of our screen based creative sector.
The recommendations of both studies will provide inputs for the development of an industry-wide long term plan for Ireland as a global hub for the production of Film, TV Drama and Animation under Pillar 4 of the Creative Ireland Programme. The issue of trainee recruitment under Section 481 will be considered as part of this plan.
606. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when annual derogation reports for the years post-2012 as required under article 9(3) of the birds directive will be submitted to the European Commission; and when the reports will be publically available. [46783/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra607. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason Ireland has not complied with its annual reporting requirements under the birds directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46784/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 607 together.
Ireland submitted its last annual report to the European Commission under the EU Birds Directive in 2014 and arrangements are underway to submit all outstanding reports which will be filed over the coming months.
608. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the derogations for public health and safety issues that have been granted under article 9 of the birds directive post-2012. [46785/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Birds Directive is implemented in Ireland under the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. Under the terms of the Directive, all Member States of the EU are bound to take measures to protect all wild birds and their habitats. Under Article 9(a) Member States may derogate in the interests of public health and safety; air safety; and to prevent serious damage to crops, livestock, forests, fisheries and water; and for the protection of flora and fauna.
In each of the years since 2012, declarations have been made under the European Communities (Wildlife Act, 1976) (Amendment) Regulations 1986, as amended, which allows the capturing, killing or removal of eggs/nests of listed bird species in certain situations. By way of example, the current declarations are available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at https://www.npws.ie/legislation/irish-law/eu-birds-directive-derogations. I will furnish the Deputy with copies of all derogation orders made since 2012.
609. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the general system of protection in place here for breeding birds as is required under article 5 of the birds directive. [46786/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDirective 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds, commonly referred to as the Birds Directive, has created a comprehensive scheme of protection for wild bird species in the European Union. The Directive recognises that wild birds, many of which are migratory, are a shared heritage of the Member States and that their effective conservation requires international co-operation.
Article 4 of the Directive requires Member States to classify areas as special protection areas for:
- the conservation of rare or vulnerable species listed in Annex I of the Directive; and
- regularly-occurring migratory species not listed in Annex I.
In Ireland, 154 sites have been selected for conservation as special protection areas, pursuant to the requirements of the Directive. Within these sites, certain activities may only be undertaken with my prior consent, as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, or with the consent of the relevant public authority.
Article 5 of the Birds Directive requires that Member States take measures to protect all species of naturally occurring birds in the wild state, as referred to in Article 1 of the Directive. Under Article 5, certain activities are prohibited such as the deliberate killing or capture of wild birds and the deliberate destruction of or damage to their nests and eggs or removal of their nests, except in certain specific circumstances.
Article 5 has been transposed into national law under various provisions of the Wildlife Acts, under which it is prohibited to undertake the activities listed in this article of the Directive, unless under licence from my Department.
610. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the qualifying criteria for the allocation of a language assistant as part of the cúntóir teanga scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46961/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to qualify for recognition under Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga - which is administered on behalf of my Department by Muintearas Teo and Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne Teo and to which the Deputy refers, the school in question must be situated in a Gaeltacht Area and operate through the medium of Irish.
In order to further strengthen the scheme in the context of the implementation of the language planning process as set out under The Gaeltacht Act 2012 and the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, which is being spearheaded by the Department of Education and Skills, my Department intends to undertake a review of the scheme which will commence in the near future.
Among the issues which will be addressed as part of this review will be the qualifying criteria which should apply in the case of schools who are or who wish to participate in the scheme into the future.
611. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a school (details supplied) has not been accepted as part of the cúntóir teanga scheme despite participating in the Department of Education and Skills policy for Gaeltacht schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46962/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to support Gaeltacht schools in providing additional language acquisition and enrichment opportunities in support of the development and strengthening of the language as the predominant community and household language in Gaeltacht areas, my Department recently sanctioned an allocation of €551,813 in respect of the school year 2017/18 to Muintearas Teo who are tasked with administering the scheme on its behalf in the Gaeltacht areas of Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Meath.
This allocation was made in order to facilitate the provision of the scheme to the same schools that participated in the scheme in 2016/17. Due to competing demands my Department was not in a position to accommodate any additional schools under the scheme - notwithstanding the validity of the case made in respect of these schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy. The only exception to this, insofar as it applies to the operational area of Muintearas was the inclusion, at the request of Muintearas, of SN na Trá Báine which replaced SN Coill an tSidheáin, which is now closed.
Having said that, it should be noted that in order to further strengthen the scheme in the context of the implementation of the language planning process as set out under The Gaeltacht Act 2012 and the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, which is being spearheaded by the Department of Education and Skills, my Department intends to undertake a review of the scheme which will commence in the near future. It is intended that this review will be undertaken by a suitably qualified team with the relevant experience and expertise and that the views and recommendations of key stakeholders will form part of the review.
The Deputy may be assured that careful consideration will be given to the findings of this review in due course, in the context of available resources and in order to ensure that the scheme aligns itself with the key objectives of both the language planning process and the Policy on Gaeltacht Education respectively.
612. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 149 and 150 of 5 July 2017 and 245 and 246 of 26 September 2017, if the report is now to hand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47079/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report referred to by the Deputy was recently published by the Irish Film Board (IFB) on its website at https://www.irishfilmboard.ie/news/bai-and-ifb-report-calls-for-government-policy-on-training-for-the-film-tel.
613. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will bring forward legislation to make it mandatory to provide a defibrillator in each public building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45916/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra617. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce legislation making it mandatory to make a defibrillator available in each public building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46712/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 617 together.
A report published by HIQA in 2014 found that according to available evidence, none of the public access defibrillation programmes assessed were considered cost –effective, using conventional willingness to pay thresholds. Following from this report the Health Service Executive established an Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Steering Group early this year.
The purpose of this project is to improve survival rates for those who suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest through the development and implementation of an out of hospital cardiac arrest strategy. This work will support the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and Community First Responder Ireland (CFR Ireland) in their commitment to improve clinical outcomes for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA).
Both the NAS and CFR Ireland are working with other partners to enable a sustainable response to such events.
The HSE National Community First Responder framework for Ireland declared that CFRs offer a valuable and complementary resource to emergency ambulance provision, positively impacts NAS response time and achieves improved survival for OHCA. It demonstrated how the NAS and CFR Ireland intend to consolidate, enhance and implement further CFR schemes over the next five years through a National Community First Responder Framework. Its ambitions over the next few years include increasing the availability of training in CPR in schools, work places and local groups and making Public Access Defibrillators more easily accessible with people knowing how to use them. It also aims to:
- Work in partnership with all relevant organisations (statutory, voluntary, community and private sectors) to increase the availability of Public Access Defibrillators;
- Put in place effective arrangements to ensure that Public Access Defibrillators are mapped, maintained and accessible to the public; and
- Commence a public awareness campaign to increase the level of provision of CFR Schemes in geographical areas of priority.
And so one of the means to help improve outcomes in this area is CFR groups. These are people from local communities who are trained in basic life support and the use of defibrillators that attend a potentially life threatening emergency in their area. They are then able to provide an early intervention in situations such as heart attack or cardiac arrest by providing, among other things, resuscitation and defibrillation.
Cardiac First Responders (CFR) Ireland, launched in 2015, is the national umbrella organisation for Community First Responders Groups. CFR Ireland works with the National Ambulance Service, Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council and the Centre for Emergency Medical Science UCD. Both the NAS and CFR Ireland currently support over 145 Community First Responder schemes throughout Ireland, who train community members to provide emergency care support.
If an emergency 999/112 call for cardiac arrest, choking, chest pain or breathing difficulties is made to the National Ambulance Service in an area where a CFR group is established, the on-duty CFR member gets a text from the National Ambulance Service at the same time that an ambulance is despatched with location and call details. The First Responder then goes straight to the scene and administers initial care (defibrillation if required) until the National Ambulance Service Emergency resources arrive.
614. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health further to a study published in October 2017 in a journal (details supplied), his plans to review the fluoridation of drinking water policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46186/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, established in 2004, advises the Minister on all aspects of fluoride. It continuously monitors new and emerging issues on fluoride and its effects. The study to which you refer has been brought to the attention of the Expert Body, who will advise the Minister should it have any concerns.
615. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied). [46457/17]
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 HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. It is worth noting that the HSE has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.
616. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the action his Department took in relation to the findings of a report (details supplied); and if none, the action he plans to take. [46636/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the answer given to Questions Nos. 271 and 272 on 17 October 2017. The position remains unchanged.
618. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to examine the pay inequality that arises when public sector employees receive pay increases while employees of section 39 organisations such as an organisation (details supplied) remain on the same pay scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46714/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE has in place Service Level Agreements with voluntary providers which set out the level of service to be provided for the grant to the individual organisation. Employees of Section 39 organisations are not public servants and are therefore not encompassed by the Public Service Stability Agreements. This means that they were not subject to the FEMPI legislation which imposed pay reductions. Section 39 organisations are not obliged to pass on any pay reductions to their staff members or to provide for any pay restoration that may be negotiated as part of these public service agreements.
Any individuals employed by these section 39 organisations are not HSE employees and therefore, the HSE has no role in determining the salaries or other terms and conditions applying to these staff. It is a matter for Section 39 organisations to negotiate salaries with their staff as part of their employment relationship and within the overall funding available for the delivery of agreed services.
619. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if his department will contribute to the funding of a second sexual abuse and violence study here, SAVI 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45634/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraActive consideration is being given by the Department of Justice and Equality and other relevant Government Departments to a further SAVI type study with factors receiving consideration including the new sources of more recent data in relation to sexual violence available to underpin and inform policy development, along with the need for ongoing investment in support services for victims. The Minister for Justice and Equality has asked for the views of my Department and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs as to the adequacy of statistics on sexual violence and the comparability with those collated in other EU countries.
My Department is liaising with the Department of Justice and Equality/CSOC (The National Office for the Prevention of Domestic and Gender-based Violence) in relation to these matters.
