Paul Kehoe
Ceist:129. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the case of persons (details supplied) will be finalised with the Land Registry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47594/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegistration of Title
Ceisteanna (129)
Freagraí scríofa
I can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions.
The Deputy will be aware of the service to T.D.s and Senators which provides information on the current status of applications, such as the subject of this question, which was introduced in May 2006. The service provides a speedier, more efficient and more cost effective alternative to submitting Parliamentary Questions. It is operated by the PRA and is available all year round.
I can further inform the Deputy that his query has been forwarded to the PRA for attention and direct reply via the above mentioned service.
Prisoner Transfers
Ceisteanna (130)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:130. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the prisoner transfer scheme following the Supreme Court judgment in a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47595/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 207 of 12 October 2017. The position remains as stated. For convenience I repeat that reply below.
On 12 July, 2016, the Supreme Court dismissed the State's appeal in the case known as 'O'Farrell, McDonald, Rafferty -v- The Governor of Portlaoise Prison'. The case concerns an appeal taken by the State against a judgement of the High Court ordering the release of the three named prisoners who had been transferred to Ireland from the UK where they had been sentenced, under the provisions of the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners Acts, 1995 -1997.
The judgement is detailed and has implications for the continuance in its present form of the process operated by the Irish Prison Service for transferring prisoners from other States to Ireland. The practical effect of this judgement and whether it will necessitate legislative and/or administrative changes is being examined by officials of the Irish Prison Service and my Department in consultation with Attorney General. Given the complex nature of the review being undertaken, it is not possible at this stage to indicate a time frame for its conclusion.
Naturalisation Applications
Ceisteanna (131)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:131. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application by a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47596/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, is ongoing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most straightforward cases are generally processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Turbary Rights
Ceisteanna (132)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:132. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the location in which the turbary rights information for bogs is stored. [47347/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Information on turbary rights is held by the Property Registration Authority of Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as successor to the Irish Land Commission. I also understand that Bord na Móna holds records of turbary rights allocated by it.
My Department receives information on turbary rights from individuals who have applied for compensation under the raised bog Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme.
Design and Crafts Council
Ceisteanna (133)
Seán Fleming
Ceist:133. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the role carried out by her Department in respect of crafts and persons that work in the craft area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47456/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Design & Crafts Council of Ireland is the national agency and development organisation for the craft industry in Ireland. The Design & Crafts Council is funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation via Enterprise Ireland. I have no statutory responsibility in relation to persons working in the craft area.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (134)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:134. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on further State funding for the event centre in Cork city. [47467/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Cork Event Centre is a project being developed and managed by Cork City Council and the Council is responsible for the delivery of the project.
My Department has allocated €12 million to the City Council towards the cost of the Centre. This allocation is subject to a Service Level Agreement with the City Council to ensure compliance with all relevant requirements in relation to major capital projects.
On 27 September 2017, Cork City Council made an application to my Department for a further grant of €10 million to assist in the development of the project. My Department will now assess the application. There are complex legal, state aid and match funding issues to be considered in relation to this application and the Department is engaging with the City Council in relation to these.
Special Areas of Conservation
Ceisteanna (135, 136)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:135. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the recent ESB actions on the walkways and hedgerows of the Gearagh special area of conservation, SAC; the follow up actions she plans to ensure similar actions do not reoccur in this or another SAC; her plans to reinstate the walkways; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47536/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAindrias Moynihan
Ceist:136. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding will be made available to reinstate the walkways in the Gearagh special area of conservation, SAC, following the recent ESB actions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47537/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.
The Gearagh special area of conservation is a nature reserve in the ownership of the ESB. The ESB has advised my Department that, due to concerns over public health and safety and access for emergency services, a number of damaged and fallen trees on a public walkway within the site had to be removed following the severe weather conditions of mid-October last.
The ESB has also advised that wet ground conditions, at the time that the works were carried out, have resulted in the surface of the walkway requiring reinstatement. I understand that this will be done by the ESB when weather conditions are favourable.
Officials from my Department will be meeting with the ESB shortly on this matter and will then decide if any further action by my Department is required.
Most land in protected sites is in private ownership. It is the policy of my Department, subject to the availability of resources, when it becomes aware of damage to a protected site to investigate the matter, in conjunction with other public authorities, if required.
Film Industry Tax Reliefs
Ceisteanna (137)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:137. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the changes she has sought to section 481; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47546/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department in partnership with the Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Business, Enterprise and Innovation, commissioned an economic analysis of our screen based creative industries including an examination of the economic impact and potential of the Irish film, TV and animation sector. This Report is being finalised and will make recommendations on Section 481.
It is planned that the study will provide an input into 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. Government proposals in relation Section 481 will be indicated in this plan.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (138)
Michael Collins
Ceist:138. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health his plans to reverse the Financial Emergency Measures in Public Interest cuts on general practices which has had a devastating impact on rural general practitioners; the steps he will take to address this to restore the viability of rural general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47441/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I acknowledge the contribution made by general practitioners and other health professionals who provide services under contract on behalf of the HSE, through reductions in the fees in respect of these services, to addressing the unprecedented economic crisis which the State faced over recent years.
In the context of the publication by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, of the Public Service Pay and Pension Bill 2017, on 7 November 2017, I announced that in 2018 I will undertake a process of engagement with representative bodies of contracted health professionals, aimed at putting in place a new multi-annual approach to fees, in return for service improvement and contractual reform and in line with Government priorities for the health service.
The Government is committed to ensuring the continued sustainability of general practice in rural communities. An enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was introduced in May 2016. The new Rural Practice Support Framework includes improved qualifying criteria for rural support and an increase in the financial allowance from €16,216 to €20,000 per annum. Over 300 GPs now benefit from rural practice supports under this Framework. This is a significant increase on the 167 GPs who received the Rural Practice Allowance prior to the introduction of the new Framework last year.
Fire Service
Ceisteanna (139)
John Lahart
Ceist:139. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Dublin Fire Brigade and ambulance situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47353/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am aware that a mediation process between Dublin City Council and staff associations is ongoing in relation to Dublin ambulance services. In these circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment pending the conclusion of this mediation process.
Hospital Overcrowding
Ceisteanna (140)
John Lahart
Ceist:140. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason for the recent occurrence in Tallaght hospital in which 15 persons were waiting on trolleys for a hospital bed, some of them waiting over a day, in view of the fact that the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, in May 2012 published a report and issued 76 recommendations to end the dangers of overcrowding in all hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47354/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive for a direct response.