Tom Neville
Ceist:250. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6516/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraGreenhouse Gas Emissions
Ceisteanna (250)
Freagraí scríofa
A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradeable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas equivalent. In relation to Ireland, the term “carbon credits” may relate to allowances issued under the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) or the EU Effort Sharing Decision.
The EU ETS is a cornerstone of the EU's policy to combat climate change and is a key mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. It covers emissions from power and heat generation, energy-intensive industry sectors including oil refineries, steel works and production of iron, aluminium, metals, cement, lime, glass, ceramics, pulp, paper, cardboard, acids, bulk organic chemicals and aviation. The EU ETS includes some 11,000 installations with an installed capacity of more than 30MW, with 101 installations currently in Ireland.
The ETS works on the 'cap and trade' principle. A cap is set on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted by installations covered by the system. The cap is reduced over time so that total emissions fall. Within the cap, companies receive or buy emission allowances, or carbon credits, which they can trade with one another as needed. They can also buy limited amounts of international credits from emissions saving projects in third countries. The limit on the total number of allowances available ensures that they have a value. An ETS installation must surrender enough allowances annually to cover all its emissions, or face penalties. If an installation reduces its emissions, it may retain excess allowances to cover its future needs or sell them to another installation that is short of allowances.
The 2009 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) established binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for EU Member States for the period 2013 to 2020. These targets cover sectors of the economy that fall outside the scope of the ETS, including transport, buildings, agriculture and waste management. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their level in 2005. Ireland’s target is jointly the most demanding 2020 reduction target allocated to EU Member States under this Decision, which is shared only with Denmark and Luxembourg.
The latest projections of greenhouse gas emissions by the Environmental Protection Agency (April 2017) indicate that emissions from those sectors of the economy covered by Ireland's ESD 2020 targets could be between 4% and 6% below 2005 levels by 2020. The projected shortfall to our targets in 2020 reflects both the constrained investment capacity over the past decade due to the economic crisis, and the extremely challenging nature of the target itself. In fact, it is now accepted that Ireland’s 2020 target was not consistent with what would be achievable on an EU wide cost-effective basis.
The legislative framework governing the EU’s 2020 emissions reductions targets includes a number of flexibility mechanisms to enable Member States to meet their annual emissions targets, including provisions to bank any excess allowances to future years and to trade allowances between Member States. Using banked emissions from the period 2013 to 2015, Ireland is projected to comply with its emissions reduction targets in each of the years 2013 to 2018. However, our cumulative emissions are expected to exceed targets for 2019 and 2020, which will result in a requirement to purchase additional allowances, or carbon credits. While this purchasing requirement is not, at this stage, expected to be significant, further analysis will be required to quantify the likely costs involved, in light of the final amount and price of credits required.
In addition to the two EU legal frameworks described above, carbon credits are also traded under emissions trading frameworks implemented under the auspices of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change primarily aimed at supporting emissions reductions in developing countries. There are also a number of voluntary or private carbon credit schemes within which carbon credits are issued and traded by individuals or firms who may seek to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by a real and verifiable amount. Such schemes do not interact with the frameworks described above and I have no plans to introduce such a scheme in Ireland.
Strategic Communications Unit
Ceisteanna (251)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:251. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he, his officials or advisers have had meetings with the strategic communication unit since it was set up; the issues that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6534/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I met with Mr. Concannon and a colleague from the Strategic Communications Unit on 5 October 2017. The meeting was also attended by the Secretary General of my Department, the Assistant Secretary over the Corporate area, and one of my Special Advisors.
Mr. Concannon, at the request of the Secretary General, also addressed a monthly meeting of Senior Managers in the Department on 23 October on the role of the Strategic Communications Unit.
An Assistant Secretary from my Department also sits on an Inter- Departmental Group chaired by Mr. Concannon on strategic communications across the Civil Service.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (252)
Lisa Chambers
Ceist:252. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the subsea AEC2 fibre optic cable system that is intended to be laid off the west coast, coming ashore in Clew Bay, County Mayo; his plans to extend secondary cables and or connections off the main cable to service Clare Island or Inishturk and other communities on the mainland with broadband; if this potential project is supported by his department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6536/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I welcome news of Aqua Comms DAC (“Aqua Comms”) recently announced commercial plans to lay and operate a new subsea cable system connecting New Jersey, U.S.A., to Ireland, and Denmark.
My understanding is that the HAVFRUE subsea cable is the first new undersea cable traversing the North Atlantic to connect mainland Northern Europe to the U.S. in nearly two decades. Aqua Comms will market and sell capacity services and raw spectrum on its portion of the cable.
The laying of the HAVFRUE / AEC-2 cable system, together with existing systems owned and operated by Aqua Comms, will create a resilient, ring-based infrastructure between the East Coast of the U.S., Ireland, and Northern Europe, connecting the hubs of the pan-Atlantic hyperscale data centre industry in North America, Ireland, and Scandinavia.
As to the intentions of Aquacomms and their investment my Department does not have access to the infrastructure plans of commercial operators. Queries related to the deployment of infrastructure by private commercial operators should be directed to the relevant operator, in this case Aqua Comms DAC, whose website is www.aquacomms.com.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (253)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high speed broadband will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6564/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Delivering high speed broadband to citizens across Ireland remains a firm commitment of mine and of this Government.
The premises referred to by the Deputy is in an AMBER area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. It will therefore be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area. When the procurement process reaches a satisfactory conclusion for Government, a contract will be awarded and the network roll-out will commence.
In the interim, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Task force to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Task force, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements with operators and clearing obstacles to developing infrastructure. There is a link to a list of these local Broadband Officers on my Department's website.
Freedom of Information Data
Ceisteanna (254)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:254. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department in each of the years 2013 to 2017; the average time taken in these years to complete the requests by his Department; the number of requests to his Department for these years that ran beyond the deadline for the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6887/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Table provides details of the number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received, along with the number of requests responded to outside of the time limits specified in the Freedom of Information Acts, during the period from 2013 to 2017 inclusive.
Dealing with FOI requests forms part of the usual duties of officials and the time spent on processing such requests can vary considerably depending on the nature of the request.
|
- |
Number of FOI Requests received |
Number of FOI Requests answered outside of the specified time limits |
|
2013 |
39 |
4 |
|
2014 |
74 |
16 |
|
2015 |
153 |
18 |
|
2016 |
159 |
12 |
|
2017 |
195 |
20 |
Drug and Alcohol Testing
Ceisteanna (255)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:255. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has investigated an alternative drug testing device for roadside testing to address the fact the current device does not function at temperatures below four degrees; if his attention and the attention of An Garda Síochána was drawn to this issue when the contracts for supply of these devices was awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6639/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This is a matter for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. I have referred the question to the Bureau for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Drug and Alcohol Testing
Ceisteanna (256)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:256. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of introducing roadside drug testing devices; the contracts awarded in relation to this programme; the value of each of the contracts awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6640/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This is a matter for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. I have referred the question to the Bureau for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Strategic Communications Unit
Ceisteanna (257)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:257. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he, his officials or advisers have had meetings with the strategic communication unit since it was set up; the issues that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6533/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Since the establishment of the Strategic Communications Unit there have been a small number of bilateral meetings between officials and/or advisors from my Department and officials from the Unit.
These discussions, including the one such meeting which I attended, discussed general issues relating to the role and function of the Unit in improving cross-Governmental communications strategies.
Bus Services
Ceisteanna (258)
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:258. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a reply will issue from Bus Éireann in relation to a bus stop (details supplied). [6577/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing or providing public transport infrastructure, including bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations and bus stands.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the issue raised, I have referred your question to them for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a response within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Departmental Bodies Data
Ceisteanna (259)
Robert Troy
Ceist:259. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the members of the public transport stakeholder forum; and the number of times it has met since he promised to form the group after the bus strike in 2017. [6649/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, following on from a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government and as further committed to in the latter part of 2017, work is under way in my Department on reviewing public transport policy “to ensure services are sustainable into the future and are meeting the needs of a modern economy”.
As part of this review, I am committed to convene and host a round-table policy discussion forum with a wide range of stakeholders from across the public transport and related sectors. The objective of this event is to facilitate an open and inclusive exchange of views from interested parties on the potential challenges and competing priorities likely to arise in the future across all aspects of public transport provision including economic, social and environmental considerations. I expect that the discussions will inform and enrich the policy review work currently ongoing within my Department.
I am determined to hold this event at the earliest possible date. However, at this stage the event has not been able to take place against a backdrop of recent and ongoing industrial dispute . As I have previously stated in 2017, as soon as industrial relations disputes are resolved my Department will confirm arrangements for the event.
Road Projects
Ceisteanna (260)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:260. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for closing the M18 road on the morning of 24 January 2018; the parameters under which the road was to be closed; if this issue was identified as part of the planning and design process; the plans in place to reduce such closures into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6657/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Freedom of Information Data
Ceisteanna (261)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:261. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department in each of the years 2013 to 2017; the average time taken in these years to complete the requests by his Department; the number of requests to his Department for these years that ran beyond the deadline for the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6898/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of FOIs received by my Department for the years 2013 to 2017 is set out as follows:
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport - FOI Requests received 2013 to 2107
|
- |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Total |
84 |
95 |
242 |
302 |
344 |
|
Monthly Average |
7.0 |
7.9 |
20.2 |
25.2 |
28.7 |
My Department does not have data readily available in relation to the average time taken to complete requests or the number of requests that went beyond the deadline for all of the years mentioned. However, we are currently compiling such data in relation to 2017 and will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as it is completed.
In general, the Department operates within the required timeframes but in relation to some requests, deadlines can change, with consent of requestor where refining of the data requested takes place etc.
The Deputy may be interested in related statistics on FOI that are published by the Information Commissioner in his Annual Reports and are available at this link www.oic.gov.ie
Strategic Communications Unit
Ceisteanna (262)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:262. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she, her officials or advisers have had meetings with the strategic communication unit since it was set up; the issues that were discussed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6523/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can inform the Deputy that neither my advisors nor I have had meetings with the Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) since it was set up. However, officials from my Department have had meetings with the SCU. These include:
- Representation on the Assistant Secretary Delivery Team network;
- A meeting for the Back to School campaign, also involving officials from DES and DEASP;
- A meeting with regard to the SCU's proposed role and its potential relevance to DCYA;
- A meeting led by Department of Health in relation to the promotion of the Healthy Ireland Initiative;
- A meeting involving officials of all Departments relating to the Gov.ie project;
- A workshop with regard to the implementation of the new single unified "Government of Ireland" identity to be rolled out across all Departments.
Family Resource Centres
Ceisteanna (263)
Bobby Aylward
Ceist:263. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the application by a family resource centre (details supplied) for entry into the Tusla FRC programme 2018 will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6569/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre Programme. As part of Budget 2018, I was pleased to announce that additional funding of approximately €5.0m is being allocated to existing centres and to support the expansion of the programme, with the inclusion of an additional 11 centres in 2018. The closing date for receipt of applications, by Tusla, was 20 December 2017.
Tusla has advised that it has received a total of 43 applications for inclusion in the Family Resource Centre Programme from community organisations, including the centre to which the Deputy refers. Tusla is currently assessing all applications. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the assessment at the beginning of March 2018.
I highly value the work of Family Resource Centres across the country. Tusla is committed to using all available resources for children and families in the most efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way.
Youth Services Funding
Ceisteanna (264)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:264. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding provided to a service (details supplied) in each year since 2004. [6629/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 areas. The funding provided to Ballymun Regional Youth Resource service since the establishment of my Department in 2011 is provided in the following table:
|
-
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Special Projects for Youth |
€47,641 |
€44,544 |
€176,820 |
€170,189 |
€170,189 |
€221,135 |
€232,192 |
|
Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Round 1 & 2 |
€297,897 |
€705,363 |
€662,706 |
€637,854 |
€637,854 |
€653,801 |
€769,188 |
|
Local Drugs Task Force |
€99,599 |
€93,125 |
€103,168 |
€99,299 |
€99,299 |
€101,782 |
€106,871 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sports Development Officer |
|
€100,980 |
€90,882 |
€87,474 |
€87,474 |
€89,661 |
€94,144 |
Youth Services Funding
Ceisteanna (265)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:265. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the strategy for funding direct contact youth work services as distinct from Tusla-funded child services in the Ballymun area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6630/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Budget 2018 has provided an additional €1.5m in current funding to my Department to support the provision of youth services. This additional funding will be used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people.
Established in 1999, Ballymun Regional Youth Resource is a youth work organisation with special emphasis on young people at risk of drug misuse. The centre based youth work has a strong focus on developmental group activities and the provision of youth work training and practical supports. Youth funding of €1,202,395m was provided for this service in 2017.
Poppintree Youth Project supports the personal, interpersonal, social and analytical development of young people. Poppintree develops programmes which include recreational activities, sports and adventure, creative arts and skills development. Youth funding of €219,147 was provided for this service in 2017.
Ballymun Travellers Project is operated by Exchange House Travellers Youth Service and provides educational, developmental and recreational programmes for travellers in St Margaret's. Youth funding of €89,515 was provided for this service in 2017.
Following the Budget 2018 announcement, my Department commenced a process with national organisations and local services to identify service development needs for 2018 and to finalise the 2018 allocations. Every effort is being made to complete this process as soon as possible.
The sixteen Education and Training Boards act as funding and service intermediaries on behalf of my Department. Youth funding grants are awarded on the basis of completed renewal of application forms which are submitted to the Department via the funding intermediary. These renewal applications request details of the service's proposed programmes, objectives, outputs and outcomes for the year in which funding is sought.
All services in receipt of Department of Children and Youth Affairs grant aid are required to submit annual signed audited accounts/ financial statements. Services are also required to submit progress reports via the funding intermediary, detailing, inter alia, the service’s opening times, target groups, numbers of staff, volunteers and young people.
Funding to these staff-led youth services has generally been targeted at areas of disadvantage and not in proportion to the youth population of each county. My Department recently completed an exercise with Pobal and each Education and Training Board which mapped youth service provision across the State.
This mapping exercise will assist my Department and each Education and Training Board in developing a detailed social demographic profile in terms of both population numbers and deprivation levels and will inform future development and investment in youth services.
Ministerial Correspondence
Ceisteanna (266)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:266. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has received correspondence (details supplied) sent to her from this Deputy in which representations were made on behalf of a child care provider; if so, when a reply will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6647/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that the correspondence referred to by the Deputy has been received in my Department and a reply has been issued.
I am acutely aware of the sustainability challenges facing certain childcare providers; including those that are struggling to maintain consistent levels child registrations. As the Deputy may be aware, my Department made €1m of ‘Sustainability Funding’ available in 2017 to support services, which was directed towards those services that had been most severely impacted by staff qualification requirements in the 2016 Regulations.
Having received feedback from multiple stakeholders in the childcare sector, including Pobal, CCC’s, and directly from childcare providers themselves, my Department has determined that future sustainability efforts should be broader in scope. Accordingly, in Budget 2018, I obtained an increase in funding for services experiencing sustainability issues (to €1.7M in total). My officials are currently developing policy priorities in respect of this additional funding; which I hope will be of assistance to many services in the coming year. Once the Department moves forward with their revised policy, services will be notified through their CCC’s. I would encourage Churchill Community Childcare CLG to apply should they consider themselves eligible and in need of the specific strands of financial assistance available.
In terms of wider sustainability efforts, I have secured funding to increase the revenue of childcare settings through their standard programme funding, and also ensured that the provision of €18m in Programme Support Funding in 2017 will be replicated in 2018.
I am also keenly aware of the pressures on the sector with regard to availability of places and sustainability and, following on from significant investment in 2016 and 2017, my Department is providing €6.86m for its capital funding programme under Budget 2018. This capital funding programme will be open for applications from Monday February 12 and will close on Friday March 9. Further information on the programme and information on how to make an application is available to providers through the Pobal Programmes Implementation Platform (PIP). In addition, providers interested in making an application are encouraged to contact their local City/Country Childcare Committee (CCC) for advice and support.
Finally, I would advise the Service Provider to contact the relevant officials in their local CCC and Pobal, outlining the current situation. Pobal have a dedicated team that assess services facing crisis situations and upon reviewing the particulars of this case, they may be in a position to provide or recommend supports in respect of the challenges identified.
Strategic Communications Unit
Ceisteanna (267)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:267. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he, his officials or advisers have had meetings with the strategic communication unit since it was set up; the issues that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6526/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department was established on 19 July 2017, to deliver on the Government’s commitment to bring a greater degree of co-ordination and cohesion to all of the work of Government in so far as it impacts on rural Ireland and communities.
The Department of An Taoiseach Strategic Communications Unit (SCU), was established in 2017, to inter alia, bring about a more co-ordinated, cross-Government, approach to communicating and branding Government services and programmes. It has been tasked by Government to implement the following key actions:
- Roll-out of a single unified Government of Ireland identity programme;
- Migration of Government Department websites to a new single Government portal;
- Commencement of a Government wide capacity building professional development programme for officials working in communications;
- A number of proposed cross-Government priority campaigns (which includes a Rural and a Library campaign in respect of my Department);
The inaugural meeting of the Assistant Secretary Delivery Team was held on 8 November 2017, a further meeting was held on 14 December 2017. A third meeting is taking place on 8 February 2018. My Department is represented at this forum and, in addition, is represented on the SCU Project Owners group which is managing the transition to the shared Government ICT platform, GOV.IE .
Freedom of Information Data
Ceisteanna (268)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:268. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department in each of the years 2013 to 2017; the average time taken in these years to complete the requests by his department; the number of requests to his Department for these years that ran beyond the deadline for the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6897/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017 and from that date to 31 December 2017, it received a total of 14 Freedom of Information requests, during the remaining 5.5 months of 2017.
Of these 14 requests, 5 were withdrawn, and the average time taken to complete the processing of the remaining 9 requests was 18 days. I can confirm that there were no requests that ran beyond the deadline for completion.
Community Employment Schemes Supervisors
Ceisteanna (269)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:269. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider the specialist role of and particular expertise required for supervisors of community employment schemes that have been designated as special community employment scheme; if that consideration has extended to the pay and conditions of the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6487/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Community Employment (CE) supervisors, including those on drug rehabilitation schemes, are not employed by my Department - rather they are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector.
A new Programme Framework for Community Employment (CE) drug rehabilitation schemes was introduced in January 2016. As the Deputy will be aware, the focus of the CE drug schemes is on rehabilitation, education and training, and personal/social development. Multi-agency co-operation - with the HSE and Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs) - is essential for the achievement of successful outcomes of participants.
The skills set for CE Supervisors on the drug rehabilitation programme have been reviewed and updated in recognition of the competencies required to deliver a drug rehabilitation programme. The Supervisor to participant ratio has been adjusted downward on CE drug rehabilitation schemes to reflect the specific role requirements. Furthermore, as part of the revised conditions and to ensure the effective delivery of the drug programme, the “support worker” element of programme delivery has been strengthened.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.