Written Answers Nos. 399-412
399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to outline the extent to which her Department continues to support an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19134/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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.
In 2017, an amount totalling €525,425 was allocated for the projects and services under Kildare Youth Services, which operates under Youth Work Ireland. My Department provides funding to Kildare Youth Services under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme in respect of six local youth projects in Athy, Naas, Leixlip, Newbridge, the Curragh and Kildare town and a Youth Information Centre in Naas.
In addition, last year, I announced the Local Youth Club Equipment Scheme, the first scheme of its type in over a decade. Some €6.35 million was made available nationally in 2017 to volunteer led clubs and groups that work with young people in communities throughout the country. The scheme allowed for the purchase of equipment for sport, arts, adventure and other much needed items. Some €6.35 million was made available nationally, of which more than €230,000 has been allocated in respect of clubs and groups operating in Kildare and Wicklow.
In 2018, €58.9 million has been allocated in current funding to support the provision of youth services. The funding allocations to all organisations to support the provision of youth services throughout the country, including Kildare Youth Services, are currently being finalised within my Department.
400. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to outline the ongoing efforts by her Department to counteract Internet bullying of children and young adults outside of an educational environment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19135/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of the issue referred to by the Deputy. The internet is an increasingly valuable resource for everyone, including children and young people, but it also exposes people to new risks, including the risk of cyberbullying.
A range of Government Departments and agencies have a role in relation to internet safety, including: the Department of Justice and Equality, which has responsibility for the Office of Internet Safety; the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, which has functional responsibly for internet providers; and the Department of Education and Skills, which leads on the implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying. While my Department does not have a lead responsibility in these areas, I am conscious that issues emerging in relation to online safety require a whole of government approach. In this regard, the Department of the Taoiseach is currently developing an Action Plan on online safety and my Department is participating in this process.
The Children First Act 2015 places a number of statutory obligations on organisations providing relevant services to children. These obligations include: a requirement to keep children safe from harm while they are availing of the service; a requirement to carry out a risk assessment; and a requirement to prepare a child safeguarding statement which sets out the policies and procedures which are in place to mitigate these risks. My Department plans to amend the Children First Guidance to include a specific reference to the need to consider online safety in the completion of a Child Safeguarding Statement.
401. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to outline the extent to which research has been undertaken to identify the most common causes of concern and stress among young persons in modern times; the extent to which corrective measures can be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19137/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraConcerns and stress, at different levels of severity, experienced by children and young people can arise from many aspects of their lives, from issues related to, for example, their home or school life, physical or mental health, health risk behaviours, parental relationships, friendship networks, social disadvantage, life experiences as a being part of a minority or marginalised group, being a victim of crime or involvement with criminality. Appropriate corrective measures would depend on both the source and severity of such concerns or stress.
As part of the Government-funded Growing Up in Ireland Study, and through other funded research and PhD scholarship programmes, my Department supports a number of research studies, key findings and data outputs relating to our understanding of the lives and experiences of children and young people in Ireland. Many of these are on topics related to aspects of children's lives which may be a source of stress or concern for them, for example, on relationships and friendship networks, experiences of bullying or discrimination, social disadvantage, inequality and mental health issues, and social and emotional outcomes for young people.
My Department also publishes a range of indicator data on the lives of children and young people in the form of the biennial State of the Nation's Children (SONC) reports and in the Better Outcomes Brighter Futures (BOBF) indicator set. Both these sets include indicators on areas commonly associated with concern or stress among young people, including some which were identified through a review of consultations with children. These include relationships with parents, parental mental health, home environment, self-perception, body image, schoolwork load and exam stress.
My Department supports a range of initiatives and programmes to support children and young people, including among disadvantaged, marginalised and vulnerable groups, across the many aspects of their lives that may give rise to concern or stress. This includes through the many actions supporting children and young people that are committed to in a number of Department of Children and Youth Affairs strategies, such as Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the national policy framework for children and young people and the National Youth Strategy. In this context also is the provision of funding for youth programmes and services. In addition, the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, which is funded by my Department, provides funding under the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme and also for mental health supports for young people. The Deputy may wish to consult with other Departments with regard to studies that inform related policy in their respective Departments.
402. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the role of the Charities Regulator in the removal of a mural at a centre (details supplied) will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18721/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Charities Regulatory Authority was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland's charities. Its role is to provide effective and robust regulation in accordance with the 2009 Act.
My Department has been assigned overall policy responsibility for the Charities Regulator. However, the Authority is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions, including any decisions in relation to enforcement matters. Neither I nor my Department have any role in the decision making process of the Authority.
403. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the status of the roll-out of a pilot scheme aimed at providing cash incentives to persons to entice them to restore old properties in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18547/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA pilot scheme to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages is currently being developed as part of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is administered by my Department. The pilot will consider ways in which properties that are currently not in use in town centres can be renovated to allow them to be used for residential purposes. This will help to rejuvenate town centres while also contributing to the housing needs of individuals.
I have established a Steering Group to oversee the design and delivery of the pilot scheme. The Steering Group is chaired by my Department, and involves a number of other key Departments and agencies, including the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Finance, and the County and City Management Association which provides representation from the Local Authority sector.
This is a complex issue, but work in relation to developing the pilot scheme is ongoing and I expect that substantial progress will be made in developing the pilot over the coming months. This pilot has the capacity to inform future initiatives for town centre renewal under the new €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which was announced by the Government recently as part of Project Ireland 2040.
404. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a community service contract in respect of a sports and recreation club (details supplied) will be reviewed following the submission of an updated business plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18710/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Services Programme (CSP) supports around 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model with funding provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions. Some €46 million will be provided under the programme in 2018.
The organisation in question submitted a business plan to Pobal in 2017 as part of the normal CSP re-contracting process. The business plan failed to satisfy key CSP appraisal criteria, in particular there were concerns about the organisation's continued financial sustainability.
The organisation is approved for funding until end-December 2018 and has been invited to resubmit an application under the CSP re-contracting process for 2019-2021. The deadline for receipt of applications was 30 April 2018. An application has been received from the organisation and a decision will be made following completion of the re-contracting process in the coming months.
405. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the community services programme administered through Pobal will be open to new applications; if a Tidy Towns committee will be eligible to apply for staff through this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18966/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Services Programme (CSP) supports some 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model, with funding provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions. Some €46 million will be provided to social enterprises under the programme in 2018.
My Department continues to accept expressions of interest under the programme and funding for new organisations will be considered, in light of available budgets, during the year.
However, to be eligible for support, an organisation must be a social enterprise capable of generating income from its activities. CSP funding is a fixed annual contribution and does not meet the full salary cost of supported posts. Accordingly, the CSP contribution must be co-funded by the organisation concerned from other sources, for example, from income received from the public use of their facilities and services.
406. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the status of his Department's review of local community development committees; the improvements that have been made as a result of this review in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19059/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal Community Development Committees (LCDCs) have been established in all 31 local authority areas since Autumn 2015. They were established for the purpose of bringing about a more joined-up approach to local and community development in their respective areas. They typically comprise between 15 and 19 members, with stakeholders drawn from public bodies, as well as local development, community and voluntary, social inclusion and a range of other community interests.
A review of LCDCs was commenced in October 2017. The objective of the review is to develop an understanding of the LCDC landscape nationwide and the challenges facing the structures, identify opportunities for strengthening and enhancing them, and to make recommendations for their ongoing and future development.
A Steering Group has been established to oversee the review. It is chaired by an official from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and includes members drawn from my own Department, local authorities and the North West Regional Assembly.
My Department has undertaken a very broad consultation process and an analysis of the data collected is ongoing. The review will culminate with a report outlining the key findings and conclusions, and setting out recommendations for future development of the structures. I anticipate a draft report will be submitted for my consideration early in Q3, 2018.
It is too early to comment on possible improvements at this stage of the review process.
407. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline his plans to increase the funding allocated to the RAPID programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19060/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is an allocation of €6 million for RAPID in 2018, an increase of €1 million on last year. Of this, €3.5 million is ring-fenced for the Dublin North East Inner City (DNEIC) area. The funding is being used towards addressing specific community structural issues including community engagement, social employment and community development, and to support local community and youth projects.
€2 million is allocated to the national stream of the recast RAPID programme, which was launched in 2017 and replaced the original RAPID programme.
€0.5 million is ring-fenced to satisfy legacy commitments under the original RAPID Programme, which operated a number of years ago.
My Department is currently developing proposals for a new Programme which will replace the RAPID scheme and I hope to make an announcement on this over the coming weeks.
408. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline her plans to allow old age pensioners who avail of the free travel scheme and travel on trains to receive a return ticket rather than queue for a ticket each way; if there would be a cost to permitting return tickets to be allowed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18857/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCustomers who wish to avail of free travel must have their free travel pass with them when travelling. Customers must present their pass at the ticket desk in the train station in order to be issued with their free rail ticket when travelling on Iarnród Éireann mainline, Dart and Outer Suburban services. Where a customer is making a return journey on the same day they will receive a day return ticket. In all other cases, customers are issued with a single journey ticket.
Payment to Iarnród Éireann is part of a block payment my Department makes to CIÉ in respect of the free travel scheme. Whilst there is no cost implication in permitting the issue of return tickets on all train journeys, the Deputy will appreciate that the practice of issuing single journey tickets minimises the opportunity for misuse of the free travel pass.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
409. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if issues exist in terms of spousal inheritance for wives who previously had their personal public service number changed upon marriage should they be pre-deceased by their husbands. [18548/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile it is the Department’s policy that “Level W” Personal Public Service (PPS) Numbers (the husband’s number with a W at the end) should, for data protection reasons, be replaced with a separate number, such numbers remain valid PPS Numbers.
Queries in relation to taxation issues should be addressed to the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
410. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 939 of 20 March 2018. if her Department holds biometric data on individuals in possession of a public services card in view of the fact that a recent e-tender (details supplied) for the provision of facial recognition software, for the public services card, explicitly states that the supplier must provide the tools and processes to migrate up to 4 million biographic and face biometric records from the legacy system database to the new system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18565/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe use of facial matching technology has been successfully employed by the Department for a number of years. What is proposed, in the context of this competitive tender process, is a continuation and upgrade of this existing technology.
The Public Services Card does not store biometrics. While the card does store the person’s photograph and it appears on the card, it does not store the biometric or arithmetic template of that photograph. Nor is the biometric or arithmetic template of the photo stored in the PSI dataset or shared with other public bodies.
My Department uses facial image matching software to strengthen the SAFE registration process. The normal digital photograph in JPEG format is captured during the SAFE registration process and is inputted into and stored in this facial image matching software. It is then modelled and searched against the Department’s photo database to ensure that the person in the photograph has not already been registered using a different Personal Public Service Number or a different identity dataset.
The software compares photographs by converting the image into an arithmetic template based on the individual’s facial characteristics and checking it against the other image templates already held in that software’s database from other SAFE registrations. It is a similar approach to that taken by the Passport Office in its systems when processing passport applications/renewals.
The arithmetic models behind the photographs are never stored on the PSC or in the Public Service Identity dataset. They are stored only in the facial image matching software’s database held in the Department’s own secure data centres.
The Department does not ask for or collect biometric data from our customers e.g. fingerprints or retinal scans. Neither does it use advanced facial mapping cameras when taking the photo as part of the SAFE registration process. The process involves the digital photos collected being passed through a piece of facial matching software to detect and prevent error or suspected fraudulent activity.
The database mentioned in the facial image matching tender is referring to a dedicated facial matching server which is hosted in a secure site within the Department. Facial templates are loaded to a dedicated facial matcher server.
The current matching system is over 5 years old and upgrading the system will result in achieving significantly improved matching accuracy which, in turn, will lead to increased efficiencies and effectiveness for the Department. The process will involve the application of the upgraded algorithm to all of the facial templates currently on the facial matching server in order to improve matching accuracy.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
411. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount her Department expects to incur for the supply of facial image matching software over the duration of the initial contract; if she has included an option to extend the duration of the contract as per the request for tenders dated 20 April 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18572/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra412. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if processes will be added to the public services card renewal process that involve the use of facial recognition software; the reason this software will be required as part of the renewal of a card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18574/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra414. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the way in which a sample (details supplied) of 100,000 photographs will be chosen regarding the new facial recognition software that her Department is requesting tenders for; if persons will be contacted and asked to give consent to their image or photograph being used in this manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18576/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra416. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the reason facial image matching software is required as per her request for tenders of 20 April 2018; the way the software will be utilised by her Department; the products that will be used in conjunction with same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18601/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 411, 412, 414 and 416 together.
The use of facial matching technology has been successfully employed by the Department for a number of years. What is proposed, in the context of this competitive tender process, is a continuation and upgrade of this existing technology.
My Department uses facial image matching software to strengthen the SAFE registration process. The normal digital photograph in JPEG format is captured during the SAFE registration process and is inputted into and stored in this facial image matching software. It is then modelled and searched against the Department’s photo database to ensure that the person in the photograph has not already been registered using a different Personal Public Service Number or a different identity dataset.
The software compares photographs by converting the image into an arithmetic template based on the individual’s facial characteristics and checking it against the other image templates already held in that software’s database from other SAFE registrations. It is a similar approach to that taken by the Passport Office in its systems when processing passport applications/renewals.
The current matching system is over 5 years old and upgrading the system will result in achieving significantly improved matching accuracy which, in turn, will lead to increased efficiencies and effectiveness for my Department.
It is important to note that the application of this technology has detected a number of cases of serious identity fraud some of which have been successfully prosecuted through the courts on indictment, with significant custodial sentences being imposed.
In accordance with Government policy, the Department is running an open procurement for the provision of the services as described in the request for tender (RFT). Public procurement is governed by well-established EU and national rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money.
All tenders received in response to this procurement competition will be evaluated on the basis of criteria outlined in the RFT.
Using facial matching software allows an individual to renew their PSC online without having to visit a DEASP office and undergo the full SAFE registration again.
The Department will ensure that testing will take place on its premises only.
I hope this clarifies the matters for the Deputy.
