Written Answers Nos. 314-333
314. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an illness benefit payment will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44100/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned is paid up to his certified date which is 18th October 2018. If the person remains ill, he should forward a further medical certificate to the Department as soon as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
315. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an illness benefit payment for a person (details supplied); when the payment will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44208/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has experienced processing and payment delays in respect of some customers following the changeover of the Illness/Occupational Illness Benefit schemes to a new IT system.
With regard to the person concerned, there is currently no record of the receipt of a claim for Occupational Injury Benefit.
An application form has been issued to him and, on its return, the claim will be processed without delay. An official from my Department will also contact him today to assist him to progress his application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
316. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Gnóthaí Fostaíochta agus Coimirce Sóisialaí cad iad na céimeanna atá tógtha aige lena dhéanamh cinnte go bhfuil dóthain daoine ar fáil in a Roinn le seirbhísí a chur ar fáil dóibh siúd ar mian leo a ngnóthaí a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge leis an státseirbhís; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [44383/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra317. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Gnóthaí Fostaíochta agus Coimirce Sóisialaí cén céadatán den státseirbhís atá inniúil chun seirbhísí in a Roinn a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [44398/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMolaim Ceisteanna Uimh. 316 go 317, cuimsitheach, a fhreagairt le chéile.
Mar chuid de phróiseas pleanála lucht saothair mo Roinne, agus ionas gur féidir na gealltanais faoi Scéim Ghaeilge na Roinne a chomhlíonadh, déanann an Roinn, i gcomhairle leis na Bainisteoirí, athbhreithniú ar na láithreacha ina gceanglaítear ar an bhfoireann seirbhís trí Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil do chustaiméirí. Nuair a tharlaíonn folúntas i bpost i láthair ina mbíonn gá duine a bhíonn dátheangach go feidhmiúil, féachann mo Roinn lies an bpost a líonadh ó phainéil de chuid na Seirbhíse um Cheapacháin Phoiblí (SCP). Tá 190 duine ag fónamh faoi láthair in Oifigí Craoibhe agus in Oifigí Roinne araon atá ar fáil chun seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil.
Tá na hoifigí poiblí seo a leanas de chuid mo Roinne suite i gceantair Ghaeltachta: na Lárionaid Intreo in Acaill, sa Chlochán Liath agus i mBéal an Mhuirthead agus oifig chraoibhe Dhaingean Uí Chúis agus is féidir leis na hoifigí seo go léir seirbhís ghutháin agus seirbhís “aghaidh ar aghaidh” a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge .
Tá mo Roinn tiomanta do sheirbhísí ardchaighdeáin a chur ar fáil dá custaiméirí i mBéarla nó i nGaeilge, mar atá ag teastáil ón gcustaiméir agus tá ár ngealltanais ina thaobh seo leagtha amach inár Scéim Teanga. Tá ár bhfoireann eolach ar a ndualgais faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus faoi na Rialacháin. I dtaca leis na háiteanna nach mbíonn an fhoireann a bhíonn ar fáil in ann plé le duine trí Ghaeilge, tairgtear seirbhís ateangaireachta don chustaiméir. Is féidir an tseirbhís seo, ar féidir í a shocrú faoi ghearrfhógra, a chur ar fáil i modh glao gutháin trí bhealach, nó i bpearsain, de réir mar is gá. Tá ns seirbhísí digiteacha ardáin go léir agus an t-eolas ar fad laistigh de www.MyGovid.ie www.MyWelfare.ie agus www.WelfarePartners.ie ar fáil dár gcustaiméirí i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla araon. Ní féidir le haon seirbhís dhigiteach teacht i bhfeidhm gan an dá theanga a bheith ar fáil go hiomlán agus a bheith feidhmiúil go hiomlán.
Thairis sin, tá mo Roinn tiomanta d’fhorbairt agus oiliúint leanúnach na foirne chun éascaíocht a dhéanamh ar sheirbhísí a sholáthar trí Ghaeilge agus tá sí ag leanúint den fhoireann a spreagadh agus a éascú le leas a bhaint as raon na dtacaí agus go háirithe le freastal ar chúrsaí oiliúna Gaeilge.
Tá freagracht ar an Aonad Pleanála Corparáidí as faireachán a dhéanamh ar fhorfheidhmiúchán Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 agus Scéim Teanga na Roinne agus feidhmíonn an tAonad mar rannóg idirchaidrimh le hOifig an Choimisinéara Teanga agus leis an Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta agus cuireann an tAonad tuairiscí agus eolas ar fáil de réir mar is gá.
Is deimhin liom go bhfuil dóthain foirne ar fáil faoi láthair chun freastal ar na hiarrataí ar sholáthar sheirbhísí na Roinne trí Ghaeilge.
318. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to hold a plebiscite in County Cork on the issue of a directly elected mayor. [43994/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt its meeting on 27 September 2018, the Government agreed in principle to the holding of plebiscites on directly elected mayors with executive functions for Cork City Council, Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Galway City Council and Galway County Council at the same time as the Local Government Elections in May 2019. This agreement is subject to the necessary legislative provisions being included in the Local Government Bill 2018 and the future submission of more detailed proposals on the plebiscites and the questions to be put to the electorate, as well as the specific powers to be given to mayors. The plebiscite for Cork refers to the expanded Cork City Council. There are no plans to hold a plebiscite regarding Cork County Council.
319. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the new special purpose vehicle referenced recently by the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, in a reply to a Parliamentary Question and committed to in his Department's policy document Rebuilding Ireland published in July 2016; when this special purpose vehicle was established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44032/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraConsiderable work has been ongoing between the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH), a number of larger Tier 3 AHBs and their financial advisor on the development of a vehicle or mechanism for delivering private financing for AHBs providing social housing in line with commitments under the Government's Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, Rebuilding Ireland.
This project involved a number of phases, including engagement with a range of financial institutions. Part of this also involved the AHBs examining models that will facilitate private financing, now having regard also to the recent reclassification decision by Eurostat of the larger Tier 3 AHBs in 2018. Two phases of the work have now been completed. The first stage was to produce up to date market testing for social housing financing from financial bodies and investors, including credit unions, which was completed in mid-2017. The second stage included considering the demand and terms from AHBs for such off balance sheet financing to inform heads of terms for financial investors. This was completed in January 2018.
The third phase of work is still ongoing due to a number of issues and changes in the operating environment that have arisen in recent months. Considerable and complex work has been undertaken to date, with a particular focus on how to increase the level of private financing for these larger Tier 3 AHBs involved in the project, and the most appropriate structure that meets their needs.
To date, one AHB has established and implemented a special purpose vehicle for a specific purpose, including a lending facility for accessing and using €50m of private finance from a financial institution. In recent months, this facility has been used to acquire and develop properties sourced through the Housing Agency Acquisitions Programme. In addition, another AHB involved has, arising from work in this project, obtained private finance from a private financial institution and this has been used in the development of new housing by the AHB to meet Government social housing delivery targets in 2018 and 2019.
320. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the review of the income eligibility limits for social housing. [44038/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced at that time also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
As part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports is underway. The Housing Agency is carrying out the detailed statistical work which will underpin this review on behalf of my Department.
The review will obviously have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.
321. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the review on the tenant purchase scheme. [44039/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the commitment given in Rebuilding Ireland, a review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review is now complete and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations.
In finalising the report some further consultation was necessary and due consideration had to be given to possible implementation arrangements. These matters are now almost completed and I expect to be in a position in the near future to publish the outcome of the review.
322. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if local authorities are prevented or not permitted to carry out inspections of rental properties identified for HAP prior to HAP approval being granted. [44103/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not the case that local authorities are prevented from carrying out inspections of rental properties identified for HAP, prior to HAP approval being granted. Under Section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, a Local Authority has the power to inspect any property that is let or available to let.
The Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, set out a series of measures to be introduced to ensure the quality of private rental accommodation by strengthening the applicable standards and improving the inspection and enforcement systems. The Strategy recognises the need for additional resources to be provided to local authorities to aid increased inspections of properties and ensure greater compliance with the Regulations. Provision has been made for an additional €2.5 million funding in 2018, with the intention of providing further increases each year in the period to 2021 to facilitate a targeted inspection coverage of 25% of rental properties annually.
Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017. The purpose of the regulations is to provide a basic standard for decent, safe and secure accommodation. The Regulations focus on tenant safety and include new measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide and window safety. With very limited exemptions, these apply to local authority and voluntary housing units as well as private rented residential accommodation.
All landlords, including those in receipt of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations and responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations rests with the relevant local authority.
HAP is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. Under section 41 of the 2014 Act, local authorities are required to commence the inspection process within 8 months of the commencement of HAP support being provided in relation to a particular dwelling, if the dwelling was not already inspected within the previous 12 months.
The Guide to Minimum Standards in Rented Accommodation is available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/private-rented-housing/inspections/minimum-standards-rented-accommodation.
323. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress made to date in discussions with the EU Commission on the implications of the Flemish Decree for Ireland; his plans to hold a public consultation on this matter before issuing a new planning circular to the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44111/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, a working group, comprising senior representatives from my Department and planning authorities, was established in May 2017 to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The objective is to ensure that rural housing policies and objectives contained in local authority development plans comply with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The Working Group has concluded its deliberations and, taking account of its analysis and recommended outcome, my Department has been engaging with the European Commission on the matter with a view to issuing to planning authorities, by the end of this year, revisions to the 2005 Rural Housing Guidelines that take account of the relevant ECJ judgment. It may be possible to finalise the Guidelines earlier than that, subject to the completion of outstanding work.
Having regard to the extensive engagement and interaction with planning authorities and other relevant stakeholders through the Working Group, I have no plans to hold a public consultation prior to the issuing of the revisions to the 2005 Guidelines.
324. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of RAS properties within the jurisdiction of Galway City Council that had their rents increased at the market rate above the rent pressure zone rate of 4% on dates (details supplied); the number of rental accommodation scheme, RAS, properties’ rents in Galway City Council’s jurisdiction that increased above the 4% RPZ cap after 27 January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44139/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is not available in my Department.
The Government’s Strategy for the Rental Sector (published on 13 December 2016) recognises that rapidly increasing rental inflation is the most significant challenge to security of tenure in the rental sector and that there is a need for a targeted, time-bound and transparent policy response to the issue of rising rents. To address this, the Government introduced the Rent Predictability Measure. This measure, which was provided for through the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, introduced the concept of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) to moderate the rate of rent increases in those areas of the country where rents are highest and rising quickly.
Galway City was designated as a RPZ on 27 January 2017. This means that rent increases in Galway City are capped at a maximum of 4% per annum for up to three years.
Rent reviews in respect of dwellings made available for social housing under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and located in RPZs must be undertaken in compliance with the governing RPZ legislation. It is a matter for Galway City Council, as the lessee in RAS contracts, to ensure compliance with the RPZ legislation in respect of RAS dwellings.
325. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the new land development agency will be operational; the remit the agency will have in making land available to housing associations and developers for the development of retirement villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44151/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Land Development Agency (LDA), which was established on 13 September 2018, is aimed at:
- ensuring the optimal usage of State lands, coordinating their regeneration and development and opening up key sites not being optimally used,especially for delivery of new homes; and
- driving strategic land assembly through mechanisms that will bring together both public and private sector interests in ensuring the timely preparation and release of strategic land for development in a counter-cyclical manner.
Such counter-cyclical action will focus on stabilising any tendency towards volatility in development land values, securing more of the increase in such values as a result of the planning and infrastructure investment processes for the common good and thereby driving increased affordability through better and more cost-competitive land availability.
In parallel with the establishment of the LDA, the Government has also put in place a new public land affordability requirement that will ensure at least 10% of public lands are developed for social housing and 30% for affordable purposes, to be progressed on a site by site basis.
These new policies will help to ensure more social housing delivery, more affordable housing delivery and more housing supply in general, while at the same time securing the delivery of sustainable and mixed tenure communities. The mix of different types of housing, including housing for older people, will fall to be considered on a case by case basis as sites are brought forward for development.
326. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when decisions will be made under the Project Ireland 2040 Urban Regeneration and Development Fund 2018; if all suitable projects will be funded under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44153/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was launched as part of Project Ireland 2040, to support the compact growth and sustainable development of Ireland’s five cities, regional drivers and other large urban centres. The URDF is designed to leverage a greater proportion of residential and commercial development, supported by infrastructure, services and amenities, within the existing built-up areas of our larger urban settlements.
I initiated the call for proposals under the Fund in July 2018 and the deadline for submission of applications was 28 September.
My Department, through a dedicated Project Advisory Board (PAB), is now engaging in the assessment of submitted applications and at this point, the work of the Board is expected to take until late November, after which an initial tranche of successful applications will be announced, with further announcements thereafter until the end of the year.
As the assessment process of the PAB is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the likely scale of approvals at this time.
327. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 661 on 16 October 2018, the details of the respective budget allocated to each of the housing categories as set out in each of the rows in the table provided; and the way in which the estimate of delivering each target number has been costed. [44231/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding being provided for the delivery of housing programmes in 2019 will allow the housing needs of almost 27,400 to be met next year.
Of the 27,400 housing supports, 10,000 new homes will be delivered through build, acquisition and long term leasing programmes. These additional homes will be funded through a combination of capital and current funding streams, amounting to a combined provision of over €1.25 billion.
Further, an additional 17,360 new tenancies will be supported through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), supported from within an overall HAP provision of €423m, and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), from within an overall RAS provision of €134m.
The budgetary provisions for 2019 are determined based on the average costs associated with the delivery of housing targets through each specific delivery mechanism, including, as appropriate, costs associated with the maintenance of existing tenancies through leasing, RAS and HAP.
Further details in respect of the 2019 funding provision for housing programmes is set out in the Budget 2019 Expenditure Report which is available at the attached link: http://budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2019/2019.aspx.
328. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the person or body with responsibility for the maintenance of local authority owned properties within privately owned multi-unit developments in view of the growing reliance by local authorities on acquisitions as opposed to direct builds for housing supply; the options open to a tenant in cases in which both the management company and the local authority are unwilling to address ongoing serious maintenance issues in a property such as this; if local authorities are responsible in view of the fact that that the rent is being paid to the local authority; if guidelines will be issued to local authorities on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44232/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock, whether the stock was newly constructed for local authority ownership, or whether acquired as new or as previously-owned properties. This is as set out in Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Given that local authorities have always had an amount of housing stock dotted within multi-unit developments, there has always been a responsibility which they fulfill for the maintenance of such properties and, accordingly, I do not consider it necessary to issue new guidelines on the matter. If there is a specific case of repair or maintenance being required in a particular property, this should be pursued through the relevant local authority. If the issues involved extend beyond the particular home into the wider development, it is a matter for the relevant local authority to follow up on the issue involved within the management company/managing agent arrangements.
329. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Tithíochta, Pleanála agus Rialtais Áitiúil cad iad na céimeanna atá tógtha aige lena dhéanamh cinnte go bhfuil dóthain daoine ar fáil in a Roinn le seirbhísí a chur ar fáil dóibh siúd ar mian leo a ngnóthaí a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge leis an státseirbhís; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44389/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra330. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Tithíochta, Pleanála agus Rialtais Áitiúil cén céadatán den státseirbhís atá inniúil chun seirbhísí in a Roinn a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44402/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMolaim Ceisteanna Uimh. 329 go 330, cuimsitheach, a fhreagairt le chéile.
Tá mo Roinn tiomanta seirbhísí ardchaighdeáin a sholáthar i nGaeilge agus / nó go dátheangach dá chustaiméirí. Cheadaigh an tAire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an ceathrú Scéim Ghaeilge de chuid na Roinne (2017-2020) faoi Chuid a trí d'Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 ar 13 Márta 2017 agus d’oibrigh sé ón dáta sin.
Oibríonn an limistéar corparáideach mo Roinne go dlúth le comhghleacaí ó na ranna éagsúla chun feasacht agus comhlíontacht a chur chun cinn maidir le téarmaí na Scéime. Cuirtear na freagrachtaí ar an bhfoireann go rialta maidir le seirbhísí a sholáthar don phobal trí Ghaeilge agus tá raon tacaí ar fáil don fhoireann chun cuidiú leis na freagrachtaí sin a chomhlíonadh. Folaíonn síad pointe teagmhála amháin chun cabhrú le:
- seirbhísí aistriúcháin a sholáthar
- sonraí a sholáthar ar bhaill foirne atá oilte sa Ghaeilge agus atá ar fáil chun seirbhísí Gaeilge a sholáthar.
Rinneadh scrúdú ar líon na bpost sa Roinn a éilíonn go sonrach inniúlacht in araon Gaeilge agus i mBéarla mar chuid de Phlean Forbartha na Roinne 2017-2019. Bhí sé cinnte nach raibh aon phoist shonracha den sórt sin ann sa Roinn, ag an am sin. Coinneoimid, áfach, an cás faoi léirmheas agus tá Pleanáil Fórsa Oibre don trí bliana atá romhainn faoi láthair.
Faoi láthair, tá thart ar 13 ball foirne sa Roinn atá inniúil chun a gcuid dualgas a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge agus is féidir na baill foirne sin a threorú i gceantair oibre ar leith a éilíonn Gaeilge agus /nó Béarla mar is gá. Ina theannta sin, tá 12 ball foirne eile ag tabhairt faoi chúrsaí oiliúna Gaeilge. Tá deis ag an bhfoireann a gcuid scileanna Gaeilge a fheabhsú trí oiliúint teanga a thairiscint ar roinnt leibhéil éagsúla.
331. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to over 1,800 books being lost at the National Library of Ireland; and the meetings she has held with officials on the matter. [43986/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Library of Ireland has over 10 million items in its collections, acquired since it was founded in 1877. Of this number, the Library's book collection amounts to 500,000 individual volumes, acquired over 140 years.
My Department has been informed that a recent large scale stock check of the book collection in the West Wing of the Library (where the majority of the onsite book collection is housed) was carried out ahead of the redevelopment of the main building on Kildare Street. After the stock check, a total of 1,801 of the books expected to be in the West Wing store could not be located and are considered missing by the National Library. In a number of instances, the National Library holds a duplicate copy of these books, so that while the individual volume is missing, a copy of that particular edition is still available. The 1,801 books thus identified equates to 0.36% of the Library’s total stock of 500,000 volumes.
The National Library of Ireland does not have evidence that any of these items were illegally removed or stolen. In fact, this percentage of books unaccounted by our National Library falls within international norms for libraries of comparable age. The National Library has informed my Department that the American Library Association notes that establishing a “standard” rate of book loss across libraries is very difficult. However, they cite various studies that suggest that overall loss rates of 4-8% are not uncommon. In 2007, the Library of Congress noted that it could not find 13% of the books in the collection. Therefore the percentage of books unaccounted for in the National Library falls well within international norms for libraries of comparable age, .
The current procedures employed by the National Library for additions to its collection corresponds to international best practice. The process involves documenting the item, including details of provenance, price (if purchased), extent, format and other key identifiers. The material or item is assigned a unique Accession Number. Larger additions to the collection, consisting of 5 or more boxes, will be added to the holdings of uncatalogued collections pending assignment to a Special Collections cataloguer.
I understand that a stock check of manuscripts and rare books will begin in 2019, following on from the West Wing stock check. This work will continue over a number of years, forming part of a regular programme of stock checks in the future. The National Library expect that a number of misfiled items will be located during this check. For now some items have been flagged as not on the shelf in their expected location, but will not be formally assessed as to whether they are missing, until the full inventory is carried out. As such, therefore, the National Library have not confirmed to my Department that any irreplaceable items are formally missing.
Once the stock checks are complete the National Library of Ireland will provide an update to my Department.
332. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad iad na céimeanna atá tógtha aige lena dhéanamh cinnte go bhfuil dóthain daoine ar fáil in a Roinn le seirbhísí a chur ar fáil dóibh siúd ar mian leo a ngnóthaí a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge leis an státseirbhís; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [44377/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra333. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén céadatán den státseirbhís atá inniúil chun seirbhísí in a Roinn a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [44397/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMolaim Ceisteanna Uimh. 332 go 333, cuimsitheach, a fhreagairt le chéile.
Tá molta dhom go bhfuil 12% den fhoireann sa Roinn a bhfuil in ann seirbhís trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar. Ina theannta sin, tá 15 ball foirne eile ag tabhairt faoi chúrsaí oiliúna Ghaeilge. Tá mo Roinn tiomanta do sheirbhís ardchaighdeáin a sholáthar i nGaeilge nó go dátheangach lenar chustaiméirí.
Tacaíonn mo Roinn leis an bhfoireann chun feabhas a chur air a gcuid scileanna Ghaeilge ag gach leibhéal inniúlachta agus, mar shampla, tá béim ar an Teastas i nGaeilge Gairmiúla, clár páirtaimseartha atá ann a bhfuil churtha ar fáil ag Gaelchultúir dúinn, chun chuidiú le fostaithe san earnáil phoiblí leibhéal seirbhís níos airde a chur ar faíl dona chustaiméirí.
Tháinig Scéim Ghaeilge mo Roinn (2016-2019) faoi Chuid 3 d'Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003, i bhfeidhm ar an 12ú Bealtaine 2016. Tá an rannóg corparáideach sa Roinn ag obair go dlúth le comhghleacaithe ó na ranna éagsúla chun feasacht a chothú agus a chinntiú faoi téarmaí na Scéime a chomhlíonadh. Tá chur i gcuimhne ag an foireann go rialta, na freagrachtaí atá orthu maidir le seirbhís a sholáthar don phobal trí Ghaeilge agus tá raon tacaí ar fáil doibh chun cuidiú leo na freagrachtaí sin a chomhlíonadh.
