Written Answers Nos. 566-585
566. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason motorbikes are exempt from an NCT test or a similar test as required by other vehicles; if introducing such a test has been examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9624/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for attention and direct reply to you. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
567. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the implementation of the national cycle policy framework; the steps and timeframe for its full implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9639/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, my Department has committed to undertake a review of public transport policy “to ensure services are sustainable into the future and are meeting the needs of a modern economy”. This is line with a commitment given in the Programme for a Partnership Government.
This review is a significant and substantial resource commitment and my Department has commenced and substantially completed the research and analysis required to inform the proposed period of public consultation which I expect to launch in the near future.
The review is premised on the concept of integrated and sustainable transport, in keeping with the objectives of Smarter Travel – A Sustainable Transport Future which formed the overarching policy backdrop to the development of the National Cycling Policy Framework 2009-2020. As part of the overall review therefore, analysis of the National Cycling Policy Framework , its implementation and impact is being conducted and will be published as part of the overall review.
Last year, as part of this review I hosted a Public Transport Stakeholder Forum in the Mansion House at which representatives from a broad spectrum of interest groups in the wider public and sustainable transport sector attended, including those representing cyclists.
As stated, I expect to initiate a public consultation process in the coming months and I look forward to engaging with the public on this important work.
568. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made in the opening of Kishogue train station, County Dublin, which has been undertaken by the NTA; when the station will be fully open and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9646/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware. the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to the Authority for an update on the issue raised. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
569. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans, proposals and the timeframe to provide transport infrastructure to facilitate the development of a strategic development zone, SDZ, at Clonburris, County Dublin, with 8,500 homes supporting an estimated population of approximately 21,000 persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9647/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) have statutory responsibility for the development and implementation of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area.
Noting their responsibility in relation to this matter, I have forwarded your query to the NTA for their consideration and direct reply. Please notify my office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
571. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the green card requirement for drivers entering the United Kingdom following Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9676/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Green Card is issued within the 48 countries covered by the Council of (Motor Insurance) Bureaux, and is a document whose production may be required to prove that insurance cover is in place for vehicles travelling between these countries, where alternative legislative provisions are not in place.
All EU Member States are party to this system, but the EU does not require production of a Green Card when travelling between Member States. However, the default position is that Green Cards are required for vehicles entering the EU from Third Countries, unless the EU Commission declares otherwise.
If the UK were to exit the EU without a deal, the default position would be that Green Cards would be required for EU-registered vehicles entering the UK and for UK-registered vehicles entering the EU. While the Government remains of the view that the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU - including avoiding the necessity for Green Cards - is the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement reached between the EU and the UK, the Government recognises that it is prudent to plan for the possibility of a 'no deal' exit.
The motor insurance industry is therefore behaving prudently in being prepared for the possibility that Green Cards will be required, even though this is not a desirable outcome. In line with the current expected Brexit date of 29th March 2019, the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) has indicated that insurers and insurance brokers will begin issuing Green Cards to policyholders from March if no agreement has been reached between the UK and the EU on Brexit or the process has not been further delayed. At that point anyone who plans on driving their Irish registered vehicle in Northern Ireland or Britain should contact their insurer or insurance broker one month in advance of their expected travel date to ensure they receive their Green Card in sufficient time.
As part of its contingency planning, the Government has raised this matter directly with the European Commission seeking agreement from it to set a date from which green cards would not be required. The Commission has not made a decision to date and the Government continues to pursue the matter with it.
572. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans of Iarnród Éireann to increase the number of carriages from four to six on the 8.25 a.m. DART from Bray towards Dublin city centre due to high demand. [9750/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
573. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a project (details supplied) can be guaranteed its funding in 2019. [8974/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra574. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding for a project (details supplied) will be confirmed for 2019; the reason the project received no funding or confirmation of same from her Department since November 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9004/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 574 together.
My Department is responsible for ensuring that Exchequer monies used to fund childcare are spent responsibly and with the appropriate level of oversight. All childcare services in receipt of Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) funding from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs must sign a CCS grant funding agreement which covers a one year period, Under the terms of this agreement the service must be familiar with the rules for DCYA childcare funding programmes and must cooperate fully with the DCYA in this regard.
Officials from my Department inform the service named at the beginning of each programme year that funding is subject to an annual evaluation and funding approved for previous years is not a guarantee of any future amounts.
Following the evaluation a service can also be requested to submit further documentation/clarifications. Communications for the initial part of a review for the service named were concluded recently. As part of the reviews being carried out for the programme year 2018-19 my Department has requested the assistance of the City/County Childcare Committees (CCC's). Visits will be made by the Dublin City Childcare Committee to this service in the coming weeks with the a view to conclusion of the review by the end of April.
I fully appreciate the difficult and complex situation where service providers can find themselves waiting for a review to be finalised and in recognition of this a further tranche of funding will be allocated for the 2018/2019 programme year in March 2019 to the service named. However, no further funding will be released until the review has been fully completed.
I am aware that community childcare settings provide an invaluable service to children and families across the country and face a variety of challenges to their sustainability and my Department has made a number of supports available to community services in difficulty. Pobal who administer the schemes on behalf of my Department oversee an integrated Case Management system through which a dedicated team assesses services facing crisis situations and provide support including financial supports where necessary. This option was offered to the service named.
There is a requirement for services to register children where possible and the service named indicated this may be possible however no registrations have been made by the service to date. Officials from my Department will continue to work with the service to bring the evaluation to a conclusion as quickly as possible.
575. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the engagement she has had with Tusla, a refuge (details supplied) and the HSE on the planned transfer of the vacant site from the HSE to the refuge in order to develop step-down accommodation and a children’s centre; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the planned transfer of the site was halted in January 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9029/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, has responsibility for the provision of funding, co-ordination and support to 59 organisations nationally that deliver a range of services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, one of which is the organisation to which the Deputy refers.
I have not had any engagement with Tusla or the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to planned transfer of a vacant site from the HSE to the refuge referred to by the Deputy for the development of step down accommodation and a children's centre.
Tusla has advised me that it was informed by the HSE in January 2019 that it had made the decision to withdraw the offer of the site to the refuge concerned. The HSE offered the refuge in question an alternative site, which could be used as a day service facility for victims of domestic violence.
Tusla has informed me that while it was aware of the plans regarding the transfer of the site between the HSE and the refuge referred to by the Deputy, it had no direct involvement in the process. Tusla does not have a strategic interest in the site being acquired by the refuge as the site does not form part of any current Tusla commissioning plans for services to victims of domestic or sexual violence in the area.
576. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a centre (details supplied) will be funded as a family resource centre. [9053/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme is administered by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
I am aware that the organisation to which the Deputy refers made an application for inclusion in the Programme last year but was unsuccessful.
I have secured an increase of €34 million in funding for Tusla in 2019, which will include targeted funds for the further investment and development of the Family Resource Centre Programme this year. However, there are currently no plans to establish any new Family Resource Centres in 2019.
Tusla has advised me that the centre’s application has been retained on file in the event that additional funding becomes available for the establishment of new Family Resource Centres.
Tusla will continue to support the organisation to which the Deputy refers through its local office.
Tusla has identified, and continues to monitor the need for family support services in specified areas of the country, including the Dublin 12 area. Tusla plans to allocate future funding according to the results of needs analysis projects across the country.
Tusla continues to work with Family Resource Centres and other family support organisations throughout the country and will discuss service needs and funding resources with centres, where appropriate. Tusla is committed to using all available resources for children and families in the most efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way.
577. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 592 of 22 January 2019, the reason the board of Tusla did not receive a copy of a report (details supplied) until April 2018, almost two years after it was completed. [9077/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency has advised me that the Board of Tusla was not furnished with a copy of the report referred to by the Deputy. A copy of the report was furnished to the Chairperson of the Special Inquiries Committee, a sub-committee of the Board, in April 2018.
I can assure the Deputy that I have sought written clarification from Tusla in relation to a number of matters regarding this report.
The sub-committee of the Board of Tusla has advised me that the matters raised by the Deputy will be part of the investigation, which is currently underway.
578. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a report (details supplied) is referred to as an internal management report by letter from the board of Tusla dated 20 November 2018. [9078/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report referred to by the Deputy was commissioned by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I am informed by Tusla that the purpose of the report was to inform management in Tusla in relation to certain events, and was accordingly described as an internal management report by the Chairperson of the Tusla Board sub-committee dealing with these issues.
579. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of conferences staff of her Department have attended in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of staff who attended each conference; the cost of same in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9163/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to my Department, the number of conferences, the total cost for attendance at conferences and the number of staff who attended conferences for each year from 2017 – 2019 are set out in the following table:-
|
Year |
Number of Conferences |
Number of staff Attended |
Costs incurred by Department |
|
2017 |
25 |
38 |
€14,985.58 |
|
2018 |
25 |
52 |
€22,593.50 |
|
2019 to date |
5 |
12 |
€3,298.70 |
580. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent in advertising and-or sponsorship in respect of conferences external and internal, respectively in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, by conference; the aggregate amount for each year; the amount available in the remainder of 2019 to fund same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9180/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the conferences sponsored directly by my Department are set in the following table:
|
Sponsorship of Conferences |
2017 |
2018 |
|
University College, Cork – Biennial Conference on National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work |
€11,000 |
|
|
Empowering People In Care (EPIC) - National Aftercare Conference |
€8,000 |
|
|
Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA) – Annual National Conference |
€10,000 |
€12,981 |
|
Irish Aftercare Network – Annual Conference |
€2,500 |
|
|
Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD) – Annual Conference |
€9,840 |
|
|
Children and Young People's Services Committees National Conference |
€21,892 |
|
|
Total by Year |
€29,000 |
€47,213 |
My Department does not have a dedicated budget for advertising and/or the sponsorship of conferences. As costs occur, they are allocated against the programme cost centre involved. The overall objective is to keep costs of this nature to a minimum and these services are only used when deemed necessary in the course of Departmental activity. In the circumstances, it is not possible to identify the projected spend for 2019.
581. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff in her Department who attended a summit (details supplied) in Dublin in 2017 and 2018, respectively; the cost to her Department or agency under the remit of her Department; if her Department or an agency under the remit of her Department undertook advertising or sponsorship in respect of the summit; the cost in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9197/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to my Department, I can confirm that no staff attended the summit in question in 2017 or 2018. Furthermore, no costs were incurred by the Department in 2017 or 2018 for advertising or sponsorship of the summit.
With regard to three of the agencies within my remit, I am informed that Tusla, Oberstown Children Detention Campus and the Adoption Authority of Ireland did not attend or have any involvement in advertising or sponsorship of the summit in question.
The Ombudsman for Children's Office will respond directly to the Deputy on this issue.
582. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers employed by Tusla covering the Dublin 5, 13 and 17 areas by type of service provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9316/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla has confirmed that at the 31 December 2018, the most recent data available, there were 81 Social Workers employed in the Dublin North Area, which encompasses the Dublin 5, 13 and 17 areas.
I am advised by Tusla that a breakdown of staff can only be provided by service area and not by service type or postcode.
583. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when family resource centres will receive notification of their 2019 allocations; if existing centres will see their annual budget increase in line with the budgets of new centres which opened in the past two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9333/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding of some €18 million is being made available to the Family Resource Centre Programme in 2019, which is administered by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. This is an increase of €1.5 million over 2018 funding.
The notification of 2019 annual funding allocations to individual Family Resource Centres is an operational matter for Tusla. I have requested Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
As highlighted, additional funding of €1.5 million has been secured for Family Resource Centres to support and develop existing Family Resource Centres this year.
I met with officials from Tusla last week to discuss how the additional funding will be used to provide supports and improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families within the Family Resource Centre Programme. I have requested some additional information and recommendations from Tusla. I hope to make an announcement with regard to the additional funding of €1.5m for FRCs before the Easter break.
I am committed to the further development of Family Resource Centres and I will continue to seek funding for them in future budget discussions. It is important that the needs of children and families are met in the best way possible, particularly in areas of disadvantage. I will continue to support the work of Family Resource Centres and family support services throughout the country.
584. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the two directors of an organisation (details supplied) paid themselves €447,000 in directors' fees and also withdrew €1 million in dividends in 2016 out of a total of €7.33 million they received from Tusla; and her views on whether this is a good use of public funding. [9335/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by Tusla that it does not fund the organisation referred to by the Deputy. Tusla has advised me that it purchases services from a similarly named company, which is a private provider of residential and community based therapeutic services to children and young people. The services provided by this company are procured in the normal manner through the public procurement process and a contract is in place. I understand that the similarly named company is a private company registered with the Companies Registration Office. Fees and dividends paid by private companies are a matter for the Board of the company and are subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts.
585. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to revise the new compliance audits on childcare services in view of the issues regarding the matter by community providers of the service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9561/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAssisting families to access high quality, affordable early learning and care and school age childcare is a priority for me as Minister and hence I take these issues raised in your question very seriously.
My Department funds a number of early learning and care and school age childcare programmes. Given the large amount of public money that is used in funding these programmes, there needs to be an appropriate level of oversight and accountability. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs believes that our approach to compliance and supporting services strikes a necessary and appropriate balance. Our approach involves setting out the rules for the receipt of State funding, supporting providers to deliver services, and at the same time, the approach offers assurances to the taxpayer that the funding assigned is being spent as it was intended.
A high level of compliance with the rules of the various childcare schemes is vital to maintaining existing investment as well as ensuring future investment. It is a requirement that services operating the early learning and care and school age childcare programmes funded by my Department must be compliant with the ‘Rules for DCYA childcare funding programmes’ , the most recent of which was published on 9th August 2018. Compliance with these Rules is overseen by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Because subsidies for the early learning and care and school age childcare programmes are paid based on attendance (and not just enrolment), this is a vital governance component of the funding for which my Department is responsible.
I very much appreciate that community childcare settings, such as that referenced, provide a valuable service to children and families across the country. I also appreciate their stated concerns regarding their sustainability. Hence, significant support is available to them to bring their service onto a more sustainable footing, whilst being necessarily compliant with scheme rules.
My Department oversees an integrated Case Management system operated by Pobal through which a dedicated team assesses services facing challenges. This Case Management service provides non-financial assistance or support in the first instance. Financial supports are also available for services facing certain challenges which may also be accessed through Case Management following a financial assessment.
Results from Pobal compliance visits for the first part of the programme year 2018/2019 show some issues in relation to non-compliance which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. I am encouraged however that most services have engaged constructively with the process so far. I would recommend all other services to get in contact with Pobal or their local City / County Childcare Committee if they need support or advice, or if they believe a sustainability issue arises.
I should also emphasise that as an FRC, some activities may be eligible for funding from elsewhere, rather than from childcare programmes per se, for example after school work related to literacy and numeracy may be eligible for funding under the Schools Completion Programme.
The existing targeted childcare schemes will be replaced later this year with the Affordable Childcare Scheme. In the coming weeks my Department will begin to roll out a major national information campaign in relation to how this new scheme will operate. A significant amount of time will be invested in working with services to ensure that they are ready for it. The new scheme will not have a snapshot window. Its attendance rules will seek to reflect the reality of children and parents' lives and the need for services to operate as businesses. The attendance rules will reflect a certain degree of flexibility whilst honouring the requirement to ensure that Exchequer funding is used for the purposes it was intended.
The Deputy will be aware that investment in childcare has increased by an unprecedented117% over the last four budgets, now totalling €575m per year. Community services access much of this growing investment. Turnover for many services has increased quite substantially (given that the number of servicers operating has increased only slightly) assisting services to review their business model to meet compliance requirements. The Affordable Childcare Scheme will mark another significant milestone for early learning and care and school age childcare in this country, creating an infrastructure from which Government can further increase investment in services over the next decade, This is in line with the commitment made in First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies , Young Children and their Families, I published last November.
