Written Answers Nos. 407-426
407. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the personal injuries payouts will be published for properties under the ownership of his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [53800/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works, which comes under the remit of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, is responsible for the acquisition of accommodation for Government Departments, including the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The National Treasury Management Agency, which comes under the remit of the Minister for Finance, is the State body which provides asset and liability management services to Government and is designated as the State Claims Agency when performing the claims management, risk management and legal cost management functions delegated to it under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000 and the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014.
Accordingly, the publication of personal injuries payouts would be a matter for consideration by the State Claims Agency in the first instance.
408. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if specific funding programmes will be introduced to support the tourism and hospitality sector in the Border region due to the challenges that will arise for the sector due to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53801/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhilst recent political developments in the UK mean that a no-deal Brexit is now less likely, this does not mean that Brexit no longer poses a threat to the tourism sector here. The measures I have taken to ensure that Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland are equipped to address issues arising for tourism from Brexit have helped to mitigate any negative impacts to date.
In 2019, the Government allocated almost €8 million in additional funding to the tourism agencies specifically to respond to the impact of Brexit. Key elements of the budgetary response involved temporary, targeted funding for the sectors most affected, including the Border region. Furthermore, additional Government supplementary funding of €7 million has been provided to the agencies at the end of 2019, primarily to support accelerated tourism marketing initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of Brexit.
In Budget 2020, I secured an allocation of almost €186 million for tourism, up 10% (over €17m) on the 2019 allocation. This will help to ensure that the agencies remain equipped to deal with the challenges caused by Brexit as the situation evolves, particularly in those regions most exposed.
410. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reintroduce specific funding for the local improvement scheme in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53825/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs we outlined to the Deputy last month, the maintenance of roads not taken in charge by local authorities is the responsibility of the relevant landowners.
However Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the Local Improvements Scheme (LIS). Under that Scheme, funding can be provided by the Minister for Transport to local authorities for the construction and improvement of non-public roads (that is roads not taken in charge by local authorities) which meet the very specific criteria set out in the Act:
A contribution from the beneficiaries is required in all cases. Section 81 (4)(a) of the Local Government Act, 2001 states that assistance by a road authority under the LIS is conditional on a financial contribution by the relevant parties.
Section 81 of the 2001 Local Government Act also provides that, after consultation with the Minister for Transport and with the consent of the Minister for Finance, another Minister may make a grant to a road authority in relation to non-public roads in accordance with a Scheme made by that other Minister.
Therefore State assistance can be provided under the statutory Local Improvement Scheme and up to 2012 my Department did provide ring-fenced funding for this scheme. However, due to the major cutbacks in roads funding arising from the financial crisis, it was necessary for the Department to stop providing dedicated funding for LIS in 2012 and there was no funding for LIS in that year.
After that from 2013 to 2017, while there was no separate allocation for the Local Improvement Scheme, local authorities could use a proportion of their Discretionary grant for the Local Improvement Scheme if they chose to do so. The allowable proportion of Discretionary Grant was 7% in 2013 and this was increased to 15% from 2014 onwards. The reason this approach was taken was that it was considered that Councils were best placed to decide whether to concentrate the limited grant funding available on public roads or to operate a local improvement scheme for non-public roads.
In September 2017, my colleague the Minister for Rural & Community Development reintroduced dedicated funding for the Local Improvement Scheme and is continuing to fund the Scheme. In light of the significant funding being put into LIS by that Department and the pressing need to direct resources into maintaining and renewing public roads, it was decided that the option of allocating a proportion of the Discretionary grant to LIS would no longer apply from 2018.
While I am open to discussing the position in relation to LIS with Minister Ring, should he wish to do so, I am loath to divert funding from public roads to non-public roads when funding for public roads is still below the level needed to achieve "steady state" and significant funding is being made available by Minister Ring for the LIS - close to €50 million since 2017.
411. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Julianstown bypass following the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport meeting on 25 September 2019; if his Department has met with Meath County Council as promised at that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53835/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants.
As indicated by my Department in the context of the Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting in September, the extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the recession meant that grant funding for road improvement schemes had to be curtailed after 2013 because expenditure on maintenance/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.
Project Ireland 2040 does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network but it will take some time to reach the level required for the adequate maintenance and renewal of regional and local roads. For this reason the primary focus for capital investment is the maintenance and renewal of the network and implementation of the 12 regional and local road projects identified for development in the period to 2023, subject to necessary approvals, in Project Ireland 2040.
Some limited provision is being made in the capital budget for the appraisal of a pipeline of upgrade projects. This is intended to cover the appraisal of projects for development, if possible, in the later years of the National Development Plan.
All additional projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework and it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind. In this context my Department did discuss Meath County Council's road programme, including traffic management at Julianstown, as part of an engineering inspection after the Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting.
The appraisal process includes the preparation of a Preliminary Appraisal for each proposed project. Projects costing over €5 million also need a Detailed Appraisal Report if they progress beyond the Preliminary Appraisal stage. The Department will continue to liaise with Meath County Council in relation to the further analysis required to underpin the assessment and costing of various options for managing traffic in the Julianstown area. As explained at the Joint Oireachtas meeting by the Department the appraisal process can be expected to take time and the scope for moving pipeline projects through to development stage is dependent on the future availability of funding. I understand that Meath County Council is committed to examining traffic management measures which could be implemented in the shorter term.
412. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the capital expenditure by his Department in County Louth and east County Meath by location and facility provided or commenced in each of the past four years; the location and purpose of each such expenditure; the new and improved services provided as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53850/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing capital funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Details of the regional and local road grant payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Details of the 2019 regional and local road grant allocations are also available in the Dáil library. The final 2019 payments are being processed at present and the 2019 payment booklet will also be lodged in the Oireachtas library shortly.
Under the Electric Vehicle Toll Incentive Scheme, electric vehicle drivers passing the toll on the M3 Clonee to Kells or the M1 Gormanston to Monasterboice are eligible for a discounted toll on each journey up to a maximum €500 annual threshold for private vehicles and €1,000 for commercial vehicles. Under the Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (eSPSV) Grant Scheme 2018, 1 SPSV driver from Co. Louth received a grant of €7,000 and 2 SPSV drivers from Co. Meath received grants totalling €14,000 towards the purchase of an electric vehicle, while under the eSPSV Grant Scheme 2019, 2 SPSV drivers from Co. Louth received grants totalling €9,000. This amounts to a total of €30,000 allocated to applications received from Co. Louth and Co. Meath under the eSPSV Grant Scheme since its launch.
Details of all grants allocated and payments made under the Sports Capital Programmes are published on my Department’s website at https://www.gov.ie/en/service/d13385-sports-capital-programme/#sports-capital-programme-allocations-and-payments
Details of grants allocated and payments made under the Local Authority Swimming Pools Programme are also published online at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/27c4d1-local-authority-swimming-pool-programme/
413. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the extension of the DART to Drogheda; the timeline for the commencement of the service; the frequency of trains expected at peak and off-peak times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53867/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development and implementation of public transport in the Greater Dublin Area including implementation of the DART Expansion Programme that is included in the Government's Project Ireland 2040 and being funded under the National Development Plan 2018-2027.
Noting the responsibility of the Agancy, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply on the specific issues raised. Please advise my office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
414. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the provision of a new railway station in northern areas of Drogheda in view of the increase in population in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53868/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for ensuring the development and delivery of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, consideration and/or provision of any new railway stations.
In light of the NTA's responsibility on this matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
415. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the need to increase capacity on rail lines to County Kildare; if he will consider an expansion of the lines to four lines from Hazelhatch to south County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53880/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area. This includes, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, both implementation of the DART Expansion Programme, which provides for electrification of the rail network in the GDA including the Maynooth and Celbridge lines, and the development of the rail network including enhancing capacity.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
416. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Dunleer railway station will be reopened in view of the significant population growth in mid-County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53881/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The maintenance, renewal and operation of the rail network and stations on the network including the former station referred to, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance.
In view of Iarnród Éireann's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
417. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the upgrade of a family support centre (details supplied) to the designation of family resource centre; the process involved in securing this designation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53519/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme. Applications to the programme are an operational matter for Tusla.
The additional funding for FRCs secured in Budget 2019 will be retained in 2020, ensuring that overall funding for the FRC Programme will remain at €18 million. This funding will be used to ensure that FRC budgets are maintained, and that resourcing is provided for the employment of the additional Family Support Workers secured in 2019.
I have requested Tusla to respond to you directly on this matter.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
418. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in care; the number in care without an allocated social worker by local area; the steps being taken to address the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53559/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
419. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childcare facilities in Cork city and county that have not re-registered with Tusla from 2018 to 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53608/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the matters to which the Deputy refers are an operational matter for Tusla, I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly within 10 working days.
420. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of new staff recruited to her Department from January 2019 to date; the title of each employment position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53637/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of new staff recruited to my Department between January 1st 2019 and December 13th 2019 is 44 and are outlined in the following table.
|
Position |
Number |
|
Principal Officer |
4 |
|
Professional Accountant Grade 1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
15 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1 |
|
Administrative Officer |
3 |
|
Executive Officer |
14 |
|
Clerical Officer |
5 |
|
Special Advisor |
1 |
|
Total |
44 |
421. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many parents will receive lower income-based subsidies than previously awarded to them in respect of aftercare for school-aged children under the new national childcare scheme; the actions she plans to take to deal with the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53657/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is designed to improve the accessibility and affordability of quality childcare for families. In replacing the legacy schemes, the Scheme entails a fundamental shift away from subsidies grounded in medical card and social protection entitlements, and towards a comprehensive and progressive system of universal and income-based subsidies. By making this shift and by tangibly reducing the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families across Ireland, the Scheme aims to improve children's outcomes, support lifelong learning, make work pay and reduce child poverty. It is also designed to have a positive impact on gender equality in relation to labour market participation and employment opportunities.
In this way, the NCS aims to combat the poverty traps which may exist within the existing schemes, and to appropriately incentivise employment and education or training for parents, a policy objective that is known to benefit child and family outcomes.
With regard to income-based subsidies awarded under the Scheme, parents who are working, studying or who meet certain other conditions will qualify for an enhanced-hours subsidy (up to a maximum of 40 hours per week, or from September 2020, 45 hours per week). The definitions of ‘work’ and ‘study’ are set out in regulations made under the Childcare Support Act 2018 and are comprehensive, covering differing types of work and study arrangements, such as part-time, week on/ week off and zero hour contract arrangements.
Where a parent is not engaging in work or study, the child will only be eligible for the standard number of hours of subsidy, that is 15 hours per week . From September 2020, this will increase to 20 hours. It is also important to note that the subsidy will only be payable during non-term time. This policy decision seeks to make the best use of finite investment for the highest number of families, to encourage labour market activation, to avoid poverty traps in some instances, and is also consistent with evidence on what is best for children. Research evidence supports shorter/part time hours in high quality Early Learning and Care services while school attendance also meets children’s development needs generally.
The extra hours available from September 2020 are targeted at supporting children whose parents are not in work or study, and also working families needing school age childcare. They also respond to concerns expressed by one parent groups.
It is important to note that the maximum subsidy rates compare very well overall with existing targeted scheme subsidy rates, while acknowledging that the schemes do not lend themselves to easy comparison.
The benefits of moving to an income-basis for eligibility include clarity, reduction of welfare traps, and equity. Eligibility criteria will now be on a single, clear basis, there will be increased support for progression into employment and retention in employment, and there will be equity in ensuring that low-income working families are not excluded from benefitting from subsidised childcare.
The new Scheme is based on the principle of progressive universalism – providing a level of support to all families while providing additional targeted support to families with lower incomes. As a result of this measure, all families will be able to take part in the NCS. This widens participation and removes any potential stigma that may attach to families who benefit from the Scheme, increasing the likelihood that all service providers will choose to participate.
There may be a small number of cases where a family who is currently receiving the maximum rate for full-time childcare under an existing programme may receive less under the National Childcare Scheme, particularly if their child is in school age childcare rather than full-time childcare. In such cases, the family can remain on their current payment in the transition period following the Scheme’s launch. I have committed to ensuring that no one loses out in the transition to the new scheme through the “saver” arrangements. This means that persons registered on the CCSP or TEC schemes before they close, and who retain their eligibility, will be able to remain on them indefinitely.
New applications for CCSP closed on 15th November, and applications to the TEC schemes will close from 14th February 2020. Parents using the saver arrangement can move over to the NCS at any point. The Parent Information line can help parents to understand which scheme will serve their family better.
I have also directed my officials to undertake research and analysis to examine any adjustments to the National Childcare Scheme which might be required to address unusual or anomalous cases, where this is the right thing to do to protect and benefit lower income parents. The scheme will be reviewed after 12 months and closely monitored thereafter to ascertain if it is meeting its stated objectives.
Finally, I would like to highlight that the new National Childcare Scheme has been designed to be flexible, with income thresholds, maximum hours and subsidy rates which can be adjusted in line with Government decisions and as more investment becomes available. As such, any adjustments deemed necessary by Government can be carried out in a quick and responsive manner.
422. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent on advertising in 2018 and to date in 2019 on Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53738/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Children and Youth Affairs did not incur expenditure on advertising relating to Brexit in 2018 or 2019.
423. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports that exist for naíonraí; and the estimated cost of increasing the supports by 5%. [53768/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am conscious of the value of supporting the provision of services in the Irish language to children at an early age, and of the role pre-schools can play in promoting Irish as a living language. My Department provides many supports to facilitate Irish-medium early learning and care services to operate through Irish.
In this regard my Department has collaborated with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in agreeing a comprehensive set of actions under the 5 Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022. These actions are in support of the overarching 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and are designed to affirm the importance that early learning and care settings have in encouraging the development and revitalisation of the Irish language. The aim of these actions is to build on the existing measures, supports and partnerships in place in the area of Irish-medium early learning and care, and to further improve these supports and services.
Furthermore, First 5, the ten year Whole-of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families contains two actions specifically related to the provision of Irish language supports to the early learning and care sector.
Training and materials for the Access and Inclusion Model that helps children with a disability to participate in the ECCE scheme are available through Irish. Inspections operated by Tusla and the Department of Education are available through Irish, as are mentoring services from Better Start.
Communications in relation to the recently launched National Childcare Scheme are available in Irish, and Irish speaking support staff are available to answer parental and provider queries.
My Department does not target supports specifically at Irish medium early learning and care services, rather the many supports which are available are offered to all early learning and care services and naíonraí.
424. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the personal injuries payouts will be published for properties under the ownership of her Department in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [53786/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans to publish the information to which the Deputy refers.
425. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration will be given to funding structures for ECCE providers to ensure they receive a payment in December 2019 to assist with cash flow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53823/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department must adhere to the Rules concerning Exchequer funding. With this in mind, officials from my Department have reviewed the payment arrangements to services providing my Department’s early learning and care and school age childcare programmes.
Pobal administers the various schemes and issues payments on behalf of my Department. On the 10th December 2019, there was an announcement on Pobal's Programmes Implementation Platform (PIP / IT system), concerning the payment arrangements for Christmas 2019 for all early learning and care and school age childcare services.
An additional ECCE payment will be made on the 20th December 2019, to pay services open during the week beginning the 30th December, up until the 3rd January 2020.
Due to the above amendment, the first ECCE payment in 2020 will now cover the period 06/01/2020 – 31/01/2020.
426. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the capital expenditure by her Department in County Louth and east County Meath by location and facility provided or commenced in each of the past four years; the location and purpose of each such expenditure; the new and improved services provided as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53838/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is quite specific. I have requested the relevant organisations involved to collate the information and I will revert again to the Deputy in due course.
