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Thursday, 29 Apr 2021

Written Answers Nos. 84-103

Carer's Allowance

Ceisteanna (84)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

84. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a carer’s allowance was not backdated for a person (details supplied); if the issue of arrears will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22506/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.  

I confirm that my Department received an application for CA from the person concerned in respect of her mother on 5 January 2021 and her father on 2 March 2021. Both applications were awarded.  

On 19 March 2021 the person concerned requested the date of award in respect of her parents be backdated to 12 November 2020.  

Following a review of the date of award, the person concerned was awarded CA from 12 November 2020 in respect of both care recipients. Arrears of allowance due issued to the person concerned on 22 April 2021.  

The person concerned was notified on 15 April 2021 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.  

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Ceisteanna (85)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

85. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22508/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered with that office on 8 April 2021. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.

When these papers have been received from the Department the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing. Hearings are currently being conducted online or by telephone. Due to the current level of Covid-19 restrictions in-person oral appeal hearings have been suspended.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Ceisteanna (86)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

86. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a reckonable income figure is used to determine the payment rate of the pandemic unemployment payment to self-employed persons; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many self-employed salon owners are being paid less than their respective employees due to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22549/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as an emergency measure to provide an income support to those who had lost their employment as a result of Covid. In order to ensure that the scheme was simple and accessible for the unprecedented number of applicants, a flat payment rate was introduced initially. This rate was the equivalent of the Jobseeker benefit rate for a two-person household.

From 26 June 2020, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment moved to 2 rates of payment;  a 3 rate structure was introduced with effect from 7 September; and a 4 rate structure is in place since 16 October. These changes more closely link the rate of payment to the amount that individuals previously earned and make the scheme more targeted and fair. In determining the rate payable, the objective was to ensure that recent earnings were taken into account.

The rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a self-employed person is calculated by reference to their reckonable income in either 2018 or 2019, whichever is the greater, as these are the last two years for which complete information is available in respect of the reckonable income of self-employed persons. Details of reckonable income are supplied to the Department by the Revenue Commissioners, and are supplied net of business related costs, including capital allowances.  When submitting returns to the Revenue Commissioners, self-employed persons can offset business related costs against gross trading income, with the resulting assessment to tax and PRSI based on the net profit or income accruing to the individual.

I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

International Protection

Ceisteanna (87)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an international protection accommodation service will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22428/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am advised by officials in the Interational Protection Accommodation Services area (IPAS) of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy voluntarily left his assigned accommodation placement in an accommodation centre for International Protection applicants in August 2020 having found private accommodation. 

I am further advised that the person is no longer an applicant for protection and is consequently ineligible for the provision of accommodation under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018.  The person in question has previously been informed of the position by IPAS.

Childcare Services

Ceisteanna (88)

Marc MacSharry

Ceist:

88. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider including financial supports for essential upgrade and expansion of childcare facilities in the Early Learning Care and School Age Childcare Capital Programme for 2022 to cater for the ever-changing needs of children, families and service providers and to comply with Tusla requirements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22498/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department has, since 2015, administered an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services which are registered with Tulsa can access capital funding. 

The works eligible for capital funding is determined by my Department on an annual basis, having regard to the needs of children, families and service providers, and to Departmental priorities. It is too early to determine the 2022 capital priorities, but I am aware of the demands on providers, and will consider these in determining the scope of the 2022 capital programme.

Other supports to service providers are available form the national network of County Childcare Committees (CCCs) which are funded by my Department.  The CCC's offer a wide variety of supports to parents and childcare providers, including information on grants and low cost local enterprise loans which may be available to services, as well as commercial borrowing.  Contact details for all of the CCCs are available at myccc.ie 

 

Erasmus+ Programme

Ceisteanna (89)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

89. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if provisions will be made to support Erasmus students who did not receive their Erasmus grant due to not travelling in 2021. [22363/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As part of an Erasmus+ mobility period, students are provided with an ‘individual support’ grant. This grant is a contribution towards their travel and living costs for the duration of their period abroad.  

If, due to the pandemic, a student was forced to cancel their mobility and incurred expenses such as non-refundable flight costs, they may be supported by the Erasmus+ grant and would have to provide documentary evidence to support any claim. 

Erasmus students who did not travel abroad, but who are taking part in a virtual mobility, are not entitled to grant support.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (90)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

90. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason 2021 final year students at University of Limerick cannot have a physical ceremony given that the 2020 graduates are being brought back for a physical ceremony in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22379/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The University of Limerick is an autonomous institution within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997. Under this legislation UL is independent and is entitled to regulate its own academic affairs and administrative processes, including in relation to graduations. It is not within my remit to intervene in these matters.

Level 5 measures designate higher and further education as essential insofar as onsite presence is required and such education activities cannot be held remotely. Under Level 5 higher education will continue to operate primarily online with most activities delivered remotely. 

In overall terms higher education institutions are conducting most activities online. On-site attendance is focused on activities that are on not capable of being delivered through alternative means, and are time-critical for students and learners during this period. Reflecting the scale and diversity of third-level provision, higher education institutions are best equipped to determine for themselves where onsite presence is required.

Higher Education Authority

Ceisteanna (91)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

91. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if funding within the block grant for higher education is ring-fenced or top-sliced for specific purposes by either his Department or the HEA in the budget years 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22435/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions.

The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions via the recurrent funding model. Top sliced, ring fenced funding for specific strategic or important purposes is a component of the funding model in addition to the block grant and performance funding.

Annually a top slice consultation process is undertaken between the HEA, the department and sector representatives via the sectoral Top-Slice Working Group

Student Universal Support Ireland

Ceisteanna (92)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

92. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of SUSI funding that goes towards covering the student contribution charge in each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22436/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Student Grant Scheme is the principal support for students in financial terms by my Department. It provides grant assistance to eligible students attending approved full-time courses in approved further or higher educational institutions who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria of the relevant scheme. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the national student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), a business unit of CDETB. 

Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. 

 Under the Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate Higher Education students with students paying the student contribution. The student contribution fee is currently set at €3,000 per annum and can be paid in instalments.  The State pays the contribution in full or part, through SUSI.

 The attached table gives the amount of funding for each year from 2012.

Note:

- The early  years of SUSI had all or mainly New applicants so ONLY years from 2015-16  onwards can be compared to each other.

- It is not  possible to provide figures for 2011 as SUSI was not operational until  2012.  

Percentage of SUSI funding that went towards covering the student contribution charge in each year since 2012 as per 23rd of April 2021

Academic Year

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

Student Contribution %

41%

47%

50%

52%

51%

51%

50%

51%

49%

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (93)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

93. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the higher education expenditure as a percentage of GDP, GNI and modified GNI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22437/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The provision of funding for Higher Education on an annual basis is part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy. In 2021, exclusive of further education (programme A) and research allocations (programme C) total planned exchequer (programme B) and NTF funding of the HE sector for 2021 is in the order of €1.98billion.

Calculations in relation to conventional measures of economic activity such as GDP, GNI or the alternative metric of ‘modified’ Gross National Income are not a function of my department. I understand that the calculations of Ireland’s GDP, GNI and modified GNI for 2021 will be released by the the CSO in due course.

Higher Education Institutions

Ceisteanna (94)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

94. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the private or not-for-profit higher education institutions which are eligible for HEA funding for specific courses or directly via his Department in recognition of a given remit; the amount of funding received by each higher education institute in each year since 2014, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22438/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Officials in my department are engaging with the HEA to confirm the allocations and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Seperately my Department provides funding to institutions outside the remit of the HEA. Funding provided in the period 2014 to 2020 is outlined in the table below.

Table

Anti-Social Behaviour

Ceisteanna (95)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

95. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has plans to examine and strengthen current antisocial behaviour laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22372/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am very conscious of how the impact of anti-social behaviour affects the quality of life for local communities. Preventing children getting involved in criminality, as well as diverting children away from it when they have already become involved, is a key priority for the Department of Justice and for the Government. The Department's Justice Plan 20201 contains a number of commitments with regard to tackling anti-social behaviour.  

In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, I have established a special expert forum on antisocial behaviour, which is considering the effectiveness of existing legislation and looking at proposing new ways forward, including new powers for An Garda Síochána and additional interventions to support parenting of offenders. A subgroup of this Forum has already examined the issue of misuse of scramblers and quadbikes and this work has informed the development of a new scheme aimed at tackling this issue in local areas.

I also launched a new Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 on 15 April. Youth crime, including anti-social behaviour, can have a major impact on our communities and poses significant challenges for An Garda Síochána, as well as other Justice agencies. The factors which underlie youth crime have significant implications across a range of policy and service provisions, including Child and Family Services, Health, Education and local authority functions.

This new Strategy will respond collaboratively to the situation of vulnerable children and young

people, with a strong focus on diverting them away from offending, prevention

and early intervention, including early intervention and preventative work, family support and diversion from crime, through to court processes and facilities, supervision of offenders, detention and reintegration and support post release.

International Protection

Ceisteanna (96)

Marian Harkin

Ceist:

96. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Justice when a person (details supplied) will be contacted by the International Protection Office for further processing of their application. [22439/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

For reasons of maintaining full confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State.

An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate. 

The IPO may be contacted: by email to info@ipo.gov.ie; by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028008 or in writing to Customer Service Centre, International Protection Office, 79-83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. 

The IPAT may be contacted either: by email to info@protectionappeals.ie; by telephone at 01-4748400 (or Lo-Call 1890 201 458), or in writing to Corporate Services Division, The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, 6-7 Hanover Street East, Dublin D02 W320. 

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the parliamentary questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited. 

Prison Inspections

Ceisteanna (97)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

97. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice her plans to publish the annual report of the Inspector of Prisons that was submitted to her Department on 16 March 2021; the reason for the delay in doing so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22479/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Section 32 of the Prisons Act 2007 provides that the Inspector of Prisons shall submit a report to me as Minister, not later than 31 March in any year or such later date as may be specified by me, on the performance of the Inspector’s functions during the previous year.  I can confirm that the Annual report from the Inspector of Prisons for 2020 was submitted to my Department on 16 March 2021 and that officials are currently reviewing the main issues arising, with a view to my publishing the report in the coming weeks.  

Crime Prevention

Ceisteanna (98)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

98. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has engaged with mobile phone network providers regarding the actions they are taking to tackle the practice of criminals using their mobile phone network to send phishing or smishing text messages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22497/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I can assure the Deputy that the criminal activity known as 'phishing' or 'smishing' is taken very seriously by my Department and is the subject of on-going engagement between An Garda Síochána and the banking and technology industries. 

Preliminary data indicates an increase in this form of crime over recent years. I am aware that Gardaí have highlighted scams of late where people have pretended to be from An Garda Síochána, the Department of Social Protection, the Attorney General’s Office, banks, delivery companies, businesses and even in recent weeks, the Department of Justice.

I am informed that work is on-going in An Garda Síochána to tackle this issue. This includes, but is not limited to the issuing of advisory notices to members of the public warning against this criminal tactic and advising how to proceed should they be targeted.

I am further informed that the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) meet regularly with banking institutions, the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) and representatives from 3ireland.   GNECB take preventive action in an effort to disable Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) numbers, which both prevents and disrupts fraudulent activity.  VoIP Numbers are commonly purchased in batches and in circumstances where a number is identified as being involved in fraud, GNECB endeavour to get it and any other number purchased in the same batch disabled.

GNECB also liaise with ComReg to establish if the VoIP was registered in Ireland. In the first two months of 2021, GNECB have successfully engaged with VoIP providers to have 12 numbers disabled that were identified as being used for fraudulent purposes.  In addition, GNECB have also conducted enquiries on websites suspected of being involved in fraud and in the first three months of 2021, they  have successfully suspended 80 such websites that were being used to target Irish residents.

In addition, GNECB actively engages with the BPFI and the Irish Telecommunications Security Fraud Forum (ITSFF) with regard to providing advice and assistance relating to all cybercrime threats.  This engagement is ongoing in relation to disrupting suspected fraudsters' ability to target unsuspecting victims through SMS (smishing) messages.

Citizenship Applications

Ceisteanna (99)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Ceist:

99. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice the status of and the timeline for the citizenship application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22502/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 17 September 2019. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. If any further documentation is required, it will be requested from the person in due course.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Death Certificates

Ceisteanna (100)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

100. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if the processing of a death certificate will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22548/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, coroners are statutory officers exercising quasi-judicial functions, in relation to which the coroner is independent. Neither I nor my Department have any function in the conduct of their business. 

However, to be of assistance, officials from my Department made contact with the Coroner concerned, and have been assured that the Death Certificate will issue in the coming days.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (101)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

101. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health his plans to move from a psychiatric model of transgender healthcare to a model more in line with international best practice as outlined by the World Health Organisation. [22511/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Government policy in relation to LGBTI+ citizens is set out in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion and the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategies, which fall under the responsibility of the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth.   The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy aims to improve the lives of the LGBTI+ citizens of Ireland through the promotion of inclusion, protection of rights and the improvement of the quality of life and wellbeing for LGBTI+ people.  The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy is an action-oriented mission to ensure all LGBTI+ young people are visible, valued and included, and arose from the National Youth Strategy which identified LGBT young people as a specific group to be considered in the context of focused provision for marginalised/disadvantaged young people.  

Together these strategies play an important part in achieving the Government's broader commitment to continue to strive for the full inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Irish society.  Actions relating to the health of LGBTI+ citizens fall to the Department of Health and the HSE.

A proposed model of care for transgender children, adolescents and adults has been developed by the HSE Quality Improvement Division.  The model provides the framework for the development of National Gender Clinics and MDTs for children and adults.  The emerging evidence on good outcomes following medical and/or surgical transitioning is based on use of multi-disciplinary psychosocial assessment, fulfilment of criteria for hormones and on-going psychological support throughout the process. Local and international evidence increasingly suggests that this multidisciplinary approach should be led by a child psychiatrist with an interest in child and adolescent gender identity. 

The Department of Health is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centred health care service for adults and children in the transgender community, in line with the Programme for Government.

Product Labelling

Ceisteanna (102, 149)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

102. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the contact there has been between his Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on the issue of bilingual labelling of medical products. [22544/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

149. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health his plans to encourage businesses to use bilingual labelling on medical products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22524/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 149 together.

My Department is currently drafting a revised Language Scheme in accordance with Section 15 of the Official Languages Act 2003 to cover the period 2021-2023. The scheme will concentrate on the provision of services by the Department itself through Irish to the public; for example, Departmental speeches and press releases, public health advice, website content, replies to correspondence received in Irish. It is expected that the revised language scheme will soon be finalised and approved by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the compentent authority responsible for the regulation of medicines and other healthcare products in Ireland. Published guidance is available on the HPRA's website to aid companies looking to develop multilingual packaging.

There are no plans to introduce mandatory bilingual (Irish and English) labelling for medicines or medical devices authorised for use in Ireland.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (103, 137, 138)

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

103. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will consider giving persons in the 60 to 69 age group that are currently being given the Covid-19 vaccine a greater choice regarding the vaccine that they will be given. [22368/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

137. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of some high risk and vulnerable persons in relation to taking a vaccine (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to comments by some experts on the lower efficacy and poorer performance of the vaccine against new variants; if he will facilitate older age cohorts for whom the vaccine is being reserved the right and option to request an alternative vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22509/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

138. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will facilitate the request of any person with a history of or a condition that makes them susceptible to blood clotting to opt for another vaccine other than a particular vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22510/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 137 and 138 together.

While a person can, of course, refuse any offer of vaccination on religious, conscientious or other grounds, provision of one or other authorised COVID-19 vaccine(s) during the immunisation programme will be based on clinical expert guidance, including from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, to ensure the optimal stewardship of scarce resources and equitable access to safe and effective vaccine(s) for a given population.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

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