Written Answers Nos. 52-66
52. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Taoiseach the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit fulfil their obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. [34861/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 places a statutory obligation on public bodies to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and protect the human rights of those to whom they provide services and staff when carrying out their daily work. The Act requires public bodies to carry out an assessment which looks at the human rights and equality issues of relevance to the functions and policies of their Department, to identify any gaps and appropriate actions to address these.
My Department's Public Sector Duty Assessment is available to view on gov.ie at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/0f55fb-work-of-the-department-of-the-taoiseach/
The Assessment focuses on how the Duty impacts on three main areas of activity: services provided to the public, my Department's role in policy development and how my Department treats its own staff. The document also contains a summary of potential gaps identified and the appropriate actions to be taken to address these.
Monitoring of progress and continued compliance will be included in my Department’s Corporate Governance Framework and Annual Reporting process.
The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - the only body under my Department's aegis – is currently reviewing its Policy and Procedures document which will make reference to its obligations under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.
53. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Taoiseach the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit undertake disability impact assessments; and the process by which these assessments are monitored. [34879/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cabinet Handbook provides that any Memorandum for the Government seeking approval for legislation involving changes to the regulatory framework, including the transposition of EU Directives and Regulations, or for a Government Order involving changes to the regulatory framework must be accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA). One aspect of the RIA is an assessment of the impact of a proposal on people with disabilities. Where no requirement for a RIA arises, substantive Memoranda for the Government should indicate the impact of the proposal in question on people with disabilities.
Specific guidelines for all Government Departments on conducting disability impact assessments have been drawn up by the Department of Justice and the National Disability Authority and are available at www.justice.ie.
While my Department may have an involvement in many areas of policy, legislation is brought forward by the Departments that have specific and detailed areas of responsibility. The lead responsibility for policies and legislation relating to people with disabilities lies with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The impacts of public policy on persons with disabilities is monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis by Government Departments, bodies and agencies in their respective sectors.
54. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a scheme (details supplied) will be supported in order to help businesses, local clubs and community organisations re-establish their customer base following the sustained closures. [35057/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government continues to work on measures as the recovery phase of COVID-19 continues and welcomes input from stakeholders.
Budget 2021 provided a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors, and the new National Economic Recovery Plan includes €4 billion of stimulus to fuel the economy and for businesses to recover and rebuild.
It is heartening to see the work that many groups are doing across the country to encourage local recovery and resilience.
In this case the most appropriate Minister to approach would be Michael McGrath T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
55. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on his plans for the creation of new public holidays. [34837/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe legislation which provides for public holidays is the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. This Act provides that certain days may be prescribed as public holidays. At present, there are nine public holidays.
An extra holiday has implications of a broad nature in terms of costs and productivity and has cross-government issues to be explored.
Any proposal for the provision of an additional public holiday would require careful consideration and wide-ranging consultations with relevant stakeholders. Not least we would need to consider the implications and impact of any new public holiday on employment and for the economy at large, in particular the extra costs it would impose on employers already dealing with the Covid-19 crisis and Brexit.
56. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details on the level of trade between Qatar and Ireland in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35207/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Statistics Office compiles statistical data in relation to Exports and Imports of Goods and Services. Statistics for Ireland’s Goods Exports to, and Goods Imports from, Qatar for 2019, 2020 and the first four months of 2021 are contained in the table below, along with statistics for Ireland’s Services Exports to, and Services Imports from, Qatar for 2019. Statistics for Services Exports to, and Services Imports from, Qatar for 2020 and 2021 are not yet available.
The value of Goods Exports from Ireland to Qatar grew from a value of €104 million in 2019 to €138 million in 2020, an increase of 33%. In the period Jan-Apr 2021 the value of Goods Exports from Ireland to Qatar was €31million. Principal Goods Exports from Ireland to Qatar in 2020 were Aircraft Engines & Parts, Medical & Pharmaceutical Products and Soft Drink Concentrate.
The value of Goods Imports from Qatar to Ireland fell from €2.859 million in 2019 to €2.413 million in 2020, a fall of 16%. In the period Jan-Apr 2021 the value of Goods Imports from Qatar to Ireland was €1 million. Principal Goods Imports from Qatar to Ireland in 2020 were Organic Chemicals, Plastics in Primary Forms and Live Animals.
In 2019 (the latest year for which services trade data is available), the value of Ireland's Services trade with Qatar was €1.080 billion, comprising €1.065 billion in Services Exports from Ireland to Qatar and €15million in Services Imports from Qatar to Ireland.
|
Exports to Qatar (Goods)€million |
Exports to Qatar (Services)€million |
Imports from Qatar (Goods)€million |
Imports from Qatar (Services)€million |
|
|
2019 |
104 |
1,065 |
3 |
15 |
|
2020 |
138 |
Not available |
2 |
Not available |
|
2021 (Jan- April) |
31 |
Not available |
1 |
Not available |
57. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his response to a report of a fish kill (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35189/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no function in relation incidents of fish kills and response to same as they are day to day operational matters for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). IFI can provide information on such incidents directly to the Deputy.
IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI's objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
However, IFI have recently reported the specific incident to my Department and in this instance I am happy to share that report which is appended for the convenience of the Deputy.
58. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of inland fishing licences that were applied for by county in each of the years 2019 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and the associated income from each. [35139/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) administers a range of licence options for angling, commercial fishing and other related activity. I have no function in relation to licensing and queries in relation to licensing, including numbers issued and associated income, are operational matters for IFI who will provide the information sought directly to the Deputy.
IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI's objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
59. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will examine a situation in which an area (details supplied) is having broadband difficulties given that improvements to the service have now been postponed until 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35326/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot obtain a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is under way.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 23 June, almost 229,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Surveys are complete or underway in County Kildare in Killashee, Oughterard, Naas Rural, Rathmore, Kill, Kilteel, Carnalway, Gilltown, Ballymore Eustace, Bodenstown, Naas Urban, Newtown, Donaghcumper, Athy, Coneyboro, Aughaboura, Ballinapark, Castlemitchell, Bert, Kilberry, Kilkea, Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth. Further details are available on specific areas within County Kildare through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
While substantial progress has been made to date, the Covid 19 pandemic has had an impact on the delivery of the fibre network resulting in delays on delivery of aspects of the programme. Impacts include challenges with mobilisation of key contractors with restrictions on operations, supply chain and logistic delays (both nationally and internationally), as well as the recruitment of key personnel as NBI and its contractors scale, up including challenges associated with on-boarding and training people. Inevitably, like many other organisations, NBI and contractor staff are at risk of contracting Covid 19 or may have to restrict their movements as a result of being a close contact posing further challenges. The full extent of this impact is currently being assessed and NBI has committed to put in place measures to mitigate the impact in as far as possible.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 23 June, 326 BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. BCP’s are connected at Lullymore Heritage Park, Lullymore East, Bigstone Community Hall, Ballyraggan, and Crookstown Further Education and Training and Community Centre. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Rathmore National School, Rathmore West, Saint David's National School, and Piper's Hill Campus have been installed by NBI for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan was announced in December which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
60. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 53 of 16 June 2021, the breakdown for the current costs associated with administering the Just Transition Fund and to account for source of the funding for the Just Transition Fund of 29 mentioned. [35544/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Just Transition Fund was established in 2020 to support innovative projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the wider Midlands region and which have employment and enterprise potential.
The Just Transition Fund is financed by the Exchequer, with an additional €5 million provided by ESB. Funding for successful projects will be provided from my Department’s Vote on the basis of incurred expenditure by projects.
In addition to the Exchequer contribution through the Just Transition Fund, individual projects are required to provide matching funding at a minimum rate of 15% of the project value.
The costs of administering the Just Transition Fund are being met from within the Vote of my Department. In addition to direct staffing costs, the Department has engaged external solicitors to provide advice in relation to the state aid aspects of project evaluation. The Department has paid €24,975 to date under this contract.
61. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if there are proposals to set up a portal for video evidence of traffic violations that would be available to gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35154/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an idea which I know has been raised by a number of people. There are no specific proposals at present.
We can all see that in theory it might be of assistance in addressing road traffic problems. However, there are serious issues to consider. The Road Traffic legislation which governs camera apparatus used by the Garda to provide evidence - speed cameras in particular - sets strict standards for the apparatus to be used in order to ensure that evidence is reliable. It would make a nonsense of having standards like this if we allowed anyone to upload footage taken on any apparatus. My colleague the Minister for Justice is currently proposing legislation relating to Garda use of camera evidence, and the Deputy may wish to raise this issue in that context.
I have recently asked officials in my Department to consider the issue of camera based enforcement of bus lanes and intend to bring forward proposals in that regard in future.
62. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport the number of staff by job title currently working in the air accident investigation unit and rail accident investigation unit in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35208/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) investigates aviation incidents within the State, reporting directly to the Minister for Transport, and co-ordinates with other safety investigation authorities overseas, as appropriate. The Railway Accident Investigation Unit (RAIU) is an independent investigation unit which improves railway safety by establishing the causes of accidents with a view to making recommendations for the avoidance of accidents in the future.
The current staffing levels (correct end June 2021) in the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) and the Railway Accident Investigation Unit (RAIU) are set out in separate tables below.
Table 1: Air Accident Investigation Unit
|
Grade |
Number of Staff by Headcount (HC) |
Number of Staff by Full Time Equivalence (FTE) |
|
Chief Aeronautical Officer |
1 |
1 |
|
Aeronautical Officer (Grade I) |
8 |
7.6 |
|
Executive Officer (EO) |
1 |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer (CO) |
1 |
1 |
|
Total Staff |
11 |
10.6 |
A vacancy in the AAIU at Higher Executive Officer (HEO) level is due to be filled on 30th June 2021.
Table 2: Railway Accident Investigation Unit #
|
Grade |
Number of Staff by Headcount |
Number of Staff by Full Time Equivalence (FTE) |
|
Chief Railway Accident Investigator |
1 |
1 |
|
Senior Railway Accident Investigator |
3 |
3 |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
1 |
|
Total Staff |
5 |
5 |
63. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the waiting lists for driver tests by test centre in tabular form; and the breakdown by the centres in which the additional 40 testers were deployed as promised in Dáil Éireann on 24 March 2021. [35050/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Driver Test.
The information requested is held by the RSA. This question is therefore being referred to the Authority for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
64. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of the Mallow Dungarvan greenway feasibility study; and the amount spent to date. [35054/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the tender for the feasibility study has been awarded to the successful applicant and Cork County Council have issued the letter of acceptance and are awaiting its signing.
As this project originally allocated separate funding to both Cork County Council and Waterford City and County Council, a Section 85 agreement is being entered into that gives responsibility on behalf of the other county to the lead partner, in this case Cork County Council. I understand that this was agreed to at the Cork County Council meeting on June 28th and is on the agenda for the Waterford City and County Council meeting on July 8th.
The final signing of contracts will occur following the completion of that agreement. No funding has been drawn down to date. The completion of the feasibility study is expected in the first half of 2022.
65. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of works on a road (details supplied). [35055/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
66. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of works on a road (details supplied). [35056/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
