Written Answers Nos. 294-301
294. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice the number and location of the Garda stations in County Tipperary that have closed as part of the Garda district and station rationalisation programme; and the number of Garda stations in County Tipperary that offer a manned 24-7 service. [61454/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and management of Garda resources and the Garda estate. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters, and cannot comment on them.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that there were seven Garda Stations closed under the Station Rationalisation Programme in 2012 and 2013 in Tipperary Division. These are as follows:
- Dundrum
- New Inn
- Grangemockler
- Terryglass
- Rearcross
- Ballinderry
- Ballinure
I am further advised that five Garda Stations in Tipperary Division offer a manned 24/7 service (i.e. person on duty at public counter) and these are as follows:
- Cahir
- Clonmel
- Nenagh
- Thurles
- Tipperary Town
I am also advised that the following Garda Stations in Tipperary Division provide a 24/7 patrolling service but may not always have a person available for duty at the public counter:
- Roscrea
- Newport
- Templemore
- Cashel
- Carrick-on-Suir
The Deputy may also be interested to know that as of 31 October 2022, there are 396 Garda members assigned to the Tipperary Division. This is a just under 12% increase on the 354 Garda members assigned in December 2015.
These Garda members are supported by 84 Garda staff assigned to the Tipperary Division, which is a more than double the 32 Garda staff assigned there in 2015. This increases the availability of Garda members to concentrate on frontline policing duties in the district.
I can also inform the Deputy that as of 30 November there are 77 vehicles assigned to the Tipperary Division which is a just under 3% increase on the vehicles assigned in December 2020.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimal use.
295. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda stations in County Tipperary that have closed since 2015 due to being considered unsuitable to function as Garda stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61455/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that the Commissioner is responsible for all decisions related to the Garda Estate and that such works are progressed by the Office of Public Works in close cooperation with the Garda authorities. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am however advised by the Garda authorities that no Garda stations have closed in Tipperary Division since 2015.
296. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding the regularisation of a person (details supplied) who has been living in direct provision for more than five years but who is omitted from the recent and welcome regularisation scheme for undocumented persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61471/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants closed on 31 July 2022 with the International Protection strand closing on the 07 August 2022. This once in a generation scheme allowed eligible applicants the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship.
I am advised that the person concerned was not eligible to make an application to the Regularisation Scheme as they did not meet the Scheme’s criteria.
The two strands of the Regularisation Scheme were very different, with eligibility for one scheme requiring an applicant to be documented in the international protection process at the relevant time and the other scheme requiring an applicant to be undocumented for a specified period.
It was not possible for a person to combine periods spent documented and periods spent undocumented to qualify under the Regularisation Scheme.
Where a person is refused under the Regularisation Scheme, other immigration avenues can be explored. If a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission I encourage them to contact Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) or their local immigration office and to take all the appropriate steps to regularise their status.
Any application submitted should explain their current circumstances and future intentions in the State and provide any documentation they feel will support their application. In all cases, people must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally.
Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) examines each application to remain in the State on a case-by-case basis.
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.
297. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the independent commission on information retrieval Bill; and when she expects the heads to be published. [61495/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Stormont House Agreement, concluded by the two Governments and the Northern Ireland Parties in December 2014, provides for a framework of measures to address the legacy of troubles-related violence in Northern Ireland. The framework of measures agreed include the establishment of the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR).
Given the cross-border nature of the ICIR, in September 2015, the Government signed an International Agreement with the British Government on the establishment of the Independent Commission for Information Retrieval (ICIR). The development of proposals for legislation to establish the ICIR in this jurisdiction have been progressed, in close cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Heads of Bill are well advanced. However, the ICIR will require legislation to be enacted in both jurisdictions with parallel provisions in order for it to come into effect, which is presenting a particular difficulty at the current time.
As the Deputy will be aware, the UK Government published the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill in May. The Bill, which is progressing through the UK parliament, does not provide for an Independent Commission for Information Retrieval as set out in the Stormont House Agreement and therefore our legislation cannot be progressed at this time. The Irish Government has expressed its opposition to this legislation, as have all political parties in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Commission for Human Rights, many victims groups and others.
The Government will continue to engage and work with the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland on this very important issue.
298. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice the funding that was provided to Limerick from her Department in 2022, broken down by project in tabular form. [61582/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s vote has a gross expenditure budget of just under €499 million in 2022. Funding is provided for a broad range of goods and service across the country and it is not possible to give a breakdown on a county by county basis for all areas of expenditure, as it is not categorised in this way.
The Department's annual appropriation account reflects the total spend broken down by programme and subhead. The appropriation account for 2021 is available on the website of the Comptroller and Auditor General at: www.audit.gov.ie/en/find-report/publications/appropriation%20accounts/appropriation-accounts-2021.html and the 2022 appropriation account will be published in 2023 once the audit is completed.
299. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the position regarding section 38 workers; if funding has been made available to ensure that these workers receive the pay awards agreed under the Building Momentum pay agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61517/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
300. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to food advertisements targeting children by companies; and the way that he will combat same. [61370/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe WHO European Regional Obesity Report, published earlier this year, warns of the serious health risks associated with rising levels of obesity. In the European Region, overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions, with prevalence levels higher among males (63%) than among females (54%).
In Ireland, overweight and obesity pose an increasing challenge, with one in five children and 56% of the adult population now living with overweight or obesity, according to the Healthy Ireland Survey, 2022. The Survey was published on Monday, 5th December and provides an update on overweight and obesity levels in Ireland, following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Survey is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/f9e67-healthy-ireland-survey-2022/.
The policy instrument for addressing obesity in Ireland is “A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), which was launched in September 2016, under the umbrella of the Healthy Ireland Framework, our national policy for health and wellbeing in Ireland.
The OPAP covers a 10-year period, up to 2025, and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. Implementation of the OPAP is overseen by a cross-sectoral and cross-Departmental group, the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG), chaired by the Department of Health. Deliverables under the OPAP are also reflected in a number of key policy documents, including the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan and the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan (HI SAP).
The OPAP recognises that obesity is a complex, multi-faceted issue and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. This is also emphasised by the 2022 WHO European Regional Report. The OPAP also includes most of the recommended policy actions in the WHO 2022 report. Childhood obesity is a key priority under the OPAP, as is reducing the inequalities underlying obesity rates, where children (and adults) from lower socioeconomic groups have not only higher levels of obesity but are also facing challenges in accessing healthy food in the current cost of living crisis. Many initiatives and policies which address different aspects of the complexity of obesity have been developed and progressed over the last number of years. A review of the OPAP is scheduled to be published in the coming weeks, alongside an evaluation of the OPAP undertaken by the Centre for Health and Diet Research, University College Cork for the Department of Health.
In relation to the issues around advertising and marketing of unhealthy foods aimed at children, significant work is ongoing at both EU and national levels to restrict such marketing.
At an EU level, since 2020, Ireland and Portugal have co-led a Work Package on Restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children and adolescents under the EU Joint Action “Best ReMaP” (Best practices in Reformulation, Marketing and public Procurement), working with 15 other Member States which is due to complete its work in 2023. This includes proposing a revised WHO Nutrient Profiling Model for use throughout Europe in implementing the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive. This model will also be used in the EU Codes of Practise templates, adaptable by Member States, for use with non-broadcast media, including digital media; product placement (including multi-buy options) and sponsorship. As part of this Work Package, a Digital Media Monitoring Framework is being developed for EU-wide use.
Member States have also recently established National Intersectoral Working Groups, to facilitate the implementation of the food marketing tools developed by the Joint Action Best-ReMaP and the integration of policies into national legislation after the end of the Joint Action.
An EU Protocol aimed at monitoring unhealthy food marketing to children is well underway which is expected to draw on existing WHO Protocols, address gaps that may exist, and create substantive guidance and hands-on materials to support Member States and institutions wishing to carry out food marketing monitoring.
The EU Framework for Action is the final deliverable of the Joint Action Best-ReMaP Work Package 6, expected to be finalized by September 2023. This framework will contain all the tools developed by the Work Package, including the WHO/EU harmonized Nutrient Profiling Model, the EU coordinated monitoring protocol and technical guidance to implement best practices when restricting marketing of unhealthy foods to children as mentioned above.
With regard to current rules in Ireland regarding advertising, sponsorship, product placement and other forms of commercial promotion aimed at children or broadcast in or around children’s programming, these are contained in the Childrens’ Commercial Communications Code (CCCC). This is a statutory broadcasting code issued by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland pursuant to section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.
In relation to specific legislation which seeks to address the promotion of “junk food”, my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, is currently bringing a Bill through the Oireachtas which will do just this. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022, which has completed all stages in the Seanad and has passed the first three stages in the Dáil, will dissolve the BAI and establish a new regulator, Coimisiún na Meán. It is also understood that it is hoped the Bill will be enacted before year end.
Under the Bill, broadcasting codes will ultimately be superseded by media service codes, which will apply to both video-on-demand and broadcasting services. Furthermore, An Coimisiún will be enabled to make online safety codes which apply to designated online services, such as video-sharing platform services (e.g. YouTube). Similar to broadcasting codes such as the CCCC, media service and online safety codes may provide for the regulation of commercial communications relating to foods or beverages which may be the subject of public concern in respect of the general public health interests of children. The consultation process for a new CCCC is expected to be undertaken by the new Media Commission, Coimisiún na Meán, following the enactment of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. As the Department responsible for public health policy, the Department of Health would expect to contribute to, and be consulted on, the making of any codes by Coimisiún na Meán relating to the advertisement of food or beverages at children.
301. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on the considerable savings that the State may make by frontloading investment in mental health services, rather than the current funding model; if he would like to see changes in the funding model going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56474/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeveloping Mental Health services remains a priority for Government. The total allocation for mental health in Budget 2023 is over €1.2 billion, which represents a significant incremental increase in investment from around €700m per year around a decade ago. This is another record budget for mental health services, which will underpin implementation of the widely agreed policies Sharing the Vision (2020-30) and Connecting for Life to enhance all aspects of mental health care, including new service developments nationally.
Funding for current expenditure including mental health services is allocated on an annual (single- year) basis through the Estimates process with future levels of funding considered as part of the national estimates and budgetary process.
There is no multi-annual funding for current expenditure. However, I am aware that there has been a discussion paper published by the Department of Public Expenditure that highlights the benefits of introducing multi annual funding and discusses the possible future introduction of it for the Garda Siochana vote.
I acknowledge that there are potential benefits of introducing multi-annual funding to improve planning over a multi annual horizon on a more structured/sustainable timeframe than a single year. However there currently exist a range of legislative barriers to the introduction of such a funding mechanism for current expenditure on health services.
The position is different in relation to capital expenditure where the National Development Plan sets out the longer-term investment plan over multiple years.
