Vol. 681 Tuesday, No. 1 28 April 2009 DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DA´ IL E´ IREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Tuesday, 28 April 2009. Ceisteanna—Questions Taoiseach ………………………………… 1 Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Priority Questions …………………………… 13 Other Questions …………………………… 21 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 27 Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 28 Requests to move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 32 ……………… 32 Order of Business ……………………………… 34 Social Welfare Bill 2009: Financial Resolutions …………………………… 52 Instruction to Committee …………………………… 53 Business of Da´il……………………………… 68 Issue of Writ: Dublin South …………………………… 69 Private Members’ Business Infrastructure Stimulus Package: Motion……………………… 76 Estimates for Public Services 2009: Message from Select Committee …………… 99 Social Welfare Bill 2009: Committee Stage ……………………… 99 Adjournment Debate Health Services ……………………………… 138 Special Educational Needs ………………………… 139 Designated Areas ……………………………… 142 Urban Renewal Schemes …………………………… 143 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 147 DA´ IL E´ IREANN DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL OFFICIAL REPORT Imleabhar 681 Volume 681 De´ Ma´irt, 28 Aibrea´n 2009. Tuesday, 28 April 2009. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2.30 p.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Ceisteanna — Questions. ———— Commemorative Events. 1. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach the historical commemorative events his office proposes to fund and with which it will be involved in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10131/09] 2. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the commemorative events his Department plans to fund during 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10888/09] 3. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach the commemorative events he will support during 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14061/09] 4. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach the commemorative events his Department will sponsor during the remainder of 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15573/09] The Taoiseach: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. 1 Ceisteanna — 28 April 2009. Questions [The Taoiseach.] An amount of \170,000 has been allocated under subhead E of my Department’s Estimates this year to support commemorative projects. This funding is available to assist individuals or groups in organising the commemoration of individuals or events of historic importance. To date, funding has been committed towards the cost of the Mayo Peace Park, a publication to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the com- memoration of the bicentenary of the birth of William Gladstone and a conference on the plural Protestant traditions in Ireland. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh: Ce´ad bliain o´ shin, bunaı´odh Fianna E´ ireann ag Countess Mark- ievicz agus Bulmer Hobson. An bhfuil se´ de ru´ n ag an Rialtas como´ radh a dhe´anamh ar an oca´id sin i mı´ Lu´ nasa? The members of Fianna E´ ireann played a key role in the struggle for independence and many of its members made the ultimate sacrifice. Will the Government mark the centenary this year or support any commemorative events? Is the Taoiseach aware that a major auction house up the road from here this morning held what it called an Independence sale and that among the items put up for auction was the football used on Bloody Sunday in Croke Park in 1920 and an original copy of the 1916 Proclamation which belonged to Rory O’Connor and also letters from Pearse, Griffith and de Valera? Does the Taoiseach think it right that such precious items of our heritage should be allowed to be sold unrestricted with nothing to prevent them from being taken out of the country? Does he agree that the Irish people, through the National Museum of Ireland or the National Library of Ireland, should be given priority in terms of acquiring important documents and artefacts? Given the role of the Taoiseach’s Department in sponsoring major historical commemorations, will he ask his Department and also the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to prepare legislation to protect our heritage? What is the position regarding the committee estab- lished to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising and why has it met only once since this Da´il was formed? The Taoiseach: Some of these questions are beyond the ambit of the original question about commemorative events and whether there are proposals for such events this year. I cannot speak on any individual initiatives or events proposed for this year which may or may not be funded. Applications for funding under the commemoration initiatives fund are made to my Department. A number of issues are taken into account when assessing projects for funding. These include impact, significance and relevance, geographical spread, balance between popu- lar and academic, educational content and viability of the project. I have no information as to what particular events may be supported further during the course of this year other than those I have outlined which have received support thus far. The question of artefacts of historical importance is a matter for the judgment of the National Museum personnel or of any other public agency as to a decision to seek to obtain or purchase artefacts which may become available for sale through various means and this has been the case in the past. I cannot comment on the specific question about this morning’s auction as I have not been given any notice of it. On the question of a statutory basis for the protection of our heritage, some good legislation has been introduced dealing with archives, items of heritage and of historic importance. This has improved both the funding and the resources which are being made available for these purposes in a whole range of areas, which also includes items of cultural and architectural value in an effort to preserve our heritage in its widest sense. Deputy O´ Snodaigh referred to particular items of interest which come up for auction or sale. These are matters which are considered by the director of the National Museum, based 2 Ceisteanna — 28 April 2009. Questions on whatever existing artefacts the museum holds. I am sure the items mentioned by the Deputy are already in the possession of the museum, if not specifically the football from Croke Park. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh: I take it from the Taoiseach’s answer that there are no plans to commemorate the founding of Fianna E´ ireann in August as it was not included in the list supplied by the Taoiseach. While I am aware this may be a matter currently being considered by An Bord Pleana´la, will the Taoiseach support the call for an emergency meeting of the all- party commemorative committee on 1916 to consider the potential threat to No. 16 Moore Street and the adjacent buildings by the proposed development? An Ceann Comhairle: I remind the Deputy that the questions before us concern commemor- ative events—— Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh: They relate to commemorative events. An Ceann Comhairle: The Taoiseach is referring to funding of and involvement in projects in 2009. We are not stretching off to 2016. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh: There is a committee in the House which has met only once since it was re-established after the last election and met very infrequently during the pre- vious Da´il. An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy will have to put down a separate question on that. That is a different matter. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh: An historic commemorative event is being planned. An Ceann Comhairle: It is not planned for this year. I am not trying to block the Deputy, I am merely pointing out the rules. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh: We can have commemorative events this year during the run- up to the centenary. The committee was founded to organise a series of commemorative events between now and 2016. This is one such proposal and I was asking the Taoiseach whether he would consider organising such a meeting. The Taoiseach: I agree that we have to prepare well in advance for the 1916 centenary commemorations and we will do that. In January 2007 the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, placed a preservation order on No. 16 Moore Street under the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended by the 2004 Act because the preservation of No. 16 is considered a matter of national importance by reason of the historic interest attaching to it. Nos. 14, 15 and 17 Moore Street were also included in the preservation order to protect the amenities of No. 16. The statutory function of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government comes into play regarding any future development of such privately owned national monu- ments, including its physical adaptation for new uses, and in cases where such a monument may be affected by development in its vicinity. Any proposed works affecting the national monument, including any excavation or ground disturbance in proximity to it, require the Minister’s prior written consent under section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930 as amended by the 2004 Act before they can proceed. Considering any such applications for consent the Minister is statutorily obliged to consult with the director of the National Museum of Ireland and it is the Minister’s intention that any works to the national monument would be 3 Ceisteanna — 28 April 2009. Questions [The Taoiseach.] the subject of professional review and assessment in the Department before any consent would be granted. The Department of the Taoiseach is engaged with other Departments and agencies on the preparation of a centenary commemorative programme centred on the Easter Rising.