Dáil Éireann
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Vol. 935 Wednesday, No. 1 18 January 2017 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) 18/01/2017A00100Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 18/01/2017J00300Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 18/01/2017P01700Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21 18/01/2017P01850Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21 18/01/2017P02300Departmental Offices � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22 18/01/2017R02000Brexit Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26 18/01/2017S01100Cabinet Committee Meetings � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29 18/01/2017U01000Priority Questions� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 33 18/01/2017U01100DEIS Review � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 33 18/01/2017U02100School Transport Review � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 35 18/01/2017V01300School Curriculum � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 37 18/01/2017W00250Schools Mental Health Strategies � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 39 18/01/2017W00950Third Level Funding � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 41 18/01/2017X00600Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 43 18/01/2017X00650Schools Building Projects � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 43 18/01/2017Y00450School Transport Eligibility � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 45 18/01/2017Z00650School Staff � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 48 18/01/2017AA00250Schools Building Projects Status� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 50 18/01/2017AA00950School Transport Data � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 52 18/01/2017BB00300Departmental Budgets � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 52 18/01/2017BB01100Schools Mental Health Strategies � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 54 18/01/2017CC00400Special Educational Needs � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 56 18/01/2017DD00300Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 58 18/01/2017DD00350Road Traffic Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 58 18/01/2017EE00400Respite Care Services Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 61 18/01/2017FF00350Hospital Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 63 18/01/2017NN00Tillage Sector: Motion [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 71 18/01/2017YY00400Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Order for Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � 98 18/01/2017YY00800Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 99 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 18 Eanáir 2017 Wednesday, 18 January 2017 Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 12� p�m� Paidir. Prayer. Leaders’ Questions 18/01/2017A00200An Ceann Comhairle: In taking Leaders’ Questions under Standing Order 29, I appeal to all Members to have regard to the clock and the allocated time� We went badly over time yesterday� 18/01/2017A00300Deputy Robert Troy: In the past two weeks, numerous articles have been written in the press about the financial state of Bus Éireann, with losses of €6 million last year and projected losses of €7 million this year. While these losses are significant and unsustainable in the long run, services to people across the country should not be jeopardised� The semi-State company faults Expressway services for significant losses and is seeking to separate it from the rest of the firm. Bus Éireann contracted Grant Thornton to carry out a report on the losses and how they could be tackled� It seems the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, and the Government are accepting that it is inevitable that there will be cuts to routes all over the country and cuts to overtime for staff which, in itself, will lead to a reduction in services� There is no quick fix for this challenge, but there needs to be a constructive approach from all stakeholders, including the National Transport Authority, management, unions and the Gov- ernment, regarding how services can be sustained into the future� The Grant Thornton report has been freely available since last week, yet the Minister, Deputy Ross, claimed he has not read it� In the interest of being helpful, I made a copy of the report I received and left it in the Minister’s pigeonhole yesterday� How could he brief the Cabinet yesterday on a report that the Taoiseach claimed he had not received or read? The report recommended route closures across the country and job losses, and is generating real anxiety and worry across the country from people who rely on public transport� The Minister seems to be ducking and diving from playing any role in how access to bus services will impact on the public� The Taoiseach and Government have a role to play� 18/01/2017B00200Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Finian McGrath): The Deputy is a great man for ducking and diving� 18/01/2017B00300Deputy Robert Troy: The silence of the Minister, Deputy Ross, is truly deafening and is certainly unnatural for him� We read in the Sunday Independent how he chose to nitpick sloppy grammatical errors rather than discuss the actual content of the most recent road safety report at a time when the number of deaths on the roads is increasing� He seems unable to take ministe- 2 18 January 2017 rial accountability seriously and has decided to revert to being a journalistic commentator and master of distraction� Has the Minister not read the Grant Thornton report? What exactly did he brief the Cabi- net on yesterday? Does he agree with the Grant Thornton report, which states that there are limited strategic reasons for the State to have ownership of a commercial bus business? There is a role for commercial activity in a regulated market, but will the Government stand by and allow commercial activity to cherry-pick lucrative routes and allow many regions, including the Taoiseach’s area, to be deprived of public transport? 18/01/2017B00400An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Troy is new to this, but if everybody starts running over time in this way we will not be able to keep to the schedule� 18/01/2017B00500The Taoiseach: I will abide by the ruling of the Ceann Comhairle� The Minister, Deputy Ross, is not responsible for what has happened. Bus Éireann commissioned a report from Grant Thornton into the circumstances and conditions that apply to the company� As I pointed out yesterday, the commercial arm of Bus Éireann, Expressway, is losing €6 million a year. That is the reality and it is a commercial problem� It is important to note that those losses have not been caused by Government funding be- cause Bus Éireann’s PSO network is performing very well, financially and operationally. Last year it received €40 million in PSO funding, 17% more than in 2015. The PSO services carried almost 32 million people, an increase of 5% on the previous year. The new chief executive asked what the company needed to do in this regard� The losses related to Expressway services, which compete with other operators� There has been very strong growth in the commercial bus market, with almost 23 million people using commercial buses in 2015. This growth has not been felt in the Expressway arm of Bus Éire- ann� As I stated yesterday, contrary to some reports a glut of new licences has not been issued in recent years� In fact, only eight licences have issued since 2011 while 11 applications were