Written Answers

21 April 2015 Written Answers.

The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised].

Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, answered orally.

Questions Nos. 7 to 168, inclusive, resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 169 to 173, inclusive, answered orally.

21/04/2015WRA00650Human Rights Issues

21/04/2015WRA00700174. Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will, at the next periodic review at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Iran, follow through on the recommendations of the previous Council in relation to the situation of the Baha’i in Iran. [15183/15]

21/04/2015WRA00800Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The Universal Pe- riodic Review of Iran took place at the Human Rights Council in October 2014. The next Periodic Review of Iran is likely to take place in April 2019. Our approach in each Periodic Review is determined by the situation prevailing at the time, including the extent to which recommendations accepted during previous reviews have been implemented.

Ireland intervened in the October 2014 review of Iran, expressing concern and making recommendations about the situation of some religious minorities and the use of the death penalty in Iran. I regret that Iran accepted neither of the two recommendations we made.

We have real concerns about the significant persecution which some groups, including those of the Bahá’í faith, are subject to in Iran. The UPR is not the only forum in which these concerns are expressed.

During my address to the Human Rights Council on 4 March, I stated that “freedom of Religion and Belief is in peril in many places worldwide, with members of minority religious communities, including those of Christian, Muslim and Bahá’í faith, disproportionately affected by violence, discrimination, and harassment.” Ireland also recently raised the Bahá’í with the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and directly with the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister on a visit to Dublin.

My Department maintains regular contact with the Irish Bahá’í community.

Ireland, along with the EU, will continue to encourage progress in relation to human rights issues in Iran, including the plight of some religious minorities, and to express our concerns to Iranian authorities at every appropriate opportunity.

109 Questions - Written Answers Questions Nos. 175 to 180, inclusive, answered orally.

Undocumented Irish in the USA

21/04/2015WRA01000181. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress, to date, in establishing a visa waiver scheme at the embassy of the United States of Ameri- ca in Dublin, for returning emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15238/15]

21/04/2015WRA01100Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US is a priority for the Government in our contacts with the United States. Through our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the US, we continue to work closely with high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond. All of this work is aimed at achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the United States and improved channels for legal migration between Ireland and America. Throughout his recent visit to the US and in a series of high level contacts with the US Administration, with Congress and at State level, the Taoiseach raised the issue of immigration reform and the plight of the undocumented Irish, stressing that almost every family in Ireland is related to or knows somebody who is caught up in this deeply distressing situation.

During his meeting with President Obama on 17 March the Taoiseach commended him on his executive action announced late last year. The Deputy would be aware that this action is currently the subject of legal proceedings in the US federal courts. The Taoiseach emphasised the need to allow the undocumented to come out of the shadows and be free to travel home for family events. He also highlighted the issue of those amongst the Irish undocumented who might be eligible for visas, but who would be required to return to Ireland for their issuance and hence would require waivers for their prior period of undocumented residence.

The Taoiseach also pointed to the need for a legal pathway to allow for future Irish immigration to the US for those who wish to make a contribution there, expressing the hope that a political way forward could be found on this issue which would encourage progress on a comprehensive legislative package by Congress. President Obama spoke of his executive actions on immigration reform and acknowledged the contribution of Irish immigrants to America’s development. He considered that one of the great strengths of the United States had always been its willingness to welcome new immigrants to its shores.

I also raised immigration reform issues, including the possibility of immigration reform legislation and the question of visa waivers, when I met with Vice President Biden in Boston on 30 March. I have also had the opportunity to discuss these matters on a number of occasions with US Ambassador O’Malley.

In addition, the Taoiseach discussed immigration issues with Congressman Paul Ryan during his recent visit to Dublin on 30 March.

The Government as a whole, including my Department in Dublin and our Embassy in Wash- ington, will continue to actively follow up on all of the issues raised in recent contacts with the US Administration, with Congress and with the US Embassy in Ireland.

Diplomatic Representation

21/04/2015WRA01200182. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if representa-

110 21 April 2015 tions were made by him or his Department in the case of a person (details supplied), a prisoner in the United States of America, who has had health difficulties recently. [15281/15]

21/04/2015WRA01300Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I am aware of this case. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not made representations on behalf of the individual in question. T he Department does not have a consular role in this case as the individual is not an Irish citizen.

As a signatory to the International Covenant on Social Economic and Cultural Rights, Ire- land supports the right of all people to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health as enshrined in Article 12 of that Covenant.

21/04/2015WRB00150Foreign Conflicts

21/04/2015WRB00200183. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on concerns regarding the escalating situation in Yemen and the high civilian death toll that has resulted from military air strikes by the Saudi-led alliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15179/15]

21/04/2015WRB00300Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The EU Foreign Affairs Council considered the situation in Yemen at its meeting in Luxembourg yesterday. At this meeting, I participated in a discussion of the deepening crisis in Yemen and how the EU can respond with my fellow Ministers and with High Representative Mogherini. We adopted conclusions which set out the EU position.

In recent weeks, a coalition of states led by Saudi Arabia has launched airstrikes in response to advances by Houthi forces and following an invitation from President Hadi. Last week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for all parties to scrupulously respect international human rights and international humanitarian law during the conduct of hostilities. I hope that all parties involved in the conflict in Yemen answer this call.

Ireland does not have representation in Yemen, although our Embassy in Riyadh is carefully monitoring the crisis. Bearing this in mind, our ability to comment in detail on a fluid situation on the ground is constrained.

My view is nonetheless that peace talks are the optimum way to achieve a political consensus which can restore order to Yemen and avoid a protracted and sectarian conflict with implications for the future of Yemen and for the stability of the region. I would encourage all parties to engage with the UN to this end, so that a ceasefire can be agreed and a negotiated political solution found.

21/04/2015WRB00325Official Engagements

21/04/2015WRB00400184. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the basis on which he reported that the 27 ministerial trips abroad for St. Patrick’s Day yielded an immediate €5 million, as against a cost of more than €300,000; his views that the official trips of Ministers on business promotion trips abroad is financially justified, especially to countries which do very little trade with Ireland and have a very small number of Irish citizens resident in them; and if he will provide the full cost of any business promotion trips in 2015 in which he or other Ministers in his Department engaged. [15190/15]

21/04/2015WRB00500Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The St. Patrick’s 111 Questions - Written Answers Day period is a cornerstone of the Government’s efforts to promote trade, tourism, investment, education, innovation and culture to an overseas audience. Over the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day period, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and a further twenty-seven Ministers and Ministers of State undertook extensive programmes of engagements in a total of 27 different countries, supported by the Embassy network.

Of the 29 separate itineraries for Ministerial office-holders, 25 were in markets identified as “Priority” or “Exploratory and High Potential” under the 2014 Review of the Government Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy. The choice of locations also reflected the recent expansion of the Embassy network, diaspora hubs, and Ireland’s work in development cooperation. The locations included the main centres of global business media coverage, which are critical to conveying Ireland’s message of economic recovery. As in previous years, North America was a particular focus of the visits, reflecting strong diaspora and trade and investment links.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade leads on the coordination of the Ministerial itineraries, and each year coordinates a set of key economic and related messages for dissemination at events overseas. The Embassy network is responsible for management of individual programmes on the ground, working closely with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland. As such, Ministerial itineraries are designed to further our national objectives overseas in a highly co-ordinated, visible and effective way.

The value of Ministerial visits is incontrovertible, allowing us to leverage the unique opportunities provided by the international profile of our national day, which is unrivalled by any other country in the world. The presence of a Ministerial office-holder from Ireland helps to secure bilateral meetings at the highest levels of Government to discuss issues of mutual concern; helps to secure attendance by senior executives of foreign companies at trade and investment- related meetings and events; helps to secure coverage of Ireland’s economic recovery by global and local media organisations; and helps to promote Ireland as a destination for tourism and international education.

As regards the €5 million figure for 2014, this figure comes from the “Supporting Irish Exporters Section” of the report “Ireland’s Economic Diplomacy in Action: St Patrick’s Day 2014”, published by the Department in April 2014. This report was compiled on the basis of reporting by the Embassy network, in consultation with the promotional State agencies, and the figure represented an estimate of new business won in the immediate aftermath of the St. Patrick’s Day period. My Department is currently compiling a report on St Patrick’s Day 2015, and this will be published shortly.

Every effort is made to ensure that costs related to St. Patrick’s Day itineraries are kept to a minimum. In 2014, the total cost of all Ministerial travel was €281,739. Again in 2015, clear instructions were issued for all Ministerial visits to be undertaken in the most cost-efficient way. The full final cost is not yet available.

21/04/2015WRB00550Undocumented Irish in the USA

21/04/2015WRB00600185. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the further progress that has been made on regularising the status of the undocumented Irish in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15264/15]

21/04/2015WRB00700Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): This is a repeat of my answer to Question No. 181

Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US is a priority for the Government 112 21 April 2015 in our contacts with the United States. Through our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the U.S., we continue to work closely with high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond. All of this work is aimed at achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the United States and improved channels for legal migration between Ireland and America.

Throughout his recent visit to the US and in a series of high level contacts with the US Administration, with Congress and at State level, the Taoiseach raised the issue of immigration reform and the plight of the undocumented Irish, stressing that almost every family in Ireland is related to or knows somebody who is caught up in this deeply distressing situation.

21/04/2015WRB00750Consular Services Provision

21/04/2015WRB00800186. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made to protect an Irish citizen (details supplied), being detained in Abu Dhabi who experienced severe difficulties in obtaining copies of his Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15193/15]

21/04/2015WRB00900Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department, through the Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi, has been providing consular assistance to the individual since his arrest in 2012. As part of that assistance, Em- bassy officials pay regular consular visits to this person at Al Wathba Central jail in Abu Dhabi. To date this year, the Deputy Head of Mission and Consul at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi has visited the individual on two occasions. Following each visit, the Embassy official met with senior prison officers to raise and discuss with them, any issues of concern reported by the Irish citizen.

113 Questions - Written Answers Additional support from the Embassy has been extensive and has included securing permission for a friend to visit the person named and facilitating the transfer of funds from the person’s family to their prison account.

The passport of the person named by the Deputy is in the possession of the Emirati authorities, as would be the normal practice for any foreign citizen detained in that country. The Em- bassy requested and was furnished with a scanned copy of the details page of this passport on 13 April. This was then forwarded on the same date by the Embassy in Abu Dhabi to a family member of the person named.

I wish to assure the Deputy that this Department will continue to offer all appropriate consular assistance to the citizen detained.

21/04/2015WRB00925Human Rights Issues

21/04/2015WRB01000187. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a timeline of his communications with the Egyptian regime in the past three months regarding an Irish citizen (details supplied); the position expressed by the Irish Govern- ment on the detention and release of this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15278/15]

21/04/2015WRB01100Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): This is a repeat of my answer to Priority Question No. 2

Our objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by me and my officials in this case has been to further these objectives, and most importantly to avoid any action that could be counterproductive or detrimental to his best interests.

It is important to bear in mind the role of the Irish Government where citizens are imprisoned abroad. Irrespective of any views regarding the fairness or appropriateness of any arrest abroad, the reality is that where an Irish citizen is charged with an offence under the law of a foreign country, it is the foreign law that applies and it is the relevant foreign court which de- cides matters such as bail and release. The decision to release this individual either on bail or on any other basis, will be a decision that is made solely by the Egyptian authorities.

Since this citizen was originally detained in August 2013, I, and officials in my Department including our Embassy in Cairo, have raised this case with the Egyptian authorities regularly and consistently. In addition, he has received consular visits from Embassy official on 37 occasions. I can confirm that the Irish Government has formally supported both the application by this citizen’s lawyers for his release and return to Ireland under the November Presidential decree, and the more recent application for his release on bail. Our official support for this citizen’s release has been duly communicated to the Egyptian authorities in formal diplomatic notes that have been included in the documentation submitted to the court and the authorities by his lawyer.

I have spoken to my Egyptian counterpart on numerous occasions, both in person and on the telephone. On 4 March I met with Assistant Foreign Minister Hisham Badr and discussed the case with him in some detail. On 2 April I spoke again with my Egyptian counterpart, Minister Shoukry to underline the Government’s support for the formal applications that have been made for this individual’s release – both for the formal application for bail, and for the application 114 21 April 2015 that has been made for release under the Presidential decree on foreign prisoners. I also took the opportunity to highlight key humanitarian concerns – including this individual’s youth, his absence from his studies and the length of time in detention without conviction.

The individual’s trial has started, with the next hearing scheduled for 26 April. All of the information we have received indicates that it is highly unlikely that there will be any decision as regards his release until the court makes its decisions. We continue to review our approach and actions in this case, but we are guided at all times by the two key objectives set out above. Given that the trial has now commenced and a formal petition for his release on bail is currently being considered by the Egyptian courts, my Department must exercise restraint in its public comment. This is entirely consistent with our approach in other consular cases, in line with our clear objectives in this case and what we firmly believe to be in this citizen’s best interests and to be most likely to contribute to a positive outcome for him.

We remain in ongoing contact with this individual and his family, and will continue to offer full consular support.

21/04/2015WRB01150Undocumented Irish in the USA

21/04/2015WRB01200188. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions, to date, with the embassy of the United States of America in Dublin on establishing a visa waiver scheme for returning emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15237/15]

21/04/2015WRB01300Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): This is a repeat of my answer to Question No. 181

Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US is a priority for the Government in our contacts with the United States. Through our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the U.S., we continue to work closely with high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond. All of this work is aimed at achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the United States and improved channels for legal migration between Ireland and America.

The Taoiseach also pointed to the need for a legal pathway to allow for future Irish immigration to the US for those who wish to make a contribution there, expressing the hope that a political way forward could be found on this issue which would encourage progress on a comprehensive legislative package by Congress. President Obama spoke of his executive actions on immigration reform and acknowledged the contribution of Irish immigrants to America’s development. He considered that one of the great strengths of the United States had always been 115 Questions - Written Answers its willingness to welcome new immigrants to its shores.

21/04/2015WRB01350Human Rights Issues

21/04/2015WRB01400189. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make representations to the authorities of Sweden, Britain and the United States of America regarding their treatment of a person (details supplied) who has been effectively incarcerated as a result of being pursued with relentless vigour by the United States of America for his work exposing mass-scale privacy invasions by the National Security Agency in the United States of America and the Government Communications Headquarters in the United Kingdom. [15191/15]

21/04/2015WRB01500Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I am aware of this case but as it is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings it would not be appropriate for me to make representations to any of the States mentioned or, indeed, to comment.

21/04/2015WRB01550Foreign Policy

21/04/2015WRB01600190. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on any contact or supports from Ireland to the autonomous provinces of Kurdistan in Iraq; and his views on Ireland’s approach to the full recognition of Kurdistan’s nationhood. [15189/15]

21/04/2015WRB01700Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): There have been no meetings between the Government and either Ministers or officials representing the Kurd- istan Regional Government. No official requests for any such contacts have been made to the Government. Ireland supports the territorial integrity of Iraq and does not propose to intervene in internal constitutional matters of Iraq, which are for decision by the Iraqi people and their democratically elected leaders.

21/04/2015WRB01750Northern Ireland Issues

21/04/2015WRB01800191. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; if the issue of the North’s budget and welfare system was discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15282/15]

21/04/2015WRB01900Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I have had regular and ongoing contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP. In recent months the primary focus of our discussions has been on the effective and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. However, we have also discussed a range 116 21 April 2015 of other areas of mutual interest including specific legacy cases.

In terms of our discussions on the Stormont House Agreement, both Governments remain committed to playing their parts in ensuring the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. In that context, the Secretary of State and I have discussed the need to ensure that recent developments in regard to the Welfare Bill in Northern Ireland do not have a corrosive impact on the wider implementation of the Agreement.

In accordance with the review and monitoring provisions of the Stormont House Agree- ment, quarterly review meetings are held involving the Northern Ireland Executive party leaders and the British and Irish Governments. I attended the second such meeting in Belfast on 27 March. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland also attended. The meeting reviewed progress made to date on the detailed implementation timeline for the Stormont House Agree- ment, which was agreed by the NI Executive party leaders and the two Governments at our first review meeting on 30 January.

The Irish Government was not a party to the negotiations late last year in Stormont Castle or Stormont House which dealt specifically with budgets and financial issues. Recent and ongoing discussions on these matters take place primarily between the NI Executive Party Leaders themselves. For that reason, I have called on the Northern Ireland parties, and in particular Sinn Féin and the DUP, to work together to find a solution to the current difficulties on welfare. I know that work is ongoing by Northern Ireland’s political leaders to resolve the welfare issue, and I understand that some progress has been made.

21/04/2015WRB01950Overseas Development Aid

21/04/2015WRB02000192. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with reference to the global island policy framework, his plans on reaching the United Nations target of providing 0.7% of gross national product for development assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15277/15]

21/04/2015WRB02100Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Sean Sher- lock): The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the very heart of our foreign policy. This is clearly articulated in ‘The Global Island- Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World’ which was launched in January by the Taoise- ach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. In our policy on International Develop- ment, ‘One World, One Future’, we have clearly reaffirmed our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA), and to making further progress towards it when economic circumstances permit.

In the face of severe economic difficulty, our aim has been to protect allocations to the aid programme, in so far as this has been possible. The Government has successfully managed to stabilise allocations to the programme. This is a major achievement, in extremely difficult circumstances. For 2015, we have again protected overall allocations to the aid programme, and provided a total of just over €600 million for ODA.

As our economic recovery continues to consolidate and strengthen, the challenge now is to determine how best we can make sustainable progress towards the UN target, as we continue to build on Ireland’s world-class aid programme by ensuring we make an effective contribution to the fight to end extreme poverty and hunger. I will be making the strongest possible case for an increase in the budget for the aid programme in 2016.

117 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRB02150Diaspora Policy

21/04/2015WRB02200193. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans for initiatives and projects to commemorate and celebrate the Irish diaspora, now that there are no longer plans for a national diaspora centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10019/15]

21/04/2015WRB02300Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): On 17 February my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, announced that he was not proposing to proceed with the development of a National Diaspora Centre but rather he was encouraging local communities to develop their own unique narratives of diaspora engagement.

The enhancement of our connections to the global Irish community remains central to Gov- ernment policy. The establishment of the position of Minister for Diaspora Affairs is a tangible demonstration of the Irish Government’s deep commitment to the Irish community abroad.

On 3 March the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister Deenihan and I launched ‘Global Irish: Ire- land’s Diaspora Policy’ the first ever Policy on the Irish diaspora. This whole-of-Government policy is series of actions that, taken together, will serve to deepen our engagement with members of the global Irish community.

The main goal is of the Policy is building long term, sustainable relationships with diaspora communities by: supporting Irish emigrants in making the best lives possible in their countries of residence; helping emigrants and their descendants to develop and maintain their Irish identity and their affinity and connections with Ireland; and working in partnership with members of the diaspora to contribute to continued peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland.

The Policy recognises the important ongoing contribution which members of the Irish diaspora have made, both individually and collectively, in shaping our development and identity. The Policy commits to fostering engagement with members of our diaspora and full details on its contents can be found on

https://www.dfa.ie/media/globalirish/global-irish-irelands-diaspora-policy.pdf.

There are already a number of initiatives in place which celebrate the many achievements by members of the Irish diaspora abroad. Since 2012 the Presidential Distinguished Service Award has recognised persons living abroad who have given sustained and distinguished service to Ireland or to Irish communities abroad. The Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced in 2011 to formally recognise descendants of previous generations of Irish citizens. It gives practical expression to the sense of Irish identity felt by many around the world, who may not be entitled to Irish citizenship due to the passage of generations.

21/04/2015WRB02350Foreign Conflicts

21/04/2015WRB02400194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which he and his colleagues at European Union and United Nations level continue to focus on the activities of Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, with particular reference to the degree to which the principles of democracy continue to be ignored and the extent to which arbitrary executions, the persecution of Christians, kidnapping, trafficking and abuse of women and girls continues unabated; if the international community has taken any action to address these issues in an effective way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15265/15]

118 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRB02500Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The brutal activities of Boko Haram continue to represent a serious threat to the peace and security of Nigeria, but also the wider region, including Cameroon, Chad and Niger. They also involve the clear and persistent abuse of human rights, especially of women and girls, and a direct threat to education and education facilities. The abduction just over a year ago of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok appalled the world. It has been only one of a number of attacks on defenceless young people, and it still requires an adequate response. I once again urge the Government of Nigeria to commit the necessary resources to finding the girls and returning them to their families and their education.

Ireland has consistently condemned the acts of violence being perpetrated by Boko Haram. Most recently, at a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 1 April, we highlighted in particular the terrible human rights and humanitarian impact of the terrorist violence. The extent of the humanitarian crisis has also been emphasised by EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council on 9 February. The EU has pledged to continue providing immediate relief to those in need and to increase our efforts at regional level. Ireland has recently provided some €1 million in humanitarian stocks to the NGO, Plan, for Nigerian refugees fleeing Boko Haram who are living in camps in northern Cameroon.

The recent military success in pushing Boko Haram back from major towns in north-eastern Nigeria provides an opportunity to bring the conflict to an end. It is critically important that the recently-established Multinational Joint Taskforce of troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin continues its efforts to protect innocent people and to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists.

Ireland has joined with our EU partners in congratulating the Nigerian people on the conduct of peaceful national elections in recent weeks. I also welcome the commitment by President- elect Buhari to prioritise the ending of the conflict in the north east and the terrorist actions of Boko Haram.

21/04/2015WRB02550Foreign Conflicts

21/04/2015WRB02600195. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the escalation of the crisis in Yemen and the Saudi military intervention there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15176/15]

21/04/2015WRB02700Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The EU Foreign Affairs Council considered the situation in Yemen at its meeting in Luxembourg yesterday. At this meeting, I participated in a discussion of the deepening crisis in Yemen with my fellow Ministers and with High Representative Mogherini. At this meeting, conclusions were adopted which set out the EU position in full.

In recent weeks, a coalition of states led by Saudi Arabia has launched airstrikes in response to advances by Houthi forces and following an invitation from President Hadi.

Last week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for all parties to scrupulously respect international human rights and international humanitarian law during the conduct of hostilities. I hope that all parties involved in the conflict inYemen answer this call.

My view is that peace talks are the optimum way to achieve a political consensus which can restore order to Yemen and avoid a protracted and sectarian conflict with implications for the future of Yemen and for the stability of the region. I would encourage all parties to engage with UN Special Adviser Jamal Benomar to this end, so that a ceasefire can be agreed and a negoti- 119 Questions - Written Answers ated political solution found.

21/04/2015WRB02750Foreign Conflicts

21/04/2015WRB02800196. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position on the status of Balochistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15185/15]

21/04/2015WRB02900Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I take it that the Deputy is referring to the Balochistan province of Pakistan, and will reply on that basis. I am conscious that Balochistan, which has the largest land area of Pakistan’s four provinces, is one of the poorest regions of Pakistan and has witnessed armed conflict. The Government does not consider that the problems of Balochistan can be resolved through violence and we support all efforts to reach a generally acceptable solution through peaceful negotiations and political processes.

21/04/2015WRB02950UN Resolutions

21/04/2015WRB03000197. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason Ireland voted no against the United Nations ad hoc mechanism on sovereign debt restructuring processes and missed the first meeting of the committee on sovereign debt restructuring; if the International Monetary Fund advised the Government in any way on Ireland’s foreign affairs policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15259/15]

21/04/2015WRB03100Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Ireland, in common with all other EU Member States, was unable to support the UN General Assembly Reso- lution last September on the modalities for the implementation of General Assembly Resolution 68/304 on the establishment of a multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring processes. The main focus of the resolution was the establishment of an ad hoc committee to elaborate a binding debt resolution mechanism.

At the time of the vote, the EU explained that it had made extensive efforts and engaged in the process in good faith and reiterated the considerations outlined at the outset of negotiations, as follows: “The ad-hoc committee must be limited to the elaboration of a non-binding ‘set of principles’ which builds upon a market-based voluntary contractual approach to sovereign debt restructuring and aims at furthering its implementation and use. Neither the EU nor Member States will participate in discussions aiming at the establishment of a binding multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring processes.

The ad-hoc committee should reflect the recent and ongoing work on sovereign debt restructuring undertaken in the IMF, subject to the previous considerations, and should take place in close coordination with and with technical support from the Fund. Discussions should also make reference to the work in other fora on these issues, such as the Paris Club, which has a history of discussing sovereign debt restructuring issues.”

In the event, the resolution continued to propose the elaboration of a new legal framework. In these circumstances, the agreed EU position is that we will not be participating in the work of the committee.

Ireland considers that the work being undertaken at other levels, including in the IMF and at the international conference on Financing for Development, to be held in Addis Ababa in July, offers more appropriate and established means for dialogue on this issue. We are actively

120 21 April 2015 engaged in these processes.

Over recent years, the Government has had an engagement with the European Union, and with international financial institutions, including the IMF, which is unprecedented, both in range and depth. The Department of Finance manages Ireland’s engagement with the international financial institutions charged with helping ensure global financial stability and sustainable development, including the IMF and the World Bank.

21/04/2015WRB03150Human Rights Issues

21/04/2015WRB03200198. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Par- liamentary Question No. 539 of 31 March 2015, if he will report on any further representations made to the authorities of the People’s Republic of China regarding the detention of women’s rights activists. [15283/15]

21/04/2015WRB03300Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I am pleased to inform the Deputy that since PQ 539 of 31 March 2015, the five women’s rights activists have been released in China.

On 14 April last, the EU Delegation in Beijing issued a statement noting with relief the release of the five women’s rights defenders, who were detained on the grounds that they wanted to launch a campaign against sexual harassment on International Women’s Day.

The EU Delegation’s statement expressed regret however that the investigation of their cases has not yet been withdrawn as they are still subjected to “bail pending further investigation” which entails restrictions on their freedom of movement and communication. The EU Delegation also urged China not to restrict the activities of human rights defenders promoting the human rights of women, as the UN is preparing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Ac- tion.

As I stated previously in my reply to the Deputy, Ireland continues to raise human rights issues with third countries including with the People’s Republic of China. Ireland also remains committed to advancing gender equality and women’s rights and is an active participant in the work of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the principal global policy-making body on gender equality. Ireland works to integrate the human rights of women, as well as a gender perspective, into the work of the UN Human Rights Council, including the Council’s programme of work, and when considering the content of resolutions and special mandates.

21/04/2015WRB03350Nuclear Proliferation

21/04/2015WRB03400199. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has been following the multi-country talks on Iran’s nuclear programme; and if he is satisfied with the progress they have made. [15180/15]

21/04/2015WRB03500Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): On behalf of the Government, I wholeheartedly welcome the agreement in principle reached between representatives of the international community and the Government of Iran on 2 April. I urge all responsible parties to support this agreement and the continuing work of their governments to finally bring it to a successful conclusion. The extended presence at the negotiations in Lausanne of the EU High Representative and the Foreign Ministers of the seven states involved has been a

121 Questions - Written Answers further testament of the seriousness and intent with which they have pursued a diplomatic solution to this difficult issue over a long period, and in particular over the last two years. What has been achieved is a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a set of understandings in principle on the shape of a final agreement. Hard and serious work remains to be done to complete the technical details and produce a final agreement by June, as is the intention. There may still be difficulties ahead and a continuing need for compromises, but the parties have reached outline understandings on the main issues, and there is every reason to believe that they will also reach a final agreement.

The outline agreement will allow Iran to continue to develop its civil nuclear power programme, while providing reassurance to its neighbours and others that there will be no military nuclear programme. The agreement will provide for removal in due course of the sanctions that have been placed on Iran in relation to this dispute, as well as the continued monitoring of the Iranian programme by the appropriate international agency, the IAEA.

There will be those, on both sides of the issue, who will wish to reject this agreement and seek tougher terms. This is unrealistic. I urge them instead to welcome this agreement as a major step forward towards the peaceful resolution of a long running dispute, which has had the potential to significantly further destabilize an already volatile region.

The agreement which has been reached is a fair and balanced one, and has, I believe, the overwhelming support of governments and responsible leaders around the world. I commend all those who have worked to achieve it.

21/04/2015WRB03550Climate Change Policy

21/04/2015WRB03600200. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in recognition of the effects of climate change, which have impacted on Ireland through the severe Atlan- tic storms of last winter and which impact significantly on developing nations, the steps his Department is taking in promoting climate justice, including the work to secure international agreement in 2015. [15276/15]

21/04/2015WRB03700Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The Government recognises global climate change as one of the key challenges of this century. Failure to address it effectively will seriously affect all countries. Ireland’s policy for International Development “One World One Future” was published in May 2013, and identifies “Climate Change and De- velopment” as one of six priority areas of action. The most severe impact of climate change is on vulnerable people and communities in the least developed countries, in particular women and children. Erratic weather patterns and the increasing number of severe weather events are already having a devastating effect on their lives. Through our aid programme, Ireland is supporting the affected communities to build their resilience, through the adaptation of agriculture and food systems to climate change, and through assistance to address climate risks and prepare for the effects of disasters. Over the last three years, we have provided some €34 million annually through the work of the Irish Aid programme in integrating climate change actions into development. These resources are delivered principally through the key partner countries for the aid programme, civil society organisations, and international organisations, mainly for work in sub-Saharan Africa.

This year, through the aid programme, Ireland will provide €1 million to a fund under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, dedicated to assisting least developed countries to better plan for climate adaptation nationally. In addition, we are providing funding to support these countries to participate in the international climate change negotia- 122 21 April 2015 tions.

I am pleased that my Department has also been in a position to provide €100,000 in support of the office of the UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, Mary Robinson, as well as facilita- tion of political outreach for the role at EU level. Irish Aid has also provided funding in recent years to support the work of the Mary Robinson Foundation Climate Justice.

Ireland and our EU partners are determined to work with all Parties towards delivery of an ambitious climate agreement at the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris in December 2015.

21/04/2015WRB03750Middle East Issues

21/04/2015WRB03800201. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken at European Union level to raise his concern at recent pronouncements by the Is- raeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, that a two-state solution will not occur under his premiership; the Government’s position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15262/15]

21/04/2015WRB03900Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I refer the Deputy to my reply to his Question 154 on 25 March 2015, which was as follows: “The comments of Prime Minister Netanyahu before the recent election, in relation to the two state solution, were both disappointing and unwelcome. Such statements are particularly regrettable in the tense and inflammatory situation in the Middle East. We know from our own peace process how words of supposed comfort to one side can have disproportionately negative impacts on the other side. I note that Mr. Netanyahu subsequently stated that his remarks meant only that conditions at present are not conducive to the achievement of a two state solution.

For its part, the international community has quickly reaffirmed its conviction that the two state solution remains the only viable basis for a resolution of the conflict. High Representative Mogherini on behalf of the EU, President Obama, and others, have made that point directly to Mr. Netanyahu in the course of conversations following the election.

What is most important is how the new government in Israel, which we expect Mr. Netan- yahu to form, actually acts and what is set out in its Programme for Government.

The Irish Government remains firmly committed to a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. All of our actions and policies at EU and international level are designed to advance the goal of peace and secure a comprehensive peace agreement at the earliest opportunity.”

21/04/2015WRB03950Human Rights Issues

21/04/2015WRB04000202. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that this year, 24 April 2015, the annual Armenian genocide remembrance day, marks the centenary of the genocide, and that no Irish Government has officially recognised the genocide; and his plans to officially recognise and remember the genocide this year. [15267/15]

21/04/2015WRB04100Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): 2015 marks the centenary of terrible events which resulted in the tragic deaths of very large numbers of the Ar- menian population in the Ottoman Empire. President Higgins recently expressed the sympathy of the Irish people for the enormous suffering of Armenians in that era to Armenian President 123 Questions - Written Answers Serzh Sargsyan. The Ambassador of Ireland to Armenia, John Biggar, will represent Ireland at the official centennial commemorations taking place in Yerevan, Armenia, on 24th April.

These tragic events continue to overshadow relations between Armenia and Turkey, and the two sides maintain sharply different historical interpretations of them. The Irish government has never taken a position on this issue, believing that it is not in a position to adjudicate on this contentious matter, involving the consideration of a number of legal issues and an assessment of the actions and intentions of many parties during that time.

In this centenary decade, when we hope commemorations in Ireland will increase mutual understanding, we would urge Armenia and Turkey to take advantage of any opportunity to progress reconciliation for the good of their people, the region, and their shared future.

21/04/2015WRC00200Millennium Development Goals

21/04/2015WRC00300203. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on Ireland’s role in negotiations in the post-2015 development agenda; the key areas Ireland will focus on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15258/15]

21/04/2015WRC00400Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Ireland is co-facilitating intergovernmental negotiations at the United Nations to agree a framework for global development to succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after 2015. The new sustainable development agenda should be adopted in New York in September. It will involve a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which will complete the work of the MDGs on the eradication of extreme poverty and will also put sustainable development at the core. The SDGs will be universal in nature and address development challenges through social, environmental and economic actions in low, middle and high-income countries alike. They will address a wide range of areas including MDG priorities such as food and nutrition, but also broader challenges, including on climate, sustainable production and consumption, trade and global governance structures, and peace and governance.

Ireland’s key priorities for the post-2015 Development Agenda have been the fight to end hunger and under nutrition, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and good governance and rule of law. These priorities are drawn from Ireland’s Policy for International Development ‘One World, One Future’ and the priorities set out following the Foreign Policy Review, in ‘The Global Island’. Ireland’s positions in the UN negotiations and in the relevant EU coordination are agreed through a whole-of-Government coordination process involving all relevant Gov- ernment Departments. We have advocated for strong goals and targets in each of these key areas, and we have emphasised the need to incorporate human rights in the new development framework, reduce global inequality and protect the role of civil society.

The fourth session of the intergovernmental negotiations will take place in New York from 20 to 24 April.

21/04/2015WRC00500Human Rights Issues

21/04/2015WRC00600204. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any discussions with European Union counterparts on human rights and workers’ rights issues in Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15279/15]

21/04/2015WRC00700Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The situation in

124 21 April 2015 Colombia, including human rights, workers’ rights, the ongoing peace process and the Euro- pean Union’s relations with Colombia, have been discussed regularly at EU level. The Foreign Affairs Council meeting that took place in Luxembourg yesterday addressed the subject of Colombia with particular emphasis on how the EU might assist.

Human rights in Colombia are a major concern for the EU and for Ireland and are addressed in detail in the context of the EU-Colombia Human Rights Dialogue. Through this mechanism, which addresses the subject directly with the Colombian authorities at official level, the Union engages in a structured manner across the full range of human rights issues, including as regards human rights defenders and trade unionists, land restitution, environmental and economic crimes, and the slow pace in the decrease of impunity. I believe that this policy of engagement, dialogue and scrutiny, which is ongoing, regular and structured, is the best way to promote human rights and the interests of labour in Colombia.

The promotion and protection of human rights is a core principle of Ireland’s foreign policy and we have prioritised the protection of trade unionists, human rights defenders, and others who are in immediate danger. I agree with the view of the UN High Commissioner for Hu- man Rights that an end to the longstanding armed conflict - now under negotiation between the government and the guerrillas - has the potential to transform Colombia in terms of its level of respect for and enjoyment of human rights. Ireland and the EU will continue to engage with Colombia to assist in securing a lasting peace in the country.

Our Embassy in Mexico City, which is accredited to Bogota on a non-residential basis, is in regular contact on human rights issues with the Colombian authorities, with civil society, and with the EU delegation there. Ireland will continue, together with our EU Partners, to engage with the Colombian government and civil society, to promote and protect human rights.

21/04/2015WRC00800Overseas Development Aid Expenditure

21/04/2015WRC00900205. Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that Ireland is represented at the highest level at the financing for development conference in July 2015; and his views that there is a role for parliamentarians at that conference and further upcoming conferences on post-2015 sustainable development goals and climate change. [15184/15]

21/04/2015WRC01000Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Sean Sher- lock): I am planning to attend the major international conference on Financing for Development which will take place in Addis Ababa from 13-16 July, to discuss financing for the ambitious post-2015 framework for global development currently being negotiated at the UN in New York. This conference, the third of its kind, will also assess progress made in the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus of 2002 and the Doha Declaration of 2008.

The financing for development conference is one of a series of interlinked global negotiations which should reach agreement in the course of 2015 and which will have significant international and domestic implications. In September, world leaders will meet in New York to adopt a new development framework around a set of Sustainable Development Goals to follow on from the Millennium Development Goals, adopted in 2000. It is expected that the new goals will be universal in nature and address challenges in a wide range of areas as diverse as agriculture, education, gender equality, health, justice, employment and environmental degra- dation. Ireland, together with Kenya, is co-facilitating the inter-governmental negotiations on the SDGs at the UN.

125 Questions - Written Answers In addition, a new climate agreement is being negotiated under the UN Framework Conven- tion on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with a view to the 21st Conference of the Parties in Paris in December.

Together, these processes should define a new sustainable development framework, which will aim to transform the concept of global development. I believe it is essential that Ireland’s delegations to the Conferences involved should reflect the political importance of the agenda and should include the most appropriate representation, including by parliamentarians and civil society.

21/04/2015WRC01100Passport Services

21/04/2015WRC01200206. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is in a position to provide five-year passports for senior citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15187/15]

21/04/2015WRC01300Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): A reduced term of validity for children’s passports is necessary as children’s appearances change significantly within a short period of years, which can lead to uncertainty regarding the identity of the passport holder. This is not generally the case for adults of any age and it is the norm internationally to provide standard validity passports to all adults. Introducing an arrangement whereby adults of any age would be eligible to apply for a passport for a period of less than 10 years would increase the total demand for passports on an ongoing basis and would require the recruitment of additional staff in the Passport Offices to cope with increased demand. For these reasons, there are no plans to introduce a passport of less than 10 year validity for adult applicants, regardless of age.

21/04/2015WRC01400EU Membership

21/04/2015WRC01500207. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his De- partment has conducted an assessment of the impact of a possible exit by the United Kingdom from the European Union; if his Department will take an active role in the debate on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15261/15]

21/04/2015WRC01600Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): There is little doubt that the UK’s continued membership of the European Union is hugely important for Ireland. There are a number of well-documented reasons for this, not least the key role the EU and the common market play in sustaining the strong British-Irish trading relationship. Our joint presence within the Union is also especially beneficial to the people of Northern Ireland and cross- border cooperation. Our focus is therefore on keeping the UK within the EU and we have made this very clear to our British and our European partners, both in public and in private.

I outlined the Government’s position clearly in a speech to the European Council on Foreign Relations in London last November and I had the opportunity to discuss our views in further detail with my British counterpart, Philip Hammond, at a meeting in Dublin the following month. This Government acknowledges that the UK has some legitimate concerns about the future direction of the EU and we will be open and sympathetic to considering British proposals, if and when they are presented, on improving the functioning of the Union.

It is clear that a British departure from the European Union could have serious and potentially adverse consequences for Ireland. That is why the Government is monitoring developments 126 21 April 2015 extremely carefully. The Department of the Taoiseach is leading our work in this area and is coordinating ongoing efforts across Government to ensure that Ireland is best prepared for any scenario that could arise. The Department of Finance is also examining relevant issues and has commissioned a report to improve our understanding of the macro-economic links between the UK and Ireland in the context of our EU membership.

My own Department, given its responsibility for Foreign Affairs and Trade, is naturally closely involved in this process. My officials cooperate closely with other Departments and of course, our Embassy in London also plays a vital role as do many of our other diplomatic missions across the EU and further afield. There are clearly potential consequences across many areas of my Department’s work which require careful consideration.

I should stress, however, that the matter concerned is one for the whole of Government, rather than any one specific Department. This is because British membership of the European Union impacts on Ireland on a large array of levels. This broad interest can be seen, for example, in the Taoiseach’s recent address to the CBI in Belfast, and in my colleague Minister Fitzgerald’s speech in February to the British Irish Chamber of Commerce in Dublin. We will continue to work closely together within Government to help keep the UK within the EU and to protect our country’s interests.

21/04/2015WRC01650Human Rights Issues

21/04/2015WRC01800208. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he continues to monitor the situation and engage with the authorities in Egypt, in respect of the continued detention of an Irish citizen (details supplied); if he continues to invoke the support of High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms Federica Mogherini, in this regard; if he is satisfied that everything possible is being done to assist this person and his family in the course of these difficult times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15266/15]

21/04/2015WRC01900Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Our objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by me and my officials in this case has been to further these objectives, and most importantly to avoid any action that could be counterproductive or detrimental to his best interests.

I can confirm that the Irish Government has formally supported both the application by this citizen’s lawyers for his release and return to Ireland under the November Presidential decree,

127 Questions - Written Answers and the more recent application for his release on bail. Our official support for this citizen’s release has been duly communicated to the Egyptian authorities in formal diplomatic notes that have been included in the documentation submitted to the court and the authorities by his lawyer.

I can confirm that I am in ongoing contact with HRVP Mogherini in relation to this case. I have discussed it with her on numerous occasions, as recently as last week, and she continues to assure me of the support of the EU for our position.

I have also spoken to my Egyptian counterpart on numerous occasions, both in person and on the telephone. On 4 March I met with Assistant Foreign Minister Hisham Badr and discussed the case with him in some detail. On 2 April I spoke again with my Egyptian counterpart, Min- ister Shoukry to underline the Government’s support for the formal applications that have been made for this individual’s release – both for the formal application for bail, and for the application that has been made for release under the Presidential decree on foreign prisoners. I also took the opportunity to highlight key humanitarian concerns – including this individual’s youth, his absence from his studies and the length of time in detention without conviction.

We remain in ongoing contact with this individual and his family, and will continue to offer full consular support.

21/04/2015WRC02000Northern Ireland Issues

21/04/2015WRC02100209. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to ensure the implementation of the truth recovery elements of the Stormont House Agreement, and services for victims and survivors. [15178/15]

21/04/2015WRC02200Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The Government believes that addressing the legacy of the past is essential to further progress towards reconciliation in Northern Ireland. For this reason, the Stormont House Agreement provides for the establishment of a number of important new mechanisms, including an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval, an Oral History Archive and an Implementation and Reconciliation Group to oversee themes, archives and information recovery across the framework for dealing with the legacy of the past.

In addition, the Agreement provides for a an independent Historical Investigations Unit, which will take forward investigations into outstanding Troubles-related deaths from the former PSNI Historical Enquiries Team process and the legacy work of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. It provides further for the Northern Ireland Executive to take appropriate steps to improve the way the legacy inquests function is conducted in Northern Ireland to comply with European Convention on Human Rights Article 2 requirements. The Agreement sets out that processes dealing with the past should be victim-centred and emphasises the im-

128 21 April 2015 portance of providing services and support to victims and survivors.

The efficient and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement in its totality is a key focus for the Government. On 27 March I participated in a second implementation and review meeting of the Agreement in Belfast with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive Parties. It was a useful opportunity to take stock of progress, including in relation to our ongoing work in relation to the establishment of the mechanisms for dealing with the past. Regular meetings are also taking place at official level to bring forward this complex work and good progress is being made.

The next review of the Stormont House Agreement meeting is scheduled to take place in June. A six-monthly update on progress on implementation of the Agreement is due to be published at that time, in accordance with the review and monitoring provisions of the Agreement.

The Government remains committed to playing its part in ensuring the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement.

21/04/2015WRC02250Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

21/04/2015WRC02400210. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the decision of the Secretary General of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly not to seek re-election, his plans to contribute to the debate on the possible restructuring of the organisation. [15186/15]

21/04/2015WRC02500Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The Government wishes to acknowledge the dedicated work undertaken by Spencer Oliver in developing the parliamentary dimension of the OSCE during his tenure as Secretary General of the OSCE Parliament Assembly (PA). While supportive of many aspects of the work of the OSCE, the Parliamentary Assembly is independent of the key decision making bodies of the organisation. State governments are represented in these decision-making bodies, whereas the Parliamentary Assembly facilitates inter-parliamentary dialogue outside of the intergovernmental process. As such, the Assembly has its own rules and procedures, and any new restructuring initiatives are for the members of the Parliamentary Assembly to decide. However, the Parliamentary Assem- bly does play an active part in the ‘Helsinki +40’ reform process launched by my predecessor, the then Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE in 2012. ‘Helsinki +40’ is a three year reform effort that provides an opportunity to critically examine the OSCE’s roles, structures, tools and instruments with a view to making them better suited to the peace and security challenges of the 21st Century in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian region. The results of extensive consultations under the auspices of the Parliamentary Assembly will be considered at the Assembly’s annual meeting in July of this year.

The Government welcomes the active engagement of the Parliamentary Assembly in the ‘Helsinki +40’ process. Our Permanent Representative in Vienna is special co-ordinator for ‘effectiveness and efficiency’ issues under the ‘Helsinki +40’ process. In that capacity, our Representative regularly engages with the Assembly on proposals aimed at strengthening its role and influence in the service of OSCE objectives.

21/04/2015WRC02600Overseas Development Aid

21/04/2015WRC02700211. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, the countries in receipt of overseas development aid from the Irish 129 Questions - Written Answers Government; if he will indicate, in each case, whether the funding goes to a Government or State or to a non-governmental organisation or to both; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15284/15]

21/04/2015WRC02800Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Sean Sher- lock): Last year, the Government provided a total of €607 million in Official Development As- sistance (ODA). €474 million of this was managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under Vote 27 – International Cooperation. The remaining €133 million was accounted for by ODA-eligible contributions made through other Government Departments and Ireland’s share of the EU Development Cooperation Budget.

Ireland provides development assistance to over eighty of the world’s least developed countries. However we focus in particular on nine key partner countries, most of them in sub-Sa- haran Africa. These are Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Sierra Leone and Vietnam. Our engagement with our key partner countries is at a strategic level, and we provide support for their long-term development, especially in the areas of health, nutrition, education, gender equality and governance.

The Government’s aid programme is delivered through a wide range of partners and channels, including through government systems, Irish and international Non-Governmental Or- ganisations (NGOs) and missionary organisations, and UN and other multilateral agencies and organisations. Approximately one quarter of Ireland’s total ODA is delivered through NGOs. In 2013, a total of some €88 million was delivered through partner country systems.

My Department publishes detailed analysis of expenditure under Ireland’s aid programme in the statistical annexes to the Irish Aid Annual Report, including an analysis of support to all recipient countries in excess of €1 million across various funding mechanisms. The Depart- ment is currently finalising the details of 2014 expenditure, which will be published in the Irish Aid Annual Report in mid-year and will be available at www.irishaid.ie. The expenditure details for the years 2007 to 2013 are already available on the website.

21/04/2015WRC02900Diaspora Policy

21/04/2015WRC03000212. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason no voting proposals for Irish citizens abroad were contained in the global Irish Diaspora policy document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15263/15]

21/04/2015WRC03100Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Active representation in Irish civic life is of significant importance to Irish citizens overseas as evidenced by the submissions to the public consultation process undertaken to inform the Diaspora Policy. The issue of voting rights for citizens overseas was raised in a number of submissions received during this process.

At the time of finalising the Diaspora Policy, two important parallel processes were underway with regard to extending the voting franchise. Firstly, a working group on Seanad Reform was exploring ways of reforming Seanad Éireann within existing constitutional parameters. Their report was due after the policy was to be published. They have since reported to Govern- ment and their recommendations propose some significant changes to Seanad voting arrangements which would impact on citizens overseas. There now needs to be public and political discussion and consultation on the overall content of that report.

In addition, meeting in September 2013, the members of the Constitutional Convention voted in favour of citizens resident outside the State, including those in Northern Ireland, hav- 130 21 April 2015 ing the right to vote in Presidential elections. This recommendation requires consideration of a number of issues that would arise were it to be implemented including policy, legal and practical issues. The Government has asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, in cooperation with myself and the Minister of State for Diaspora Affairs, to analyse the issues arising and to report back to Government.

The Diaspora Policy notes the ongoing whole of government focus on this issue. It is not a simple matter and both of the current processes deserve full consideration before any recommendation is made.

21/04/2015WRC03200Foreign Policy

21/04/2015WRC03300213. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the recent election of Mr. Maithripala Sirisena in the Sri Lankan presidential election, his views on the situation in that country; if he supports the call for an international investigation into alleged war crimes, including genocide, carried out against the Tamil population at the end of the civil war in 2009; his views on the protection of the rights of Tamil-speakers and other minorities in Sri Lanka; if he will report on any meetings his Department has had with the Sri Lankan Gov- ernment, or if the situation in Sri Lanka has been raised at an European Union or United Nations level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15280/15]

21/04/2015WRC03400Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): There has been a change in Government in Sri Lanka following the presidential election in January 2015, and I welcome the stated commitment of the new President, Maithripala Sirisena, to freedom, good governance and respect for human rights. At the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels on 9 February 2015, which I attended, the Council agreed a number of conclusions on EU priorities at UN Human Rights Fora in 2015. With regard to Sri Lanka, the Council welcomed the commitments by the new Sri Lankan government on rule of law and reconciliation, while encouraging the new Sri Lankan Government to work with the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Council to address ongoing human rights concerns and make credible domestic progress on reconciliation. Our Ambassador to Sri Lanka (who is based in New Delhi) maintains regular contact with the Sri Lankan authorities and regularly visits Sri Lanka for discussions there. Our Embassy in New Delhi monitors the situation in Sri Lanka on an ongoing basis. Under Irish Aid’s funding to NGOs, just over €300,000 in funding has been allocated to NGOs working in Sri Lanka in 2012 and 2013.

At the UN Human Rights Council session in March 2014 Ireland voted in favour of a resolution promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka. One aspect of that resolution was a request for an investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka. A report of that investigation is due to be presented at the UN Human Rights Coun- cil in September 2015.

On the issue of the protection of the rights of Tamil speakers and other minorities, I would note that the Tamil population is widely distributed in Sri Lanka and is not solely confined to the North of the country. More than one third of the population of Colombo is Tamil, and Tamil is the most widely spoken language in the city. According to the 2012 census, nearly three quar- ters of the city’s population spoke Tamil as their first language. It is understood that the new Government have already made some positive steps to deal with resettlement issues, including returning some military land (used for commercial purposes), nomination of a civilian governor in the Northern Province, cancelling the foreign travel restrictions in the North and welcoming 131 Questions - Written Answers Tamil refugees from India.

A meeting of the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission took place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 2 April 2015. The Joint Commission, which oversees the EU-Sri Lanka Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development (in place for 20 years) deals with a broad range of bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. At this most recent meeting, it was agreed in principle to establish a new Working Group on Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights, to allow for a dialogue on these issues.

Ireland will continue to monitor developments in Sri Lanka closely over the coming period.

21/04/2015WRC03500Overseas Development Aid Expenditure

21/04/2015WRC03600214. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update regarding Irish Aid’s spend for 2014; the checks and controls in place to ensure there is no fraud, and that value for money is always achieved for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15268/15]

21/04/2015WRC03700Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Sean Sher- lock): Last year, the Government provided a total of €607 million in Official Development As- sistance (ODA). Of this, €474 million was managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under Vote 27 – International Cooperation. The remaining €133 million was accounted for by ODA-eligible contributions made through other Government Departments and Ireland’s share of the EU Development Cooperation Budget. My Department is currently finalising the detailed expenditure analysis for 2014 for Ireland’s aid programme which will shortly be published in the statistical annexes to the 2014 Irish Aid Annual Report and available at www.irishaid.ie.

Ireland’s aid programme is implemented in challenging, complex and often inherently risky environments. My Department has implemented a comprehensive system of internal controls to mitigate against these risks, ensure the efficient and effective use of resources and deliver value for money. It operates rigorous systems for planning, monitoring, evaluating and audit- ing all funding provided for under the aid programme. Programmes are closely monitored at mission and headquarters level to ensure they deliver on the intended results, and are meeting our overall objective of contributing to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries and communities in the world.

All expenditure is subject to audit by the Department’s Evaluation and Audit Unit which reports directly to the Secretary General of the Department. The work of the Evaluation and Audit Unit is overseen by the Department’s independent Audit Committee. All expenditure is also audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

While no system can safeguard completely against the incidence of fraud, I am satisfied that the Department has in place a comprehensive system of controls which ensures all expenditure provides value for money, and that funding provided under the aid programme is used to the greatest possible effect for the purposes intended.

21/04/2015WRC03800Northern Ireland Issues

21/04/2015WRC03900215. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed the ongoing punishment beatings in Northern Ireland with the Secretary of State; his

132 21 April 2015 views on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15195/15]

21/04/2015WRC04000Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The practice of vigilantism in certain parts of Northern Ireland continues, notwithstanding the transformed political, social and security environment since the Good Friday Agreement. A recent RTÉ documentary ‘Above The Law’, broadcast on 23 March, and corresponding work published by investigative website The Detail, on the issue of punishment beatings, were a reminder of the damage which this abhorrent practice causes, to individuals, their families and communities. Successive Governments have condemned all acts of violence, including punishment beatings, acts of intimidation and threats, as well as sectarian and racist attacks. I reiterate that all such attacks are unacceptable.

It is clear that those involved in such activities are unrepresentative criminals, who have no positive contribution to make to building the reconciled island to which we all aspire.

The criminal justice system in Northern Ireland provides the appropriate means to provide redress in respect of all crime. I wish to endorse the comments of Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin of the PSNI, who has said that community support is key to prosecuting those responsible for punishment beatings.

Since the devolution of Policing and Justice in 2010, the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland takes the lead on criminal justice issues. My officials liaise with the Minister of Justice, the Department of Justice, senior PSNI officers, members of the Policing Board and NIO officials, as well as with community representatives on an ongoing basis on the range of issues regarding policing in the community, including on the most effective responses to punishment beatings.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through its Reconciliation Fund, has provided over €100,000 in the past year to community groups and projects in Northern Ireland that aim to build trust in community policing.

21/04/2015WRC04050Human Rights Issues

21/04/2015WRC04200216. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he sought at the European Council meeting in December 2014 that the issue of the detention of a person (details supplied) be raised with the Egyptian authorities. [15212/15]

21/04/2015WRC04300Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The Government’s objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by me and my officials in this case has been to further these key objectives, and most importantly to avoid any action that could be counterproductive or detrimental to his best interests.

While individual consular matters would not generally be on the agenda at the European Council, I am in ongoing contact with European colleagues in relation to this case. I have discussed it with HRVP Mogherini on numerous occasions, most recently last week, and she continues to assure me of the support of the EU for our position.

I, and my Department, remain in ongoing contact with this individual and his family, and will continue to offer full consular support.

133 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRC04350Irish Prisoners Abroad

21/04/2015WRC04500217. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he requested the European Council at its meeting in December 2014 to make representations to the Egyptian Government for the release of an Irish citizen (details supplied) who has been designated a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. [15231/15]

21/04/2015WRC04600Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): This is a repeat of the reply I gave to Question No. 216. The Government’s objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by me and my officials in this case has been to further these key objectives, and most importantly to avoid any action that could be counterproductive or detrimental to his best interests.

I, and my Department, remain in ongoing contact with this individual and his family, and will continue to offer full consular support.

21/04/2015WRC04700National Minimum Wage

21/04/2015WRC04800218. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach if he will provide the latest data on the number of employees in the State on the national minimum wage; the percentage out of the total workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13739/15]

21/04/2015WRC04900Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe): The Earn- ings, Hours and Employment Costs Survey (EHECS) collects information from enterprises on the number of employees paid at or below the national minimum wage. The results from this survey for Quarter 3 2014, the latest period for which data is available, show that there are an estimated 71,500 employees in receipt of the national minimum wage of €8.65 per hour or less. This equates to 4.5 % of all employees in enterprises with three or more employees in the State.

21/04/2015WRC05000Employment Data

21/04/2015WRC05100219. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach the median hourly wage in 2013 and 2014; the number of persons who are on 25%, 50% and 75% of the average hourly median wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13740/15]

21/04/2015WRC05200Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe): The information requested by the Deputy for the years 2013 and 2014 is not yet available. The most recent National Employment Survey (NES) collected by the CSO was in respect of 2009 and the annual collection of NES data was discontinued for budgetary reasons after that year. The CSO is currently completing a project to compile NES statistics from administrative data sources, without the need for survey collection from enterprises. It aims to publish initial results for 2011 by the end of June and to follow this with publication of 2012 data in September, 2013 data by the end of this year, and 2014 data in the first quarter of 2016.

134 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRC05300Employment Data

21/04/2015WRC05400220. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach the number of employees who were earning less than two thirds of the hourly median wage in 2013 and 2014; the percentage of the workforce this corresponds to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13741/15]

21/04/2015WRC05500Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe): The information requested by the Deputy for the years 2013 and 2014 is not yet available. The most recent National Employment Survey (NES) collected by the CSO was in respect of 2009 and the annual collection of NES data was discontinued for budgetary reasons after that year. The CSO is currently completing a project to compile NES statistics from administrative data sources, without the need for survey collection from enterprises. It aims to publish initial results for 2011 by the end of June and to follow this with publication of 2012 data in September, 2013 data by the end of this year, and 2014 data in the first quarter of 2016.

21/04/2015WRC05600Employment Data

21/04/2015WRC05700221. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach the number of persons under 21 years of age on the national minimum wage in 2013 and 2014; the number of persons in the age categories 16 to 17 and 18 to 20 earning less than two thirds of the hourly median wage in 2013 and 2014; the percentage of the workforce this corresponds to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13742/15]

21/04/2015WRC05800Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe): The information requested by the Deputy for the years 2013 and 2014 is not yet available. The most recent National Employment Survey (NES) collected by the CSO was in respect of 2009 and the annual collection of NES data was discontinued for budgetary reasons after that year. The CSO is currently completing a project to compile NES statistics from administrative data sources, without the need for survey collection from enterprises. It aims to publish initial results for 2011 by the end of June and to follow this with publication of 2012 data in September, 2013 data by the end of this year, and 2014 data in the first quarter of 2016.

21/04/2015WRC05900Irish Language

21/04/2015WRC06000222. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Taoiseach the steps being taken to promote the use of Irish in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14179/15]

21/04/2015WRC06100The Taoiseach: In keeping with the spirit of the Official Languages Act, my Department is committed to developing and maintaining a culture that encourages the use of Irish both within the Department and with our customers. To that end, Irish language courses are readily available to all staff through the Department’s Training Unit.

The primary focus of my Department’s work involves interaction with other Government Departments and Agencies. As a result, it does not experience a significant level of demand from the public for services in Irish.

A number of staff members in my Department have indicated that they have proficiency in Irish and are competent to provide a variety of services in Irish to varying degrees.

Of these, two officers with a high level of proficiency have been designated to provide services to the public in Irish, and this number is sufficient to meet the existing demand. 135 Questions - Written Answers My Department recognises the importance of having a number of staff fluent in and capable of providing services in Irish. In accordance with Government policy, future language schemes of my Department under the Official Languages Act will specify the posts that have an Irish language competency requirement.

The use of the Irish language is also a feature of my Department’s Customer Charter, which states that customers who wish to conduct their business through Irish will be accommodated.

21/04/2015WRD00125Semi-State Bodies Dividends

21/04/2015WRD00300223. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a list of the semi-State commercial companies under his control; the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer from each company; the dividend paid by each company to the Exchequer for each year from 2000 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14972/15]

21/04/2015WRD00400The Taoiseach: The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the body corporate for the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), the only State Agency under the aegis of my Department.

There are no semi-State commercial companies under the remit of my Department.

21/04/2015WRD00500Crime Data

21/04/2015WRD00600224. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach when the quarter 3, 2014 crime statistics will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14679/15]

21/04/2015WRD00700Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe): The publication of recorded crime statistics has been temporarily suspended by the CSO. This decision has been made on foot of the Garda Inspectorate report on Crime Investigation, published 11th November 2014.

The CSO understands that, while the claims in the report relate to the work of the Garda Sío- chána, the issues raised may have an impact on level and classification of CSO recorded crime statistics. Given such claims, the CSO could not continue to publish official statistics without a detailed examination of the issues raised by the Inspectorate.

The CSO is therefore currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the findings of the Garda Inspectorate report to assess the extent to which the findings of the Inspectorate are reflected in the data made available to the CSO for the compilation of recorded crime statistics.

On completion of this analysis the CSO will decide whether to resume publication of recorded crime statistics. If publication is resumed, users will be provided with a comprehensive analysis of the quality of the data source used for statistical purposes and by extension the quality of the recorded crime statistics.

21/04/2015WRD00800Constitutional Convention Recommendations

21/04/2015WRD00900225. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach his views on the provision for citizen initiated referendums to empower persons, and the separation of the Government and Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14270/15]

136 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRD01000The Taoiseach: I take it that this question concerns the Fourth Report of the Convention on the Constitution.

The subject of the Fourth Report was the Dáil electoral system and the Convention made various recommendations in that regard. It also made three other recommendations, detailed below, to which I assume the Deputy is referring. The Fourth Report was debated in Dáil Éire- ann on 18 December 2014 and the script circulated in the Dáil that day by the Minister of State with special responsibility for Rural Economic Development and Rural Transport setting out the Government’s response is available on the website of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

The three items referred to above, on which the Convention recommended that referendums be held, and the Government’s response on each, are as follows.

The Convention recommended that there should be a referendum to permit the appointment of non-Oireachtas members as Ministers. However, as the House will be aware, the Constitu- tion already allows the Taoiseach to nominate as Ministers up to two people who have not been elected to the Oireachtas but have been nominated to the Seanad. This provision enables the thrust of the Convention’s recommendation to be met without the need for a referendum. Tao- isigh have availed of this facility only twice since 1937, in each case appointing one person as Minister. The holding of a referendum to widen the scope of an option that already exists but has very rarely been used, and never to the full, would be very hard to justify.

The Convention also recommended a referendum to require Dáil members to resign their Dáil seats on appointment to Ministerial office. However, proposing a referendum to amend the Constitution to this effect would be a major change from the current Constitutional arrangement whereby members of the Government sit in the Oireachtas.

It would be difficult to propose such a referendum without making provision for who would succeed to the vacant seats and to secure the objective of freeing Ministers from constituency work. However, as regards filling the vacant seats, the Convention had not favoured a list system when considering the Dáil electoral system; and as regards freeing Ministers from constituency work, the Convention did not recommend automatic re-election of Ministers at the next general election.

Finally, the Convention recommended providing a right for citizens to petition on influenc- ing the legislative agenda and to petition for referendums. However, referendums are already relatively common in Ireland and there is nothing to prevent citizens presenting petitions. Also, the Government has already substantially opened up the legislative process to citizens both via the work of the Convention itself and with the various packages of Dáil reform introduced since 2011. For example, a Public Service Oversight and Petitions Committee, chaired by a member of the Opposition, was established in 2011. As part of its remit, the Committee receives and considers public petitions submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Committee also engages with the Ombudsman and other oversight bodies.

In addition, in 2011 the Government introduced a system of pre-legislative review before Oireachtas Committees. In 2013 this was expanded to become a pre-legislative stage before the relevant Oireachtas Committee as a requirement for non-emergency legislation generally. This allows for an unprecedented and extensive engagement by the public directly in the law making process. The Committee can consult with citizens with expertise in the area, civic society groups and other interested groups; crucially, such consultation takes place before the legislation is drafted.

The Government will however bear in mind these recommendations of the Convention 137 Questions - Written Answers when the latest package of Dáil reform, and its success in opening up the legislative process, is being reviewed.

21/04/2015WRD01100Job Creation

21/04/2015WRD01200226. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Taoiseach his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding unemployment figures. [14003/15]

21/04/2015WRD01300Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe): The Deputy requested the following details-

Regarding the current unemployment figures, can you advise how many people are currently on the various back to work/further education schemes? Can you provide a breakdown on this for each county/constituency including the Dublin Bay north constituency? Can you also confirm if the people on the various back to work/education schemes are included in the overall unemployment figures that are published on a regular basis? If they are not, can you please provide an explanation why this is the case?

The CSO can supply statistical related information pertaining to the Deputy’s request for details regarding unemployment figures.

The table below outlines the number of people on the various activation schemes run by the Department of Social Protection. There were 85,769 people in total engaged in these schemes in February 2015. The CSO does not have a geographical breakdown of these schemes.

People who are engaged in work based activation programmes do not fall under the definition of being unemployed and do not appear in the unemployment estimates as reported by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) which is the official source of estimates of unemployment in the State. The primary classification used for these QNHS results is the ILO (International Labour Office) labour force classification. Those engaged in education based activation programmes may or may not be classified as unemployed; depending upon their labour force situation they are classified based on the ILO labour force definition used in the QNHS. The classification for unemployed persons includes those persons who, in the week before the survey, were without work and available for work within the next two weeks, and had taken specific steps, in the preceding four weeks, to find work.

Live Register Activation Programmes

Back to Work Schemes February 2015 Back to Work allowance scheme - Employ- 2 ee strand1 Back to Work Enterprise allowance scheme 11,260 -self employed strand Short-term Enterprise Allowance2 447 Total Back to Work payments 11,709 Other Activation Programmes DSP Part-time Job Incentive 397 TUS - Community Work Placement Initia- 7,877 tive (2011) JobBridge (2011) 6,140 Total Other Activation Programmes 14,414

138 21 April 2015 Back to Work Schemes February 2015 Community Employment Schemes (exclud- 23,034 ing Supervisors) FAS Full Time Training for Unemployed 7,739 People(3) Back to Education Courses Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme N/A (VTOS)4 Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)5 23,873 Total Back to Education Courses 28,873 Total Activation Programmes 85,769 Source: CSO Live Register

1 This scheme was closed to new applications from 1st May 2009.

2 This scheme was introduced from 1st May 2009. It provides immediate support for someone in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit who wants to start a business.

3 Specific Skills Training/Local Training initiative/Traineeship/Return to Work.

4 VTOS figures are estimated at 5,000 each year.

5 BTEA figures include all schemes but participants from JA & JB are not entitled to BTEA during the summer holidays.

21/04/2015WRD01400Crime Data

21/04/2015WRD01500227. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach when the Central Statistics Office will be in a position to publish more recorded crime data, in view of the crime recording classification issues that came to light in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15162/15]

21/04/2015WRD01600Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe): The publication of recorded crime statistics has been temporarily suspended by the CSO. This decision has been made on foot of the Garda Inspectorate report on Crime Investigation, published 11th November 2014.

The CSO understands that, while the claims in the report relates to the work of the Garda Síochána, the issues raised may have an impact on level and classification of CSO recorded crime statistics. Given such claims, the CSO could not continue to publish official statistics without a detailed examination of the issues raised by the Inspectorate.

139 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRD01700Dáil Reform

21/04/2015WRD01800228. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his progress on reform of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15165/15]

21/04/2015WRD01900Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe): The process of parliamentary reform is an ongoing one. The Programme for Government outlined an ambitious agenda for Dáil Reform to be introduced in a phased process over the lifetime of the Government. On foot of this, since 2011 the working of the Dáil has been steadily reformed to enhance the legislative role of elected members and improve the working of the House.

The measures introduced have included the following.

The number of Dáil sitting days has been significantly increased by reducing the length of Dáil breaks at Christmas, Easter, bank holidays and the summer and introducing regular Friday sitting days. Since 2011, the Dáil has sat 31 more days per year (33%), with an average 124 sitting days per year, than the previous Dáil, which had an average of 93 days per year.

The first phase of the Dáil Reform Programme was introduced in the summer of 2011 and included:

- An additional Leaders’ Questions session on Thursdays, taken by the Tánaiste

- Topical Issues Debates to replace the outmoded Adjournment Debates so as to give Depu- ties an opportunity to raise issues directly with Ministers from the relevant Department

- Friday sittings to enable Deputies to play a fuller role in the legislative process by introducing their own Bills and having those Bills debated on the floor of the Dáil

-A mechanism for appeal to the Ceann Comhairle if a Deputy is unhappy with the reply received to a Parliamentary Question

-A Pre-Legislative review system where by Ministers could provide the Heads of a Bill to the Oireachtas Committee to review before the Bill was published

- Restructuring of the Oireachtas Committee system by reducing the number of Oireachtas Committees from 25 to 16

- Introducing a new Oireachtas Committee chaired by an Opposition Deputy to work with Ombudsmen’s offices and review petitions.

In the summer of 2012, further reforms to the Oireachtas Committee system were introduced, which streamlined the structure and provided an additional focus on areas of priority such as Jobs and Agriculture.

In September 2013 the Government announced the second phase of Dáil Reforms and the Dáil debated and approved changes to Standing Orders in October 2013. These reforms are being phased in and include changes to allow more public involvement in the law making process:

- A Pre-Legislative Stage before an Oireachtas Committee is now a general requirement for non-emergency legislation. A Minister who does not bring a Bill to Committee for Pre- Legislative Stage is required to explain that decision to the Dáil.

- The new Pre-Legislative Stage allows for an unprecedented and extensive engagement by the public in law making. The Committee can consult with experts and civic society groups; crucially, this takes place before the legislation is drafted. 140 21 April 2015 -Where there has been a Pre-Legislative Stage, the Chair or Vice Chair of the Committee has an opportunity to outline the Committee’s work to the members of the Dáil during the Sec- ond Stage debate after the Minister and main opposition spokespeople have spoken on the Bill

- By 28 February 2015, Oireachtas Committees had completed 39 Pre–Legislative Stages resulting in 37 Reports and two letters being sent to sponsoring Ministers.

In addition, each year the Taoiseach and Tánaiste will address the Dáil setting out the Gov- ernment’s annual priorities, with Ministers setting out their Department’s plans.

The role of Oireachtas Committees in the Budget process has also been expanded.

As a result of a set of reforms introduced to reduce the use of the guillotine, only three Bills were guillotined in the Dáil in 2014, down from 12 in 2013 and 19 in 2010. This has been achieved by reforms including a reduction in the number of Legislative Programmes to two per year increasing the time available for legislative debate in the Dáil by increasing the total number of sitting days, extending the length of sitting days and starting at 9.30 am on Wednesday and Thursdays.

The way legislation is debated in the Chamber has been improved:

- At First Stage the proposer of a Private Member’s Bill now has five minutes to outline the purpose of the Bill to the Dáil and explain the reasons for proposing it.

- Where proposed legislation has been the subject of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny, at Second Stage the Chair or Vice Chair of the Committee which considered the Bill at Pre-Legislative Stage has a speaking slot, of the same length as that of the Minister and Opposition Spokes- people, to report to the Dáil on the Committee’s findings.

- At the end of the Second Stage debate, 45 minutes may be allowed for concluding remarks by Deputies, chosen by the Ceann Comhairle, who have previously spoken.

The number of Friday sittings has been expanded and the Dáil now sits every second Friday to debate Private Members’ Bills and Committee Reports selected using a lottery system. The new Friday sittings also allow Committees, for the first time, to seek directly to have their own reports debated in the Dáil. This has encouraged a rapid growth in the number of Bills introduced by Deputies, from 14 published in 2010 to 53 published in 2014. 82 Private Members’ Bills were debated in the four years to 6 March 2015, compared to 16 debated in the 30th Dáil, and 21 Committee Reports have been debated, compared to nine debated in the 30th Dáil.

The system of Topical Issues now requires the Minister or a Minister of State from the relevant Department to reply; if this is not the case, the Deputy who raised the issue can have it deferred until a Minister or Minister of State from that Department is available.

The time allocated to Oral Parliamentary Questions to Ministers has been standardised to 75 minutes. An ordinary Oral Question will be answered only if the Deputy tabling the Question is in the Chamber when it is reached and the Deputy is given a brief period, of 30 seconds, to outline the question.

The Government also passed the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges & Pro- cedures) Act 2013 and the Standing Orders to establish Oireachtas Inquiry system are now in place. The Banking Inquiry is the first Oireachtas Inquiry established under this new legislation.

Dáil Reform is an ongoing process and the Government intend, in the next few months, to

141 Questions - Written Answers bring forward a further package of reforms for consideration.

21/04/2015WRD02000Treatment Benefit Scheme

21/04/2015WRD02100229. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given to re-instating the optical benefit scheme or the dental health scheme. [15346/15]

21/04/2015WRD02200Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The services available under the treatment benefit scheme were restricted in Budget 2010 due to the prevailing economic situation at that time and the urgent need to reduce public expenditure. Any future expansion of the schemes would have to be considered in light of available resources and competing priorities.

The changes to the treatment benefit scheme in Budget 2010 still allow for an annual free dental exam and an optical examination every two years, encouraging people to continue attending and helping maintain their dental and optical health.

Over 2 million people remain qualified for this entitlement under their or their spouse’s PRSI contributions. In 2014 over 450,000 people availed of either a free dental or optical examination, a 13% increase in uptake since 2012.

21/04/2015WRD02300Free Travel Scheme

21/04/2015WRD02400230. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the recent attempts to privatise part of the bus service is the first step in trying to do away with the free travel pass for senior citizens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15731/15]

21/04/2015WRD02500Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): There are currently approximately 800,000 people in Ireland in receipt of free travel at an annual cost of €77 million per annum. The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme.

While the management and restructuring of bus routes etc. is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I wish to assure the Deputy that there is no intention of removing free travel from senior citizens.

21/04/2015WRD02600Disability Allowance Applications

21/04/2015WRD02700231. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15154/15]

21/04/2015WRD02800Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 23 March 2015. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The application will be processed as quickly as possible.

142 21 April 2015 The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

21/04/2015WRD02900Carer’s Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRD03000232. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer’s allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15156/15]

21/04/2015WRD03100Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 6th January 2015. 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.

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

21/04/2015WRD03200Jobseeker’s Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRD03300233. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal for jobseeker’s and supplementary allowances in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [15166/15]

21/04/2015WRD03400Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Ap- peals Officer on 24th March 2015, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

Question No. 234 withdrawn.

21/04/2015WRD03600Social Welfare Appeals Status

21/04/2015WRD03700235. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15175/15]

21/04/2015WRD03800Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29th January 2015. 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

143 Questions - Written Answers 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.

21/04/2015WRD03900Carer’s Allowance Delays

21/04/2015WRD04000236. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if carer’s allowance will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilken- ny; and if the application will be expedited. [15247/15]

21/04/2015WRD04100Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 25th February 2015. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

21/04/2015WRD04200Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

21/04/2015WRD04300237. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the cost to the State arising from the rent supplement scheme for each of the years, 1989, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2013. [15250/15]

21/04/2015WRD04400258. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons, on a county basis, who have availed of the interim tenancy sustainment protocol to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15397/15]

21/04/2015WRD04500277. Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the rent supplement cap in Balbriggan in County Dublin and in Drogheda and Dundalk in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15633/15]

21/04/2015WRD04600279. Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider her decision not to increase rent supplement in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15636/15]

21/04/2015WRD04700Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I propose to take Questions Nos. 237, 258, 277 and 279 together.

The rent supplement scheme provides support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are currently approximately 70,000 rent supplement recipients, for which Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. Rent supplement expenditure figures from 1999 are provided in the tabular statement below; separate rent supplement expenditure data for the years 1989, 1993 and 1996 are not available.

Details of the current maximum rent limits on a county basis are provided in the tabular statement below. The Department recently published a review of the maximum rent limits, “Maximum Rent Limit Analysis and Findings” and it is available on www.welfare.ie. The review finds that increasing rent limits at this time could potentially add to further rental infla- tion in an already distressed market, affecting not alone rent supplement recipients, but lower- 144 21 April 2015 income workers and students. Between the rent supplement scheme and the Rental Accom- modation Scheme (RAS) administered by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the State accounts for a third of the private rented market. The State is therefore a very significant player in the sector which has a responsibility not alone to rent supplement recipients but also to the market as a whole, including all those in private accommodation. The review finds that increasing the rent limits would have several potentially negative effects, including providing an impetus for current rent supplement landlords to renegotiate their lease agreements to the new limits impacting on all existing recipients at significant cost to the Exchequer.

In light of the review’s findings, the Department will instead continue to allow for flexibility in assessing customers’ accommodation needs through the National Tenancy Sustainment Framework. Under this approach, each tenant’s circumstances throughout the country, including those in the Louth area, are considered on a case-by-case basis and rents can be increased above prescribed limits if deemed appropriate. I am satisfied that this is the appropriate response at this time which has assisted in excess of 1,000 rent supplement recipients throughout the country to retain their rented accommodation.

In addition, the Department in conjunction with Threshold operates a Tenancy Sustainment Protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas where supply is most acute. The primary objective of the Protocol is to ensure a speedy intervention to ensure that families at immediate risk of losing their tenancy get rapid assistance. Of the 1,000 recipients mentioned above, over 500 households in Dublin and some 12 in Cork city have been provided assistance through increased rent limits under the Protocol.

The review clearly points out that the main cause of difficulty for persons renting or seeking to rent at this time is the much reduced availability of affordable private rented accommodation. The issue of supply is being addressed by Government through the Construction 2020 Strategy and the Social Housing Strategy. My Government colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, is also considering a number of policy options in relation to achieving greater rent certainty.

I can assure the Deputies that I am keeping this matter under close review to ensure that the appropriate supports continue to be provided for rent supplement recipients.

Tabular Statements

Table 1 : Maximum Rent Limits

County Single Couple Single Couple Couple/ Couple/ Couple/ Shared Shared One Par- One One ent Fam- Parent Parent ily - 1 Family - Family - Qualified 2 Quali- 3 Quali- Child fiedChil- fiedChil- dren dren Dublin - 300 350 520 700 850 900 950 Fingal Dublin 350 400 520 750 950 975 1,000 - Not Fingal Carlow 230 250 375 433 520 560 590 Cavan 160 190 325 350 400 415 433 145 Questions - Written Answers County Single Couple Single Couple Couple/ Couple/ Couple/ Shared Shared One Par- One One ent Fam- Parent Parent ily - 1 Family - Family - Qualified 2 Quali- 3 Quali- Child fiedChil- fiedChil- dren dren Clare 190 210 320 350 400 450 500 Cork 250 270 485 575 700 725 750 Donegal 175 200 300 325 350 400 450 Galway 280 300 475 540 700 725 750 Kerry 190 220 365 390 500 520 540 Kildare 250 300 433 500 650 700 750 Kilkenny 200 230 390 430 540 565 590 Laois 200 230 340 350 450 480 520 Leitrim 175 195 300 325 350 375 400 Limerick 200 240 375 400 500 550 600 Longford 160 175 290 300 325 340 350 Louth 215 250 390 400 550 575 600 Mayo 195 215 375 390 433 465 500 Meath 200 260 390 420 550 600 650 180 190 300 350 400 433 450 Offaly 200 220 360 400 450 475 500 Roscom- 200 220 300 325 400 410 425 mon Sligo 195 220 400 425 520 540 550 Tipperary 195 220 370 400 485 500 525 Water- 220 240 375 390 475 500 525 ford West- 190 210 390 400 500 520 530 meath Wexford 250 270 375 390 500 540 575 Wicklow 240 290 425 450 600 610 625 North 270 290 500 575 750 800 850 Kildare Bray 275 300 520 680 850 925 1,000 Table 2 : Rent Supplement Expenditure: 1999 to Present

Year Cost - €000 1999 128,240 2000 150,590 2001 179,438 2002 252,203 2003 331,471 2004 353,762 2005 368,705

146 21 April 2015 Year Cost - €000 2006 388,339 2007 391,466 2008 440,548 2009 510,751 2010 516,538 2011 502,747 2012 422,536 2013 372,909 2014 338,1351 2015 298,4152 1 2014 Revised Estimate.

2 Rev 2015 February Exp.

Question 238 withdrawn.

21/04/2015WRD04900Back to Work Family Dividend Scheme Implementation

21/04/2015WRD05000239. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when Social Welfare legislation to provide for the back to work family dividend scheme will be published. [15291/15]

21/04/2015WRD05100Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015, which provides for the Back to Work Family Dividend scheme was published on 16 February, 2015. The Bill has passed all stages in the Dáil and is currently being considered in the Seanad. It is expected to be enacted in May 2015.

21/04/2015WRD05200Disability Allowance Applications

21/04/2015WRD05300240. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if all of the information submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, relative to that person’s appeal for disability allowance, and the information submitted by this Deputy and acknowledged on the 26 February 2015, was considered in the context of that appeal; if an oral hearing will be granted in the case, as some information requested by her Department’s official is not available, as it is quite dated and the person has done his best to comply with requests for information. [15292/15]

21/04/2015WRD05400Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The Department received an application from the person in question on 30 April 2014. The file was sent to a social welfare inspector (SWI) to carry out a means assessment. The SWI was unable to finalise their report as the person in question had not supplied all the necessary information as requested. The application was disallowed on 12 February 2015 as the deciding officer was unable to establish the person’s means.

I can confirm that additional information was subsequently received from the person in question. These documents are currently being reviewed by a deciding officer and the person concerned will be informed directly of the outcome of the review. If, following the review, the decision to disallow the application remains unchanged the file will be passed to the Social

147 Questions - Written Answers Welfare Appeals Office for determination.

21/04/2015WRD05500Carer’s Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRD05600241. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to an application for carer’s allowance which was refused in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, if she will arrange an oral hearing; if the oral hearing will be expedited in view of the fact the case is urgent. [15294/15]

21/04/2015WRD05700Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person in question on the 24th June 2014. The person in question was refused CA as a deciding officer, having reviewed the evidence provided, found that full time care and attention as required for CA were not being provided by the person concerned. She was notified of this decision on the 25th Sep- tember 2014, the reasons for it and of her right of review or appeal.

The person concerned appealed this decision and the case was submitted to the Social Wel- fare Appeals Office for determination. An appeals officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned was notified on 21st January 2015 of the appeals officer’s decision and the reason(s) for it.

Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an appeals officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the appeals officer in the light of new evidence or new facts which were not available at the time of the decision. It is open to the person in question to submit a new application for carer’s allowance and this will be processed in the normal way.

21/04/2015WRD05750Carer’s Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRD05900242. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a carer’s allowance appeal will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [15303/15]

21/04/2015WRD06000Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The appeal for the person concerned has been allowed and carer’s allowance has been awarded and is in payment. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 1st April 2015.

21/04/2015WRE00150Rent Supplement Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRE00200243. Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will allow an appeal to be heard for an overpayment of rent supplement in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15315/15]

21/04/2015WRE00300Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that in the normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of a decision being notified. While there is provision for late appeals to be accepted with the approval of the Chief Appeals Officer, it is not considered that this is an appropriate case for late acceptance of an appeal.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Pro- tection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in

148 21 April 2015 relation to social welfare entitlements.

21/04/2015WRE00350Disability Allowance Payments

21/04/2015WRE00400244. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a disability allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15316/15]

21/04/2015WRE00500Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): In order to determine the circumstances of the person concerned, his file was forwarded to his local Social Wel- fare Inspector who will arrange to meet with the claimant as soon as possible.

A final decision on his entitlement to disability allowance will be given on receipt of the So- cial Welfare Inspectors report. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

21/04/2015WRE00550Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

21/04/2015WRE00600245. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a final decision on an application for a domiciliary care allowance will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15317/15]

21/04/2015WRE00700Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The person concerned was notified on the 20th April 2015 that her application for domiciliary care allowance was successful and that the allowance has been awarded from the 1st December 2014. The first payment of the allowance, along with arrears due, will issue on 19th May 2015.

21/04/2015WRE00750Disability Allowance Applications

21/04/2015WRE00800246. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for a disability allowance will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15318/15]

21/04/2015WRE00900Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 6 March 2015. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

21/04/2015WRE00950Employment Support Services

21/04/2015WRE01000247. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons supported into sustainable jobs by the employability service and its precur- sor the supported employment programme each year for the past five years. [15361/15]

21/04/2015WRE01100266. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the

149 Questions - Written Answers total funding committed by her Department to the individual placement and support model being piloted by Mental Health Reform; the timeframe for same; her views on what this funding covers; what is covered by others; and the total capacity of the pilot in terms of the numbers of persons with mental health difficulties that it expects to support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15456/15]

21/04/2015WRE01200267. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of removing the 18-month time-limit on support from the employability service; her views on the matter including the average length of time that persons remain engaged with the service; and the number and percentage who remain engaged for the full 18 months. [15457/15]

21/04/2015WRE01300268. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of expanding the capacity of the employability service to support 1,000 additional persons; if she will provide a breakdown of the spending this would involve, for example, job coaches, administration and so on. [15458/15]

21/04/2015WRE01400269. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the average number of persons with a mental health condition availing of the employability service at any one time. [15459/15]

21/04/2015WRE01500Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I propose to take Questions Nos. 247, 266 to 269, inclusive, together.

The Government recognises the importance of increasing participation in employment for persons with a disability. To this end, the Department provides a wide range of income and work related supports for people with disabilities, which play an important role in supporting increased participation in the labour force by people with disabilities.

Among these supports is the Employability service, which supports people with disabilities who wish to take up employment. The service currently comprises 23 limited companies, each with a specific geographical remit and each fully funded by the Department. The budget for 2015 provides €9.6 million to run the service. 80 per cent of these costs are attributed to staff costs while 20 per cent are related to overhead costs, such as accommodation.

The average cost of the Employability Service is €2,900 per client. If the service was expanded by 1,000 clients, the estimated additional annual cost would be €2.9 million. While the service supports around 3,000 people at any one time, on average, some 2,600 clients exit the service every year. Removing the 18 month time-limit on support would effectively represent an expansion of the service which would cost around €7.66 million a year compounding.

While the Employability service operates in the context of jobs in the open-labour market, data in relation to the sustainability of such jobs is not available as the service is not in a position to monitor persons’ economic activity after they have exited the service.

Employability is focused on supporting, through job coaches, people with disabilities in the open labour market. Participants must be motivated to work and be able to work a minimum of 8 hours per week. The service is open to people between the ages of 18 to 65 years. The duration of the support is 18 months – the person’s underlying medical condition is not directly relevant to the provision of the service so it is not possible to state how many clients would have a mental health condition.

The pilot project - Integrating Employment and Mental Health Support - to which the Dep- uty refers is being led by Mental Health Reform. The Department is facilitating the project by providing funding to the order of €250,000 to allow each of the four Employability companies 150 21 April 2015 participating in the pilot to recruit an additional job-coach for the two-year period covered by the pilot project.

21/04/2015WRE01550Disability Allowance

21/04/2015WRE01600248. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department is currently profiling recipients of disability allowance; the form this profiling is taking, including any link with the probability of exit scores used for the live register and its rationale; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15362/15]

21/04/2015WRE01700Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The Department does not currently profile recipients of disability allowance (DA).

However, the Department is planning to ask those currently in receipt of DA to supply information relating to educational attainment levels, employment history etc.

This exercise will get under way in the latter half of this year and the information obtained will better inform the planning and delivery of employment and training supports to people with disabilities in the future.

21/04/2015WRE01750Employment Support Services

21/04/2015WRE01800249. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the fit for work Ireland initiative; her Department’s response to the initiative; the steps taken to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15363/15]

21/04/2015WRE01900Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I welcome the approach being proposed under the “Fit for Work” initiative. Early interventions and developing return to work practices in the case of people with musculoskeletal incapacities is consistent with the Department’s own policy approach to illness/disability income support which aims to reduce the number of people progressing to chronic disability and long-term social welfare dependency.

I should mention that the “Renaissance project” wherein early intervention was shown to reduce the incidence of progression from the acute simple low back pain to chronic disability in 64% of claimants, is an initiative of the Department since 2003.

I would also refer to the partial capacity benefit scheme which I introduced in 2012. This facilitates people who are in receipt of illness benefit or invalidity pension and who wish to take up/resume employment to do so and still retain a portion of their social welfare payment. This scheme is now being reviewed by the Department to examine its effectiveness.

I would also point out that the Department’s Chief Medical Adviser has drafted a set of certification guidelines, setting out defined periods of recovery for common medical conditions (including musculoskeletal disorders) for guidance of GPs and these will be distributed to GPs shortly.

21/04/2015WRE01950Disability Allowance

21/04/2015WRE02000250. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

151 Questions - Written Answers her views on introducing a facility to allow recipients of disability allowance, suffering from conditions whose impact can be intermittent, to suspend their claims in order to take up or increase their income from employment in excess of the means-test, without having to make a fresh application for disability allowance, should they become unable to work once again, or to at least to introduce a fast-track to a re-instatement application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15365/15]

21/04/2015WRE02100Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): A person on disability allowance may take up rehabilitative work and earn up to €120 per week without their payment being affected. Earnings of between €121 and €350 per week are assessed at 50% for means test purposes. If their weekly means exceed the statutory limit allowable under legislation for their family size then their payments are stopped.

The minimisation of delay and inconvenience to the claimant is very important but it must be appropriately balanced against the need to ensure that expenditure on the scheme is subject to proper control.

In the event that a DA claimant, who has taken up work, finds that they are unable to continue with their employment and where the break in their DA claim is of a reasonably short duration, their payment is restored immediately upon confirmation of the cessation or reduction in employment but may be subject to review in the future as appropriate. However, where the break in eligibility is of a longer duration, it may be necessary to fully re-assess eligibility before payment is restored in order to confirm that the conditions are still met. This matter is kept under continuous review by my departmental officials.

21/04/2015WRE02150Social Welfare Benefits Data

21/04/2015WRE02200251. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the most recent figures for those in the Athy area in County Kildare receiving social welfare payments, and those on Government employment schemes. [15369/15]

21/04/2015WRE02300Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): In the week ending 12 April 2015, there were 2,429 people in the Athy area in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment. There are currently 186 people in the Athy area on employment schemes. In addition there are 21 people on JobBridge.

Receiving Jobseeker’s Payments

Allowance Amount Jobseeker’s Allowance 2,130 Jobseeker’s Benefit 299 Total 2,429 Employment Schemes

Schemes Amount Community Employment 126 Gateway 6 Job Initiative 15 Rural Social Scheme 3 Tús 36

152 21 April 2015 Schemes Amount Total 186 Name Amount JobBridge 21

21/04/2015WRE02350Invalidity Pension Eligibility

21/04/2015WRE02400252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate eligibility in respect of an invalidity pension-disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15374/15]

21/04/2015WRE02500Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or inca- pacity and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

To qualify for IP claimants must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.

According to the Department’s records, it appears that the person concerned does not satisfy the PRSI contribution criteria for IP. However entitlement to IP can be definitively determined on receipt of a completed claim form.

Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.

The person concerned previously applied for DA in February 2013. The application was refused as the person’s means exceeded the statutory limit. If the person concerned thinks he now may be eligible for DA, it is open to him to make a new application and a decision on his eligibility will be made as soon as possible.

21/04/2015WRE02550Disability Allowance Applications

21/04/2015WRE02600253. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a disability payment will be decided in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17. [15385/15]

21/04/2015WRE02700Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 7 April 2015. The person was also notified of his right to a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

21/04/2015WRE02750Farm Assist Scheme

21/04/2015WRE02800254. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if payments to farmers under the new green low-carbon agri-environment scheme will be dis- 153 Questions - Written Answers regarded for the purposes of calculating income under farm assist calculations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15388/15]

21/04/2015WRE02900Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2015 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the farm assist scheme of €88.7 million.

Farm assist customers receive more beneficial treatment than other self-employed persons as payments received by farm assist recipients under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and the Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS) are assessed separately from other farm income. With regard to these payments, the first €2,540 is disregarded, then 50% of the balance and related expenses are disregarded - with the balance being assessed as means. Pay- ments made under the new Green Low-Carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) will also be subject to this favourable treatment.

21/04/2015WRE02950Carer’s Allowance Payments

21/04/2015WRE03000255. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer’s allowance review will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15389/15]

21/04/2015WRE03100Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): Following review the application for care of a second care recipient has been awarded. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 14th April 2015.

21/04/2015WRE03150Money Advice and Budgeting Service Staff

21/04/2015WRE03200256. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the structure of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service and the governance arrangements relative to the Department oversight; the funding provided to the service in each of the past five years; if service level agreements are in place; the number of companies or individual boards within the service; the number of board members on each board; the cost of each board relative to administration and expenses each year for the past five years; the role of the Citizens Information Board relative to the service and the Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15392/15]

21/04/2015WRE03300Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The Citizens In- formation Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice service) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 provided for the transfer of responsibility for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) to the Citizens Information Board (CIB), under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. The legislative provisions governing CIB are contained in the Comhairle Act, 2000, the Citizens Information Act, 2007 and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011.

While oversight of the CIB is exercised by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) in line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, the CIB is also accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The CIB’s annual report is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and is then laid 154 21 April 2015 before both Houses of the Oireachtas. A senior official of DSP sits on the Board of CIB and there is regular liaison between officials of DSP and the CIB executive.

CIB delivers on its remit to provide services to the public by supporting a network of delivery partners which includes 42 local Citizens Information Services (CIS) and 51 local Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS). Each of these 93 independent companies in the network has a separate voluntary Board of Management. Each of these Boards has an average of over 9 members resulting in a governance structure of over 800 people. The number of board members in the 51 local MABS companies amounts to over 400 and a breakdown by company is included in the following table.

The Citizens Information Board is responsible for ensuring that all appropriate governance arrangements are in place for expenditure of allocated public funds. Service level agreements are in place with each delivery partner company and cover standard items such as service delivery, governance, financial controls, HR practices, reporting, evaluation and monitoring. The use of service level agreements enables the CIB to ensure that excellent service and best value is achieved across the wide range of services it provides.

In 2015, the CIB has been allocated a budget of €46 million of which some €17.9 million is allocated to the MABS network of companies. The annual allocation of State funds from CIB to the MABS network of companies over the last five years was as follows –

2011 €18.4m; 2012 €18.3m; 2013 €19.0m; 2014 €18.6m; and 2015 €17.9m.

The following table shows the funding allocation to the 51 local MABS local companies over the past five years, the number of Board members per company (as registered with audited accounts submitted to Companies Registration Office for 2013), the cost of each Board, including professional fees and the % cost of the Boards relative to overall administrative costs.

- - - - 2014 - - 2013 MABS Board Funding Board Board Funding Board Board costs Members costs* costs as % costs* as % of Ad- (2013) of Admin min Costs Costs Arklow 8 230,200 2,805 8% 247,273 3,315 9% Athlone 4 159,300 3,256 11% 122,661 3,209 10% Ballymun 9 379,700 4,582 13% 390,121 4,352 9% Blanchard- 7 354,300 4,510 7% 360,305 4,028 6% stown Bray 8 348,000 6,050 10% 362,386 5,062 9% Carlow 9 339,800 3,082 6% 346,857 4,939 9% Cavan 11 278,300 5,212 9% 284,058 5,842 11% Charleville 9 199,800 4,226 20% 221,810 4,766 24% Clare 4 281,200 4,363 9% 287,369 3,231 6% Clondalkin 8 371,600 5,112 9% 382,708 4,666 8% Cork 8 435,400 13,460 14% 578,306 15,054 14% Drogheda 7 176,654 5,239 25% 199,223 7,453 32% Dublin 10 7 371,287 6,472 13% 401,198 6,117 11% & 20 Dublin 12 9 292,200 8,543 17% 301,244 5,948 14% Area Dublin 5 290,279 2,609 5% 288,082 2,503 5% North City

155 Questions - Written Answers

- - - - 2014 - - 2013 MABS Board Funding Board Board Funding Board Board costs Members costs* costs as % costs* as % of Ad- (2013) of Admin min Costs Costs Dublin 9 280,095 5,763 13% 256,566 6,249 17% North East Dublin 8 299,300 8,004 11% 303,211 12,979 16% South East Dun 11 228,000 4,539 9% 224,238 6,954 14% Laoghaire Dundalk/ 7 250,660 6,080 15% 257,528 4,319 10% Oriel Dundrum/ 9 337,686 5,898 6% 345,983 5,500 6% Rathfarn- ham Fingal 9 310,900 4,781 12% 322,868 5,010 11% (North County) Finglas/ 4 342,100 7,968 26% 351,795 4,568 10% Cabra Kerry 10 520,592 12,579 13% 517,021 6,780 8% Kildare 6 475,800 7,977 12% 490,497 6,343 9% Kilkenny 8 282,400 4,521 10% 290,263 8,326 16% Laois 7 216,500 5,995 25% 220,609 7,216 40% Leitrim 11 206,990 11,246 30% 218,183 16,611 44% Liffey 8 373,800 8,759 10% 377,563 9,251 11% South West Limerick 8 386,199 2,936 4% 331,749 3,461 5% Longford 12 173,817 8,057 23% 214,175 3,803 11% Meath 9 299,261 10,963 16% 299,857 14,495 20% Monaghan 13 263,800 5,191 7% 270,062 7,168 9% Mullingar 8 192,090 5,570 12% 206,222 5,949 12% North Cork 10 305,000 4,039 8% 312,249 3,145 11% North 10 370,500 5,237 7% 384,652 5,795 12% Donegal North Gal- 5 234,800 7,145 18% 235,197 9,734 10% way North 11 212,400 3,350 12% 218,127 4,444 14% Mayo North Tip- 8 259,900 3,548 5% 265,604 4,311 7% perary Offaly 13 238,979 4,501 10% 239,976 4,128 12% Roscom- 9 194,300 2,389 6% 205,000 3,188 8% mon Sligo 10 251,500 4,245 8% 256,389 4,959 10% South 11 150,800 3,090 8% 155,002 2,685 8% Donegal South Gal- 9 516,900 10,173 10% 521,467 12,414 11% way South 12 287,600 6,134 10% 301,555 7,672 12% Mayo

156 21 April 2015

- - - - 2014 - - 2013 MABS Board Funding Board Board Funding Board Board costs Members costs* costs as % costs* as % of Ad- (2013) of Admin min Costs Costs South Tip- 4 376,700 4,904 6% 386,206 4,656 6% perary Tallaght 7 316,829 7,854 12% 346,146 7,570 10% Waterford 7 503,600 10,024 12% 518,401 9,955 11% West Cork 10 287,400 13,599 22% 245,845 10,165 16% West Done- 8 126,800 2,417 15% 108,168 2,694 17% gal West Wa- 8 166,254 4,473 24% 148,996 3,827 17% terford Wexford 9 324,900 11,043 18% 331,707 10,830 18% *including professional fees

- - - 2012 - - 2011 - - 2010 MABS Funding Board Board Funding Board Board Funding Board Board costs* costs as % costs * costs as % costs* costs as % of Admin of Admin of admin Costs costs costs Arklow 246,311 2,738 7% 233,440 5,366 12% 248,755 6,477 13% Athlone 175,924 3,206 12% 153,330 2,987 8% 178,770 3,134 8% Ballymun 390,121 4,638 11% 384,767 4,439 10% 391,578 4,902 10% Blanchard- 364,946 5,418 8% 363,984 4,288 6% 365,302 4,529 6% stown Bray 359,935 9,124 15% 367,285 7,144 12% 373,909 6,612 10% Carlow 367,700 3,412 6% 353,993 5,287 9% 370,080 3,830 6% Cavan 284,058 5,285 10% 272,486 5,734 10% 318,826 5,826 9% Charleville 202,538 3,277 15% 210,464 2,241 7% 206,888 2,752 10% Clare 297,153 4,782 9% 235,979 4,816 9% 301,109 3,098 6% Clondalkin 377,034 4,965 8% 369,600 5,305 9% 378,434 6,095 9% Cork 536,902 10,572 10% 517,321 8,700 9% 495,071 20,021 16% Drogheda 184,665 13,384 35% 143,985 19,049 41% 197,248 7,705 28% Dublin 10 339,666 5,796 15% 371,232 5,363 13% 370,267 5,685 14% & 20 Dublin 12 294,429 7,546 17% 300,409 8,312 17% 302,952 10,754 19% Area Dublin 280,624 2,686 6% 289,318 3,107 6% 292,882 4,115 6% North City Dublin 256,555 9,019 7% 254,426 4,305 11% 269,163 4,979 11% North East Dublin 284,236 8,981 10% 286,101 11,165 12% 370,894 9,252 15% South East Dun 318,897 4,083 8% 314,377 3,482 7% 326,215 6,937 13% Laoghaire Dundalk/ 257,528 13,901 16% 243,348 7,273 15% 259,906 9,394 17% Oriel Dundrum/ 345,983 4,747 5% 296,854 4,528 4% 343,801 5,171 5% Rathfarn- ham Fingal 322,868 4,962 10% 305,137 4,020 8% 320,663 3,387 7% (North County) Finglas/ 351,795 5,021 10% 338,147 3,714 11% 334,488 5,839 10% Cabra Kerry 452,080 6,468 12% 479,990 7,033 11% 507,878 5,648 9% Kildare 490,498 5,968 7% 485,091 5,773 6% 488,164 6,764 6%

157 Questions - Written Answers

- - - 2012 - - 2011 - - 2010 MABS Funding Board Board Funding Board Board Funding Board Board costs* costs as % costs * costs as % costs* costs as % of Admin of Admin of admin Costs costs costs Kilkenny 294,750 3,661 8% 264,853 4,933 7% 292,060 6,068 10% Laois 222,516 5,792 30% 191,286 6,823 28% 224,487 5,932 23% Leitrim 218,274 10,503 22% 213,084 9,780 20% 215,334 8,583 20% Liffey 364,879 6,724 8% 344,649 10,923 9% 383,013 8,427 9% South West Limerick 398,098 3,023 4% 398,188 4,198 6% 488,053 52,262 24% Longford 191,889 3,933 10% 176,936 4,028 10% 191,810 4,444 10% Meath 322,218 9,999 15% 300,672 8,736 13% 251,236 6,381 12% Monaghan 270,062 6,881 9% 264,045 10,751 12% 261,631 3,502 6% Mullingar 209,539 6,985 13% 219,795 8,686 15% 219,064 5,208 9% North 302,249 4,025 7% 309,991 5,573 10% 312,231 3,549 8% Cork North 373,652 6,080 9% 376,027 4,105 6% 379,391 7,566 9% Donegal North 225,197 11,188 17% 203,918 9,252 25% 233,507 4,206 14% Galway North 225,567 2,500 9% 217,033 3,714 12% 220,140 2,176 8% Mayo North Tip- 283,759 4,219 5% 244,452 4,597 6% 286,057 3,229 5% perary Offaly 226,430 4,041 9% 244,981 4,361 9% 221,690 3,284 7% Roscom- 197,196 2,187 5% 200,384 4,415 9% 244,845 2,294 4% mon Sligo 256,389 3,814 7% 230,681 4,047 9% 223,958 3,861 8% South 160,729 2,806 9% 153,698 2,580 8% 162,646 4,689 8% Donegal South 532,851 8,790 7% 558,737 10,141 8% 543,637 2,559 8% Galway South 308,463 8,493 11% 260,977 6,979 11% 289,580 8,961 7% Mayo South Tip- 378,736 5,438 7% 347,656 5,173 6% 402,365 2,878 3% perary Tallaght 365,965 7,907 12% 364,425 8,821 11% 354,953 10,866 13% Waterford 509,784 7,243 8% 470,418 3,646 4% 490,167 3,763 4% West Cork 294,696 1,988 8% 283,655 10,053 12% 292,350 9,416 13% West 129,801 12,326 17% 111,301 2,894 16% 128,468 1,835 10% Donegal West Wa- 143,996 2,699 17% 159,064 2,612 10% 135,443 2,300 9% terford Wexford 340,526 6,336 11% 302,326 6,096 10% 309,511 5,070 10% *including professional fees

21/04/2015WRE03350Disability Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRE03400257. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on a disability allowance appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15393/15]

21/04/2015WRE03500Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The person concerned has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 26 March 2014. First payment will issue on 6 May 2015. Any arrears due will be calculated and issue shortly.

Question No. 258 answered with Question No. 237. 158 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRE03650Illness Benefit Eligibility

21/04/2015WRE03700259. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason not to allow illness benefit to be paid to working persons in receipt of a widow’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15408/15]

21/04/2015WRE03800Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The social welfare system is designed to respond to a range of contingencies such as illness, unemployment, old age and widowhood.

Within this wide-ranging system a general principle is applied - that only one social welfare payment should be payable at any one time. This serves to maintain the equity of the social welfare system and is a common approach in social security systems across the world.

It is in that context that illness benefit is not payable in addition to a widow’s (and wid- ower’s) contributory pension.

21/04/2015WRE03850Disability Allowance Payments

21/04/2015WRE03900260. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive arrears for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15424/15]

21/04/2015WRE04000Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): Disability allowance arrears issued to the person concerned on 1 April 2015.

21/04/2015WRE04050Disability Allowance Payments

21/04/2015WRE04100261. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a very significant decrease in the rate of disability allowance received by a person (details supplied) in County Galway was imposed recently; if the rate of allowance can be restored to its previous level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15441/15]

21/04/2015WRE04200Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): A review of the entitlement to disability allowance of the person concerned is currently being processed and they will be notified directly of the outcome and the reason(s) for it.

21/04/2015WRE04250Carer’s Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRE04300262. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of a carer’s allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15443/15]

21/04/2015WRE04400Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12 March 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 31 March 2015 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, 159 Questions - Written Answers if required, hold an oral hearing.

21/04/2015WRF00050Work Placement Programmes

21/04/2015WRF00100263. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will give her estimation of the success of the Tús work placement initiative since its implementation four years ago; her plans to extend the placement period beyond one year; if it is still considered that the implementation of this initiative, and others like it, is not an exercise in manipulation of the national unemployment figures in view of the fact that participants, though still paid by her Department, are no longer considered dependent on social welfare and are not reflected in the national unemployed figures; her views that particular groups calling for the cessation of such initiatives and programmes, on the basis that they exploit the unemployed and allow sometimes unscrupulous employers take advantage of the long-term unemployed, are not without foundation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15446/15]

21/04/2015WRF00200Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection (Deputy Kevin Humphreys): Tús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was set up to provide short-term, work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness thereby improving a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market.

The duration of the Tús contract was set to reflect a number of inter-related elements. These include the need to ensure that the numbers of placements available are open to those on the live register, that weaknesses identified in other work programmes resulting from longer duration placements are not replicated in Tús, optimisation of the resources available, and to ensure that Tús fits with the objectives set out in the Government’s activation policies in Pathways to Work.

This approach ensures that as many people as possible who are unemployed for over 12 months are able to benefit from the initiative. There are no circumstances under which a participant’s term on Tús will be extended beyond 12 months and I consider the existing 12-month period on the scheme to be adequate to meet the programme’s objectives. As of the week ending 17th April 2015, there were 7,952 participants on Tús. Some 25,194 participants have commenced employment on Tús since its commencement to date, including those currently on the scheme.

I disagree with the Deputy’s assertion that the use of schemes such as Tús, community employment, Gateway, back to education and back to work allowance are being used to manipu- late the national unemployment figures. The Deputy should note that the Central Statistics Of- fice publish data on the participation levels on these schemes as part of the monthly live register report in a transparent and open fashion. There is full recognition that these schemes provide a short-term response to the unemployment crisis and that work a resurgent economy will provide employment opportunities. These programmes, and others such as JobsPlus, help to ensure that the longer-term unemployed are in a position to avail of arising opportunities.

It is regrettable that the Deputy should misrepresent the efforts of employers in the community and voluntary sector, who provide work placement opportunities under Tús and Com- munity Employment, as exploiting the unemployed and as unscrupulous employers. He fails to

160 21 April 2015 recognise the enormous commitment and effort of volunteers working to improve the communities across the country and the standard of employer engagement and support required when dealing with jobseekers that may have been out of the workforce for prolonged periods of time.

21/04/2015WRF00250Carer’s Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRF00300264. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a re-assessment of carer’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15451/15]

21/04/2015WRF00400Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The means assessment for the person concerned is currently under review by a deciding officer. Once completed, the person in question will be notified directly of the outcome.

21/04/2015WRF00450Social Welfare Code

21/04/2015WRF00500265. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has examined the introduction of a facility for recipients of Jobseeker’s payments to alert her Department, by way of text message, when they work extra time; and the estimated cost of introducing such a facility. [15455/15]

21/04/2015WRF00600Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The jobseeker’s benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2015 Estimates for the De- partment provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.01 billion.

Customers on the schemes who commence work, or who increase their hours if in work, are obliged to inform the Department of the changes in their circumstances. This can be in person, by phone call or electronically by either e-mail or via www.welfare.ie, where the facility exists to sign-off on-line.

The Department is not currently examining the potential for a facility for recipients of jobseeker’s payments to alert the Department via text message. Accordingly costs associated with such a system have not been estimated.

Questions Nos. 266 to 269, inclusive, were answered with Question No. 247.

21/04/2015WRF00750Disability Allowance

21/04/2015WRF00800270. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in awarding disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [15463/15]

21/04/2015WRF00900Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from the above named person on 12 March 2015. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circum-

161 Questions - Written Answers stances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

21/04/2015WRF00950Social Welfare Code

21/04/2015WRF01000271. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to treating pension income differently when it comes to means calculations for social welfare purposes, for example only taking 75% of pension income into account, as the current situation means that no real benefit accrues to persons who, for example, have a small British pension, and were this situation to be changed to take only a percentage of this pension income into account, it would incentivise the holding of pensions as under the current regime there is no real benefit to persons who have a small foreign pension and who are dependent on social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15468/15]

21/04/2015WRF01100Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): State pensions account for the single largest block of social welfare expenditure, and while expenditure on pensions is increasing because of demographic pressures, this is being successfully managed within the overall welfare budget. This year, the Department of Social Protection will spend an estimated €6.675 billion on pensions – 34.4% of all welfare expenditure and an increase of €168 million over 2014.

Eligibility for State Pension Non-Contributory is means tested and takes into account the income and assets of both the claimant and his or her spouse or partner. Capital, property (exclud- ing a person’s home), savings and investments, occupational pension, a British or other foreign pension, are assessed as capital and a formula is then used to assess the weekly means from capital. The weekly rate payable depends on the total weekly means of the person or couple. The first 30 euro of means is disregarded for State Pension Non-Contributory.

The Deputy may wish to note where an applicant has also been insurably employed in another EU Member State, or in a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, their insured periods in those countries may be combined with their Irish insurance to assess their entitlement to a pro-rata State pension (contributory). In addition to the general provisions under EU legislation (which apply to all EU Member States, EEA States; Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and to Switzerland), Ireland has bilateral agreements with the UK which also cover the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, USA, Australia, Canada, Quebec (which has a separate system from the rest of Canada), New Zealand, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. EU legislation and bilateral agreements provide that comparative pension assessments (for standard-rate State pension contributory under Irish legislation alone, and for pro- rata State pension contributory under EU or bilateral agreement provisions) be undertaken, and whichever is the most financially beneficial pension entitlement for that pensioner is awarded. As the State pension (contributory) is not means-tested, the rate of such a pension would not be reduced as a result of private pension provision.

It may be of interest that, in the case of Carer’s Allowance, where the carer receives a social welfare payment from another State, an amount up the maximum rate of the Irish State Pension Contributory is exempt from the means test. Any foreign social welfare payment in excess of the maximum Irish State Pension Contributory is treated as income for the means test.

The overall concern of the Government in recent budgets has been to protect the primary weekly social welfare rates where possible. Maintaining the rate of the State pension and other core payments is critical in protecting people from poverty.

162 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRF01150Emergency Accommodation Provision

21/04/2015WRF01200272. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason it has been suggested that a person (details supplied) in County Dublin should vacate the homeless accommodation that person shares with her parent who is an Irish citizen and her sibling in view of the fact that she is part of a family who are resident in County Kildare for seven years, up to being made homeless due to rent increases, and in view of her role within the family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15538/15]

21/04/2015WRF01300Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The person concerned is at present residing in emergency accommodation provided for and funded by the local authority, in this case Dublin City Council. Bookings into this accommodation are provided through the Department on behalf of the local authority. Decisions with regard to cancellation of bookings are made by the local authority, not the Department. As far as we are aware there is no intention at present to cancel the booking of emergency accommodation in the case of the person concerned but this process is overseen by the Central Placement Service of Dublin City Council not this Department.

21/04/2015WRF01350Jobseeker’s Allowance

21/04/2015WRF01400273. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason persons (details supplied) in Dublin 22, participating in a beauty therapy community training course funded by Foras Áiseanna Saothair, the Irish National Training and Employment Authority, at the Ronanstown Training and Education Centre, Balgaddy, Lucan, County Dublin, received no social welfare payments from 2 July 2012 to 21 September 2012. [15579/15]

21/04/2015WRF01500Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The persons concerned completed the Leaving Certificate Examinations in June 2012. Per current guidelines and in line with legislation, there is no entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance for a period of three months following completion of secondary education or from the date of the last Leaving Certificate Examination, whichever is the later.

Question No. 274 withdrawn.

21/04/2015WRF01650Carer’s Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRF01700275. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer’s allowance review will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15594/15]

21/04/2015WRF01800Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision

21/04/2015WRF01850JobsPlus Scheme 163 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRF01900276. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection with regard to the JobBridge internship scheme, if she will provide that following the completion of the internship period there is an option for the employer of taking the graduate on as a paid employee with the added incentive of a pay related social insurance rebate for the first year of employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15603/15]

21/04/2015WRF02000Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection (Deputy Kevin Humphreys): The JobsPlus scheme is currently available to JobBridge participants who meet the JobsPlus criteria. Eligibility criteria and general information relating to both schemes are available on www.welfare.ie.

Question No. 277 answered with Question No. 237.

21/04/2015WRF02150Carer’s Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRF02200278. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for Carer’s Allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; when that person will receive a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15634/15]

21/04/2015WRF02300Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.

Question No. 279 answered with Question No. 237.

21/04/2015WRF02450Disability Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRF02500280. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of an application for Disability Allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15645/15]

21/04/2015WRF02600Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Ap- peals Officer on 14th April 2015, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

21/04/2015WRF02650Pension Provisions

21/04/2015WRF02700281. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a

164 21 April 2015 scheme of credits can be constructed for women who were mandatorily required to leave the workforce due to implementation of the marriage bar, and whereby their entitlement to pensions has been severely curtailed due to a provision which was grounded upon inequality, and if same will now be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15667/15]

21/04/2015WRF02800Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The marriage bar was a condition of the employment in the public service until 1973. Issues relating to public sector employment and pensions are the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In general, civil and public servants recruited at that time paid a modified rate of PRSI (i.e. not the full Class A rate) which gave coverage for widow(er)’s and orphan’s pensions, occupational injury benefit, bereavement grant and carer’s benefit only. It did not provide cover for the State pension. The modified rate of social insurance was a condition of employment for public servants at that time. Accordingly, even if those affected by the marriage bar had continued in employment, contributions paid at this rate would not have given entitlement to a State pension (contributory) under the social welfare system.

The homemaker’s scheme was introduced in 1994 to make qualification for State pension contributory (SPC) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age, or incapacitated people, to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being calculated for pension purposes. The effect of this is to reduce the number of years by which the person’s contributions are divided, thereby increasing their yearly average, making it easier for them to qualify for a maximum rate SPC. However, it is important to note that the homemaker’s scheme will not, of itself, qualify a person for a SPC. The standard qualifying conditions for the SPC must also be satisfied. These require a person to enter insurable employment at least ten years before pension age, pay a minimum of 520 contributions at the correct rate (credited contributions do not satisfy this condition) and achieve a yearly average of at least 10 contributions paid or credited on their record.

For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State pension (contributory), the State pension system provides alternative methods of support. If someone has been a carer for nearly all of their adult life and has paid little or no PRSI, they may qualify for a means tested State pension (non-contributory), the maximum personal rate for which is €219, which amounts to just over 95% of the maximum rate of the State pension (contributory). Alternatively, if their spouse or civil partner is in receipt of a State pension (contributory) they may instead qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult of up to €206.30, which is just under 90% of the maximum personal rate of the State pension (contributory).

21/04/2015WRF02850Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

21/04/2015WRF02900282. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the review of a domiciliary care allowance claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [15710/15]

21/04/2015WRF03000Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): An application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 3rd October 2014. This application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on the 16th January 2015 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.

A review of this decision was requested on 2nd February 2015 and additional information on this child’s condition/care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new 165 Questions - Written Answers information supplied has been forwarded to a medical assessor for their professional opinion. Once this opinion is received the application will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made if warranted. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed. Such reviewed can take up to 12 weeks to complete at present.

21/04/2015WRG00150Social Welfare Benefits

21/04/2015WRG00200283. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding social welfare allowance and benefit in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15734/15]

21/04/2015WRG00300Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The household in question is in receipt of disability allowance consisting of maximum basic rate and increases for a qualified adult and three children; a half-rate carer’s allowance in respect of one care recipient; domiciliary care allowance in respect of one child; annual respite care grant; household benefits package and a fuel allowance during the fuel season.

The household appears to be in receipt of the full range of DSP entitlements in accordance with their circumstances as far as the Department knows them.

If the couple concerned believes they may qualify for additional supports or if there are circumstances of which the department is not aware, they should contact their local citizens information service for advice about making the appropriate additional applications.

Question No. 284 withdrawn.

21/04/2015WRG00450Water Conservation Grant

21/04/2015WRG00500285. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the preparations for the administration of the water conservation grant; and if she will confirm if or which functions will be outsourced. [15745/15]

21/04/2015WRG00600Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): A Water Conserva- tion Grant of €100 will be paid beginning in September 2015 to households that have registered with Irish Water by 30th June 2015. The Grant will be administered and paid by the Depart- ment of Social Protection on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Grant will be paid to the occupier who registers with Irish Water in respect of a principal, private residence. Applications for the grant will be accepted from the end of August until early October.

The Department is in ongoing consultation with the Department of the Environment, Com- munity and Local Government and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to the staffing and funding needed to administer the scheme. The administration and payment of this grant is a significant project for the Department as it will require the development and implementation of IT systems and various customer support and communications services. Some external assistance will be needed with these elements of the project and the requisite procurement exercises for same are underway. Every effort is being made to maximise efficiencies in this regard.

A website providing information for the public has been launched at www.watergrant.ie.

166 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRG00650Social Welfare Payments Administration

21/04/2015WRG00700286. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the role of post offices in delivering her Depart- ment’s payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15806/15]

21/04/2015WRG00800Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The Department of Social Protection will pay over €50m to An Post under a contract for cash payment services to welfare customers this year. This contract which may be extended up to December 2019 will provide continuity of payments to customers at Post Offices.

We are all aware of the general societal trend to electronic payments. This trend undeniably presents a challenge for the current business model of An Post. In this context I am pleased to note that An Post has advertised for services relating to a new payments and transaction account. I look forward to that account becoming available in the not too distant future as it will provide alternative payment opportunities for the Department’s customers and enable An Post to meet its future business needs in an electronic payments environment.

Issues relating to the remuneration of Postmasters are a matter for An Post and my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the first instance, bearing in mind that An Post must continue to meet the agreed service level standards with this Depart- ment for contracted services.

21/04/2015WRG00850Money Advice and Budgeting Service

21/04/2015WRG00900287. Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the proposed changes in the Money Advice and Budgeting Service locally and nationally; the number of cases dealt with annually by location; the cost of delivery of this service at each such location; the reason for the proposed changes; the changes proposed for County Louth and east County Meath; if she will respond to the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15818/15]

21/04/2015WRG01000Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): At the outset, I wish to assure the Deputy that the Government is totally committed to maintaining and strengthening MABS and its local delivery of services. While work is underway exploring how to optimise resources and governance arrangements to the greatest extent possible, I can also assure the Deputy that there will be no diminution of locally-provided services to the public, no closure of service locations, and no staff redundancies. In fact, the aim of this exploration is to ensure that any efficiencies and savings achieved in governance arrangements can be used to expand and enhance local service delivery.

The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for providing information, advice (including money and budgeting advice service) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. CIB delivers on this remit through a network of delivery partners which includes 51 local Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) and 42 local Citizens Information Services (CIS). In 2014, €15.073m was allocated to the 51 local MABS companies, which had an active client caseload of some 20,000. A breakdown of cases handled by the 51 local companies and the allocation for each company is included in the Ap- pendix. In 2015 the CIB has been allocated a budget of €46m of which some €17.9 million is allocated to the MABS network of companies.

There are over 600 permanent staff, approximately 200 scheme workers and an estimated

167 Questions - Written Answers 2,000 volunteers working for the 93 independent companies in the network (51 MABS and 42 CISs). Each of these companies has a separate voluntary Board of Management, comprising an average of 9.2 members per Board resulting in a governance structure of over 800 people. The maintenance of such an unwieldy company and Board structure is no longer sustainable from an organisational or governance perspective and the resource effort required could otherwise be directed towards improved service delivery to citizens. Therefore, as part of the implementation of its Strategic Plan 2012-2015, CIB commissioned a feasibility study to identify options for dealing with this issue through greater organisational consolidation and/or integration of its delivery partners. This work was carried out by a company called Pathfinder and overseen by a Steering Group, comprising national representatives from MABS staff and Boards, Citizens In- formation Services staff and Boards, and staff from the Citizens Information Board. The work included extensive and comprehensive consultation with all stakeholders, including representatives of CIB’s delivery partner services (MABS and CIS) at local level. It identified a number of options for consideration. Following on from this, the Board of CIB agreed to the establishment of a Design Group tasked with outlining and recommending possible new structural models. The Design Group includes members of the voluntary boards and staff of a number of the MABS and CIS services, together with representation from CIB management. Submissions were sought by CIB from the representatives of Boards and staff of MABS and CIS, to inform the deliberations of the Design Group.

The Design Group recently furnished a progress report on its deliberations to the CIB executive, which in turn communicated an update to its network of service delivery partners. The Design Group has identified, as an option for consideration by the Board of CIB in due course, that the 51 Boards of MABS companies and the 42 Boards of CIS services could be consoli- dated across six (6) regions, resulting in six (6) independent MABS companies and Boards, and six (6) independent CIS companies and Boards, all reporting to the board of CIB. However, it is important to note that any such consolidation would be at the Board level only. All existing MABS offices would remain unaffected. Local service delivery and personnel would not be impacted and would continue as before. It may be possible to take any savings that arise and use them for enhancing local service delivery or indeed offering additional services. It is also important to note that neither this option nor any alternative has yet been considered by the Board of CIB. Accordingly, no decisions have been made by the Board and no proposal has been formally made to my Department for consideration. Therefore, it is not possible at this juncture to speculate on what changes may occur in the governance of any of the services in any location. It is expected that the Design Group proposal, when further developed, will be formally submitted to the Board of CIB for its consideration.

APPENDIX 1

MABS Funding (2014) Active Client caseload on 31/12/2014 Arklow 230,200 191 Athlone 159,300 236 Ballymun 379,700 437 Blanchardstown 354,300 506 Bray 348,000 447 Carlow 339,800 876 Cavan 278,300 704 Charleville 199,800 210 Clare 281,200 632 Clondalkin 371,600 373 168 21 April 2015 MABS Funding (2014) Active Client caseload on 31/12/2014 Cork 435,400 896 Drogheda 176,654 203 Dublin 10 & 20 371,287 244 Dublin 12 Area 292,200 198 Dublin North City 290,279 244 Dublin North East 280,095 107 Dublin South East 299,300 284 Dun Laoghaire 228,000 92 Dundalk/Oriel 250,660 383 Dundrum/Rathfarnham 337,686 202 Fingal (North County) 310,900 343 Finglas/Cabra 342,100 178 Kerry 520,592 853 Kildare 475,800 447 Kilkenny 282,400 605 Laois 216,500 222 Leitrim 206,990 284 Liffey South West 373,800 190 Limerick 386,199 560 Longford 173,817 251 Meath 299,261 635 Monaghan 263,800 473 Mullingar 192,090 306 North Cork 305,000 485 North Donegal 370,500 243 North Galway 234,800 302 North Mayo 212,400 269 North Tipperary 259,900 395 Offaly 238,979 211 Roscommon 194,300 217 Sligo 251,500 291 South Donegal 150,800 197 South Galway 516,900 758 South Mayo 287,600 215 South Tipperary 376,700 534 Tallaght 316,829 733 Waterford 503,600 799 West Cork 287,400 350 West Donegal 126,800 245 West Waterford 166,254 337 Wexford 324,900 605 Total €15,073,171 19,998

169 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRG01050Invalidity Pension Appeals

21/04/2015WRG01100288. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a decision has not issued in the past six years on an appeal against an unsuccessful application for an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who received occupational injury benefit and illness benefit and who is in receipt of invalidity pension from her Department for a number of years; the reason for the delay in processing same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15821/15]

21/04/2015WRG01200Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the disablement benefit appeal of the person concerned was registered on 1st September 2010. An oral hearing was scheduled for 25th July 2011 but this was postponed at the request of the appellant’s employer as a case on the matter was open in the High Court. In the circumstances, the Appeals Officer agreed to the postponement pending the conclusion of the High Court proceedings and notified the two parties involved (the appellant and his employer) in writing.

I am advised that, in the intervening period, the Appeals Officer has written to the appellant on at least six occasions and to the appellant’s employer on at least eight occasions seeking to ascertain the status of the High Court proceedings. A further letter will shortly issue to both parties.

I am advised that, as soon as the Appeals Officer receives confirmation from the parties that the High Court proceedings have concluded an oral hearing of the appeal will be arranged as a matter of priority.

21/04/2015WRG01250Invalidity Pension Appeals

21/04/2015WRG01300289. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension refused by her Department will now be appealed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15826/15]

21/04/2015WRG01400Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): An application for Invalidity Pension by the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Depart- ment on 22th December 2014. I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there is no trace of any appeal against this decision having been received from the person concerned.

In the normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of a decision being notified. Appeals received outside of this time limit may be accepted at the discretion of the Chief Appeals Officer. This limit is not rigidly enforced but in view of the length of time which has elapsed since the person concerned was notified of the decision and in the absence of any explanation for the failure to submit an appeal within the prescribed timeframe, I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that it is unlikely that an appeal would be accepted at this late stage.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Pro- tection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in

170 21 April 2015 relation to social welfare entitlements.

21/04/2015WRG01450Disabled Drivers Grant Applications

21/04/2015WRG01500290. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if an application for a primary medical certificate now under appeal will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [15287/15]

21/04/2015WRG01600Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Pas- sengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, assistance with fuel costs, and an exemption from Motor Tax.

To qualify for the Scheme, an applicant must have a permanent and severe physical disability within the terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regula- tions (S.I. 353 of 1994) and satisfy one of the six qualifying criteria outlined in the Regulations:

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

- be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;

- be without both hands or without both arms;

- be without one or both legs;

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;

- have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.

The Senior Medical Officer for the relevant local Health Service Executive administrative area makes a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant satisfies the medical criteria. A successful applicant is provided with a Primary Medical Certificate, which is required under the Regulations to claim the reliefs provided for in the Regulations.

An unsuccessful applicant can appeal the decision of the Senior Medical Officer to the Dis- abled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, which makes a new clinical determination in respect of the individual. The Regulations mandate that the Medical Board of Appeal is independent in the exercise of its functions to ensure the integrity of its clinical determinations.

21/04/2015WRG01650Tax Compliance

21/04/2015WRG01700291. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his views on the assessment made in an article (details supplied) that if the company referred to was forced to pay back tax due to the Irish Exchequer because of an infraction of state aid rules, the amount could be up to $6 billion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15155/15]

21/04/2015WRG01800Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): My officials are continuing to engage fully with the ongoing state aid investigation, and we have comprehensively addressed the Commission’s concerns making it clear that the appropriate amount of Irish tax was charged in accordance with the relevant legislation. 171 Questions - Written Answers I am still firmly of the view that there was no breach of State aid rules in this case and we will continue to defend all aspects of the case.

It therefore would not be appropriate to comment on media speculation as to what aid, if any, the company might have to repay in the event of a finding of state aid and I do not intend to do so.

It is important to emphasise that the Commission have only opened a formal investigation at this stage; they have not made a final determination on state aid in respect of Ireland.

However, in the event that the Commission does form the view that there was state aid, Ireland is entitled to challenge this decision in the European Courts. As I and my colleagues in Government have already indicated, we will take that course of action, if necessary, and vigor- ously defend the Irish position.

21/04/2015WRG01850Mortgage Interest Rates

21/04/2015WRG01900292. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding mortgage interest rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15167/15]

21/04/2015WRG02000302. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding variable interest rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15539/15]

21/04/2015WRG02100Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 302 together.

At the outset, I would like to confirm to the Deputy that the lending institutions in Ireland - including those in which the State has a significant shareholding - are independent commercial entities. I, as Minister for Finance, have no statutory role in relation to regulated financial institutions setting interest rates. The mortgage interest rates that financial institutions operating in Ireland charge to customers are determined as a result of a commercial decision by the institutions concerned. Each institution determines the rate it charges its customers, depending on a number of factors such as cost of funds and commercial considerations (such as competition, risk pricing and the impact on deposit rates).

The Central Bank has responsibility for the regulation and supervision of financial institutions in terms of consumer protection and prudential requirements and for ensuring ongoing compliance with applicable statutory obligations. However, the Central Bank has no statutory role in the setting of interest rates by regulated entities, apart from the interest rate cap imposed on the credit union sector in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Union Act, 1997 and the requirement to be notified of penalty or surcharge interest imposed in respect of arrears.

Nonetheless, the issue of regulation of interest rates remains a policy area under active review and has been the subject of recent correspondence between the Department of Finance and the Central Bank. The current position is that the Central Bank does not have new proposals for the additional regulation of interest rates. However, as I have stated in previous Parliamentary Questions, a former Deputy Governor indicated that, within its existing powers and through the use of persuasion, the Central Bank would continue to engage with specific lenders which appear to have standard variable rates set disproportionate to their cost of funds and this is a course of action I expect the Central Bank to continually appraise.

172 21 April 2015 That said, the Deputy should be aware that the Governor of the Central Bank, Patrick Hono- han, stated last November that in Ireland, as in most advanced economies, it has long been understood that tight administrative control over the rates charged by banks would be counterproductive in ensuring a sufficient flow of properly priced credit on a lasting basis. Such control would strongly discourage new entrants when, in fact, ongoing competition in the banking sector will be crucial in ensuring that the economy is provided with efficient and cost effective banking services. In this regard, there have been some movements on mortgage interest rates of late by a number of institutions which suggest that the market may be entering a new and more competitive phase.

In addition, the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement Act) 2013 introduced changes to Section 149 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 which regulates fees and charges in order to attract new entrants to the Irish banking sector and there is some evidence of improvements in the banking sector with a number of institutions introducing new products and adapting their business model. In the last 12 months there have been a number of new entrants to the Irish mortgage market bringing additional and welcome competition to this sector.

I should add that myself and the Governor of the Central Bank meet regularly, the latest of these meetings took place on 2 April. Among the items discussed was the issue of mortgage interest rates. The Governor provided an update on the ongoing work that he and his officials are carrying out on the issue of the standard variable rates charged by the lenders.

We noted that the SVRs charged in Ireland are higher than other euro area countries and have not fallen in line with ECB wholesale rates. The Central Bank will continue to research why this is the case and will publish results shortly. The Governor will update me on progress in due course.

21/04/2015WRG02150Tax Relief Application

21/04/2015WRG02200293. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the reason the cost of attending a periodontal consultant cannot be claimed on the Med 2 form, while the cost of subsequent actual treatment can; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15272/15]

21/04/2015WRG02300Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): Section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides relief for health expenses incurred by an individual on his own behalf or on behalf of others. In this regard health expenses are defined as expenses incurred in the provision of health care.

Health care means prevention, diagnosis, alleviation or treatment of an ailment, injury, de- fect or disability, but specifically excludes routine dental treatment which is defined as the ex- traction, scaling and filling of teeth and the provision and repairing of artificial teeth or dentures.

Health expenses include expenses representing the cost of the services of a practitioner and maintenance or treatment necessarily incurred in connection with the services of a practitioner. A practitioner includes a person who is registered under section 43 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 or under section 26 of the Dentists Act 1985. Therefore, while routine dental treatment does not qualify for tax relief, where other non-routine dental procedures are undertaken, the services of a practitioner (including the cost of attendance), registered under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 or the Dentists Act 1985, and the diagnostic procedures carried out on the advice of such a practitioner would qualify for relief.

173 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRG02350Tax Code

21/04/2015WRG02400294. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter regarding the purchase of a property (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15308/15]

21/04/2015WRG02500Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I am advised by the Revenue Commis- sioners that having regard to taxpayer confidentiality, they are not in a position to comment on the tax affairs of a third party. It is a matter for any such party to make direct contact with Revenue if they have an issue of concern.

21/04/2015WRG02575Mortgage Arrears Proposals

21/04/2015WRG02600295. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the legal basis on which the Central Bank of Ireland can impose greater capital requirements on banks that do not reach the mortgage arrears resolution targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15333/15]

21/04/2015WRG02700296. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank of Ireland can impose greater capital requirements on banks that do not meet the mortgage arrears resolution target, as long as that bank is not in breach of any of element of the capital requirements directive or any other regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15334/15]

21/04/2015WRG02800297. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if all Irish banks that participate in the mortgage arrears resolution targets are currently meeting all regulations that, if not met, would allow the Central Bank of Ireland to impose greater capital requirements under regulation 70 of the 2006 regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15335/15]

21/04/2015WRG02900Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 to 297, inclusive, together.

The Capital Requirements Regulation and Directive IV (CRR/CRD IV) introduced a number of new macro-prudential instruments and powers. The Regulation was directly applicable in Member States when the legislation entered into force on 1 January 2014, and the CRD IV Directive was transposed into Irish law by the Minister for Finance on 31 March 2014. The Central Bank of Ireland was designated as the authority with competence to perform the functions under the CRR and CRD IV including macro prudential powers such as imposing a coun- tercyclical capital buffer, systemically important institutions buffers and the ability to tighten a range of micro-prudential instruments. Following the introduction of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) on 4 November 2014, the SSM took overall responsibility for setting bank’s regulatory capital requirements. Nonetheless, the Central Bank, through its participation in the SSM, still plays a significant role in determining regulatory capital requirements.

Tackling mortgage arrears is a priority for the Government. A whole-of-Government approach has been adopted in addressing the issue with a view to maximising the level of loan restructuring arrangements and minimising the number of home repossessions.

The Central Bank is also continuing to take action in this area. On 2 April the Central Bank reported that the lenders covered by the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Targets met the Central Bank requirements for Q4 2014. Furthermore, the Central Bank announced that it had determined that relying on common quarterly targets was no longer appropriate and instead they have written to each bank setting out new requirements, including that concluded sustainable solutions are in place for the vast majority of distressed borrowers by the end of 2015. The Cen-

174 21 April 2015 tral Bank remains focused on ensuring that the banks continue to improve issues identified in relation to their individual systems and procedures to ensure that they resolve arrears cases by implementing sustainable solutions for distressed borrowers in a fair manner.

21/04/2015WRG02950Tax Credits

21/04/2015WRG03000298. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance the reason for a change in the tax credits and rates in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the way that person’s situation can be adjusted or improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15382/15]

21/04/2015WRG03100Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that although all of the person’s tax credits and standard rate band were allocated against his employment, further tax credits and standard rate band, to which the person was not entitled, were also allocated against the person’s pension. These were withdrawn in March 2015 resulting in the additional tax deduction.

Revenue recently contacted the person concerned regarding the 2015 tax credit allocation, the situation was explained and an amended tax credit certificate was issued to him. This means that the person concerned will pay the correct amount of tax for 2015.

The Revenue Commissioners are currently reviewing the tax liabilities of the person concerned for earlier years and will contact the person concerned further in regard to this aspect shortly.

21/04/2015WRG03150Mortgage Arrears Rate

21/04/2015WRG03200299. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank of Ireland has estimated the number of residential and buy-to-let mortgage accounts on which no payment has been made for more than one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15405/15]

21/04/2015WRG03300Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I am informed by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) that the requested breakdown in respect of PDH and BTL mortgage accounts on which no payment has been made for more than one year is unavailable. However, the CBI website contains data which shows the number of PDH and BTL accounts that are in arrears of more than 360 days. It can be accessed at the following link,

http://www.centralbank.ie/polstats/stats/mortgagearrears/Pages/Data.aspx

It is important to stress, however, that these figures do not necessarily imply that no payment has been made on these accounts for more than one year. It means that the arrears balance on these accounts is equivalent to 360 (or more) days past due. For example, if a consumer made half repayments for a period of two years, then an account would have an arrears balance equivalent to one year of missed repayments. It is also the case that my own Department’s mortgage arrears data is set out in a similar way and does not include a breakdown of the number of PDH and BTL mortgage accounts on which no payment has been made for more than one year.

The numbers show that in the vast majority of cases engagement between banks and borrowers works. According to CBI data, almost 115,000 mortgage accounts were classified as re-structured at the end of 2014. This represented an increase of about 30,000 accounts over the 175 Questions - Written Answers course of 2014. 85% of these restructured mortgages were deemed to be meeting the terms of their restructure arrangement and for some solutions it reached well over 90%. Real solutions tailored to the needs of borrowers are available where engagement takes place. The challenge is to encourage borrowers and lenders who are in long term arrears situations to engage and reach solutions.

21/04/2015WRG03350Banking Operations

21/04/2015WRG03400300. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if Allied Irish Banks has quantified the total value of the individual loans approved to fund the Bellfry investments No. 1 to No. 6; the number of individual loans approved and the value of each; if these loans are being repaid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the loan approval; if the individual staff member or manager who sold this product or approved the loan received commission or other reward for the arrangement; if he will confirm the fees charged by the bank relative to this investment; the name of the nominee representing the investors; if the bank has any exposure relative to what is due to be repaid to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15449/15]

21/04/2015WRG03500Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I have been informed by AIB that:

- All disclosures in relation to AIB’s loan portfolios are contained in the Risk Management section (pages 60-138) of AIB’s 2014 Annual Financial Report.

- AIB staff who were authorised to sell Belfry products were not paid commission or other reward for this arrangement.

- All fees charged by AIB in relation to the Belfry companies have been fully disclosed to investors. The initial placing fee/commission was detailed in the Investment Memorandum or Prospectus, as were AIB’s annual fee arrangements. Additionally, AIB’s fees have been detailed within the annual Financial Statements and these have been provided to investors since inception.

- Details of the nominee companies are contained within the Investment Memorandum or Prospectus for each company, and within the application forms which were signed by investors.

- AIB is not a shareholder in any of the Belfry companies.

21/04/2015WRG03550Mortgage Interest Rates

21/04/2015WRG03600301. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Permanent TSB Bank is allowed to continue to impose higher rates of interest on its Irish customers who have standard variable mortgages, in comparison with other European banks; the action he has taken to rectify this situation this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15474/15]

21/04/2015WRG03700Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): The lending institutions in Ireland - including those in which the State has a significant shareholding - are independent commercial entities. I have no statutory role in relation to regulated financial institutions passing on the European Central Bank interest rate change or to the mortgage interest rates charged. It is a commercial matter for each institution concerned. It is not appropriate for me, as Minister for Finance, to comment on or become involved in the detailed position of mortgage holders or the manner in which individual banks choose to put forward mortgage propositions to potential customers or how that relates to existing customers. 176 21 April 2015 That said, the issue of regulation of interest rates remains a policy area under active review and this has been the subject of recent correspondence between the Department of Finance and the Central Bank. The current position is that the Central Bank does not have new proposals for the additional regulation of interest rates.

It should be noted that The Governor of the Central Bank and I meet regularly. At a recent meeting on the 2nd April, among the items discussed was the issue of mortgage interest rates. The Governor provided an update on the ongoing work that he and his officials are carrying out on the issue of the standard variable rates charged by the lenders.

The Governor and I noted that the SVRs charged in Ireland are higher than other euro area countries and have not fallen in line with ECB wholesale rates. The Central Bank will continue to research why this is the case and will publish results shortly. The Governor will update me on progress in due course.

Question No. 302 answered with Question No. 292.

21/04/2015WRH00200Property Tax

21/04/2015WRH00300303. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15540/15]

21/04/2015WRH00400Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I wish to advise the Deputy that, having made a commitment to examine the Local Property Tax (LPT) and any impacts on LPT liabilities as a result of property price movements, I have appointed former public servant Dr. Don Thornhill to conduct a review to consider and make recommendations on the operation of the Local Property Tax. In particular the Review will have regard to:

Recent residential property price developments,

The overall yield from LPT and its contribution to total tax revenue on an ongoing basis, and

The desirability of achieving relative stability, both over the short and longer terms, in LPT payments of liable persons.

A public consultation has been launched as part of the review, inviting submissions from the public on the operation of LPT. This public consultation process will run until 30th April 2015. Any submissions that the Deputy or the person, on whose behalf this Question was asked, may wish to make to the public consultation will be more than welcome.

Submissions may be made by email to [email protected] or by post to:

Local Property Tax Review

Tax Policy Division

Department of Finance

Government Buildings

Upper Merrion Street 177 Questions - Written Answers Dublin 2

I expect that the review will be completed by summer 2015, and will be considered in the context of Budget 2016.

21/04/2015WRH00500Consumer Credit Act Review

21/04/2015WRH00600304. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Consumer Credit Act 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15548/15]

21/04/2015WRH00700Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I am advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that the statutory powers to prosecute summarily or pursue a suspected contravention of Section 129(2) of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 under the Administrative Sanctions Procedure (governed by Part IIIC of the Central Bank Act 1942) are both discretionary powers, the use of which is considered on a case by case basis.

The Central Bank has published its general approach where both the Administrative Sanc- tions Procedure and summary criminal prosecution are available in respect of a suspected contravention/offence. In the Central Bank’s ‘Outline of the Administrative Sanctions Procedure’ paragraph 3.6.1 a) notes that “(t)he Central Bank may decide to pursue suspected contraven- tions through the Administrative Sanctions Procedure instead of bringing a summary prosecution. However, the Central Bank will consider the circumstances of each case on its merits and may decide to pursue matters which constitute both a prescribed contravention and a criminal offence via the criminal courts. In deciding whether to pursue criminal proceedings, the Central Bank will exercise its discretion, having regard to the Director of Public Prosecution’s “Guide- lines for Prosecutors”. The particular circumstances of each case are considered on their own merits to decide if it is appropriate to exercise the statutory discretion to take action in respect of a suspected offence/contravention.

21/04/2015WRH00800IBRC Staff

21/04/2015WRH00900305. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if staff which his Depart- ment seconded to the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation from September 2012 reported to his Department any concerns related to persons working at the corporation (details supplied) and their potential conflicts of interest relating to the disposal of an indebted entity, Boundary Capital; if the person on secondment indicated to whom the debt of Boundary Capital was sold; if any action was taken at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15583/15]

21/04/2015WRH01000Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I have been advised that the senior official from my Department who was seconded to IBRC (who commenced his role in October 2012) did not raise any concerns relating to the person referred to in the question. I am further advised that the senior official from my Department who was seconded to IBRC was not involved in any discussions for or on behalf of IBRC in relation to transactions relating to Bound- ary Capital or with Boundary Capital.

21/04/2015WRH01100Tax Exemptions

21/04/2015WRH01200306. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance the basis on which an organisation (details supplied) has been given a charity number with tax-free status when it is clearly not a 178 21 April 2015 charity but a right wing think tank. [15627/15]

21/04/2015WRH01300Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): For reasons of taxpayer confidentiality I cannot comment on the tax affairs of individual bodies. However, in order to avail of a charitable tax exemption, a body or trust must be established for charitable purposes only and must apply all of its income to charitable purposes.

The Revenue Commissioners have procedures in place to ensure that a charitable tax exemption is only granted to bodies/trusts that meet the required criteria. Furthermore, bodies/ trusts that are granted charitable tax exemption are subject to periodic review to ensure that they continue to comply with the terms of that exemption.

21/04/2015WRH01400IBRC Staff

21/04/2015WRH01500307. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance further to his statement that his Department had a number of concerns regarding the quality of decisions taken at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation over the sale of a company (details supplied), if those concerns specifically included the possibility that a senior staff member (details supplied) of the corporation had a triple conflict of interest in that the staff member simultaneously managed the company’s account, the account of the owner of the ultimately successful bidder for the company and the personal account of the chief executive officer of the company during the sale process; if his Department made any inquiries on this specific matter; if so, if he will share these findings; if this specific matter was raised by him or his officials during the meetings which took place arising from the sale of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15637/15]

21/04/2015WRH01600Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): Notwithstanding that officials from my Department had concerns regarding the quality of some decisions taken by IBRC prior to its liq- uidation, I am not aware of and there are no records which suggest that there were any concerns with the person referred to in the question or of any potential conflicts of interest that existed in his role in IBRC. Therefore, I am unable to comment further on this matter.

21/04/2015WRH01700IBRC Operations

21/04/2015WRH01800308. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of bids that were received during the first round of the sale of an entity (details supplied) by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation; if he will provide a list of those bids; if the company which was ultimately successful in purchasing the entity was in fact among the first bidders; if that bid amount changed over the course of the bidding process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15708/15]

21/04/2015WRH01900Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): Following a review of the transaction concerning the company referred to in the question by officials in my Department on 11 June 2012, they were made aware by IBRC that 8 bids were received for the company referred to in the question. While there is evidence that certain bid amounts may have changed during the process, there is no record that officials in my Department were furnished with the names of the 8 bidders, the amounts which each bidder submitted in the first round or in the second round, nor the reasons behind any changes in bid amounts which may have occurred, so I am unable to comment further.

179 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRH02000NAMA Expenditure

21/04/2015WRH02100309. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an ite- mised breakdown of amounts over €100,000 of the €13.1 million in fees paid by the National Asset Management Agency to professional firms under the headings of legal fees and portfolio management fees in 2014; in the tables to be provided, if he will include the name of the firm and-or person in question, and the amount, over €100,000, paid out to each firm and-or person; the reason there was a 33% increase in fees paid to professional firms by the agency in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15744/15]

21/04/2015WRH02200Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): In response to the Deputy’s Parliamen- tary Question 81 of 2nd April 2015 (PQ 132827/15), NAMA provided a detailed aggregate breakdown of payments in excess of €100,000 to individual legal and portfolio management service providers. It is not appropriate in the context of Parliamentary Questions for NAMA to provide an invoice-by-invoice breakdown of incurred expenses, including for the reason that the provision of individual invoice details could have the effect of identifying individual debtors and individual debtor assets in contravention of sections 99 and 202 of the NAMA Act or may relate to specific legal advices in respect of matters currently before the courts. I am advised by NAMA that the increase in incurred expenses in 2014 reflects the significant increase in the volume of loan and property sales transactions from 1,800 in 2013 to 3,000 in 2014, representing an increase of 66%. This increase in transaction activity results in additional fees for legal and property services.

21/04/2015WRH02300Tax Exemptions

21/04/2015WRH02400310. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance the applicability of value-added tax to the activities of Outdoor Education Ireland; if the organisation operated on behalf of the education and training boards is exempted from this tax for some business operations; if so, if this is in keeping with fair competition, in view of the number of small and medium-sized enterprises operating in this sector, and their importance to rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15807/15]

21/04/2015WRH02500Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I am advised by the Revenue Commis- sioners that paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 1 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010, in line with the EU VAT Directive, provides that children’s and young people’s education and school education provided by educational establishments recognised by the State and by other persons supplying education of a similar kind is exempt from VAT. The exemption can be availed of by both educational establishments recognised by the State and by other persons once the relevant criteria are met so there is no issue of unfair competition between the two categories of providers.

While the nature and scope of what is interpreted as education that qualifies for the exemption is extensive and wide-ranging, in general, it includes classes that are led and directed, rather than merely supervised. To qualify for the VAT exemption, outdoor education activities to which the Deputy refers must be provided in an appropriate sporting facility, be provided as a structured course, confer a level of skill or ability which can be evaluated by comparison with objective standards and there must be a student and tutor relationship. It is not a necessary condition that these outdoor education lessons take place during school hours or indeed in a school setting but it is a necessary condition that the lessons are similar to the programme, objectives and outcomes set out in the Department of Education and Science syllabus. In contrast, where similar activities are provided by Outdoor Education Centres to adults they are generally liable

180 21 April 2015 to VAT since they are regarded as purely recreational.

I would point out that an establishment or person who provides such VAT-exempt education does not register for VAT and does not charge VAT on the supply of their services. Persons who are exempt from VAT cannot recover VAT incurred on goods and services used for their provision of education, such as the purchase of fuel or IT equipment or software licenses.

21/04/2015WRH02600Tax Code

21/04/2015WRH02700311. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the operation of the single-person child carer tax credit, which replaced the one-parent family tax credit, has negatively impacted on some parents, who share custody and parenting responsibilities; and his views that the rules of the new tax credit are at odds with promoting parental responsibility and equality among different family structures. [15808/15]

21/04/2015WRH02800Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): As the Deputy is aware, the One-Parent Family Tax Credit (OPFTC) has been replaced with the Single Person Child Carer Credit since 1 January 2014. However, the new credit is more targeted in that it is, in the first instance, only available to the primary carer of the child.

Given the difficult fiscal environment, it is essential to review all tax reliefs, credits and incentives in order to ensure that they are properly targeted and if necessary re-focused in order that they can achieve the socioeconomic objectives that are set for them.

The Commission on Taxation acknowledged that the previous One Parent Family Tax Cred- it played a role in supporting and incentivising the labour market participation of single and widowed parents. However, in its recommendations it concluded that the credit should be retained but that it should be allocated to the primary carer only. The restructuring of the credit achieves such an outcome.

The person who cares for the child for most of the year is entitled to the credit in the first instance. Agreement as to who will be the primary carer of a child is a matter for the parents or guardians. However, only the primary carer is entitled to the credit.

It should be noted that where a primary carer is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting they would not be entitled to the new credit (or indeed the former one), on the basis that the relevant child is not, in the main, being cared for by a single person. In such circumstances the primary carer cannot relinquish the credit to a secondary carer. In addition, a secondary carer who is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, would not be entitled to the new credit (or indeed the former one) regardless of the marital status of the primary carer.

There is no specific tax credit for children in the tax code. Therefore, married or cohabiting couples are unable to avail of any additional credit to assist them in the financial maintenance of their children. In certain cases, such couples also need to maintain two households due to the location of employment, for example.

While I understand the difficulties being experienced by those that cannot avail of the SPCCC, I am satisfied that the credit targets limited Exchequer resources to where they are needed most. In addition, it is not a function of the tax system to incentivise shared custody and shared parenting responsibilities.

181 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRH02900Post Office Network

21/04/2015WRH03000312. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the decline of the Irish postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15810/15]

21/04/2015WRH03100Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): Issues related to An Post are generally a matter for my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The Strategy for Financial Inclusion called for the nationwide launch of a Standard Bank Account as a first step in promoting Financial Inclusion. A pilot project for a Basic Bank Ac- count was run, which finished on 31 March 2013 after a 9-month pilot period. A total of 205 accounts were opened during the Pilot, which the Financial Inclusion Working Group (FIWG) felt was disappointing.

The Report of the Working Group on the Pilot project noted a number of reasons for this, including the view of stakeholders that one of the key elements required for a successful national roll-out of a Standard Bank Account is greater involvement by An Post and the credit unions. My Department is currently exploring with the relevant stakeholders how to make progress on this issue.

21/04/2015WRH03150Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRH03300313. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16053/15]

21/04/2015WRH03400Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): The information requested by the Dep- uty for the agencies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the tables below:

National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA):

Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Number 6 12 11 12 13 14 16 of retired public service pensions in payment

182 21 April 2015 Central Bank:

Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Number 243 282 311 347 369 382 469 of retired public service pensions in payment (as at year end)

The number of retired civil service pensions in payment for the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Revenue Commissioners for the years 2008 to 2014 are included within Parliamentary Question No. 315 answered by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

21/04/2015WRH03500Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRH03600314. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the total value of public sector pensions in payment; the average public sector pension in 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16063/15]

21/04/2015WRH03700Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): The information requested by the Dep- uty for the agencies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the tables below:

National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA):

Total value of public sector pensions in pay- Average public sector pension in 2014 ment €1,316,738 €82,296

Central Bank:

Total value of public sector pensions in pay- Average public sector pension in 2014 ment €9,298,000 €19,825.16

The total value of pensions in payment and the average pension amount in 2014 for civil servants in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Revenue Commission- ers are included within Parliamentary Question 15400/15 answered by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

21/04/2015WRH03800Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRH03900315. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of retired Civil Service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement 183 Questions - Written Answers on the matter. [15399/15]

21/04/2015WRH04000Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin): The following table sets out the number of retired civil service pensions in payment each year from 2008 to 2014.

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Number 15,245 17,005 18,122 18,617 19,974 20,314 21,128 of retired civil service pensions in payment

21/04/2015WRH04100Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRH04200316. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total value of Civil Service pensions in payment; the average Civil Service pension in 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15400/15]

21/04/2015WRH04300Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin): Total pensions in payment for established civil servants in 2014 amounted to €324 m, corresponding to an average pension amount of €24,000. Pensions in respect of other civil service pensioners (for example unestablished retired civil servants and survivors) amounted to approximately €65 million, or an average pension amount of about €8,700.

21/04/2015WRH04400Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRH04500317. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount raised in 2014 from the public service pension reduction applied to pensions of €12,001 to €24,000, from those who retired on or before 29 February 2012, and those who retired from 1 March 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15401/15]

21/04/2015WRH04600318. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount raised in 2014 from the public service pension reduction applied to pensions of €24,001 to €60,000 from those who retired on or before 29 February 2012, and those who retired from 1 March 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15402/15]

21/04/2015WRH04700319. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount raised in 2014 from the public service pension reduction applied to pensions of €60,001 to €100,000 from those who retired on or before 29 February 2012, and those who retired from 1 March 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15403/15]

21/04/2015WRH04800320. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount raised in 2014 from the public service pension reduction applied to pensions of over €100,000 from those who retired on or before 29 February 2012, and those who retired from 1 March 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15404/15]

21/04/2015WRH04900Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin): I propose to

184 21 April 2015 take Questions Nos. 317 to 320, inclusive, together.

In my last review of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Acts laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in June 2014, the Public Service Pension Reduc- tion (PSPR) was estimated to save in the region of €125 million annually.

Public service pensions awarded to or in respect of persons retiring or reaching preserved pension age from 1 March 2012 onwards are based on lower final salaries than for earlier- awarded pensions, insofar as they factor in the pay reductions, ranging from 5% to 15%, imposed across the public service with effect from 1 January 2010 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009.

To reflect the impact of these lower final salaries on more recent pension awards, PSPR, as originally legislated for commencement on 1 January 2011, did not apply to pensions awarded on or after 1 March 2012.

Subsequently, as provided for under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Inter- est Act 2013, and effective 1 July 2013, further pension decreases ranging from 2% to 5% were imposed on all public service pensions above €32,500. These decreases were implemented by introducing PSPR at special low rates on post-February 2012 pensions, while at the same time adjusting upwards the PSPR rates applying to earlier-awarded pensions.

The best available estimate of the requested breakdown of the annual PSPR saving, based on pension distribution in 2012, is provided below:

Pensions awarded to or in respect of public servants retiring or reaching preserved pension age on or before 29 February 2012:

Pension level Estimated Saving

€12,000 - €24,000 €10.4 million

€24,000 - €60,000 €93.7 million

> €60,000 €18.7 million

Pensions awarded to or in respect of public servants retiring or reaching preserved pension age on or after 1 March 2012:

Pension level Estimated Saving

€12,000 - €24,000 €0

€24,000 - €60,000 €2.0 million

> €60,000 €0.4 million

21/04/2015WRH05000Public Sector Staff Remuneration

21/04/2015WRH05100321. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of applications for increases in remuneration received by his Department since 1 January 2014; the details of the application for increase, that is the posts and levels of increase involved; and whether the application was approved. [15494/15]

21/04/2015WRH05200Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin): No cost-

185 Questions - Written Answers increasing claims by trade unions or employees for improvements in pay or conditions of employment can be made or processed during the currency of the Haddington Road Agreement.

As the Deputy will be aware, I have indicated my intention to enter into discussions later this year with the public service unions, and the representatives of public service pensioners, on successor arrangements to Haddington Road and on the gradual wind down of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Acts. The public service unions have also indicated their intention to submit pay claims this year, should economic circumstances permit. Any discussions on pay will, of course, take place in the context of the State’s fiscal position and the pace of financial recovery for this year and 2016.

21/04/2015WRH05300Local Authority Rates

21/04/2015WRH05400322. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clarify his position regarding sports clubs which have an occasional licence for bar facilities; the way the rates liability is calculated in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15729/15]

21/04/2015WRH05500Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin): The Commis- sioner of Valuation is responsible under the Valuation Act 2001 for the valuation of commercial property for the purposes of the calculation, by Local authorities, of commercial rates. The legislation gives me as Minister no role in the valuation of property. Under the Valuation Act 2001 as it stands, a Community Sports Club that has a licence under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland) Act 1904, has all of its premises taken into account when valued.

The legislation in this area is being changed. The Valuation (Amendment)(No.2) Bill 2012 was passed by both houses of the Oireachtas on 16th April 2015. After the Bill is enacted and on its commencement an amendment to Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001 will take effect and will provide a partial exemption from commercial rates for Community Sports Clubs that are licensed under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland) Act, 1904. It will mean that for Commu- nity Sports Clubs that can have a bar, it will only be the commercial parts of their premises that will be valued for rates purposes rather than a valuation of all of their premises which is what happens under the current legislation. I am pleased to have been able to introduce an amendment which will give relief to local sports clubs who fulfil an important role in our communities and to resolve a long standing anomaly in the legislation.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Valuation that, after the commencement of the Valu- ation Amendment Act 2015, his office will initiate a process of updating the valuation lists for community sports clubs that will benefit from the amendment to Schedule 4. This process will involve seeking information from Community Sports Clubs so that the necessary changes to the valuation lists can be made. Any changes resulting from an amendment to Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001 will be made in 2015 and will be effective for rates purposes in 2016. The calculation and collection of commercial rates is a matter for Local Authorities.

21/04/2015WRJ00200Public Sector Pensions

21/04/2015WRJ00300323. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 225 of 27 of January 2015, his plans to change the pension scheme for current Ministers and other office holders in the Houses of the Oireachtas, in any shape or form, which would have the effect of alleviating the reductions imposed by current legislation on their pensions when leaving office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15730/15] 186 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRJ00400Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin): In my previous reply to which the Deputy refers, I set out a range of measures which have been implemented over recent years affecting the pensions of Public Servants, including Officeholders and politicians generally.

The Haddington Road agreement, underpinned by the financial emergency measures in the public interest (FEMPI) legislation, forms the cornerstone of public pay policy until 2016 when it is due to expire. In recent responses to Parliamentary Questions regarding the possible unwinding of the FEMPI legislation, I advised the House that, following receipt of the first quarter Exchequer returns and engagement with my colleagues in Government, it is intended that I discuss with the Public Service Unions the gradual unwinding of the legislation, in parallel and consistent with the improving economy. In that regard, it is hoped that pay and pensions can be addressed in parallel.

Consequently, I have no plans, nor would it be appropriate, outside of that process to amend the pension scheme for Officeholders in order to alleviate the effects of the measures taken to date.

21/04/2015WRJ00500Public Sector Staff Recruitment

21/04/2015WRJ00600324. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding personal information being requested on job application forms (details supplied); and if he would confirm if this is legal, as some of the questions posed are discriminatory in nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15791/15]

21/04/2015WRJ00700Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin): The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is committed to an equal opportunities policy, and in accordance with the Employment Equality Acts (1998 to 2011) aims to ensure that all applicants are treated equally whatever their gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, race or membership of the traveller community.

As part of its ongoing commitment to equality, the PAS monitors its selection processes in order to ensure that its equal opportunities policy is effectively implemented and to this end it invites candidates to complete an equality monitoring questionnaire. Candidates are informed that completion of this questionnaire is completely voluntary, and that the purpose of gathering the information is to ensure that the selection techniques used are fair to all and that no group is inadvertently discriminated against.

Neither the manner in which candidates respond to this questionnaire, nor the answers that they may provide has any bearing on the manner in which their application is considered. The information is held by the PAS in a secure data base and is used to produce data in an anonymous statistical format only.

I am happy that in this matter PAS is complying both with its legal obligations and with best practice in diversity monitoring.

21/04/2015WRJ00800Departmental Correspondence

21/04/2015WRJ00900325. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to correct previous parliamentary replies in respect of a person (details supplied). [15159/15]

21/04/2015WRJ01000Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton): The issues 187 Questions - Written Answers to which the Deputy refers have been the subject of a number of PQs over many years. My Department has also been in direct correspondence over this period with the person concerned in relation to this matter. It has been clearly and consistently communicated to the person concerned that the Department does not have any issue or concern to pursue with him.

There is no basis, therefore, upon which a correction of the record would be required.

21/04/2015WRJ01100Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

21/04/2015WRJ01200326. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor progress in EU-US trade negotiations with a view to maximisation of benefit for Irish companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15695/15]

21/04/2015WRJ01300Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton): My Depart- ment and I are closely monitoring the progress of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Part- nership (TTIP) negotiations. Since these negotiations started with the US in 2013, eight negotiating rounds have taken place. The 9th round is taking place in New York this week from 20 to 24 April 2015. It is hoped that there will be substantial advancement in the TTIP negotiations in 2015. According to assessments made by the EU Commission, a comprehensive TTIP could over time boost EU GDP by 0.5% per annum bringing significant economic gains as a whole for the EU. This converts into 400,000 jobs across the EU. Right across the range of issues covered by TTIP, I will ensure we are best positioned to make the most from these and other trade and investment opportunities in order to maximise any potential benefits for Irish companies and citizens.

A study commissioned by my Department estimates that these benefits in Ireland will be proportionally greater than in the EU as a whole. It suggests growth in Irish exports of almost 4%, increases in investment of 1% and increase in real wages of 1.5%. It estimates somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 additional export related jobs. It also suggests that Irish small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be particular beneficiaries.

Ireland’s interests in the TTIP negotiations will be assisted by the indications from this study. Our priorities include advancing regulatory cooperation and common rules which aim to make trade and investment easier especially for SMEs, and protecting our interests in any sensitive areas, including beef.

Ireland supports the Commission in these negotiations which aim to achieve an ambitious and comprehensive agreement contributing to growth and jobs both here and the EU. I will continue to promote our objective for a comprehensive, balanced agreement for the benefit of the long term development of our country.

21/04/2015WRJ01400Scientific Research

21/04/2015WRJ01500327. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the grounds upon which it was decided that the State’s chief scientific adviser would no longer hold a separate office, and would instead provide advice to the Government in addition to his role as director of Science Foundation Ireland; and if his Department was consulted as to Ireland’s educational and research goals prior to this decision. [15706/15]

21/04/2015WRJ01600Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton): The position

188 21 April 2015 of the State’s Chief Scientific Officer was established in 2004 to provide the Government with independent expert advice on issues related to public science policy. In 2012 it was decided by Government to abolish the separate Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA). The decision was taken in light of a review of the Office as part of the Government’s Public Sector Reform Initiative announced in November 2011 which called for a rationalisation and reduction in number of state bodies. It was further agreed that Professor Mark Ferguson would take on the role of Chief Scientific Advisor in addition to his existing role as Director General of Science Foundation Ireland.

The decision by Government to abolish the separate office of Chief Scientific Advisor was made on foot of a Memorandum to Government in Oct 2012 which was preceded by consultation with all Government Departments as is required.

21/04/2015WRJ01700Community Enterprise Centres

21/04/2015WRJ01800328. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the level of funding allocated to the business development management programme for community enterprise centres; the amount allocated to each centre; if the programme will be funded each year for the foreseeable future; his plans for community enterprise centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15299/15]

21/04/2015WRJ01900Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton): I understand from Enterprise Ireland that the last Community Enterprise Centre Scheme for Business De- velopment Management rolled out was in 2012 and 2013 when Enterprise Ireland provided funding of nearly €2 million to support the recruitment of a total of 46 Business Development Managers. The funding allocated is outlined in the following tabular statement. In February last, I announced details of the 5-year, €250 million Regional Action Plan for Jobs, aimed at accelerating the jobs recovery in every part of the country. The Regional Action Plan is based on the principle that the best way to support job-creation in towns and villages across the country is to support agencies and organisations within 8 regions, to build on the particular strengths and assets of their area and drive new job-creation strategies and projects.

Under the Regional Plan, Enterprise Ireland will launch a series of new competitive funding initiatives in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, enterprise infrastructure and job creation. An initial fund of €50 million is to be made available for three competitive calls. The first of these competitive calls, with a budget of €5 million, will focus on community-driven enterprise initiatives and how all the local players, public and private, can work together to maximise job creation.

The Community Enterprise Initiatives Fund call will be open to existing Community Enter- prise Centres (CECs) and also to any other organisation or groups of organisations with innovative ideas to create jobs, promote entrepreneurship, boost innovation or enhance exports. It should be open to any credible and novel approach rather than simply replicating what has been done before. It is expected that details of this Scheme will be announced shortly.

The criteria in any such competition will be announced by Enterprise Ireland, but the typical criteria will include:

- A credible plan demonstrating innovative solutions to fostering and creating employment locally and regionally in a collaborative manner;

- Demonstration of how a proposal fits with existing public and private infrastructure e.g. availability of business space in creating enterprise hubs and clusters across the region; 189 Questions - Written Answers - Promotion of a culture of entrepreneurship locally and regionally;

- Development of a capability to start-up and scale companies through a supportive business environment;

- Support for micro enterprise with the potential to export;

- Facilitating a hub where innovative start-ups can be established in a supportive network before moving on to accommodate the next cohort of emerging enterprises;

- Working with the Local Enterprise Office, to facilitate start-ups with a defined path for onward progression;

- Maximising existing enterprise clusters or developing new networks in a region;

- Building on existing strengths or opportunities, e.g. developing a sectoral opportunity where there is a competitive advantage;

- Commitment of matching finance;

- Bringing originality in approach and objectives, and leveraging other stakeholders to explore how all the local partners, public and private, can work together to maximise job creation in their region (Mentoring, funding, networks);

- Promoting public and private partnership, e.g. alignment, collaboration with other players (e.g. LEO, ETB, HEIs, and Chambers of Commerce etc.)

Amount allocated to each Community Amount Allocated € Enterprise Centre Client under the Commu- nity Enterprise Centre Scheme for Business Development Management rolled out in 2012/2013 IRD Kiltimagh Ltd 50,000 Bailieborough Development Association 10,000 Ltd Convoy Enterprise Centre Ltd 50,000 Ballinasloe Area Community Development 48,000 Ltd Mitchelstown Community Forum Ltd 50,000 St Paul’s Area Development Enterprise Ltd 50,000 The Bolton Trust 50,000 Drumshanbo Community Council Ltd 50,000 Clonmel Business Development Park Ltd 50,000 Croom Community Development Associa- 50,000 tion Ltd Drumshanbo Enterprise Centre Co Ltd 50,000 Hatherton Ltd 35,090 Balbriggan Enterprise & Training Centre 43,700 Ltd Action Community & Enterprise Ltd 50,000 Navan Enterprise Centre Co Ltd 50,000

190 21 April 2015 Amount allocated to each Community Amount Allocated € Enterprise Centre Client under the Commu- nity Enterprise Centre Scheme for Business Development Management rolled out in 2012/2013 Enniscorthy Enterprise & Technology Cen- 50,000 tre Ltd Macroom Environmental Industrial Park 30,000 Ltd IRD North Mayo - West Sligo Ltd 50,000 Wicklow Enterprise Park Ltd 50,000 Portarlington Enterprise Centre Ltd 50,000 Carlow Community Enterprise Centres Ltd 50,000 Monaghan County Enterprise Fund 50,000 Action Tuam Ltd 23,400 Coolock Development Council Ltd 50,000 Killarney Technology Innovation Ltd 50,000 Arklow Business Enterprise Centre Ltd 50,000 Get Tallaght Working Co-Op Ltd 49,838 Get Tallaght Working Co-Op Ltd 46,565 Louth Craftmark Ltd 50,000 Mullingar Employment Action Group 50,000 Dunhill Rural Enterprises Ltd 36,000 Galway Technology Centre Ltd 50,000 Ferbane Business & Technology Park Ltd 50,000 Clane Project Centre Ltd 50,000 Allenwood Community Development As- 45,000 sociation Ltd Cavan County Enterprise Fund 25,000 Kilkenny Community Enterprise Centre Ltd 17,000 Athy Community Enterprise Company 50,000 Limited Boyle Chamber of Commerce 35,000 Drogheda Enterprise Centre Ltd 50,000 Limerick Enterprise Development Partner- 50,000 ship Limited Mountmellick Development Association 10,000 Limited S.C.C.U.L. Enterprises Limited 50,000 Safeglade Limited. A subsidiary of the Bal- 48,000 lymun Partnership Ltd The Community Enterprise Society Limited 10,000 Waterford City Community Enterprise Cen- 10,000 tre Limited Total 1,972,593

21/04/2015WRJ02000Unfair Dismissals 191 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRJ02100329. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15354/15]

21/04/2015WRJ02200Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton): I understand from clarification provided by the Deputy that the question relates to a claim under the Unfair Dismissals Acts where the employer has objected to the claim being heard by a Rights Com- missioner.

The Unfair Dismissals Acts provide under Section 8(3)(b) that a Rights Commissioner shall not hear a claim for redress under the Acts if “any party concerned notifies the commissioner in writing that he objects to the claim being heard by a rights commissioner”.

Where an employer has objected to a hearing by a Rights Commissioner, under the Unfair Dismissals Acts the claimant must then have their claim heard by the Employment Appeals Tribunal and this is the position with this case.

I should point out that in some instances, a case under employment rights legislation, including the Unfair Dismissals Acts, may be selected for intervention by the Early Resolution Service (ERS) with a view to voluntary resolution.

21/04/2015WRJ02300Competition Law

21/04/2015WRJ02400330. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the circumstances in which it is permissible for wholesale suppliers to refuse to supply their products to certain retail outlets; if there are laws precluding such measures that aim to distort open competition; the remedies available to businesses affected by such practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15454/15]

21/04/2015WRJ02500Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton): Commercial relationships between firms at different levels of the supply chain, such as wholesalers and retailers, are governed in the first instance by the Competition and Consumer Protection Com- mission (CCPC) Declaration in respect of Vertical Agreements and Concerted Practices and, more generally, under section 4 of the Competition Act 2002, which prohibits anti-competitive agreements between undertakings. Under competition law, wholesalers may refuse to supply retailers for a wide range of legitimate reasons and there is no general obligation under that Act whereby a wholesaler must, in all circumstances, fulfil supply requests from retailers. Legiti- mate refusals to fulfil such requests may benefit from the exemptions from competition law set out in the Declaration, and in section 4(5) of the Competition Act 2002. Refusals to supply, which arise pursuant to an agreement between competitors, or as part of a dominant firm’s strategy to remove a competitor from the marketplace, may give rise to concerns under competition law, although such cases are invariably very specific.

If the Deputy is aware of matters that may require investigation, he should refer any specific complaints directly to the CCPC. Investigations and enforcement matters generally are part of the statutory function of the CCPC and I, as Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, have no direct role in the matter.

21/04/2015WRJ02600Unfair Dismissals

21/04/2015WRJ02700331. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the

192 21 April 2015 position regarding unfair dismissal and illness (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15521/15]

21/04/2015WRJ02800Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Ger- ald Nash): The Deputy will understand that I cannot provide legal advice in relation to the law applying to any particular situation, or the interpretation of legislation. Independent legal advice should be sought if an individual has concerns about a specific employment situation. The Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007 lay down criteria by which the fairness or otherwise of dismissals are adjudicated upon. While the Acts provide for some potentially fair reasons for dismissal, the onus is generally on the employer to show that there were substantial grounds justifying the dismissal. Each case is adjudicated upon on its merits and on the facts of each case. The normal time limit of 6 months for submitting a claim for redress for unfair dismissal may be extended to 12 months in exceptional circumstances.

If an employee believes that he or she has been unfairly dismissed within the meaning of the Unfair Dismissals Acts, it is for the Rights Commissioners Service and-or the Employment Appeals Tribunal to adjudicate upon the matter in circumstances where a complaint has been made by an employee. I should mention that the relevant adjudicatory bodies for cases referred after the enactment and commencement of the Workplace Relations Bill 2014 will be an Adju- dication Officer of the new Workplace Relations Commission and, on appeal, the Labour Court.

With regard to the provision of information on employment, equality and industrial relations rights and obligations, the Information Unit of the National Employment Rights Author- ity (NERA) has been restructured and expanded to form a new Workplace Relations Customer Service Section. It can be contacted at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90. The website www.workplacere- lations.ie also provides extensive information on employment rights.

21/04/2015WRJ02900Employment Rights

21/04/2015WRJ03000332. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with reference to the Employment Equality Acts, if he will outline the current legislation on compulsory retirement; if, in the absence of a contractual clause detailing an age of mandatory retirement, an employee may be forced to retire due to their age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15581/15]

21/04/2015WRJ03100Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Ger- ald Nash): As the Deputy will appreciate, neither I, nor any of my Cabinet colleagues, can provide legal advice or an interpretation of the law and its application in relation to individual circumstances. Apart from public sector employees, where certain statutory retirement ages may apply, there is no statutory retirement age for employees in Irish legislation. A contract of employment will generally contain a retirement age but this is a matter of contract between the relevant parties. Consequently, there is absolutely no prohibition on employers and employees setting down a retirement age which goes beyond what might be considered the normal retirement age in society or the age at which the State pension is payable.

The upper age limit for bringing claims under the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007 was removed by a provision in the Equality Act 2004. It is now the case that a person of any age, when dismissed, may take a case under the Unfair Dismissals Acts unless she or he has reached the “normal retiring age for employees of the same employer in similar employment”, if one exists. In such circumstances, the burden of proof is on the employer to prove the normal retiring age. Furthermore, the upper age limit of 66 years for receipt of statutory redundancy payments was removed by the Protection of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies 193 Questions - Written Answers and Related Matters) Acts 2007.

However, as the issue that arises around compulsory retirement at a given age is whether this entails discrimination on age grounds, the more usual avenue of redress for employees compulsorily retired is to take a claim, under the Employment Equality Acts, to the Equality Tribunal.

Responsibility for employment equality legislation rests with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald T.D. I am advised by my colleague that while Sec- tion 34(4) of the Employment Equality Acts provides that it is not unlawful for an employer to fix a compulsory retirement age for employees, the courts at national and European level, and the Equality Tribunal, have applied this having regard to the terms of Framework Directive 2000/78/EC as requiring that a compulsory retirement age must be objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim including legitimate employment policy, labour market and vocational training objectives, and if the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary.

21/04/2015WRJ03200Action Plan for Jobs

21/04/2015WRJ03300333. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his De- partment’s planned introduction of an early warning mechanism on key economic trends, and planned monthly data series to track employment and cost trends; the consultation he had with stakeholders; if he will provide a breakdown on the monthly information he plans to publish; if companies have concerns on the introduction of this system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15630/15]

21/04/2015WRJ03400Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton): As part of the Action Plan for jobs we have set ambitious targets for job creation and to get the economy to sustainable full employment by 2018 with 2.1 million at work, to restore Ireland’s competitiveness and to sustain progress on making Ireland the best small country in which to do business.

As part of the 2015 Action Plan for Jobs I have established a new framework for monitoring and tracking our performance in relation to key impacts and outcomes we are seeking to achieve in areas such as job creation, exports, entrepreneurship and startups, market penetration and innovation, efficiency of public interaction with business, finance and access to talent. My ambition is to ensure we can track the performance of the enterprise base on a continuous basis and have timely data so as to take corrective action where appropriate.

In this context my Department is in the process of developing a monthly Dashboard of Statistics, gathering together the most relevant internal data on the enterprise base, together with national enterprise relevant statistics and other indicators of enterprise performance as published by third parties. Among the key enterprise indicators currently being collected and we are considering publishing in a composite form include data on job announcements, on job vacancies, on work permits and on redundancy notifications. The CSO publishes data regularly in relation to the cost base for enterprise, such as in relation to labour costs, energy and other utilities and services to business costs. There are a wider range of indicators published by third parties that are of interest in terms of the performance of the enterprise base that we are reviewing including in relation to purchasing managers’ indices, trade and investment data and broader labour force statistics from the CSO.

My Department currently collects a range of data that can potentially provide indicators on the health of the enterprise base. My Department provides a range of important regulatory and other business environment support services to enterprise, through which we can ascertain rel-

194 21 April 2015 evant trends on business activity levels in the economy. These activities include, for example, the work of the Companies Registration Office and the Patents Office, of NERA, the Health and Safety Authority, the Workplace Relations Commission. These bodies publish their activity data on a regular basis. My Department is also responsible for the issuing of work permits and receives information on redundancies notifications. The enterprise surveys activity previously carried out by Forfás is now also being undertaken by the Strategic Policy Division within my Department and the results are also published on regular basis. In addition, the Strategic Policy Division continues to support the work of the National Competitiveness Council and continue to prepare benchmarking and data rich reports, such as on the costs of doing business and on Ireland’s competitiveness scorecard. I envisage we can combine in so far as possible these various enterprise related data points in the monitoring and tracking of enterprise performance and potential as part of the new Dashboard of Statistics. The data is being collected by officials in the relevant units and Divisions of the Department, in consultation with relevant agencies and offices of the Department, and is being compiled by the Strategic Policy Division.

The data as currently compiled for the Dashboard does not include any company specific data or information and nor is it intended that company specific data be included in the future. I will not be releasing data and information on individual enterprises. Early warning issues relating to individual enterprises are not part of the data we envisage publishing for the Dashboard and these will continue to be dealt with in the normal way on a strictly confidential basis.

21/04/2015WRJ03500Action Plan for Jobs

21/04/2015WRJ03600334. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation regarding his Department’s planned introduction of an early warning mechanism on key economic trends, and planned monthly data series to track employment and cost trends, if there was an analysis completed on the industrial relations implications where companies are unionised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15631/15]

21/04/2015WRJ03700Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton): The Action Plan for jobs sets ambitious targets for job creation and enterprise growth over the period to 2018, most notably to achieve sustainable full employment with 2.1 million at work, to restore Ireland’s competitiveness and to continue to make progress to make Ireland the best small country in which to do business.

In the 2015 Action Plan for Jobs I have established a new framework for monitoring and tracking our performance in relation to key impacts and outcomes we are seeking to achieve in terms of jobs, exports, entrepreneurship and startups, market penetration and innovation, efficiency of public interaction with business, finance and access to talent.

I believe it is important that we track at an aggregate level the performance of the enterprise base in delivering on the ambitious jobs targets we have set and also identify the issues we need to address to better support enterprises, including in the area of the cost base. As part of this process we need to know the areas where we are performing well, but also to have the early warning of issues that could impact on our potential for growth.

In this context my Department is in the process of developing a monthly Dashboard of Statistics, gathering together the most relevant internal enterprise related data, together with national enterprise statistics and other indicators of enterprise performance as published by third parties. I believe this data can provide a timely snapshot of the enterprise base and performance and in time it would be of benefit to make some of that data as collected more widely available.

195 Questions - Written Answers My Department currently collects a range of data through its enterprise agency network, regulatory and administrative functions that can provide an indication on the health of the enterprise base. These activities include for example the Companies Registration Office and the Patents Office, NERA, the Health and Safety Authority, the Workplace Relations Commission and others. My Department is also responsible for the issuing of work permits and receives information on redundancies notifications. The enterprise surveys activity previously carried out by Forfás are also now being undertaken by the Strategic Policy Division within my Depart- ment. In addition, the Strategic Policy Division continues to support the work of the National Competitiveness Council in preparing benchmarking and data rich reports.

The data being compiled for the Dashboard does not include any company specific data or information and nor is it intended that company specific data be included in the future. I will not be releasing data or information on individual named enterprises as part of this proposal. The confidentiality of any engagements between the Department or the development agencies will not be impacted. As we will not be publishing individual enterprise data as part of this initiative, there are no industrial relations issues arising.

21/04/2015WRJ03800Research and Development Funding

21/04/2015WRJ03900335. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated return to the Exchequer from funding for applied research disbursed to private industry in the past year or five years; his views that this represents value for money; and if this return is unknown to him, the basis upon which his Department allocates funding of applied science research over basic research. [15705/15]

21/04/2015WRJ04000Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton): Maximising the impact of public investment in science, technology and innovation (STI) on jobs, and on economic and social progress is a key priority of the Government. In this context, a number of policy initiatives targeted at accelerating the return on our investment in STI have been introduced. Amongst these is the implementation of the proposals of the Research Prioritisation Group which identified 14 priority areas around which the majority of competitive funding should be targeted. The areas were identified on the basis of existing strengths of the public research system and our enterprise base, opportunities that exist in terms of the global marketplace and areas which can address a national or global challenge to which Ireland should respond. Evidence, from both the EU and internationally, shows that this strategy of accelerating the economic and societal return on our STI investment is paying off. Ireland is ranked third in the EU, according to the European Commission’s “Indicator of Innovation Output”, which measures the extent to which ideas from innovative sectors are able to reach the market, providing better jobs and making Europe more competitive.

All of the national indicators show that our focus on commercialisation of research is having an impact. The number of technologies licensed to industry, which is one of the most relevant indicators of commercialisation performance in the research system, rose significantly from 12 in 2005 to 139 in 2013 and invention disclosures and spin outs also increased substantially during that period. Enterprise Ireland’s collaboration activities produce quantifiable increases in company turnover that are as much as seven times the level of investment in these instruments. For example, a recent independent evaluation of the Innovation Voucher scheme found that for every €1 invested in the scheme, company turnover increased by over €7. Similarly, a recent independent evaluation of the Innovation Partnership programme found that for every €1 invested, company turnover increased by over €6.69. This evaluation also found that, for every €1 of Enterprise Ireland funding invested in the Innovation Partnership programme, €0.50 of

196 21 April 2015 industry investment was leveraged, enabling the programme to be 50% larger than it would have been if entirely funded by Enterprise Ireland. These externally validated impacts serve to confirm our approach, while the system of rigorous and continuous programme evaluations ensures that an effective and impactful suite of innovation supports are offered to industry. In addition the Government established Knowledge Transfer Ireland in 2013 which plays a key role in the Irish innovation system and makes it easier for companies to access and use ideas developed through publicly-funded research to develop new products and services and ultimately create jobs and exports.

With regard to the balance of funding for basic and applied research, Government policy has been, and will continue to be, to support research across the full continuum from basic to applied, through to commercialisation of research. Statistical evidence which supports this fact is contained in early figures from the latest survey of investment in Higher Education Research and Development (HERD). This shows that, for the academic year 2012-2013, 50.9% of the total HERD budget was on basic research, which compares to a figure of 55% pertaining to the academic year 2006/07.

Industrial Property Portfolio

21/04/2015WRJ04200336. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his De- partment and agencies under its remit are conducting reviews on the availability of infrastructure for use by small and medium enterprises or multinationals, to ensure sufficient capacity for expansion, with particular reference to County Galway and the West. [15827/15]

21/04/2015WRJ04300Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton): Enterprise Ireland is the national agency under my aegis with responsibility for the development of Irish enterprise, deepening Ireland’s footprint in world markets, and supporting employment creation in our economy. EI’s support system for young companies includes help with business planning, mentoring and development advice, feasibility funding and finance, often in the form of equity investment, as appropriate to the founder’s ambitions and the company’s potential and stage of growth. Enterprise Ireland is not conducting any reviews on the availability of infrastructure in Galway or in the West.

IDA Ireland regularly assesses and monitors property requirements in the regions and identifies locations where quality buildings and site solutions will support IDA’s regional strategy.

In Galway/West Region, IDA Ireland has funded the development of property and infrastructure in the Region which can support the requirements of mobile FDI. These property solutions include Business & Technology Parks with land available to lease in Galway City (Parkmore West and East), Ballinasloe, Tuam, Gort, Castlebar, Ballina and Roscommon. In addition, there is a strategic serviced site with advance planning permission for a Bio-Pharma campus in Oranmore, while in Athenry there is a strategic IDA land bank located off the M6 motorway from Galway to Dublin on which Phase 1 of development to ensure that it is suffi- ciently serviced for capital intensive projects has been completed.

On 11 February 2015, it was announced that, as part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs – Regional, IDA Ireland would invest €150m in various property solutions which are designed to allow the Agency to create opportunities to win additional projects for the regions outside Dublin and Cork. These will involve advance buildings, improvements of existing parks, and the acquisition and servicing of suitable sites. Every region outside of Dublin and the Mid-East will benefit from this announcement.

197 Questions - Written Answers The 5-year €150m capital investment programme will build on the recent investment by IDA Ireland in facilities in Athlone and Waterford, and will include investments over the coming years in building advance manufacturing and office facilities in various locations around the country.

In addition, the Deputy will be aware that Údarás na Gaeltachta is the regional development for the Gaeltacht which includes the Gaeltacht areas of both Co. Galway and Co. Mayo. Údarás na Gaeltachta’s role as a regional development authority is to stimulate job-creation by supporting and encouraging the development of enterprise in the Gaeltacht. Údarás does this by attracting new investment, nurturing existing businesses, developing modern business infrastructure, and enhancing the skills base of the Gaeltacht community. In that regard I understand that Údarás na Gaeltachta maintains a property portfolio of property in the Galway and Mayo Gaeltacht for the purposes of assisting enterprise to establish in those areas. Under the Action Plan for Jobs – Regional, Údarás na Gaeltachta are in close contact with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA with regard to the property that it available for letting to potential enterprise clients.

21/04/2015WRJ04400Ash Dieback Threat

21/04/2015WRJ04500337. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares of ash that have been destroyed here as a result of ash dieback since Jan- uary 2013; the number of hectares that were hedgerow; the amount that was privately owned; and the amount of that ash that was planted under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme. [15528/15]

21/04/2015WRJ04600Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): To date approximately 693 hectares of ash forestry plantations have been cleared and replanted with alternative species. A high proportion of the area cleared are plantations which were associated with infected imported batches but which were not necessarily infected. These associated plantations were destroyed on a precautionary basis. This work involved the uprooting and deep burial of circa 2 million ash trees since late 2012. The findings in forestry plantations were all privately owned apart from one Coillte site. Infected ash has also been destroyed by deep burial or burning in privately owned non-forestry locations such as horticultural nurseries, gardens and farm and agri-environment plantings. There have also been findings in roadsides which have been subject to eradication measures. In relation to ash planted under the Rural Environ- ment Protection Scheme no data is available specifically for ash trees. We do know however, that 23 cases of Chalara have been found on Farm planting/Agri-environment site. With regard to hedgerows I can confirm that 4 cases of infection in hedgerows have been identified all of which are associated with sites planted with infected imported material.

21/04/2015WRJ04700Ash Dieback Threat

21/04/2015WRJ04800338. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the subsidies available for destroying infected ash stands or hedgerows; the persons eligible to apply for them; if there are payments for farmers or growers who are restricted on sale or movement but do not have to destroy the stock; and the amount this payment is per hectare per year. [15529/15]

21/04/2015WRJ04900Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The Recon- stitution Scheme (Chalara) supports the reconstitution of ash plantations which have suffered from or are associated with ash dieback disease caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxin-

198 21 April 2015 eus. The objective of this scheme is to:

- Eradicate the disease in forests affected by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus by supporting the removal and destruction of trees and leaf litter affected by the disease;

- Reconstitute the forest with an alternative species to ash.

Grant assistance will be in respect of costs necessarily incurred in clearing the site and re- constituting the forest, subject to the maximum limit laid down as follows:

- Crop Type Rates per treated hectare Site Clearance Grant (Re- Crop infected by ash -die- Cost to a maximum of moval and Destruction) back €1,500 /ha 1st Instalment (Replanting) Conifers Broadleaf Cost to max of €2,500 /ha Cost to max of €3,800/ha 2nd Instalment (Mainte- Conifers Broadleaf 2nd inst cost to max of nance) €800/ha 2nd inst cost to max of €1,200/ha All grant aided private forest owners are eligible to apply for the scheme. There are no payments for farmers/growers who are restricted on sale or movement but do not have to destroy the stock.

21/04/2015WRJ05000Ash Dieback Threat

21/04/2015WRJ05100339. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process for inspecting sites designated for destruction; the agency responsible for these inspections; and the staffing and implementation costs for these inspections. [15530/15]

21/04/2015WRJ05200Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Plant Health surveys are carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in accordance with the methodology of an international approved survey standard (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 6, Guidelines for Surveillance). Where a site is found to be infected with ash dieback, eradication measures in plantations are carried out under a ‘Sanitation Action Plan’ which sets out the actions and biosecurity measures to be taken. Costs for the inspection works are borne under the Department’s existing administrative budget for field inspections.

21/04/2015WRJ05300Ash Dieback Threat

21/04/2015WRJ05400340. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there has been any research carried out here into chalara fraxinea; the cost of this research; and the amount his Department spent on informing and educating growers, farmers and the general public of the disease. [15531/15]

21/04/2015WRJ05500Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Through its 2014 call for research projects, my Department is supporting a project entitled “Assessing Ire- land’s risk to airborne spread of ash dieback disease with “Lagrangian stochastic models”. The aim of this project, which commenced recently, is to develop a model that predicts the spatial risk of infection of Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus fungus (the infective agent of ash die-back disease, Chalara fraxinea). The Department has committed €67,091 to this project over a 12

199 Questions - Written Answers month period. Research on disease resistance in ash is being undertaken by Forest Research, an agency of the British Forestry Commission; this work is being part funded by my Depart- ment. As part of this project, Irish ash plants have been planted out over a range of sites in the South East of England to test for resistance. So far the Department has contributed €14,000 towards the cost of this research. Further research is underway by Teagasc which is supported by my Department on disease resistance in ash. In 2014 Teagasc started a four year project with the aim of procuring individual trees of ash which show resistance/tolerance to Chalara. These trees will then be used to bulk up stocks of resistant trees, as well as for establishing seed producing orchards with resistant parent trees. This work is being funded from within the De- partment’s normal subvention to Teagasc. In terms of resources applied by my Department on informing and educating growers, farmers and the general public on Chalara, every opportunity has been taken to provide information on Ash dieback, not all of which incurred expenditure. The information measures undertaken included the provision of articles and photos for national publications, including a comprehensive article in October 2013. There was also a full page article on Ash Dieback, with photographs, in Issue No. 10 of the Forest Service News which issued in December 2012 to most forest owners in receipt of premium payments. There is also a dedicated webpage on Ash Dieback on my Department’s website which contains Press Releases and presentations about Chalara.

My Department contributes towards the annual programme of forestry promotional and advisory activities undertaken by the Forestry Development Department of Teagasc. As part of its activities in 2013, Teagasc organised, with support from my Department, 22 information meetings on Chalara which took place in late May 2013. Some 800 people attended and information was provided on what to look out for and the implications in terms of clearance of a forest plantation. Clarification was also given at these meetings on the implications for AEOS and REPS farmers where the disease is found on the trees planted under these schemes. My Department also arranged for the printing and distribution of posters showing the general public the symptoms that they should watch out for and whom they should notify about such symptoms. My Department also arranged for a full page advertisement about Chalara to appear in the programme for the All-Ireland Hurling Final in September 2013 and 2014.

It is very difficult to quantify exactly how much the Department itself spent on distributing information on Chalara as many of these activities were undertaken jointly as part of an existing budget allocation or in many other cases there were no direct costs charged to the Department.

21/04/2015WRJ05600Ash Dieback Threat

21/04/2015WRJ05700341. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the restrictions on the sale and movement of ash from infected countries into Ireland is monitored; and the sanctions for ignoring these restrictions. [15532/15]

21/04/2015WRJ05800Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The movement of ash plants and wood into Ireland from infected countries is regulated by the Destruc- tive Insects and Pest Acts 1958 and 1991 (Chalara Fraxinea) Order (No. 2) 2012 [SI No. 431 of 2012]. The legislation controls the importation and movement of ash seeds, plants and wood. Imports are monitored at ports of entry. Imports from several non EU countries require a documentary, identity and plant health inspection before entry into Ireland. In addition ash is currently de-listed as an approved species under the Department’s afforestation schemes. Ash is also not approved for planting under the new Agri-environmental scheme GLAS. Planting of ash is also not permitted for National Roads Authority roadside plantings. These measures have substantially reduced the demand for ash for planting. Where a person lands ash seeds,

200 21 April 2015 plants and wood in the State in contravention of the legislation they must remove or destroy it in accordance with any instructions issued by my Department and shall be liable for the cost of such removal or destruction.

21/04/2015WRJ05900Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRJ06000342. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in a payment under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the person will receive this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15168/15]

21/04/2015WRJ06100Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area- based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks in respect of the 2013 Scheme year, an over claim was found on the Spe- cies Rich Grassland action which resulted in a penalty being incurred. The 75% payment for 2013 has already been made and the balancing 25% payment, less penalty, will issue shortly.

Following the issue of payment in respect of the 2013 Scheme year, the application of the person named will be processed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year with the intention of issuing payment as soon as possible.

21/04/2015WRK00200Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRK00300343. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal did not receive full payment under the agri-environment options scheme 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15169/15]

21/04/2015WRK00400Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from the 1st September 2011 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area- based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System (L.P.I.S), must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks in respect of the 2013 Scheme year, an over claim was found on the Species Rich Grassland action which resulted in a penalty being incurred. The 75% payment for 2013 has already been made and the balancing payment, less penalty, will issue shortly.

21/04/2015WRK00500Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRK00600344. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the 2014 agri-environment options scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15239/15]

21/04/2015WRK00700Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person 201 Questions - Written Answers named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from the 1st September 2010 and payment has issued in respect of the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area- based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. The application was selected for a ground inspection during which non-compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the scheme were noted in relation to the Traditional Stone Wall Maintenance action, which resulted in a penalty being incurred. The file is currently being processed on the basis of the inspection findings with the intention of issuing payment in respect of 2014, minus penalty, as soon as possible.

21/04/2015WRK00800Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRK00900345. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the agri-environment options scheme 3 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15240/15]

21/04/2015WRK01000Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from the 1st May 2013 and payment has issued in respect of both the 2013 and 2014 Scheme years. In relation to the 2014 Scheme year, the 75% payment issued on the 13th April 2015 and the balancing 25% payment issued on the 14th April 2015.

21/04/2015WRK01100Single Payment Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRK01200346. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a single payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15243/15]

21/04/2015WRK01300Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): During processing of the 2013 and 2014 Single Farm Payment applications in respect of the person named, over claims were identified in relation to two of the parcels declared and notifications issued to the person named on 17th October 2013 and 16th July 2014 respectively. Payments issued in respect of the reduced areas for 2013 and 2014. Officials from my Department are currently investigating the matter further and will contact the person named regarding his appeal.

21/04/2015WRK01400Single Payment Scheme Data

21/04/2015WRK01500347. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to block the publication of payment details in relation to single payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15249/15]

21/04/2015WRK01600Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): In accordance with EU legislation (Regulation EU No: 1306/13) the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is obliged to ensure annual ex-post publication of all of the beneficiaries of CAP funding - both legal and non-legal persons. In accordance with the regulation the Department must, by the 31 May 2015, publish:

- The name of the beneficiary (unless the amount of payment under CAP funds is less than 202 21 April 2015 €1,250 in which case the individual will be identified by a code).

- The municipality where the beneficiary is resident.

- The amount of payment corresponding to each measure received by a beneficiary, and

- The nature and description of each measure.

The requirements imposed by an EU Regulation are directly applicable and binding in their entirety on a Member State and the Department does not have any discretion in the matter.

Work on developing the CAP beneficiaries’ database is ongoing in my Department and it is intended that all appropriate information will be published in the required format by the 31 May deadline.

21/04/2015WRK01700Single Payment Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRK01800348. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for a single payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15286/15]

21/04/2015WRK01900Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named requested the acceptance of a late application for the 2011 Single Payment Scheme on 19th October 2011 following the breakdown of a lease agreement for his lands. This request and subsequent appeals were rejected by my Department because it was evident from the documentation supplied that the person named did not comply with the terms and conditions of the Scheme. These terms and conditions state “To claim the direct payment under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme, all of the hectares of land declared by you to support your claim (owned, rented-in and leased-in) must be subject to an agricultural activity by you for a period that includes 31 May 2011”. A transfer of entitlements form, in connection with the aforementioned lease, was received from the person named on 16th May 2011. This transfer of entitlements form and a 2012 Single Payment Scheme application received on 12th April 2012 with no land parcels declared have led to difficulties issuing payments for 2012 and subsequent years.

An Official from my Department wrote to the Solicitor acting on behalf of the person named on 10th April 2015 outlining the actions required by the person named to facilitate payments from 2012 onwards. To date, no further contact has been made with my Department by the person named. An official from my Department will contact the person named again directly in an attempt to conclude all outstanding matters in this case in a timely manner.

21/04/2015WRK02000Single Payment Scheme Applications

21/04/2015WRK02100349. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single payment application for 2013 will be finalised and issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [15302/15]

21/04/2015WRK02200Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): In order to comply with EU requirements, the 2013 Single Farm Payment Scheme application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection and a cross compliance animal identification and registration (IDR) inspection. The cross compliance inspection identified breaches in relation to sheep identification and registration requirements resulting in a 20% penalty being recorded against the 2013 payments. The person named was notified of this deci- 203 Questions - Written Answers sion on 20 September 2013.

The eligibility inspection resulted in findings of an over-declaration in area of greater than 50%. Based on the terms and conditions of the scheme this resulted in no payment in respect of the 2013 Single Payment Scheme and the application of an administrative fine to be offset against any future EU payments. The person named was notified of this decision on 16 October 2013.

The person sought a review of these decisions and the outcome was to uphold the original decision in respect of the eligibility inspection and to reduce the cross compliance penalty to 5%. The person named was notified of this outcome on 14 March 2014. The person named was also notified of the right to appeal the decision to the independent Agricultural Appeals Office. My Department understands that to date no such appeal has been received by that office.

21/04/2015WRK02300Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications

21/04/2015WRK02400350. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding his Department’s investigation into payments under the non-productive capital investments element of the agri-environment options scheme, considering that the delay in issuing a payment in respect of year 3 of the scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is causing financial hardship; and when this matter will be finalised. [15307/15]

21/04/2015WRK02500Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) which included a non-productive capital investment element. A Department review of the non-productive capital investment claims submitted by applicants under AEOS, was undertaken in 2014. This review identified irregularities with documentation submitted for reimbursement in some of these claims. A full Department investigation was then commenced and my Department wrote to each of the applicants who have had their payment deferred on 28 January to explain the situation.

The matter has now been referred to An Garda Síochána for their consideration and decisions on individual cases cannot be made until the investigation is progressed further.

21/04/2015WRK02600Land Parcel Identification System

21/04/2015WRK02700351. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of appeals under the land parcel identification scheme that have been received in 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; and the number of appeals that have been successful. [15337/15]

21/04/2015WRK02800Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The appeals received in respect of the 2013 LPIS land eligibility Review are recorded as a running total rather than on a year by year basis. The relevant figures for number of appeals received, processed, outstanding and fully or partially successful are outlined in a table.

Current status Number of cases Number of appeals received 10,918 Number of appeals fully processed 9,260 Number outstanding 1,658

204 21 April 2015 Number of cases which were fully or par- 4,164 tially successful

21/04/2015WRK02900Forestry Grants

21/04/2015WRK03000352. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of a forestry grant will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15343/15]

21/04/2015WRK03100Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The 2015 forestry premium was paid to the applicant on 16th April 2015. There are no further outstanding payments associated with this contract.

21/04/2015WRK03200Beef Technology Adoption Programme Payments

21/04/2015WRK03300353. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a beef technology adoption programme payment was not paid in respect of a person (details supplied); when payment is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15371/15]

21/04/2015WRK03400Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named is not an applicant in the Beef Technology Adoption Programme 2014.

21/04/2015WRK03500GLAS Eligibility

21/04/2015WRK03600354. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine the reason their eligibility for qualification for the hen harrier module under the new green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme has been removed from 29 herds; and if he will reconsider this, as a number of farmers have already made applications under the scheme, including the preservation of hen harrier as a qualification for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15394/15]

21/04/2015WRK03700Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The designation of areas under the Birds and Habitats Directives is a matter in the first instance for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. My Department has been advised by the Na- tional Parks and Wildlife Service of that Department that , following a review of the information provided by them of Hen Harrier sites throughout the country , a relatively small area in County Donegal should be removed as it is not in fact a habitat for the bird. However, the land in question retains its Natura designation and the farmers concerned still qualify for priority access to the GLAS scheme.

21/04/2015WRK03800Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility

21/04/2015WRK03900355. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans regarding land eligibility issues in the creation of entitlements for marginal land, especially for those farmers who may have increased production on the same land since the original reference years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15395/15]

21/04/2015WRK04000Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The position regarding the establishment of new payment entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme 205 Questions - Written Answers (BPS) is fixed under EU Regulations. The number of payment entitlements to be allocated to each eligible applicant will be based on the number of eligible hectares declared by applicants under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme or 2015 Basic Payment Scheme, whichever is the lower. It should be borne in mind that where farmers with marginal land are allocated entitlements at a value less than 90% the BPS national average, these applicants will benefit from an increase in the value of their entitlements over the period 2015 to 2019 through the entitlement convergence process. This will result in additional BPS payments being made to these farmers over the next five years.

21/04/2015WRK04100GLAS Administration

21/04/2015WRK04200356. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 2 April 2015, if he will now amend the scheme to also include Sherkin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15409/15]

21/04/2015WRK04300Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Responsibil- ity for the designation of sufficient area nationally for the protection of the Chough rests with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

All areas of Chough habitat as advised by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gael- tacht are included as Priority Environmental Assets on the GLAS online application system and it is not possible , at this stage, to add additional areas for the current application tranche.

21/04/2015WRK04350Agriculture Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRK04500357. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment in respect of the 2014 beef genomics scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15439/15]

21/04/2015WRK04600Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named registered twenty two animals in the 2014 Beef Genomics Scheme. Payment under this scheme issued directly to the bank account of the person named on 16 December 2014. Twenty two animals were also registered in the Beef Data Programme 2013. Under the Terms and Conditions of this Scheme participants were required to hold animals until they were at least five months old to complete some of the surveys. Fourteen of the animals were sold before the age of five months and so are ineligible for payment. Payment was made in respect of the other eight animals on 22 July 2014.

Twenty two animals have also been registered in the Beef Data Programme 2014. Process- ing of payments under this scheme will commence in June. However, an initial examination has identified that nine of these animals were also sold before five months of age and so will be ineligible for payment.

21/04/2015WRK04700Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications Data

21/04/2015WRK04800358. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine the number of agri-environment options scheme 3 applications that have yet to receive payment for 2014; the number of applicants who had a penalty and did not appeal that penalty and who have yet to be paid in respect of 2014; when such applicants can expect to receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15440/15] 206 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRK04900Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Under the EU Regulations governing the scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Iden- tification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Successive EU audits have made it absolutely clear that compliance with the Regulations must be strictly adhered to and that all administrative checks must be passed and eligibility conditions met before payment issues. As a result, my Department is obliged to ensure that individual payments will not issue until all aspects of a farmer’s application are in order, all outstanding documentation provided and all queries resolved.

Outstanding payments under AEOS 3 are largely due to unresolved queries associated with applications and in most instances officials in my Department will have contacted the applicants concerned with the intention of issuing payment as soon as possible. Of the 5,856 eligible applications, 909 cases are still being processed and have not yet received payment.

There are 120 inspection cases completed that have a penalty as a result of the inspection. It is expected to commence payments, less penalties, in these cases in early May, regardless of whether there is an appeal or not. Any adjustment to payments as a result of an appeal will be processed in due course following the determination of each appeal.

21/04/2015WRK05000Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRK05100359. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine the reason an agri-environment options scheme payment for 2014 has not issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15469/15]

21/04/2015WRK05200Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named commenced REPS 4 in July 2009 and received payments for the first five years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. During the course of an on-farm Inspection in 2014 discrepancies between the Single Farm Payment application for 2014 and the REPS agri- environment Plan were discovered which required further investigation. This has now been completed and amendments to SPS parcel boundary maps are waiting to be finalised. Once this has been completed the REPS 2014 payment will be processed.

21/04/2015WRK05300Land Parcel Identification System

21/04/2015WRK05400360. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine the precise statutory basis for the land parcel identification system appeals committee; the way he has delegated powers to this committee; the procedures this committee follows and the location where such information can be accessed; his views that applicants should be entitled to this information, prior to his Department offering such a process; if he will publish the results and decisions of the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15470/15]

21/04/2015WRK05500Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): In general, farmers who submit applications under the Direct Payment Scheme and many other measures and who are not satisfied with a decision made by my Department in the processing of the application can appeal to the Agricultural Appeals Office. In some instances where the volume of appeals submitted is extremely high, it is necessary to provide for an alternative appeals 207 Questions - Written Answers mechanism to process these in an efficient manner. This was the case in respect of appeals submitted under the 2013 LPIS Review. I, therefore, established the Independent LPIS Appeals Committee to deal with such appeals. This Committee comprises of an independent Chairman and Appeals Offices from the Agriculture Appeals Office . The Schedule to the Agriculture Ap- peals Act, 2001 was amended by the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2013 (SI No. 10 of 2013) to exclude the Land Parcel Identification System Review 2013 (LPIS Review 2013) cases. Where persons were dissatisfied with a decision affecting them under the 2013 Review of Eligibility of Land parcels, they were entitled in the first instance, to have the decision reviewed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. However, if applicants were not satisfied with the outcome of the review, they could appeal that decision to the LPIS Appeals Committee. If they continued to be dissatisfied after the Appeals Committee had reviewed their case, they can refer the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Terms of Reference of the Appeals Committee is available on the website of the Agri- culture Appeals Office. Each appeal case is decided on its own individual merits and an individual recommendation issues from the Committee to my Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. There are no plans to publish individual recommendations but, however, overall statistics will be included in the Agriculture Appeals Office Annual Report, which will be published later this year.

21/04/2015WRK05600Land Parcel Identification System

21/04/2015WRK05700361. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 26 March 2015, if he is satisfied that there is no discrimination where verification visits and-or land parcel verifications are notified to farmers of privately owned lands, but commonage farmers are not notified in advance of such verification visits and-or land parcel verifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15471/15]

21/04/2015WRK05800Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): There is no discrimination in relation to the inspection of commonage and private land. In general, inspections of commonage land are undertaken as part of the annual round of eligibility inspections of the lands declared, including commonages, by applicants under direct Payment Schemes or as part of a Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) Review. If it forms part of an eligibility inspection, the applicant involved is informed of the inspection in the normal manner. Such inspections are carried out on the entire farm including any commonage areas declared.

A LPIS Review involves the assessment of the latest ortho-imagery available of land parcels, on the Land Parcel Identification System, which are declared by farmers in their applications for payment under the Direct Payment Schemes. The objective of the assessment is to identify and exclude any ineligible areas or features from the land parcels declared by farmers in their applications for payment under the Direct Payment Schemes. The assessment is normally undertaken using the latest ortho-imagery available only but in some instances it is necessary to carry-out a follow-up verification visit on the ground to confirm the findings of the assessment. Such verification visits may relate to one or more parcels on a farm, irrespective of whether or not commonage land has been declared but are not generally carried out on the entire farm. The applicants are not notified of these verification visits but are notified of the findings of the verification checks.

21/04/2015WRK05900Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility

208 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRK06000362. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine the criteria his Department has defined in accordance with European Union Regulation 1307/2013 Article 4(1)(c)(ii) and Article 4(1)(c)(iii); if he is in agreement with a senior official (details supplied) from his Department stating that no such criteria can be defined for marginal lands, such as commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15473/15]

21/04/2015WRK06100Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Under the provisions of the Basic Payment Scheme, farmers need to declare an eligible hectare for each payment entitlement held in order to benefit from payment. The hectares declared must be eligible and must have an agricultural activity carried out on them. The situation in Ireland has not changed since the Single Payment Scheme was replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme at the beginning of 2015. Eligible lands include those lands with herbaceous grasses and other graz- able vegetation. I am, however, pursuing options that may assist farmers, who have marginal lands, in particular those that have designated land, in meeting the requirements of the Direct Payment regulations. My Department officials are in direct contact with the EU Commission with the intention of pursuing all possible options including the provisions of Article 4 (1) (c) ( iii ) and Article 4 (1) (h) and bringing the matter to an early conclusion.

21/04/2015WRL00150Animal Welfare

21/04/2015WRL00200363. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of his Department’s investigation into the suffocation of 11 Irish greyhounds aboard the Irish Ferries Oscar Wilde vessel in October 2014; and the action taken against those responsible. [15482/15]

21/04/2015WRL00300Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): I understand that the matter to which the Deputy refers is being investigated by the French Authorities and Bord Na gCon. These investigations are ongoing, therefore I cannot comment any further on the matter.

21/04/2015WRL00350Direct Payment Scheme

21/04/2015WRL00400364. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 26 March 2015, if he will explain the difference between verification visits and land parcel verification, and on-the-spot checks which are specifically defined under European Union regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15525/15]

21/04/2015WRL00500Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): EU regulations governing the Direct Payments Schemes requires my Department to carry-out administrative and on-the-spot checks to ensure that the land declared for aid is eligible for payment. The regulations further require that a minimum of 5% of applicants must be inspected each year. These on the spot checks or inspections are undertaken by means of physical inspection in the field or by means of using the technique of remote sensing via satellite and both involve a check on all parcels declared for aid by the applicant. A verification visit involves the inspection in the field of an individual parcel or parcels of land where it has not been possible to verify the eligibility of the parcel(s) as part of an administrative or remote sensing check.

209 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRL00550Single Payment Scheme Administration

21/04/2015WRL00600365. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 26 March 2015, if he will confirm the Euro- pean Union regulatory basis for a verification visit under the single payment schemes and under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15526/15]

21/04/2015WRL00700Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): EU regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes and other area based schemes requires my Depart- ment to carry-out administrative and on-the-spot checks to ensure that the land declared for aid is eligible for payment. The regulations further require that a physical inspection in the field is undertaken in the event that it is not possible to make an accurate determination on the eligibility or the correct size of a parcel or parcels of land by means of an assessment of the available ortho-imagery, Article 24(3) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 809/2014 refers.

21/04/2015WRL00750Commonage Land Use

21/04/2015WRL00800366. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 26 March 2015, if he will agree that he does not afford commonage land owners the right to refuse his Department’s inspectors entry onto their lands where verification visits and land parcel verifications occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15527/15]

21/04/2015WRL00900Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): In submitting an application under the Direct Payment Schemes and other area-based schemes, an applicant agrees to comply with the conditions of these schemes. Under the EU regulations governing these schemes my Department is required to undertake inspections, including land verification checks, to ensure that the area being declared for aid is eligible for payment. The Regulations prescribe that where an applicant prevents an inspection from being carried out their application shall be rejected for payment.

21/04/2015WRL00950Coillte Teoranta Lands

21/04/2015WRL01000367. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to this Deputy’s correspondence of 23 October 2014 and 19 January 2015 relating to the sale of Coillte land, when he will issue a reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15543/15]

21/04/2015WRL01100Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as management of their property and land transactions, are the responsibility of the company. The queries raised by the Deputy in his correspondence were, however, raised with the company and a response has issued to the Deputy.

21/04/2015WRL01150Commonage Framework Plans

21/04/2015WRL01200368. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine if a commonage framework plan remains valid after its implementation date expires; and if

210 21 April 2015 he will make a statement on the matter. [15549/15]

21/04/2015WRL01300Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The Com- monage Framework Plans establish recommended grazing levels to protect against both over- grazing and undergrazing of commonage land. These recommendations in turn form the basis for the new management regime applying to commonages under GLAS, unless a sound scientific assessment for alternative stocking rates is provided by a Commonage Advisor. Commonage farmers who join GLAS must then respect the grazing levels outlined in their new Commonage Management Plans for the duration of their contract period. Once individual GLAS contracts expire, the relevant provisions of the Plan – including the individual stocking requirements - continue to apply to those commonage farmers who remain in GLAS.

While individual stocking requirements are not a condition of the Basic Payment Scheme, farmers should bear in mind that commonage land must be maintained in eligible condition to continue to qualify for payment under that scheme.

21/04/2015WRL01350EU Regulations

21/04/2015WRL01400369. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine if he will confirm that pursuant to European Union Regulation No. 639/2014, European Union Regulations Nos. 1120/2009 and 1121/2009 are repealed; the reason European Union Regulations Nos. 1120/2009 and 1121/2009 are still listed in annex 3 of the 2015 basic payment scheme terms and conditions in circumstances where they appear to have been repealed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15550/15]

21/04/2015WRL01500370. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Ma- rine if he will confirm that the European Union regulations listed at the back of the basic payment scheme 2015 (details supplied) are in fact repealed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15563/15]

21/04/2015WRL01600371. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views that listing 43 pieces of European Union legislation with the basic payment scheme 2015, some of which appear to have been repealed, creates undue uncertainty for applicants and their advisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15569/15]

21/04/2015WRL01700Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 to 371, inclusive, together.

Commission Regulation 1120/2009 and Commission Regulation 1121/2009 are specifically mentioned in PQs Nos. 369 and 370. These regulations laid down some of the detailed rules for Council Regulation 73/2009 establishing common rules for direct support schemes including the Single Payment Scheme from 2010 to 2014. The processing of some applications made during those years is ongoing and consequently this legislation remains in place in so far as such applications are concerned.

The 43 pieces of legislation referred to and listed in Annex 3 of the 2015 Basic Payment Terms & Conditions document are a comprehensive list of the legislation applicable to Single payment and other Direct Payment Scheme applications since 2005. As already indicated the processing of some applications made during earlier years is ongoing and consequently this legislation remains in place in so far as such applications are concerned.

For ease of reference, the current nine pieces of legislation applicable to the Basic Pay- ment and other Direct Payment Schemes are listed at the beginning of the list of legislation. 211 Questions - Written Answers My Department is not aware of any uncertainty amongst applicants and their advisors relating to the Terms & Conditions applicable to the 2015 Basic Payment and related Direct Payment Schemes arising from the listing of all legislation including that applicable to previous Direct Payment Schemes.

21/04/2015WRL01750Departmental Staff

21/04/2015WRL01800372. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actuarial expertise available to his Department. [15571/15]

21/04/2015WRL01900Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): No actuaries are currently employed by my Department. In the event that such expertise is required, it can be sourced externally.

21/04/2015WRL01950Aquaculture Development

21/04/2015WRL02000373. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he availed of actuarial expertise in determining that the State could provide insurance to aquaculture more cost-effectively than private insurers, or if it is envisaged that such insurance would be provided below cost, thereby constituting a state aid. [15572/15]

21/04/2015WRL02100Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): On 27 March 2015, I announced plans for a new €241 million development programme for the seafood sector for the period up to 2020, co-funded by the EU through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. I am inviting submissions on that draft Programme by 1 May 2015. The draft Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020 proposes investment of €30 million in a number of measures specifically intended to support the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector. One of these measures relates to aquaculture stock insurance and would be implemented under article 57 of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation (508/2014). In framing that Regulation, the EU co-legislators stated in recital 54 that “recognising the risk of investments in aquaculture activities, it should be possible for the EMFF to promote business security by contributing to aquaculture stock insurance, thereby safeguarding the income of producers in case of abnormal production losses due, in particular, to natural disasters, adverse climatic events, sudden water quality changes, diseases or pest infestations and the destruction of production facilities.”. In the draft Programme, it is proposed that this measure would supplement and complement commercial insurance arrangements, not replace them. I am interested to hear the views of stakeholders on this particular measure, and I will be considering carefully any submissions received.

In relation to State Aid, article 8(2) of the EMFF Regulation provides that payments made by Member States pursuant to, and in conformity with, the Regulation shall comply with State Aid rules.

21/04/2015WRL02125Agriculture Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRL02200374. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive agri-environment options scheme, disadvantaged area scheme and single payment scheme payments for 2013 and 2014, balancing payments following an inspection of that person’s lands in January 2015; and if he will make a

212 21 April 2015 statement on the matter. [15586/15]

21/04/2015WRL02300Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/ Dis- advantaged Areas Scheme revealed that a number of the land parcels contained ineligible features. This resulted in reductions of 1.40 hectares being applied to the area based payments due to the person named. The reductions were for ineligible features including buildings, areas of scrub, a farm road and a stream, which were included in the claimed area of the person named and resulted in a reduction between 3% and 20% to the area payable under all his 2013 area- based Schemes. The person named was notified of this over-declaration by letter of 12 June 2014 which also advised that if the number of hectares of eligible land found was insufficient to meet the number of his Single Payment entitlements, his Single Payment would be reduced accordingly. This letter also advised the person named that any reduction in his claimed area and/or the application of a penalty under the Single Payment Scheme may also have implications for other area based schemes for which he is an applicant such as the Disadvantaged Ar- eas Scheme, the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS), Agri-Environmental Options Scheme (AEOS), Grassland Sheep Scheme (GSS), etc.

Resultant from the over-declaration, over-payments were established under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme and 2013 Disadvantaged Area Scheme. The same levels of reductions were also applied to the 2014 Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme applications submitted by the person named. The person named was advised of same on 21 October 2014 and 23 October 2014 respectively.

Following a review of the case further to correspondence from the person named on 25 September 2014 and 21 October 2014, my Department decided to carry out a ground verification check on the areas declared by the applicant. This verification visit was completed on 15 January 2015.

The person named was advised of the outcome of this verification visit, in writing, on 11 February 2015. The letter also advised that if the person named was not satisfied with the outcome of the review, he may submit a further appeal to the Independent LPIS Appeals Commit- tee. The person named availed of this right on 18 February 2015 and his case will be reviewed by the Committee in the near future. This position was confirmed to the person named by an officer of my Department during a recent phone conversation.

Full AEOS payments for 2013 and 2014 have been made, less appropriate penalties. If the results of the above review make a material difference to the AEOS payments already made, then appropriate balancing measures will be taken as soon as possible after those decision are finalised.

21/04/2015WRL02350Traveller Community

21/04/2015WRL02400375. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received an application for funding from Wicklow County Council under the Traveller equine pilot project 2015-16; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local residents are opposed to this proposal; if he has examined and made a decision on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15609/15]

21/04/2015WRL02500Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): In 2014 I announced the allocation of €1 million in funding to support the development of facilities to provide shelter for the urban horse population and to educate young people in these areas in the

213 Questions - Written Answers care and welfare of horses. The aim of this fund is to establish shelters in association with Lo- cal Authorities in a number of locations in 2015. I can confirm an application for funding has been submitted by Irish Horse Welfare Trust in relation to the above project. There has been no decision made to date on funding this application. I am aware that the proposal is still under discussion with Wicklow County Council.

21/04/2015WRL02550

21/04/2015WRL02600376. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 29 January 2015 regarding the 2011 Killybegs, County Donegal, jobs initiative, if he will provide the figures for job creation achieved as a result of the initiative. [15614/15]

21/04/2015WRL02700Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): On 3 June 2011, I announced a pilot jobs initiative for Killybegs, following the launch of an economic report for the European Commission, which assessed the status, development and potential diversification of Killybegs as a fisheries dependent community. The aim of this initiative was to create 250 cross sectoral jobs in the Killybegs area by 2014. Seafood processing was just one of the areas identified as having the potential to create additional employment. I am informed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara that by the end of 2014, 89 jobs had been created in seafood processing companies in the Killybegs area. At this time, I do not have information available to me on jobs created in areas outside of my area of responsibility. The seafood sector continues to be a high-growth area of the economy and indeed of our food industry. Exports have grown 70% since 2009 and the sector is now worth €850 million in sales. Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Bord Bia are working with seafood companies in Killybegs and elsewhere around our coast to grow the sector to €1 billion in the next few years. This will be driven by our seafood processing sector adding value to commodity products, innovating and developing new consumer seafood products, with the assistance of BIM’s Seafood Development Centres in Clonakilty and Kil- lybegs, and winning new markets in Europe and the Far-East for Ireland’s top quality seafood. Just last month I announced financial support for two more capital investment projects by Kil- lybegs seafood companies. On 9 May last year, I attended an information launch by Biomarine Ingredients Ireland of their plans to build the largest marine food ingredients plant in the world in Killybegs and I understand that plans for that are progressing well. It is clear that the future is very promising for the seafood industry generally and Killybegs is central to that growth story. While the Killybegs Jobs Initiative was important in terms of fostering a diversified blue economy in Killybegs, seafood will continue to be the driver of economic growth for Killybegs in the years to come.

21/04/2015WRL02750Harbours and Piers

21/04/2015WRL02800377. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be made available in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15668/15]

21/04/2015WRL02900Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Responsibil- ity for development, repair and maintenance of Cromane Pier rests with Kerry County Council. The parent Department for Local Authorities is the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. My Department has in previous years, under the annual Fishery Har- bour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, provided funding to Local Authorities for small scale development and repair of local authority owned piers and slipways, subject to 214 21 April 2015 available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.

On the 13th March this year all coastal Local Authorities were invited to submit applications under the 2015 Programme however, no application for funding for Cromane Pier was received from Kerry County Council. Any application submitted under the Programme by Kerry County Council in respect of Cromane Pier, in future years, will be considered in the context of available funding and overall priorities.

21/04/2015WRL02950Aquaculture Licence Applications

21/04/2015WRL03000378. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding fish farming licence applications in Galway Bay with specific details on salmon fishing. [15713/15]

21/04/2015WRL03100Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): As the Dep- uty is aware, an aquaculture licence application has been received by my Department from Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for the cultivation of finfish in Galway Bay. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. The legislation provides for extensive consultation with stakeholders, including Inland Fisheries Ireland, which has responsibility for wild salmon stocks. A determination in respect of the application will be made as soon as possible following completion of the necessary assessment process.

As the application is under active consideration as part of the statutory process it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.

21/04/2015WRL03150Single Payment Scheme Data

21/04/2015WRL03200379. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form by county over the period 2010 to 2014, the total number of recipients under the single payment scheme; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15714/15]

21/04/2015WRL03300Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The figures as requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table.

- 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

COUNTY NUM_ AMT NUM_ AMT NUM_ AMT NUM_ AMT NUM_ AMT PAID PAID PAID PAID PAID

CARLOW 1,641 €25,269,300.94 1,642 €25,205,210.93 1,633 €24,744,355.09 1,620 €24,069,471.87 1,585 €23,711,674.86

CAVAN 4,757 €36,223,263.50 4,757 €36,052,908.54 4,724 €35,575,024.60 4,695 €34,987,823.75 4,646 €33,799,250.27

CLARE 6,058 €48,702,177.86 6,051 €48,585,027.80 6,028 €47,692,562.76 6,018 €47,106,613.05 5,934 €45,335,249.13

CORK 12,884 €171,218,630.38 12,880 €170,608,989.04 12,843 €167,439,585.43 12,839 €164,385,432.23 12,645 €160,998,767.89

DONE- 7,954 €48,566,956.58 7,992 €48,756,389.06 8,021 €48,250,334.37 7,981 €47,692,126.44 7,842 €46,325,623.43 GAL

DUBLIN 638 €9,356,835.27 624 €9,227,744.95 626 €9,103,572.25 611 €8,966,743.91 600 €8,730,335.94

GALWAY 11,922 €81,440,005.39 11,924 €81,127,428.06 11,847 €79,764,603.39 11,797 €78,605,059.76 11,586 €75,885,872.46

KERRY 7,590 €59,525,609.19 7,619 €59,455,753.32 7,585 €58,546,419.33 7,580 €57,425,495.23 7,445 €55,779,906.46

KILDARE 2,044 €32,569,643.59 2,022 €32,136,844.92 2,025 €31,427,184.70 2,045 €31,172,870.26 2,012 €30,554,698.38

KIL 3,441 €56,875,820.84 3,433 €56,347,909.02 3,421 €55,081,950.54 3,425 €54,119,535.86 3,391 €52,954,546.89 KENNY

LAOIS 2,926 €41,854,318.66 2,922 €41,367,190.96 2,921 €40,749,049.81 2,909 €40,164,145.39 2,868 €39,357,393.07

LEITRIM 3,349 €17,698,481.92 3,376 €17,790,195.77 3,361 €17,519,972.12 3,338 €17,318,906.90 3,295 €16,846,678.83

LIMER- 5,135 €53,345,139.64 5,116 €52,898,572.65 5,068 €52,015,916.21 5,044 €51,138,396.27 4,956 €49,660,025.73 ICK

215 Questions - Written Answers

- 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

LONG- 2,364 €20,233,663.79 2,364 €20,183,080.72 2,340 €19,811,864.60 2,333 €19,594,604.51 2,287 €18,883,459.02 FORD

LOUTH 1,497 €20,273,410.27 1,487 €20,176,441.60 1,487 €19,843,615.25 1,481 €19,532,707.15 1,459 €19,231,860.26

MAYO 11,367 €60,998,221.49 11,371 €60,963,777.15 11,315 €60,324,193.90 11,312 €59,398,457.86 11,089 €57,310,623.15

MEATH 3,688 €56,437,470.07 3,709 €56,602,102.27 3,713 €55,439,497.69 3,699 €54,477,068.72 3,650 €53,513,982.95

MONAG 3,986 €31,347,673.86 3,959 €31,122,468.86 3,963 €30,655,142.56 3,938 €30,096,320.63 3,871 €29,021,928.83 HAN

OFFALY 3,024 €37,199,657.78 3,017 €37,058,619.67 3,003 €36,364,523.99 2,991 €35,979,207.20 2,946 €35,095,161.45

ROS 5,688 €41,336,181.49 5,662 €41,219,385.56 5,627 €40,595,451.38 5,605 €40,096,566.44 5,526 €38,810,665.14 COM MON

SLIGO 3,913 €23,189,544.13 3,917 €23,131,225.10 3,896 €22,814,889.06 3,893 €22,530,164.65 3,839 €21,799,348.16

TIPPER- 6,936 €103,417,063.60 6,918 €102,760,771.50 6,897 €100,571,504.65 6,866 €99,515,314.72 6,761 €97,129,975.02 ARY

WATER 2,422 €40,035,907.79 2,407 €39,652,668.99 2,395 €38,911,425.37 2,378 €38,150,412.69 2,345 €37,466,287.60 FORD

WEST 2,926 €34,458,338.71 2,937 €34,388,912.89 2,913 €33,681,572.83 2,902 €33,175,417.27 2,852 €32,255,240.85 MEATH

WEX 4,012 €62,484,867.77 4,008 €62,169,640.69 3,992 €61,167,695.23 3,986 €60,084,683.62 3,934 €58,969,958.06 FORD

WICK 2,055 €28,392,589.22 2,061 €28,246,757.01 2,068 €28,037,321.30 2,067 €27,552,331.64 2,040 €26,870,952.08 LOW

TOTALS 124,217 €1,242,450,773.73 124,175 €1,237,236,017.03 123,712 €1,216,129,228.41 123,353 €1,197,335,878.02 121,404 €1,166,299,465.91

21/04/2015WRL03350Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Data

21/04/2015WRL03400380. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form by county over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the disadvantaged areas scheme; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15715/15]

21/04/2015WRL03500Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The number of farmers paid and amounts paid by county under the 2010 to 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Schemes were as follows:

County Farmers paid Amount paid Farmers paid Amount paid Farmers paid Amount paid 2010 2011 2012 Carlow 748 €1,632,228.25 749 €1,643,169.38 721 €1,480,467.92 Cavan 4,797 €10,294,881.44 4,824 €10,288,930.33 4,654 €10,083,386.32 Clare 6,093 €14,562,749.35 6,109 €14,577,118.65 5,840 €14,075,555.66 Cork 7,072 €16,730,463.78 7,083 €16,725,224.07 6,816 €15,656,708.32 Donegal 8,161 €19,077,509.62 8,308 €19,335,063.50 7,949 €18,588,132.55 Dublin 124 €281,434.23 129 €289,233.88 120 €262,015.78 Galway 12,050 €26,052,141.01 12,072 €26,090,772.44 11,436 €24,937,523.07 Kerry 7,628 €18,769,097.44 7,686 €18,810,344.34 7,299 €18,022,638.79 Kildare 520 €999,575.84 511 €986,507.80 477 €843,247.11 Kilkenny 1,765 €3,946,278.92 1,761 €3,934,753.23 1,681 €3,526,984.36 Laois 1,697 €3,548,475.91 1,703 €3,537,065.75 1,633 €3,237,538.00 Leitrim 3,444 €7,628,316.50 3,470 €7,701,164.19 3,303 €7,463,046.13 Limerick 2,933 €5,985,019.00 2,918 €5,989,242.66 2,759 €5,476,845.05 Longford 2,369 €5,149,352.99 2,377 €5,161,816.91 2,306 €5,062,593.12 Louth 749 €1,297,651.72 744 €1,300,463.19 697 €1,164,684.56 Mayo 11,470 €24,448,047.76 11,551 €24,643,564.42 11,005 €23,680,205.24 Meath 1,302 €2,499,042.87 1,316 €2,523,528.51 1,277 €2,326,483.44 Monaghan 4,051 €8,011,524.57 4,064 €8,003,435.92 3,922 €7,806,014.32 Offaly 2,365 €4,886,130.76 2,382 €4,878,232.88 2,276 €4,559,216.59 Roscommon 5,710 €12,412,407.08 5,703 €12,386,897.62 5,477 €12,091,265.91 Sligo 4,007 €8,653,079.06 4,022 €8,645,325.58 3,824 €8,326,205.81 Tipperary 4,483 €9,972,124.90 4,507 €9,965,647.71 4,306 €9,190,974.81 216 21 April 2015

County Farmers paid Amount paid Farmers paid Amount paid Farmers paid Amount paid 2010 2011 2012 Waterford 1,426 €3,221,377.81 1,418 €3,214,479.68 1,348 €2,779,957.31 Westmeath 2,604 €5,388,575.98 2,632 €5,420,585.23 2,529 €5,135,016.13 Wexford 1,415 €2,794,800.54 1,421 €2,764,763.39 1,313 €2,400,004.53 Wicklow 1,713 €4,283,330.86 1,724 €4,272,355.06 1,648 €4,028,004.19 Totals 100,696 €222,525,618.19 101,184 €223,089,686.32 96,616 €212,204,715.02 Table

County Farmers paid Amount paid 2013 Farmers paid Amount paid 2014 Carlow 704 €1,388,546.75 699 €1,372,209.27 Cavan 4,610 €9,528,386.57 4,583 €9,419,163.23 Clare 5,815 €13,191,318.18 5,772 €13,061,163.77 Cork 6,693 €14,880,834.32 6,563 €14,528,807.64 Donegal 7,911 €18,298,934.24 7,736 €17,776,856.21 Dublin 118 €264,752.39 117 €248,398.78 Galway 11,348 €23,820,050.42 11,129 €23,236,042.26 Kerry 7,209 €17,296,600.06 7,144 €16,997,014.84 Kildare 463 €783,251.53 467 €777,002.60 Kilkenny 1,661 €3,287,436.54 1,649 €3,262,740.49 Laois 1,594 €3,020,332.52 1,577 €2,971,594.34 Leitrim 3,288 €7,216,702.95 3,223 €7,062,718.37 Limerick 2,713 €5,061,060.57 2,688 €4,980,145.60 Longford 2,271 €4,718,311.87 2,240 €4,630,078.14 Louth 685 €1,107,669.92 675 €1,095,195.85 Mayo 10,924 €23,003,132.66 10,695 €22,413,760.59 Meath 1,244 €2,135,869.19 1,239 €2,121,229.05 Monaghan 3,898 €7,395,949.53 3,874 €7,281,628.45 Offaly 2,248 €4,223,257.71 2,224 €4,161,786.00 Roscommon 5,428 €11,408,228.39 5,390 €11,255,386.80 Sligo 3,806 €8,021,306.32 3,756 €7,858,173.90 Tipperary 4,219 €8,511,075.20 4,164 €8,396,502.84 Waterford 1,316 €2,567,368.21 1,297 €2,532,304.08 Westmeath 2,499 €4,724,903.52 2,460 €4,653,228.25 Wexford 1,293 €2,246,307.30 1,269 €2,203,910.44 Wicklow 1,634 €3,837,064.69 1,599 €3,780,856.81 Totals 95592 €201,938,651.55 94229 €198,077,898.60

21/04/2015WRL03575Rural Environment Protection Scheme Data

21/04/2015WRL03600381. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form by county over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the rural environment protection scheme; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15716/15]

21/04/2015WRL03700Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

21/04/2015WRL03750Horticulture Sector

217 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRL03800382. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form by county over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15717/15]

21/04/2015WRL03900Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information sought by the Deputy is set out as follows, in tabular form, as requested.

2010 – 2014 Payments per county under the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of Commercial Horticulture Sector

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 County € No. paid € No. paid € No. paid € No. paid € No. paid Carlow 123,392 1 168,888 2 27,648 1 87,553 1 145,783 1 Cavan 45,094 1 50,271 3 37,152 3 57,349 2 Clare 20,113 2 1,868 1 2,016 1 Cork 359,529 10 388,820 14 286,812 10 183,576 14 335,203 17 Donegal 115,264 2 Dublin 399,908 25 631,775 27 456,923 28 980,951 30 1,383,906 30 Galway 27,750 1 24,766 2 16,600 1 1,693 1 20,839 2 Kerry 29,328 8 32,547 5 38,040 3 Kildare 57,703 6 181,194 8 186,730 5 58,679 4 135,042 6 Kilkenny 41,515 1 71,570 3 48,853 5 88,945 5 61,667 3 Laois 45,575 2 90,617 2 67,885 2 51,436 1 Limerick 16,744 1 20,263 2 12,352 1 13,041 3 42,028 4 Louth 84,104 4 137,307 4 131,231 4 150,554 4 170,560 4 Longford 1,411 1 Mayo 65,600 1 764 1 2,048 2 562 1 320 1 Meath 196,503 2 282,112 5 327,134 7 232,791 9 219,923 9 Monaghan 89,544 1 308,822 4 207,617 6 225,196 6 Offaly 8,739 1 67,463 5 16,554 1 128,005 5 24,280 1 Sligo 7,364 1 5,061 1 Tipperary 151,998 9 106,934 6 181,547 12 258,272 9 173,491 5 Waterford 24,171 2 195,047 6 47,173 4 104,736 7 97,057 6 Westmeath 108,737 4 153,421 4 96,610 2 59,116 3 Wexford 211,924 10 283,851 16 555,061 22 434,003 20 433,901 16 Wicklow 95,200 2 33,272 2 249,752 2 86,659 5 1,762 1 Totals 2,044,993 80 2,842,821 119 3,161,232 124 3,249,650 135 3,709,764 121

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

21/04/2015WRM00200383. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the agri-environment options scheme; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15718/15]

21/04/2015WRM00300Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information sought by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Dairy Equipment Scheme

21/04/2015WRM00400384. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if 218 21 April 2015 he will provide, in tabular form, by county, over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the dairy equipment scheme; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15719/15]

21/04/2015WRM00500Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information sought by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Organic Farming Scheme Data

21/04/2015WRM00600385. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the organic farming scheme; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15720/15]

21/04/2015WRM00700Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information sought by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Agriculture Scheme Data

21/04/2015WRM00800386. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the sheep fencing and mobile handling equipment scheme; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15721/15]

21/04/2015WRM00900Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information sought by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Agriculture Scheme Data

21/04/2015WRM01000387. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the suckler cow welfare scheme and the genomics scheme; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15722/15]

21/04/2015WRM01100Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The figures as requested by the Deputy are set out in the following tables.

Suckler Cow Suckler Cow Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme Welfare Scheme Welfare Scheme 2010 2011 2012 County Herds Paid Amount Herds Paid Amount Herds Paid Amount CARLOW 457 €428,198.47 418 €410,927.97 392 €396,662.75 CAVAN 1,572 €1,024,865.33 1,444 €1,026,799.33 1,380 €1,038,826.97 CLARE 2,512 €1,753,025.52 2,355 €1,771,834.09 2,281 €1,794,700.37 CORK 2,219 €1,652,604.32 2,024 €1,622,295.81 1,904 €1,603,514.00 DONEGAL 2,005 €1,014,845.80 1,851 €969,737.73 1,724 €930,872.10 DUBLIN 64 €56,806.09 59 €53,167.90 55 €50,021.55 GALWAY 3,880 €2,486,325.39 3,588 €2,425,228.73 3,394 €2,386,489.66 KERRY 1,674 €979,813.07 1,524 €953,609.96 1,418 €909,290.16 KILDARE 384 €372,032.27 357 €375,208.08 338 €363,769.78 KILKENNY 937 €912,307.85 866 €924,630.36 817 €919,296.55

219 Questions - Written Answers

LAOIS 840 €825,649.41 775 €799,713.81 729 €774,088.81 LEITRIM 1,385 €628,848.96 1,278 €623,527.52 1,215 €612,820.91 LIMERICK 929 €689,443.27 835 €673,508.35 800 €691,138.34 LONGFORD 895 €632,824.05 823 €606,038.44 795 €603,209.47 LOUTH 285 €238,050.08 257 €221,650.41 240 €222,625.42 MAYO 3,552 €1,784,335.32 3,277 €1,722,144.01 3,112 €1,703,549.62 MEATH 720 €714,671.45 658 €681,345.43 616 €657,481.63 MONAGHAN 1,129 €688,560.30 1,048 €686,750.10 992 €687,383.60 OFFALY 819 €747,294.74 725 €723,246.68 682 €678,751.22 ROSCOMMON 2,013 €1,243,829.97 1,865 €1,232,577.22 1,774 €1,219,588.10 SLIGO 1,372 €715,514.84 1,269 €702,238.62 1,207 €692,203.73 TIPPERARY 1,520 €1,556,254.80 1,396 €1,515,815.57 1,323 €1,468,028.16 WATERFORD 516 €618,336.69 478 €606,012.28 452 €564,413.91 WESTMEATH 912 €832,490.10 839 €804,693.35 790 €790,057.04 WEXFORD 828 €808,517.98 726 €759,732.63 669 €735,081.37 WICKLOW 531 €500,971.83 496 €478,597.73 459 €453,141.53 TOTALS 33950 €23,906,417.90 31231 €23,371,032.11 29558 €22,947,006.75 Beef Data Programme 2013

County Herds Paid Amount CARLOW 387 €140,364.04 CAVAN 1,243 €346,066.38 CLARE 2,205 €644,548.50 CORK 1,802 €544,791.54 DONEGAL 1,474 €315,595.80 DUBLIN 64 €20,616.50 GALWAY 2,970 €814,403.43 KERRY 1,271 €298,959.72 KILDARE 312 €112,594.23 KILKENNY 677 €267,146.09 LAOIS 643 €242,044.07 LEITRIM 1,095 €222,502.53 LIMERICK 753 €233,692.00 LONGFORD 728 €206,627.91 LOUTH 196 €63,968.55 MAYO 2,922 €634,896.86 MEATH 561 €211,679.06 MONAGHAN 826 €235,108.86 OFFALY 633 €215,596.21 ROSCOMMON 1,521 €406,533.45 SLIGO 1,097 €258,040.96 TIPPERARY 1,201 €437,850.23 WATERFORD 350 €146,813.93 WESTMEATH 682 €235,902.59 WEXFORD 669 €246,203.11 WICKLOW 417 €140,222.99 TOTALS 26699 €7,642,769.54 Payments under the 2014 Beef Data Programme are expected to issue in June of this year.

220 21 April 2015 Beef Genomics Scheme 2014

County Herds Paid Amount CARLOW 379 €322,777.50 CAVAN 1,497 €837,653.30 CLARE 2,367 €1,447,101.40 CORK 1,910 €1,239,243.30 DONEGAL 1,735 €675,031.80 DUBLIN 62 €52,240.00 GALWAY 3,500 €1,949,670.50 KERRY 1,581 €776,171.70 KILDARE 341 €298,837.30 KILKENNY 713 €664,980.00 LAOIS 710 €599,084.80 LEITRIM 1,277 €486,764.10 LIMERICK 843 €562,034.80 LONGFORD 828 €510,731.80 LOUTH 276 €209,773.20 MAYO 3,518 €1,539,975.30 MEATH 702 €612,136.40 MONAGHAN 1,033 €583,833.20 OFFALY 713 €605,748.80 ROSCOMMON 1,884 €1,035,219.80 SLIGO 1,290 €602,957.60 TIPPERARY 1,255 €1,122,605.30 WATERFORD 413 €443,104.60 WESTMEATH 845 €681,579.40 WEXFORD 756 €698,373.40 WICKLOW 479 €388,673.30 TOTALS 30907 €18,946,302.60

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

21/04/2015WRM01200388. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15723/15]

21/04/2015WRM01300Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information sought by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Agriculture Scheme Data

21/04/2015WRM01400389. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the young farmers installation scheme; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15724/15] 221 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRM01500Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information sought by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Discussion Groups

21/04/2015WRM01600390. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, by county, over the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, the total number of recipients under the knowledge or discussion group schemes; the total monetary value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15725/15]

21/04/2015WRM01700Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

21/04/2015WRM01800391. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a land parcel information system review on a single payment application appeal in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15747/15]

21/04/2015WRM01900Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The circumstances of this case are currently being reviewed and an officer from my Department will be in touch with the person named, in relation to same, in the near future.

Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRM02000392. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014, inclusive, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16046/15]

21/04/2015WRM02050393. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total value of public sector pensions in payment; the average public sector pension in 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16057/15]

21/04/2015WRM02100Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together.

All civil service pensions are paid by the Paymaster General’s Office and the Minister for Public Expenditure is providing these details. The parallel information in respect of State Bod- ies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the bodies themselves.

My Department is responsible for the payment of pensions to a number of former employees of bodies under the aegis of the Department which are no longer in operation. The information in respect of these pensions is set out in the following Appendix.

APPENDIX

Number in receipt of payment in each tax year 2008 -2014 inclusive

222 21 April 2015 - Cork & Dublin District Milk Bord Na gCapall Boards Tax Year Number in receipt of pay- Number in receipt of payment ment 2008 92 11 2009 92 12 2010 98 12 2011 103 12 2012 105 13 2013 103 14 2014 103 13

VALUES

- Cork and Dublin District Bord na gCapall Milk Boards Total Value €1,660,852 .00 €137,674.30 Averaged Value €16,124.78 €10,590.33

Army Equitation School

21/04/2015WRM02400394. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Defence his plans to purchase additional horses for the Defence Forces equitation school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15413/15]

21/04/2015WRM02500Minister for Defence (Deputy Simon Coveney): The Army Equitation School continues to source suitable Irish bred horses, acquired through either purchase or lease agreement, that meet the required standard as judged by the School’s Horse Purchase Board. While it is difficult to predict the number of future acquisitions, I can confirm that the Equitation School purchased three horses in 2014 whilst, to date in 2015, agreement has been reached to purchase a further two horses.

I am satisfied that the current arrangements allow the School to maintain its competitiveness at national and international events.

Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRM02600395. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16050/15]

21/04/2015WRM02700Minister for Defence (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information requested is shown in tabular form beneath in relation to retired members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) only. The requested information in respect of retired civil servants of the Department of De- fence or retired civilian employees formerly employed with the PDF is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

223 Questions - Written Answers Year Numbers of retired PDF members in receipt of retirement pension at year-end 2008 8,472 2009 8,715 2010 8,959 2011 9,305 2012 9,806 2013 9,909 2014 10,005

Crime Data

21/04/2015WRM02800396. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons convicted of burglary in the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; the average sentence received for those convicted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15151/15]

21/04/2015WRM02900Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Sta- tistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.

I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistics directly to the Deputy.

In so far as sentences imposed in the District Court are concerned, I am informed by the Courts Service that the average sentence for burglary is in the range of 5.6 to 5.8 months for the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015, up to 31 March. I am further informed that the provision of comparable information in relation to burglary charges in the Circuit Criminal Court would require a disproportionate amount of time and resources to compile and is not therefore available.

As the Deputy will be aware, I have been carrying out a broad review of the criminal justice system’s response to the problem of burglaries. This includes a focus on interagency measures in relation to the management of prolific offenders, visible policing, crime prevention support for communities, and an examination of legislative issues. In this regard I recently published the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill which was approved by Government. This legislation targets repeat burglary offenders through bail measures and provisions concerning the imposition of consecutive sentencing for repeat burglary offending.

Legal Aid Service

21/04/2015WRM03000397. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of hours available for family mediation at the Letterkenny, County Donegal branch of the Family Mediation Service; the number of families on the waiting list at this branch; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15256/15]

21/04/2015WRM03100Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Letterkenny office of the Family Mediation Service provides 16 hours of mediation, Monday and Tuesday 9-5 p.m. The office is opened for administration on Wednesday from 9-12.30 p.m. These are the advertised hours, as per the Legal Aid Board website. I would also refer the Deputy to my response to Question Nos. 360, 361, 362 and 367 of Wednesday, 15 April 2015 where I stated that the number of couples on the waiting list in the Letterkenny family mediation office is currently 17.

224 21 April 2015 Road Traffic Offences

21/04/2015WRM03200398. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of persons convicted in court of road traffic offences in 2013 and 2014 and in 2015 to date, with a breakdown based on each District Court; of those convicted, the number who produced their licence in court; and the number of driving licence numbers which were then forwarded by the Courts Service, with a breakdown based on each District Court, to the National Driver Licence Service and-or the national vehicle and driver file for the application of penalty points. [15310/15]

21/04/2015WRM03300Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested is being collated and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Road Traffic Offences

21/04/2015WRM03400399. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 385 of 1 July 2014, if she will report on her statement that the non- production of the driving licence is recorded by the court registrar, whether or not the accused appears before the court; the number of driving licences recorded in court, per county; if the courts’ computer system has been updated to allow for the recording of this information; if not, the status of this update; when it might be completed and operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15311/15]

21/04/2015WRM03500Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): As the Deputy is aware the primary purpose of section 63 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 is to ensure that the driving licence number of individual offenders is recorded to enable the application of appropriate penalty points to the licence on conviction by the court.

The Court Service has confirmed that where an accused is summonsed to appear before a court in respect of a penalty point offence and is convicted of the offence, if a driving licence is not produced to the Court, the Court Registrar records on the Court Minute Book or on the summons that no driving licence was produced. Similarly if an accused is convicted by the Court in his/her absence, the fact that no driving licence was produced is recorded by the Court Registrar on the Court minute or on the summons before the court.

The Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and the table below provides details of the number of driving licence numbers recorded on the Courts Service Criminal Case Tracking System (CCTS) in 2014 and to date in 2015 by District Court Area. I am informed that the data is not readily available by county.

Court Area No. of Persons convicted of Penalty Point and where Driver Number has been recorded Abbeyfeale 1 Acaill 0

225 Questions - Written Answers Court Area No. of Persons convicted of Penalty Point and where Driver Number has been recorded Ardee 16 Arklow 117 Athlone 242 Athy 13 Ballina 20 Bandon 92 Beal an Mhuirthead 4 Ballinasloe 66 Ballaghaderreen 10 Ballyshannon 9 Bantry 20 Bray 141 Buncrana 21 Cahirciveen 0 Carlow 60 Cashel 86 Cavan 60 Castlebar 88 Clifden 2 Clonmel 46 Clonakilty 21 Cork City 446 Carrick on Shannon 10 Carrickmacross 48 Carndonagh 25 Carrick On Suir 19 Castlerea 17 An Daingean 1 Dublin Metropolitan District 2,893 Dungarven 79 Donegal 9 Drogheda 59 Doire an Fheich 7 Dundalk 14 An Clochan Liath 10 Ennis 207 An Fal Carrach 12 Fermoy 44 Galway 205 Na Gleannta 8 Gort 14 Gorey 145

226 21 April 2015 Court Area No. of Persons convicted of Penalty Point and where Driver Number has been recorded Kenmare 0 Killaloe 24 Cill Ronain 0 Kilcock 22 Kilkenny 63 Killorglin 2 Kilrush 29 Killarney 13 Letterkenny 82 Limerick 95 Lismore 10 Listowel 11 Longford 162 Loughrea 63 Macroom 94 Mallow 78 Manorhamilton 1 Midleton 115 Monaghan 33 Mullingar 199 Naas 155 Nenagh 21 Newcastle West 47 Navan 60 Portlaoise 156 Roscommon 60 Skibbereen 13 Sligo 22 Strokestown 18 Thurles 31 Tipperary 7 Tralee 12 Trim 9 Tuam 113 Tubbercurry 7 Tullamore 177 Virginia 79 Wexford 259 Wicklow 148 Westport 5 Waterford City 137 Youghal 20

227 Questions - Written Answers As previously indicated where an accused is brought before a Court in relation to a penalty point offence, the driving licence number is collected by two methods. The first is where the details are provided by An Garda Síochána prior to submission of an application for a summons in respect of the offence.

Under the second method, the details are collected by the Court Registrar where a licence is produced to the Court at the hearing of the offence. It is not possible to differentiate between the two methods above to provide statistical data in relation to the number of driving licence numbers collected in a Court.

Where the driving licence number is provided by An Garda Síochána at the time of submitting an application for the issue of a summons or where the licence number is collected by the Court Registrar in court, the licence number is updated to the Courts Service computer system. Where the licence is not produced in court this fact is not updated to the Courts Service computer system.

The Courts Service currently has no plans to modify or enhance the computer system to record non production of a licence. In the context of enforcement of road traffic legislation, I am informed that all available ICT resources are currently deployed in modifying and enhancing their computer system to facilitate the implementation of the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014. Additionally, the Courts Service recently commenced work in association with An Garda Síochána to enhance the computer system to facilitate the introduction of the 3rd payment option provided for in Section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 2010. I also understand that detailed consideration of arrangements to facilitate the Gardaí in the bringing of prosecutions for non-production of driver licences in court is at an advanced stage.

Gangland Killings

21/04/2015WRM03600400. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the 12 gang-related murders in Dublin in 2014; if any charges were brought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15358/15]

21/04/2015WRM03700Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Deputy will appreciate that, as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have no direct role in the investigation of criminal offences or the bringing of charges. I can, however, assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána devotes all necessary resources to the investigation of serious offences of this nature with a view to the detection of offenders and bringing of prosecutions wherever possible. I have asked the Garda authorities for whatever information may be readily available in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy and will communicate further with him.

Garda Training

21/04/2015WRM03800401. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to improve firearms training for An Garda Síochána; her plans for allocation of, and training in, new non- lethal weapons; her plans for improvements to the command structure of the emergency response unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15410/15]

21/04/2015WRM03900Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner and will write directly to him on receipt.

228 21 April 2015 Garda Transport Provision

21/04/2015WRM04000402. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will allocate additional marked Garda Síochána vans to the Garda R district; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15411/15]

21/04/2015WRM04100Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources. Responsibility for the efficient deployment of Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Offi- cer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational circumstances. The Deputy will appreciate that a degree of flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is essential to the efficient management of the Garda fleet.

The Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €10 million for investment in the Garda fleet of which €7 million was made available in 2014. This funding brings the total investment in the Garda fleet in 2014 to €11 million. The remaining €3 million is being made available for the purchase and fit out of additional Garda vehicles in 2015.

In October 2014, an order was placed for 370 new vehicles. These vehicles were delivered towards the end of 2014, and following fit out, are being allocated in accordance with the Garda Commissioner’s operational requirements. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the needs of the area referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered when these vehicles are being allocated.

21/04/2015WRN00200403. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for changing the direct provision policy, with regard to asylum seekers here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15420/15]

21/04/2015WRN00300Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Reception and In- tegration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the provision of full board accommodation and certain ancillary services to asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. There are currently approximately 4,400 asylum seekers in 34 centres around the State.

Last year, the Government set up an independent working group to report to it on improvements to the protection process, including direct provision and supports for asylum seekers. It is chaired by former High Court judge, Dr. Bryan McMahon, and comprises senior officials from all relevant Departments, the UNHCR, representatives of academia and various NGOs who have a long-standing interest in this area and other representatives of civil society. The working group developed a work programme early on and established three sub-groups to deal with the following themes. The first deals with conditions in centres, the second deals with supports for asylum seekers and the third deals with improving the processing of protection claims. Over 40 meetings at plenary and sub-group level have taken place since the first meeting of the working group on 11 November 2014.

The working group has taken evidence directly from residents in the direct provision system both in writing and orally, visited centres around the country and spoken directly to residents. It has engaged with particular groups of applicants including children, victims of torture, victims of trafficking and sexual violence, members of the LGBTI community and has taken oral and written submissions from a number of experts in this field, including the Irish Human Rights 229 Questions - Written Answers and Equality Commission and the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Dr. Geoffrey Shan- non. The Government recognises that the issues to be examined by the working group are complex and require thorough consideration to ensure that any recommendations are practical and sustainable from a budgetary perspective and do not undermine existing border controls and immigration policies.

The Chairman has indicated that the Working Group will be in a position to finalise its report before the end of May 2015 after which the Government will then consider the recommendations made therein.

Crime Data

21/04/2015WRN00400404. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have been convicted of offences under section 5 and section 10 of the Non-Fatal Of- fences Against the Person Act 1997, specifically in relation to online threats or harassment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15421/15]

21/04/2015WRN00500Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Sta- tistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.

I understand that it is not possible to provide the level of disaggregation sought by the Deputy in relation to offences under section 5 and section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act which involve on-line threats or harassment. However, I have asked the CSO to provide relevant available statistics directly to the Deputy.

Referendum Expenditure

21/04/2015WRN00600405. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the safeguards and measures that have been put in place to assure the public that the misuse of public moneys to fund the upcoming referendum will not occur, in view of the Supreme Court judgment in the children’s rights referendum which unanimously upheld a challenge against the Government’s information website and booklet on that referendum, finding that the Government had acted wrongfully in spending money on a website which was not fair, equal or impartial; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15426/15]

21/04/2015WRN00700Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I am mindful of the importance of ensuring adherence to the guidelines set out by the Supreme Court in the McKenna and McCrystal judgments. Accordingly, the only funding allocated for the provision of public information in relation to the referendum on the proposed 34th amendment of the Constitution is to the Referendum Commission, which is independent in the performance of its functions. My Department will not be setting up any information website or issuing any information booklet in relation to the Referendum.

Garda Misconduct Allegations

21/04/2015WRN00800406. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases being considered by the independent review mechanism; the timeframe for a final report; if consideration will be given to publishing individual reports on a case by case basis as they are 230 21 April 2015 completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15430/15]

21/04/2015WRN00900Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): There are currently 318 complaints being considered by the mechanism established by the Government for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach.

The volume and complexity of cases has led to the review taking longer than originally an- ticipated, but it is important that counsel take the time necessary to consider each case fully and carefully. It is therefore considered inappropriate to place a time constraint upon the working of the Panel. Nevertheless counsel are making every effort to conclude their work as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Although counsel have not finished their work, my Department has now received a number of recommendations and I therefore intend to start the process shortly of notifying the persons concerned of the outcome of the review in their cases. While it would not be appropriate to publish individual recommendations, I will consider how best information on the outcome of this process could be made public. In this regard, I have asked counsel, in addition to making recommendations in individual cases, to produce a general overview of the issue and trends identified through this process. I believe that this may lead to recommendation for changes across a number of areas, which if implemented will address many of the general and thematic concerns raised by those persons whose cases were examined by Counsel. I hope to receive this overview report in coming weeks and I will seek to have this report published.

Sentencing Policy

21/04/2015WRN01000407. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on sentencing for those found guilty of the possession of cannabis; her further views on the two year sentence handed down at Tralee court to a person (details supplied), who has arthritis, for the possession of six plants in view of the fact that the Government is bringing forward legislation for the provision of medical cannabis in the form of Sativex; if consideration will be given to making provision for those who use cannabis for pain relief and to make exceptions within the current prohibition on cannabis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15431/15]

21/04/2015WRN01100Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): Cannabis is a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs legislation.

Decisions regarding the levels of control which should apply to a particular substance under the legislation are, in the first instance, a matter for the Minister for Health. Such decisions take into account the potential for abuse and the extent to which the particular substance is or can be legitimately used for medical or scientific purposes. The question of whether provision should be made for the use of cannabis for pain relief is therefore one which falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar T.D.

However, I am advised by the Health authorities that prior to last July any use of the substance in all forms was prohibited in Ireland. On 11 July 2014 the then Minister of State for Primary Care at the Department of Health Alex White T.D. signed regulations which enables authorised cannabis-based medicinal products to be legally prescribed by medical practitioners and used by patients.

I am further informed that on 18 July 2014 the Health Products Regulatory Authority granted a marketing authorisation for the cannabis based medicinal product Sativex® to be marketed 231 Questions - Written Answers in Ireland and that making the product available for prescribing in Ireland is now a matter for the holder of the product authorisation, GW Pharmaceuticals PLC and its European partner Almirall.

The Health authorities have also advised that the question of whether the product should be made available under the HSE’s Community Drugs Schemes High Tech Arrangement is currently the subject of discussions between the HSE and the supplier.

With regard to the issue raised by the Deputy concerning the particular penalties imposed by the Courts in dealing with an offence involving cannabis possession under the Misuse of Drugs legislation, the position is that the Courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. In this regard the conduct of any court case including the decision reached in each case and the factors taken into account in determining those decisions are matters entirely for the presiding judge. It is, therefore, not open to me to comment or intervene in any way in relation to how particular proceedings are conducted or on the outcome of those proceedings.

Upward Only Rent Reviews

21/04/2015WRN01200408. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on upward only rent reviews (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15495/15]

21/04/2015WRN01300Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Deputy will recall that the Government made the difficult decision in December 2011 not to proceed with the commitment in the Programme for Government to abolish upward only rent reviews in so called “legacy leases”, i.e., those entered into before 28 February 2010. There was a substantial concern that any legislative scheme involving interference in the contractual relationships of private parties would find it extremely difficult to survive a Constitutional challenge. In addition, the Government was advised that any model proposed would require the payment of compensation to landlords whose rights were infringed in order to ensure that the proposal would be compatible with the Constitution and with the European Convention on Human Rights. The situation has not changed since 2011 and, as I have indicated in my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions on the subject of upward only rent review clauses, there are no plans to re-examine the decision taken in 2011.

Court Accommodation Refurbishment

21/04/2015WRN01400409. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the contract to refurbish Mullingar Courthouse, County Westmeath, will be signed; when construction work is due to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15497/15]

21/04/2015WRN01500Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that they are at an advanced stage in planning the refurbishment and extension of the courthouse in Mullingar as part of the Government’s infrastructure stimulus package. It is intended that this will be delivered by way of Public Private Partnership 232 21 April 2015 along with six other courthouse projects. I am informed that tenders were received last month and are currently being assessed by the Courts Service. A preferred tenderer is expected to be announced within the next few weeks and work on site is expected to commence later this year.

21/04/2015WRN01525Coroners Service

21/04/2015WRN01600410. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the eight maternal deaths through medical misadventure between 2007 and 2012, and the fact that details which led to a verdict of medical misadventure only emerged during the course of inquests hard- fought for by family members of the deceased, if she will institute a system whereby maternal deaths in Health Service Executive hospitals are automatically subject to inquest [14705/15]

21/04/2015WRN01700Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): Currently, under the Coroners Act 1962 any death which is sudden, unexpected, unexplained, or not due to natural causes must be reported to the Coroner. Categories of death which must specifically be reported include deaths:

- resulting directly or indirectly from any surgical or medical treatment or procedure,

- where there is any allegation of medical negligence, misconduct or malpractice on the part of any registered medical practitioner, nurse or other person,

- occurring during a surgical operation or anaesthesia.

The Coroners Bill 2007 includes a specific requirement (at section 25 and Third Schedule point 11) that any maternal death occurring during or following pregnancy - up to six weeks post-partum - or that might be reasonably related to pregnancy, must be reported to the coroner.

As the Deputy will know, the Coroners Bill provides for a comprehensive reform of the Coroners Act 1962 and of the existing coroner system. I can confirm to the Deputy that a review of the Coroners Bill 2007 has commenced, at my request, with a view to developing a plan for its progression. As finalising the review is dependent on competing legislative priorities, I am not in a position, at present, to give a definitive indication on a timeframe for this project.

In the meantime, my understanding is that, although there is no formal legal requirement, maternal deaths are already treated as deaths which must be reported to the coroner as a ‘rule of practice’. This is reflected in the Coroners Service website and by the website of the Dublin City Coroner which describes them as reportable under rules of practice.

The decision on whether to hold an inquest is made by the coroner who is an independent quasi-judicial officer and whose powers and duties are prescribed by law.

Under the Coroners Act, the coroner must hold an inquest into a death reported to him or her if she or he is of the opinion that the death may be unnatural, or from unknown causes. In reaching such a decision the coroner will take account of any concerns expressed to him or her by the family of the deceased.

It should be borne in mind that an automatic rule requiring an inquest into any maternal death in a hospital, regardless of its circumstances, could impose unnecessary further distress to the deceased’s family.

Road Traffic Offences

233 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRN01800411. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a road traffic violation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15519/15]

21/04/2015WRN01900Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Deputy will appreciate that I have no role in relation to the bringing of prosecutions and that it would not be appropriate for me to offer advice or interpretation of the law in relation to any particular case. I am, however, informed by the Garda authorities that Section 5 to 8 of the Road Traffic Act 2014, provides a default speed limit for all public roads, including a built-up area speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour (Section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 2014). I am further informed that where a default speed limit is increased or decreased by a Local Authority, as provided by Sec- tion 9 of the Road Traffic Act, the necessary bye-laws and signage must be in place to inform members of the public.

Prisoner Data

21/04/2015WRN02000412. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average number of prisoners in custody for the months of November 2014 to March 2015, inclusive; if she will provide, in tabular form, the average number of prisoners per month, broken down by prison; the capacity of each prison; and the Inspector of Prisons’ recommended capacity of each prison for each of these months. [15651/15]

21/04/2015WRN02100Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The information sought by the Deputy has been provided by the Irish Prison Service and is set out in the following table:

Prison Novem- Decem- January February March Bed Ca- Bed Ca- ber ber pacity pacity Institu- per tion Inspector of Pris- ons Mountjoy 540 533 532 551 548 554 554 (Male) Mountjoy 116 102 99 110 115 105 105 (Female) Training 85 89 91 91 92 96 96 Unit St. Pat- 8 5 5 4 10 34 34 rick’s Clover- 370 333 339 349 344 431 414 hill Wheat- 483 472 456 460 485 550 550 field Midlands 796 801 793 804 814 870 870 Portlao- 232 236 228 226 221 291 291 ise Cork 221 220 225 226 217 210 173 Limerick 223 207 210 216 218 220 185 (Male)

234 21 April 2015 Prison Novem- Decem- January February March Bed Ca- Bed Ca- ber ber pacity pacity Limerick 25 26 25 24 21 28 24 (Female) Castlerea 314 292 292 313 321 340 300 Arbour 139 140 140 140 140 142 131 Hill Loughan 111 96 102 118 122 140 140 House Shelton 104 87 100 102 105 115 115 Abbey Totals 3,767 3,639 3,637 3,734 3,773 4,126 3,982 As outlined in the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015, it is intended to align the bed capacity of our prisons with the guidelines laid down by the Inspector of Pris- ons, in so far as this is compatible with public safety and the integrity of the criminal justice system. This has been completed for 9 out of the 14 prisons in the State. The number in custody on 20th April (3,718) represented 93% of the Inspector of Prisons recommended total of 3,982.

The Deputy will be aware that the average number of prisoners in custody in Ireland rose from 3,321 during 2007 to 4,318 during 2012, an increase of over 30%. Likewise the total number of committals to prison also rose sharply during the same period, from 11,934 in 2007 to 17,026 in 2012 – an increase of over 43%.

2013 saw the first significant decrease in prison numbers since 2007. There were 15,735 committals to prison in 2013 which was a decrease of 7.6% on the 2012 figure. The overall daily average number of prisoners in custody has also dropped in recent years. The average number in custody for 2014 was 3,916 a reduction of 10.8% on the 2011 average of 4,390.

The Deputy may wish to note that the number in custody reached a peak of 4,621 on 23rd February 2011. Today there are 903 less prisoners in custody which represents a decrease of 19%.

Prisoner Data

21/04/2015WRN02200413. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of prisoners temporarily released on the community return programme, by prison, and by year, from the years 2012 to 2014. [15652/15]

21/04/2015WRN02300Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is as set out in the following table:

Prison 2012 2013 2014 Arbour Hill 0 0 0 Castlerea Prison 5 6 11 Cloverhill Prison 0 3 0 Cork Prison 29 19 41 Dochas Centre 12 21 14 Limerick Prison 22 39 35 Loughan House 27 79 92

235 Questions - Written Answers Midlands Prison 29 33 33 Mountjoy Prison 40 36 23 Portlaoise Prison 4 15 9 Shelton Abbey 70 82 127 St Patrick’s Institu- 12 19 2 tion Training Unit 36 18 43 Wheatfield Place of 13 26 25 Detention Total 299 396 455 The Community Return Scheme is a unique initiative whereby carefully selected prisoners can be granted reviewable temporary release coupled with a requirement to do community service work such as painting, gardening or graffiti removal in a supervised group setting. The type of work involved is intended to assist the community and the scheme is involved with a large number of charitable organisations and local community groups.

The results of the Community Return Scheme have to date been extremely positive with almost 90% of participants having successfully completed their obligations or are currently complying with the conditions of their early release. Any participant in the Community Return Scheme who fails to comply with the conditions of their release is immediately returned to prison. Feedback from the participants has been positive with many commenting on the supports and structure that it gives them on their release and how it has assisted in their transition back into the community.

Prisoner Data

21/04/2015WRN02400414. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of prisoners temporarily released on the community support programme, by prison, and by year, from the years 2012 to 2014. [15653/15]

21/04/2015WRN02500Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is as set out in the following table:

Total Releases on to the Community Support Scheme

Prison 2013 2014 Mountjoy Prison 38 110 Dochas Centre 18 39 West Dublin Campus 0 62 (Wheatfield Place of Deten- tion and Cloverhill Prison Cork Prison 55 115 Limerick Prison 0 23 Total 111 349 The Deputy should note that the scheme was not in operation in 2012.

The initial scheme was set up in Cork in 2013. It was expanded to Mountjoy Campus later on that year. The West Dublin Campus commenced in mid 2014 and expanded to Limerick Prison in late 2014.

236 21 April 2015 Community Support Schemes have been set up to address the recidivism levels of those serving sentences of under 12 months from those catchment areas. The Community Support Scheme groups comprise of a number of prison based personnel, representing the discipline grades and therapeutic services, staff from the Irish Prison Service/Probation Service co-located unit as well as Community Support Workers based in the community.

The groups engage with prisoners shortly after committal and seek to identify risk factors, make appropriate referrals and prepare a sentence management plan in each case. The primary aim of these Schemes is to reduce the current recidivism rates by arranging for additional support structures and provide for a more structured form of temporary release.

These Schemes focus on working with short term sentenced prisoners - helping with issues such as housing, medical care, substance abuse, training needs, etc. The aim is to increase support to prisoners - prior to their release from prison, upon their release and then for a period after their release in order to help break the cycle of reoffending.

21/04/2015WRN02550Prison Service Strategies

21/04/2015WRN02600415. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which she expects the strategies for older prisoners; women prisoners, young prisoners, sex offenders, and prisoners requiring protection to be published; when the strategies will be operational in each prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15654/15]

21/04/2015WRN02700Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): As the Deputy is aware the Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015 includes a commitment that the Irish Prison Service will, in conjunction with other key stakeholders, devise specific strategies for younger prisoners, women, older prisoners, sex offenders, protection prisoners, violent offenders and those suffering from mental illness. Work on the development and implementation of these strategies are underway and are being implemented over the lifetime of the Strategic Plan.

The progress report on year 2 of the implementation plan of this strategy will form part of the soon to be published Irish Prison Service Annual Report for 2014. I will furnish the Deputy with a copy of this report which will be published shortly.

In relation to the strategy for young offenders, the Deputy will be aware the Government is committed to ending the practice of sending children to St. Patrick’s Institution. Significant progress has been made by my own Department and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in fulfilling that commitment. Responsibility for 16 year old boys was transferred from the Irish Prison Service to the children detention facilities at Oberstown in May 2012. Since December 2013, all boys aged 17 years sentenced to detention in St. Patrick’s have been transferred to dedicated units in Wheatfield Place of Detention. Boys aged 17 remanded in custody to St. Patrick’s Institution remain the responsibility of the Irish Prison Service pending the completion of the building project at the children detention facilities at Oberstown and the preparation of the necessary legal instruments to transfer responsibility for this category of offender to Oberstown. The Oberstown campus commenced taking 17 year old males who are newly remanded in custody since Monday 30 March 2015. This is a further step towards the implementation of the Programme for Government commitment to end the detention of children in adult prison facilities.

Further work carried out for young offenders includes: facilitating Red Cross training in Wheatfield Place of Detention, focusing on rehabilitative resettlement of young offenders under supervision and delivering victim empathy group programmes in both Wheatfield and the

237 Questions - Written Answers children detention school.

On 6 March 2014 the IPS published a Women’s Strategy entitled “An Effective Response to Women Who Offend”. The Women’s Strategy sets out how the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service work together, as well as with other statutory, community and voluntary sector partners, to provide women-focused interventions to help reduce offending, improve opportunities for reintegration and to improve outcomes more generally. This co-operative approach is a direct result of the Joint Irish Prison Service/Probation Service Female Strategy 2014-2016 which aims to deliver more effective offender management. In addressing the needs of women offenders the IPS have also:

- worked with a range of agencies including the Dublin Regional Housing Executive, Dub- lin City Council, HSE, DCETB to open the Abigail centre which is run by DePaul Ireland and Novas Ireland. The centre provides supported accommodation and a wide variety of services for women.

- Initiated collaboration with INSPIRE women’s project in Northern Ireland with a joint visit by the PS and IPS staff.

- Pursued tailored placements for women on community service and community return.

- completed audit of inreach services in the Dochas Prison and Limerick Women’s Prison.

In relation to prisoners on protection the strategy commits the Prison Service to introducing appropriate assessment procedures to inform their prisoner placement policy to ensure that prisoners are accommodated appropriate to their security status. The roll-out of the various assessment tools is well under way. It is at the committal stage that the majority of prisoners are identified as being in need of protection. In many instances, the prisoner will identify himself as being in need of same and in other instances, either intelligence or the assessment of the governor will identify a prisoner as requiring protection. Efforts are made on a continuous basis to reduce the numbers of protection prisoners, there is a significant reduction in the number of protection prisoners and improved out of cell time. Since the commencement of the census in July 2013, the number of prisoners on 22/23 hour lock up has decreased by 154 or 74% from 211 to 57% ( Figures taken from January 2015 Census).

In the context of older persons in prison, in line with the Three Year Strategic Plan, the Irish Prison Service is seeking to identify the care needs of persons 55 years of age and above with a view to putting in place care plans to address those needs. Development of a Prison policy specifically focusing on the care and management of older prisoners - strategic links and interventions is ongoing to strengthen integration, cooperation and support in collaboration with community services to ensure seamless transition on release, in addition to improving the quality of life of this cohort of prisoners while in custody. The survey of older prisoners was completed in 2014 and a review of the survey results is currently under consideration and appropriate actions within resources to be implemented in 2015.

Discussions and proposals of the joint IPS/Probation Service working group, in relation to achieving an effective and managed response to imprisoned sex offenders, are under active consideration in partnership with my Department.

Prisoner Data

21/04/2015WRN02800416. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners that participated in the integrated sentence management scheme from 2012 to 2014; if she 238 21 April 2015 will provide, in tabular form, the number of participants, broken down by prison and by year; and the number of scheme officers for each year. [15655/15]

21/04/2015WRN02900Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it is not possible to provide the Deputy with the specific information requested as the Integrated Sentence Management System (ISMS) does not retain information in the format requested.

However, a snapshot taken from the Integrated Sentence Management System (ISMS) on 20 April 2015 records 2,997 active ISM cases at varying stages of the process from First Con- tact Assessment to Community Integration Plan, across the prison estate as set out in the table below. Over 6,460 prisoners have been offered participation in ISM since it began as a pilot project in 2008.

Prison ISM Cases Arbour Hill 142 Cast;erea 193 Cloverhill 135 Cork 209 Dochas 96 Limerick 152 Loughan 151 Midlands 566 Mountjoy 499 Portlaoise 182 Shelton 114 Training Unit 114 Wheatfield 444 Total 2997 The appointment of ISM Coordinators to all locations concluded in March 2015. A total of 24 dedicated ISM Coordinators are now operational in all prisons and open centres. The allocation of dedicated staff in each establishment greatly enhances the effectiveness of the sentence management system and facilitates the growing numbers of prisoners participating in the process. To enhance consistency of delivery across the prison estate a dedicated ISM Coordinator training course was delivered in the IPS College in 2014.

Newly committed prisoners with a sentence of greater than one year are eligible to take part in Integrated Sentence Management (ISM). This involves a specific orientation in the delivery of services to prisoners and an emphasis on prisoners taking greater personal responsibility for their own development through active engagement with both specialist and non-specialist services in the prisons. The end result is a prisoner-centred, multi-disciplinary approach to working with prisoners with provision for initial assessment, goal setting and periodic review to measure progress.

Following committal the ISM Coordinator conducts a First Contact Assessment. This First Contact Assessment identifies the needs of the prisoner in several areas such as accommodation, education and offending behaviour. Referrals are made on foot of this assessment to services within the prison such as Education, Work/Training and outside agencies providing an inreach service. The various actions recommended by these services are compiled into a Personal Integration Plan (PIP). This is a plan of actions for the prisoner to complete during his/her time in prison. The PIP will be reviewed regularly depending on the length of the sentence. Approxi- 239 Questions - Written Answers mately 9 months prior to the release of the prisoner, a Community Integration Plan (CIP) will be developed. This sets out a plan for the prisoner to prepare for his/her release. Important issues such as accommodation, employment or education are addressed to help the prisoner resettle into the community on release and reduce the risk of re-offending.

The ISM process has played a key role in the success of the Community Return Scheme. ISM Coordinators are also active participants in sentence planning for certain categories of prisoners serving less than one year, for example, female prisoners, prisoners at risk of homelessness on release, or prisoners participating in the Community Support Scheme.

21/04/2015WRN02950Prison Service

21/04/2015WRN03000417. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details regarding the development of a dignity at work charter in the Irish Prison Service; if a prison-wide dignity and respect campaign has been launched; the date on which she expects information regarding a dignity at work charter to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15656/15]

21/04/2015WRN03100Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Prison Service has a commitment in its current Strategy (2012 - 2015) to develop a Dignity at Work Charter. I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Ser- vice that significant staff consultation took place through the holding of 19 focus groups across the Prison Estate. Resulting from these consultations five behaviours were identified by staff as necessary to ensure a dignified work environment. These are Respectful, Supportive, Openness, Competence, Fair & Inclusive behaviours. These principles will be at the heart of what the Irish Prison Service sets out to achieve in the coming years and into the future in all strategic actions.

Five sub groups were then established to develop policies and initiatives to bring about a working environment displaying these behaviours. I am advised that a number of policies have been drafted including Acceptable Behaviour Standard, Anti Graffiti Policy, Competency Framework, Well-Being at Work Policy placing the foundations to the programme.

In recognition of the strategic importance of a positive and inclusive work environment the Director General commissioned an Independent Interim Report on the programme which was published last month and is fully committed to the delivery of this programme.

A number of issues have arisen in respect of the Dignity at Work Programme in recent months and I am advised by the Irish Prison Management that they have at all times continued to engage constantly with the Prison Officers Association on these issues.

In this context the overall objective must remain a working environment which is based on co-operation, openness, equality and respect.

Drugs in Prisons

21/04/2015WRN03200418. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the institutions that have drug free units currently operating; the number of spaces; prisoners; and vacancies in each drug free unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15657/15]

21/04/2015WRN03300Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I wish to inform the Deputy that there are currently Drug Free Unit’s operational in 7 closed prisons: Mountjoy (Male), Dochas Centre, Cloverhill, Limerick, Cork, and Castlerea Prison and Wheatfield Place 240 21 April 2015 of Detention. There is an aggregate total of 560 spaces in these unit’s, which currently house 486 prisoners with 74 spaces available. The majority of Units operate at or close to their capacity and prisoners are only accommodated in such Units when they meet the strict criteria which applies including evidence of drug free status.

The breakdown of these aggregate figures is set out as follows:

- Mountjoy Male Prison; 54 spaces, with 48 prisoners currently in the Unit and 6 spaces.

- Dochas Centre; 55 spaces, with 40 prisoners currently in the Unit, and 15 spaces available.

- Wheatfield Place of Detention; 180 spaces, with 163 prisoners currently in the Unit, and 17 spaces available.

- Cloverhill Prison; 52 spaces, with 33 prisoners currently in the Unit, and 19 spaces.

- Limerick Prison; 45 spaces, with 45 prisoners currently in the Unit and no spaces.

- Cork Prison; 34 spaces, with 30 prisoners currently in the Unit, and 4 spaces.

- Castlerea Prison; 140 spaces, with 127 prisoners currently in the Unit, and 13 spaces.

Prisoner Health

21/04/2015WRN03400419. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if standard audit tools to measure health care equivalence in the prison system have been developed; if these tools have been implemented and audits carried out; the results of these audits; if changes have been made to health care in line with audit recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15658/15]

21/04/2015WRN03500Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I wish to inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015, under Strategic Action 3: gave a commitment to provide equivalence of care to all prisoners in custody, and to develop audit tools to measure such equivalence. I am advised that the Irish Prison Service has recently carried out an audit of healthcare standards in a number of prison institutions, including Dochas Centre, Arbour Hill, Limerick, Wheatfield, and Cork. These audits have shown that compliance with healthcare standards has risen significantly and now ranges from 76 to 89% across the institutions which have undergone the most recent audits.

Prison Security

21/04/2015WRN03600420. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the latest information on the implementation of the cell share risk assessment tool proposed as part of the Irish Prison Service’s three year strategic plan; the location at which it is currently operational; if she will provide a copy of the policy document on cell share risk assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15659/15]

21/04/2015WRN03700Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that as part of the response to the Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Death of Gary Douche (McMorrow Report) the Irish Prison Service Security Compliance Group was tasked with developing the Irish Prison Service “Cell Sharing Risk Assessment Pol- icy”. The policy is currently at draft stage and close to completion. Once the policy is finalised

241 Questions - Written Answers it will be made publicly available.

A pilot scheme, overseen by the IPS Security Compliance Group, was introduced in Mid- lands Prison in February 2015 and is working well. The pilot evaluation will feed into the finalisation of the Cell Sharing Risk Assessment policy and procedures.

Proposed Legislation

21/04/2015WRN03800421. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Crimi- nal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014; and if the passage of this legislation will be expedited in view of the upcoming reforms in neighbouring jurisdictions, which could negatively impact on this country. [15825/15]

21/04/2015WRN03900Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): On 27 November 2014, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The Bill will introduce new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services which are directed at the demand side of prostitution with a view to tackling the exploitation, including trafficking in persons, associated with prostitution. The General Scheme also contains wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children and other vulnerable persons from sexual abuse and exploitation. The Bill will also implement the recommendations of a number of Oireachtas Committees, reform the law on incest and update the Sex Offenders Act 2001. Addressing these sensitive issues makes this a complex piece of legislation. It is currently being drafted, with a view to publication in this parliamentary session.

I would also like to advise the Deputy of existing laws in the area of prostitution. Under section 6 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993, it is an offence to solicit in a street or public place for the purpose of prostitution. It is also an offence under the 1993 Act to organise prostitution, to knowingly live on the earnings of a prostitute or to keep or manage a brothel. In addition, public order legislation prohibits the advertising of brothels and prostitution. I am satisfied that these provisions are adequate to address any impacts to this State arising from upcoming reforms in other jurisdictions.

Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRN04000422. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014 under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16056/15]

21/04/2015WRN04100Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): Retired staff members of my Department and the bodies under its aegis are mainly in receipt of pensions from the Su- perannuation and Retired Allowances Vote (Vote 12) of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Payments to retired members of An Garda Síochána are made from the Garda Síochána Vote (Vote 20). Pension payments to the dependents of retired members are also made from this Vote in certain circumstances. The number of retired members and their dependents in receipt of pensions for each of the years 2008 to 2014 inclusive is set out as follows:

Year Number of pensions in payment during the year 2008 8,061

242 21 April 2015 2009 8,616 2010 8,876 2011 9,277 2012 9,764 2013 10,007 2014 10,201

21/04/2015WRO00100Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRO00200423. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total value of public sector pensions in payment; the average public sector pension in 2014, under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16065/15]

21/04/2015WRO00300Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): Retired staff members of my Department and bodies under its aegis are mainly in receipt of pensions from the Super- annuation and Retired Allowances Vote (Vote 12) of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Payments to retired members of An Garda Síochána are made from the Garda Síochána Vote (Vote 20). Pension payments to the dependents of retired members are also made from this vote in certain circumstances.

The total value of pension payments made from the Garda Síochána vote in 2014 was €282,304,023 and the total number of recipients was 10,201 which gave rise to an average pension of €27,674.

21/04/2015WRO00400Child Care Services Funding

21/04/2015WRO00500424. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports available for the construction of an extension to an all-Irish playschool (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15422/15]

21/04/2015WRO00600Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy James Reilly): My Department currently provides approximately €260 million annually to early years and school-age care and education services. This funding is directed towards childcare programmes which aim to improve the accessibility, affordability and quality of early years and school-age care and education. These programmes – the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Com- munity Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, and the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes - support the provision of early years and school-age care and education for more than 100,000 children each year.

Capital funding totalling €11.25 million was provided over the past 3 years to support the refurbishment and upgrading of early years services. This funding was targeted primarily at the community sector with the objective of ensuring that previously-funded community facilities remained fit-for-purpose and in a position to maintain and improve quality, and to make community services more efficient and sustainable through improving the energy rating of these facilities.

On Wednesday last, I announced that further capital funding totalling €7 million is being made available in 2015 for early years services with €5 million of this funding being made available for grants specifically for community/not for profit services. This funding will pro- 243 Questions - Written Answers vide grant aid, in the region of €500,000, for significant upgrades of community/not-for-profit services, such as major refurbishment or relocation to new premises. Also under this strand of funding, grants of up to €50,000 will be available for essential maintenance, or works undertaken to improve the energy performance of childcare facilities. The remaining €2 million in capital funding is being made available for both private and community childcare facilities to access grants of up to €500 for quality improvement measures, specifically in the area of upgrading IT facilities.

This new funding allocation is open to early years childcare facilities providing services under at least one of the support programmes that I have referred to above. There is no further capital funding available to my Department to support capital developments in the childcare sector.

Further information on the new capital programme can be found on the Pobal website at www.pobal.ie.

21/04/2015WRO00700Children and Family Services Provision

21/04/2015WRO00800425. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in County Wexford who have been assessed as being in need of a social worker and are currently waiting to be allocated or reallocated one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15588/15]

21/04/2015WRO00900Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy James Reilly): The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, collects information on unallocated cases in respect of the Wexford/Waterford administrative area.

As at 31st December, 2014, there were a total of 1,853 open cases in the area, of which 586 cases were awaiting allocation to a social worker, with 161 deemed to be high priority cases.

Where a child does not have an allocated social worker assigned to their case there is a system of oversight by social workers to ensure that any change in the child’s circumstances is addressed. It is important to note here that “high priority” should not simply be equated with risk. For instance children in care for less than six months who do not have an allocated social worker but who are in stable placements are included in this category.

Tusla deals immediately with emergency cases, including for instance, a child who has been abandoned or is in immediate physical danger or at immediate risk of sexual abuse. Social work duty teams keep high priority cases under review by regular checking to ascertain risk to the child, and where necessary will reprioritise the case.

As part of Tusla’s Business Planning process for 2015, I requested that an Action Plan be developed, setting out the proposed measures to tackle the issue of unallocated cases. Tusla is undertaking a national review of cases awaiting allocation to determine if additional social work posts may be required to meet existing demand and I look forward to the outcome of this review.

There has been a welcome downward trend in the number waiting to be allocated a social worker nationally, including an almost 50% reduction of high priority cases awaiting allocation for less than three months in 2014.

Tusla is also committed to producing a Workforce Development Strategy by the end of Quarter 2 this year. This development presents Tusla with a significant opportunity to continue

244 21 April 2015 to improve their service to vulnerable children and families. The Plan will consider issues relating to recruitment, retention, skill mix and turnover.

I look forward to receiving the Action Plan and Strategy and I will support Tusla in their ongoing work to deliver a safe and quality service.

21/04/2015WRO01000Child Detention Centres

21/04/2015WRO01100426. Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the Further Education and Training Awards Council qualifications available for study for children in detention centres. [15606/15]

21/04/2015WRO01200Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy James Reilly): Under Section 159A of the Children Act 2001, County of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board must provide for the education of children placed in the children detention schools.

There are currently two education centres attached to the children detention schools, one of which is situated in Trinity House School and the other is shared between Oberstown Boys School and Oberstown Girls School. FETAC levels 2, 3 and 4 Courses are available to students in the Detention Schools. Qualifications are primarily provided in the following subjects: communications, numeracy, food and nutrition, health and fitness, crafts (includes art, ceramics, woodwork and metalwork), interpersonal skills, computers, wood-turning and career preparation.

21/04/2015WRO01300Inter-Country Adoptions

21/04/2015WRO01400427. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of inter-country adoption placements that have broken down, considering that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, now includes this option on the Meitheal request form (details supplied). [15814/15]

21/04/2015WRO01500428. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department or Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, maintain statistics on the number of inter- country adoption placements that have broken down; if not, the reason why; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15815/15]

21/04/2015WRO01600Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy James Reilly): I propose to take Ques- tions Nos. 427 and 428 together.

As this is a service matter under the remit of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have asked the Agency to respond directly to the Deputy.

21/04/2015WRO01700Adoption Records Provision

21/04/2015WRO01800429. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of historic adoption files that have been transferred to Tusla, the Child and Fam- ily Agency, and previously to the Health Service Executive since each of the former adoption agencies closed down; and if these records included files on illegal adoptions, adoptions to the United States of America, vaccine trials, and persons adopted prior to 1952. [15816/15]

245 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRO01900Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy James Reilly): As this is a service matter under the remit of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have asked the Agency to respond directly to the Deputy.

21/04/2015WRO02000Illegal Adoptions

21/04/2015WRO02100430. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason his Department continues to refer to illegal adoptions as illegal birth registrations. [15817/15]

21/04/2015WRO02200Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy James Reilly): The term “illegal registration” refers to a case where the birth of a child was registered to persons other than the child’s birth mother and/or father.

The Adoption Act 1952 provided a legal basis for adoption in Ireland and for the establishment of the Adoption Board. This brought order to what had been the system of ad-hoc arrangements in lieu of formal adoption procedures up to this point. Legal adoptions are effected in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the Adoption Act 2010. However, if an “adoption” was effected in breach of these Acts, the Department would consider that such arrangements would be an “illegal adoption”.

21/04/2015WRO02300Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRO02400431. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16048/15]

21/04/2015WRO02500Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy James Reilly): As civil service pensions are paid directly by the Paymaster Generals Office (under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform), the information set out below relates to public service agencies under the remit of my Department only. As my Department was established in June 2011, the information requested relates to the period from 2011 onwards.

Year Number of pensions in payment at Decem- ber each year 2011 18 2012 134 2013 146 2014 197 Note:

1. Increase in 2012 relates to the Children Detention Schools coming within the remit of this Department

2. Increase in 2014 primarily relates to the Child and Family Agency coming within the remit of this Department.

21/04/2015WRO02600Public Sector Pensions Data

246 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRO02700432. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total value of public sector pensions in payment; the average public sector pension in 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16059/15]

21/04/2015WRO02800Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy James Reilly): As civil service pensions are paid directly by the Paymaster Generals Office (under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform), the information set out below relates to public service agencies under the remit of my Department only.

Total Value of Public Ser- Average Pension Cost vice Pensions 2014 €3,435,000 €17,436

21/04/2015WRO02900National Drugs Strategy Implementation

21/04/2015WRO03000433. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will designate a Minister of State to take responsibility for the area of drug use and the national drugs strategy, in view of the vital importance of this area of policy. [15163/15]

21/04/2015WRO03100Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 is a cross-cutting area of public policy and service delivery which requires a coordinated response to tackling the drugs problem. As Minister for Health, I have overall responsibility for the Na- tional Drugs Strategy at Government level. The Oversight Forum on Drugs, which I chair, is responsible for the high-level monitoring of the implementation of the Strategy across Govern- ment Departments and agencies, and solid progress is being made in delivering on its actions.

I am fully committed to the drugs brief, and am eager to tackle the issues in the area in as comprehensive a way as possible. My Department is beginning work on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy for the period after 2016 and as Minister with lead responsibility for drugs policy, I will play an active role in the development of the new Strategy. I look forward to engaging with all interested parties in this work.

It is a matter for the Taoiseach in the first instance to determine the approach to the allocation of portfolios to Ministers of State.

21/04/2015WRO03200Disease Management

21/04/2015WRO03300434. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken by his Department to raise awareness of Lyme disease and tick bites and educate those involved in agriculture and the general public regarding Lyme disease and tick bites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15296/15]

21/04/2015WRO03400435. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken by his Department to raise awareness of Lyme disease and tick bites and increase general education regarding Lyme disease and tick bites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15297/15]

21/04/2015WRO03500443. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken by his Department to raise awareness of Lyme disease and educate medical professionals and the general public regarding Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15295/15]

21/04/2015WRO03600472. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the locations where treatment is available for sufferers of late Lyme borreliosis; and if he will make a statement on the

247 Questions - Written Answers matter. [15433/15]

21/04/2015WRO03700473. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the way persons who suffer from Lyme borreliosis, who have slow-to-heal or permanent tissue damage, are treated; the therapeutic agents prescribed for relief and rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15434/15]

21/04/2015WRO03800474. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the way persons who suffer from post-Lyme syndrome are diagnosed and treated in this State, the locations where the treatment is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15435/15]

21/04/2015WRO03900475. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the training that is provided to clinicians and other health care workers to diagnose and treat late Lyme borreliosis and post- Lyme syndrome; the number of medical professionals who have been trained and are qualified to diagnose and treat these conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15436/15]

21/04/2015WRO04000476. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the work of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s Lyme borreliosis sub-committee; the status of its development of strategies to minimise harm caused by Lyme borreliosis and to treat late Lyme borelliosis and post-Lyme syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15437/15]

21/04/2015WRO04100Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): I propose to take Questions Nos. 434, 435, 443 and 472 to 476, inclusive, together.

Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis) is an infection transmitted to humans by bites from ticks infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The infection is generally mild affecting only the skin, but can occasionally be more severe and debilitating.

Lyme borreliosis is a notifiable infectious disease, the notifiable entity being the more severe neurological form, Lyme neuroborreliosis. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) collects and collates surveillance data on the condition. 20 cases of the condition have been provisionally notified in 2014. This number is likely to fall following validation.

Lyme borreliosis can be asymptomatic or have a range of clinical presentations. Current best advice is that diagnosis should be made only after careful examination of the patient’s clinical history, physical findings, laboratory evidence and exposure risk evaluation. Exposure to ticks prior to disease manifestations is necessary for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis. Since an awareness or recollection of a tick-bite is not always present, however, this should not exclude the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis. Later stages require the use of antibody detection tests (or advanced DNA detection techniques). Testing for Lyme Disease is undertaken in most of the larger hospitals in Ireland. In undertaking Lyme testing, it is essential that the results are interpreted in the light of the clinical condition of the patient. If the result of this initial screen is equivocal, the patient’s samples are referred to the U.K.’s Public Health England Porton Down facility which uses a two-tier system recommended by American and European authorities. This involves a screening serological test followed by a confirmatory serological test. Because of the general availability of initial screening for Lyme disease in Ireland and the provision of a confirmatory testing service in the UK, there is no need for Irish citizens to travel abroad for testing.

Common antibiotics such as doxycycline or amoxicillin are effective at clearing the rash and helping to prevent the development of complications. They are generally given for up to three weeks. If complications develop, intravenous antibiotics may need to be used. Anyone who suspects they may have contracted Lyme Disease should consult their GP who will arrange

248 21 April 2015 appropriate testing and treatment.

The Scientific Advisory Committee of the HPSC has established a Lyme Borreliosis Sub- Committee. The aim of this Sub-Committee is to develop strategies to undertake primary prevention in order to minimise the harm caused by Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland. These strategies will be published in a Final Report. In addition to staff from the HPSC, the membership of the Sub-Committee includes specialists in Public Health Medicine, Consultants in Infec- tious Diseases, Clinical Microbiology, Occupational Health an Entomologist from the Parks and Wildlife Service, a representative from the Local Government Management Agency and an Environmental Health Officer. A representative from the Patients’ Association is also being sought. The Terms of Reference of the Sub-Committee are:

- To raise awareness in Ireland of Lyme Borreliosis amongst clinicians and the general public;

- To identify and highlight best international practice in raising awareness about Lyme Bor- reliosis for the General Public;

- To develop policies of primary prevention of Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland based on best international evidence;

- To explore ways in which to improve surveillance of neuroborreliosis in Ireland;

- To develop strategies to raise awareness among the public particularly in areas of higher tick populations;

- To produce a Final Report covering all the above areas.

- The Sub-Committee will hold its inaugural meeting on May 6.

Each year the HPSC holds a Lyme Awareness Week. This involves raising awareness for clinicians and the general public as to the risks of infected biting ticks, protection against tick bites and identifying the disease. Much use is made of the media to broadcast these messages in addition to the extensive material provided on the HPSC website. This years Lyme Awareness Week takes place from April 27 - May 1st.

21/04/2015WRO04200Health Strategies

21/04/2015WRO04300436. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health following the second anniversary of the launch of the Government’s flagship Healthy Ireland policy on 28 March 2015, what action the Cabinet committee on social policy, which has overall responsibility for the implementation of the policy, has taken; the further action he has taken over the failure to publish an implementation plan and outcomes framework in 2013, as promised; the reason there has been such a lengthy delay; when the implementation plan and outcomes framework will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15589/15]

21/04/2015WRO04400507. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health following the second anniversary of the launch of the Government’s flagship Healthy Ireland policy on 28 March 2015, the progress that has been made in each Department to deliver on the objectives of the policy; the action that has been taken to establish the robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms promised in the report; the number of staff members in his Department who are working full-time on delivering on the Healthy Ireland agenda; the funding that has been specifically allocated to this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15590/15]

249 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRO04500Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 507 together.

Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025, which was launched in March 2013, is the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the country over the coming generation. The Healthy Ireland Framework takes a “whole of Government” and “whole of society” approach to improving health and wellbeing which is based on the international experience and thinking in addressing the broad social determinants of health.

The Framework provides for new arrangements to ensure effective co-operation between the health sector and other areas of Government, public services, the community and voluntary sector, the business community and individuals. While many of the elements of the Healthy Ireland Framework are beginning to move into the ‘implementing and operationalising’ stage of policy implementation, the broad and complex nature of the Framework and the significant change agenda associated with its implementation requires that a critical focus remains on the wider enablers of implementation such as stakeholder consultation, building a supportive culture, communication and leadership.

It is important to acknowledge that it takes time to ensure this enabling environment is appropriately built and strengthened, to build close links and working relationships with key areas in other Government Departments to progress the ‘whole of government’ approach underpinning the Framework and to identify potential barriers or progress and find solutions, and to exploit opportunities to progress a ‘Health in All Policies’ approach.

The implementation of the Healthy Ireland Framework is overseen by the Cabinet Com- mittee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform, chaired by An Taoiseach. Implementation is supported by a Cross Sectoral Group comprising senior officials from key Government De- partments and agencies and by a Healthy Ireland Council whose membership derives from a range of stakeholders and sectors. The co-ordination of the implementation of the Framework is driven by the Health and Wellbeing Programme in the Department of Health, which has a complement of 6.8 staff and the expenditure by the Programme is met directly from the Depart- ment of Health vote.

The initial phase of implementation (2013/14) has focussed on establishing the underpinning architecture, and accountability structures and mechanisms; building the capacity of the Programme and embedding its work in the Department’s overall responsibilities and work; establishing and supporting the HSE capacity around health and wellbeing through the Health and Wellbeing Division; identifying and building key strategic relationships and partnerships across a range of cross-sectoral partners; and initiating a number of foundational projects.

The Healthy Ireland agenda is clearly reflected in the priorities for 2015-2017 published by my Department earlier this year. Under the priority area ‘Driving the Healthy Ireland agenda’, deliverables include the publication of a first Healthy Ireland Survey; publication and implementation of a National Physical Activity Plan which has been developed in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport and other stakeholders; introduction of public health legislation on alcohol; development of a national ‘Healthy Workplace’ framework across public and private sector; publication of an Obesity Policy; publication of a Sexual Health Strat- egy; and development of an Outcomes Framework.

The Programme has established a good foundation for driving the ‘whole of government’ approach, which is now entering a critical stage to make real impact in terms of improving communications, efficiency, coherence and accountability across linked policy areas, as well as making progress on integrating policy development and implementation and delivering a 250 21 April 2015 comprehensive policy and legislative programme across a range of public health and societal challenges.

I am satisfied that the Healthy Ireland policy initiative continues to make good progress towards the goals set out in the Framework and will have made a lasting contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of the Irish population by 2025. In addition to the achievements and progress listed above much progress has been made in relation to the ‘whole of society’ engagement which is critical to the implementation of the sustainable culture change envisaged in the Healthy Ireland Framework, and in particular with the Healthy Ireland Council. I would like to acknowledge the support received from other Departments and agencies in relation to the ongoing work.

21/04/2015WRO04600Medical Card Applications

21/04/2015WRO04700437. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a full medical card will be approved in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [15150/15]

21/04/2015WRO04800Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRO04900Respite Care Grant Eligibility

21/04/2015WRO05000438. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health how the cost of respite care charges is calculated. [15170/15]

21/04/2015WRO05100Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Charges for long-stay in-patient services, including long-stay in-patient respite care services, were provided for under the Health (Amendment) Act 2005 and came into effect on 15 July 2005 under the Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations 2005. The Regulations have been amended on a number of occasions since 2005, most recently by the Health (Charges for In-patient Services) (Amend- ment) Regulations 2011, which came into effect on 23 July 2011.

Long-stay charges for in-patient services only apply to the further provision of in-patient services to persons who have already received at least 30 days of in-patient services during the immediately preceding 12-month period. Accordingly, many respite episodes would not attract any charge.

The level of the charges is based on income and cannot exceed 80% of the weekly non- contributory State pension. The Regulations provide for a maximum charge of €175 per week where in-patient care is provided in a setting with 24-hour nursing care (Class 1) or a maximum of €130 per week where in-patient care is provided in other settings (Class 2).

The charges are structured to ensure that those paying them retain a reasonable minimum income for personal use: at least €33 per week for those paying Class 1 rates and at least €64

251 Questions - Written Answers per week for those paying Class 2 rates. The charging legislation provides that the HSE may reduce or waive charges where necessary to avoid undue financial hardship, having regard to individual financial circumstances, including whether there are dependants.

21/04/2015WRO05200Vaccination Programme

21/04/2015WRO05300439. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of a case in County Longford, where a person is considered by a parent to have contracted encephalomyelitis due to the pandemic vaccination; if it is accepted that this was caused by the vaccination; the measures of aid that have been put in place for the person and the person’s family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15173/15]

21/04/2015WRO05400517. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of a case (details supplied) in County Longford, where a person is felt by a parent to have contracted encephalomyelitis due to the pandemic vaccination; if it is accepted that this was caused by the vaccination; the measures of aid that have been put in place for the person and the person’s family; if any are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15616/15]

21/04/2015WRO05500Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 517 together.

As this issue relates to an individual case, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRO05600Home Care Packages

21/04/2015WRO05700440. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the home care supports that have been, or will be, put in place in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will expedite the provision of a home care plan for this person. [15274/15]

21/04/2015WRO05800Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRO05900General Medical Services Scheme

21/04/2015WRO06000441. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Health if a medical card holder or a holder of a general practitioner visit card has to pay a general practitioner for having blood taken to diagnose a condition or monitor an ongoing condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15288/15]

21/04/2015WRO06100Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): Persons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme should not be charged for routine phle- botomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of a patient or to monitor a diagnosed condition.

21/04/2015WRO06200Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications 252 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRO06300442. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application under the fair deal scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15293/15]

21/04/2015WRO06400Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Question No. 443 answered with Question No. 434.

21/04/2015WRP00250Hospital Appointments Status

21/04/2015WRP00400444. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) is provided an ear, nose and throat appointment without further delay. [15298/15]

21/04/2015WRP00500Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Ser- vice Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient’s general practitioner consider that the patient’s condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRP00513Health Services

21/04/2015WRP00700445. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the occupational therapist cover for mid-Kildare; the number of therapists working in the area; the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15304/15]

21/04/2015WRP00800Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRP00900Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

21/04/2015WRP01000446. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a fair deal scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15306/15]

21/04/2015WRP01100Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have

253 Questions - Written Answers not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRP01200Hospital Beds Data

21/04/2015WRP01300447. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if additional beds will be opened in a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15309/15]

21/04/2015WRP01400Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRP01500Medical Card Eligibility

21/04/2015WRP01600448. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of children with illnesses who are awaiting a medical card; the number who were refused medical cards in 2012 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15312/15]

21/04/2015WRP01700Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRP01800Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

21/04/2015WRP01900449. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has been on the waiting list since 2011 will be provided an orthodontic appointment. [15331/15]

21/04/2015WRP02000Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRP02100Cancer Screening Programmes

21/04/2015WRP02200450. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16, who was previously diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, has now been removed from the BreastCheck register, resulting in that person having to pay €200 per mam- mogram; if this is a policy decision to de-list all cancer survivors; if so, the reason for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15336/15]

254 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRP02300Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The Deputy’s question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRP02400Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

21/04/2015WRP02500451. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hearing aid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15340/15]

21/04/2015WRP02600Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRP02700Hospitals Data

21/04/2015WRP02800452. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has entirely removed the previous breakdown on the private-public mix by hospital from its monthly data report, in view of the fact that providing a generic percentage for all acute hospitals is entirely meaningless, and that this means that a significant number of public hospitals could be breaching their 20-80 mix, and this information would no longer be publicly available. [15344/15]

21/04/2015WRP02900459. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the inpatient profiles, that is, public and private, and the elective emergency mix for Janu- ary 2015, in the manner provided on the December 2014 Management Data Report (details supplied). [15375/15]

21/04/2015WRP03000Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): I propose to take Questions Nos. 452 and 459 together.

The patient information requested by the Deputy and comprising of the private/public mix and elective/emergency mix by hospital will be published with HSE’s February Performance Report at the end of April. Thereafter, this data will continue to be published on a monthly basis with the HSE’s monthly Performance Reports throughout 2015.

21/04/2015WRP03100Services for People with Disabilities

21/04/2015WRP03200453. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15355/15]

21/04/2015WRP03300Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): Each Local Health Office area in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a dedicated Disability Manager to coordinate the delivery of services to people with disabilities. It is open to the individual and their family to pursue this matter with the Disability Manager for their area who can be contacted at Ballymun Health Care Facility, Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9, telephone 01-8467178.

255 Questions - Written Answers As the Deputy’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

21/04/2015WRP03350Medical Internships

21/04/2015WRP03500454. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason 88% of final year medical students have no intention of working here when they qualify; the serious implications this has for the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15356/15]

21/04/2015WRP03600Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The recruitment and retention of doctors at all levels – from medical graduate to specialist – is a priority for me as Minister for Health. In this context, I am committed to the implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure.

In July 2013, a Working Group, chaired by Prof. Brian MacCraith, President, Dublin City University, was established to carry out the Strategic Review. The Working Group was tasked with examining and making high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors with a view to:

- Improving graduate retention in the public health system;

- Planning for future service needs;

- Realising maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training.

The Working Group completed its work in mid-2014 and, in all, submitted three reports and made 25 recommendations. The reports address a range of barriers and issues relating to the recruitment and retention of doctors in the Irish public health system.

The Strategic Review recommendations are being implemented through a range of structures and processes across the health system. Each recommendation has an identified business owner and progress updates are sought by my Department on a regular basis. To support implementation of the recommendations, my Department has also established an Implementation Monitoring Group, comprising key stakeholders including trainee doctors. This approach will help drive implementation across the system and embed the recommendations in the day-to-day business practice of the health system.

As the Deputy may be aware, the first six-monthly progress report on the implementation of the recommendations was published on 5th March last on my Department’s website. The next report will be finalised and published this summer so that all stakeholders, in particular trainee doctors, can assess the progress being made across the range of Strategic Review recommendations.

21/04/2015WRP03700Hospital Services

21/04/2015WRP03800455. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the Pancreatic Transplant Unit at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 was closed down in January 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15357/15]

21/04/2015WRP03900Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): At the end of 2014, two consultant trans-

256 21 April 2015 plant surgeons left the renal and pancreas transplant programme at Beaumont Hospital, one on retirement and the second on leave of absence for professional development purposes. Given the limited number of surgeons who specialise in transplantation, any vacancies pose a challenge. While every effort is being made to fill the vacancies, remaining surgeons are available to provide transplant services.

Beaumont Hospital is also collaborating with other transplant services in relation to a combined approach to kidney/pancreas transplants, as well as the development of an intra-abdominal organ retrieval service. Pancreatic transplants, of which 6 were performed in 2014, are expected to continue this year.

Officials from the HSE and my Department are actively working with senior management and the transplant surgeons at Beaumont Hospital on the development of renal transplant services.

21/04/2015WRP04000Services for People with Disabilities

21/04/2015WRP04100456. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding adult services for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15359/15]

21/04/2015WRP04200Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): Each Local Health Office area in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a dedicated Disability Manager to coordinate the delivery of services to people with disabilities. It is open to the individual and their family to pursue this matter with the Disability Manager for their area who can be contacted at Ballymun Health Care Facility, Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9, telephone 01-8467178.

As the Deputy’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

21/04/2015WRP04225Health Promotion

21/04/2015WRP04400457. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on the Fit for Work Ireland Initiative; his Department’s response to the initiative; the steps taken to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15364/15]

21/04/2015WRP04500Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): I recently met with Arthritis Ireland and was updated on the Fit for Work programme, which Arthritis Ireland promote and which aims to better align the work and health agendas in Ireland and I assume this is programme referred to by the Deputy.

I, along with Minister Lynch, recently published the priorities for the Department of Health for 2015. One of the priorities identified under Healthy Ireland - the Framework for Improved Health and Well-being 2013-2025 is to commence the development of a national ‘Healthy Workplace’ framework across both the public and private sector. This framework will aim to assist employers to support employees to follow a healthy lifestyle. My Department will work closely with relevant stakeholders in the development of the Healthy Workplace Framework.

257 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRP04600Hospital Appointments Status

21/04/2015WRP04700458. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when the person will receive an appointment in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9. [15366/15]

21/04/2015WRP04800Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Ser- vice Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

Question No. 459 answered with Question No. 452.

21/04/2015WRP05000Dental Services Provision

21/04/2015WRP05100460. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding dental treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [15377/15]

21/04/2015WRP05200Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRP05300Dental Services

21/04/2015WRP05400461. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the dental scheme for medical card holders entitles them to two fillings per year, regardless of whether the tooth or teeth requiring fillings were previously filled, in view of the fact that patients have been informed by some dentists that fillings for teeth previously filled are not covered under the scheme. [15378/15]

21/04/2015WRP05500Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Dental Treatment Services Scheme provides access to dental treatment for adult medical card holders. The service is provided by contracted dentists. The HSE prioritises for treatment patients with special needs, high risk patients and those who have greater clinical needs. A free oral examination every calendar year and free emergency dental treatment with a focus on relief of pain and sepsis are available to all eligible patients, regardless of their medical condition. This includes 2 fillings per year, all extractions, including surgical extractions, and a number of complex treatments. A subsequent filling on the same tooth can be approved by the HSE where such treatment is clinically necessary.

21/04/2015WRP05600General Practitioner Services Provision 258 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRP05700462. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the progress in relation to the recruitment of a general practitioner to service the general medical services scheme for Gortna- hoe, County Tipperary, arising from the retirement of a doctor (details supplied); the number of applications received from medical card holders requesting to transfer to another general practitioner; the number of applications approved; if clients requesting a transfer, arising from the Health Service Executive letter of the 29 September 2014, and for reason of an urgent nature, will be given priority consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15379/15]

21/04/2015WRP05800Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Ambulance Service Provision

21/04/2015WRQ00200463. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the ambulance service in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15383/15]

21/04/2015WRQ00300Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

21/04/2015WRQ00400464. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Execu- tive will fund the purchase of specially made shoes in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will expedite a positive response. [15384/15]

21/04/2015WRQ00500Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As the Dep- uty’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Hospital Appointments Status

21/04/2015WRQ00600465. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when an appointment with a urologist will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [15386/15]

21/04/2015WRQ00700Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Ser- vice Executive, HSE, is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient’s general practitioner consider that the patient’s condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the 259 Questions - Written Answers hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Medical Card Eligibility

21/04/2015WRQ00800466. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if transplant patients are entitled to either a medical card or to a long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15396/15]

21/04/2015WRQ00900Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. There is no entitlement to a medical card for a person with a particular illness or medical condition. The Deputy will be aware of the publication of the Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility and the Medical Card Process Review in November 2014. Key findings of the Expert Panel were that it would not be feasible, desirable or ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility and that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card.

However, the Government recognises that the health service needs to be responsive to the circumstances of people with significant medical needs. Following publication of the two reports, in November 2014, the Minister for Health and I announced a series of measures to enhance the operation of the medical card scheme and make it more sensitive to people’s needs, especially where serious illness is involved. Where deemed appropriate in particular circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card even though an applicant’s means exceed the prescribed threshold. Where a person does not qualify for a medical card, they may be provided with a GP Visit Card, appropriate therapy or other community supports or drugs.

The medical card system is now operating in a more sensible and sensitive manner. The HSE is exercising greater discretion, as is evident in the increase in the number of discretionary medical cards in circulation - by 60% from about 52,000 in mid-2014 to over 83,000 at the end of March this year.

With regard to the Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme, there are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the scheme.

I can advise the Deputy that, under the Drugs Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals not holding a medical card, a GP visit card or not covered under the LTI scheme who incur ongoing expenditure on medicines.

Medical Card Eligibility

21/04/2015WRQ01000467. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if applications for medical cards by retired public servants who are over 70 years of age is considered based on their income, after the application of the public service pension reduction; if persons who should qualify based on their income, taking account of the reduction have been denied a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15398/15] 260 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRQ01100Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, will he please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Health Insurance Payments

21/04/2015WRQ01200468. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the current outstanding amount due to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 from private health insurance companies; the total amount of claims awaiting signatures from consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15412/15]

21/04/2015WRQ01300Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Medical Card Eligibility

21/04/2015WRQ01400469. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason a full medical card was replaced by a general practitioner visit card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15416/15]

21/04/2015WRQ01500Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, will he please please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

HSE Investigations

21/04/2015WRQ01600470. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of retired Health Service Executive staff appointed to the investigation team relative to the Áras Attracta Home; if these persons are being paid, or are in receipt of expenses; their qualifications and involvement in other programmes operated by the executive in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15428/15]

21/04/2015WRQ01700Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As the Dep- uty’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received 261 Questions - Written Answers a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Medicinal Products Availability

21/04/2015WRQ01800471. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 199 of 12 March 2015, if he will request the Health Service Executive to answer the question asked, which was the reason the person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 is not receiving access to the drug Lemtrada, rather than an explanation of the overall policy of Beaumont Hos- pital in that regard. [15432/15]

21/04/2015WRQ01900Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will she please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Questions Nos. 472 to 476, inclusive, answered with Question No. 434.

Medical Card Applications

21/04/2015WRQ02100477. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in view of the fact the person has submitted all relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15438/15]

21/04/2015WRQ02200Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, will he please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Disability Support Services

21/04/2015WRQ02300478. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and their qualifications, employed by St. Patrick’s Centre at the residential facility Renua, County Kilkenny, in each of the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, relative to the amount allocated in each year, 2012 €367,244, 2013 €355,236.30 and 2014 €388,306; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15442/15]

21/04/2015WRQ02400Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As the Dep- uty’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received 262 21 April 2015 a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Disability Support Services

21/04/2015WRQ02500479. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient property accounts opened by St. Patrick’s Centre in County Kilkenny and the respite house Renua in 2014; if both of these facilities acted in accordance with legislation in respect of these accounts since 2005; if the parents of the persons concerned were informed of the accounts being opened; if the parents’ permission was sought; if a statement of affairs was provided in each case; if any client’s moneys was invested; if so, if interest was paid and-or accounted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15448/15]

21/04/2015WRQ02600Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As the Dep- uty’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Nursing Education

21/04/2015WRQ02700480. Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Health if the review of the nursing adaption programme 2015 by Nursing Homes Ireland, Health Service Executive, and the Nurs- ing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, which was due to take place in February 2015, has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15472/15]

21/04/2015WRQ02800Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The issue the Deputy refers to is an operational matter. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy’s questions to the HSE for attention and direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, will he please contact my private office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

21/04/2015WRQ02900481. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has reneged on its commitment to recruit 90 nurses for the Midland Regional Hospital, Mull- ingar, County Westmeath, just seven weeks after the agreement was announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15483/15]

21/04/2015WRQ03000Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please he please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.

Hospital Waiting Lists

21/04/2015WRQ03100482. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the outpatient waiting lists, by number and percentage, for each of the north east hospitals, since 2011. [15488/15]

263 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRQ03200483. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the outpatient waiting lists for each north east hospital on a yearly basis, by number and percentage, since 2011. [15489/15]

21/04/2015WRQ03300484. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of cancelled procedures in each of the hospitals in the north east region, since 2011. [15490/15]

21/04/2015WRQ03400485. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of non-urgent appointments cancelled by each of the hospitals in the north east hospital group, by month, from 2011. [15491/15]

21/04/2015WRQ03500486. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting treatment in each of the hospitals in the north east hospital group, by illness or procedure, for example, ear, nose and throat, general surgery and so on. [15492/15]

21/04/2015WRQ03600Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 to 486, inclusive, together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

HSE Staff Promotions

21/04/2015WRR00300487. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of promotions that have been put in place for staff in the Health Service Executive since September 2014; and if he will provide this information in tabular form divided by category of employment and Health Service Executive region. [15493/15]

21/04/2015WRR00400Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRR00500Cancer Screening Programmes

21/04/2015WRR00600488. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health when the extension of BreastCheck for women up to the age of 69 years of age will commence in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15496/15]

21/04/2015WRR00700Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Planning for the age extension of Breast- Check to 65 - 69 year olds is underway and screening of the extended cohort will commence in Quarter 4 of 2015. The additional eligible population is approximately 100,000 and, when fully implemented, 540,000 women will be included in the BreastCheck Programme.

The age extension will be implemented on an incremental basis in line with the capacity of the system to manage the additional screening and follow up workload. BreastCheck will need to recruit and train additional radiographers, medical consultants and administration support to accommodate the increased demand. Funding for this, and for additional mobile units and medical equipment will be made available across the implementation period. The age extension will be fully rolled out by 2021.

Women of any age who have concerns about breast cancer should seek the advice of their GP who will, if appropriate, refer them to the symptomatic breast services in one of the eight

264 21 April 2015 designated cancer centres.

21/04/2015WRR00800Health Services Data

21/04/2015WRR00900489. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the ratio of doctors to population; the ratio of acute hospital beds per person; the number of specialists and the amount of money invested in primary care; the way this compares with other European Union states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15499/15]

21/04/2015WRR01000Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): In 2012 (the latest year available for international comparisons) the estimated number of professionally active physicians in Ireland was 14,500 or 3.2 per 1,000 population. According to OECD data, the average based on the 10 EU member states where data is available is 3.4.

In 2014 there were 6,825 active specialists on the Medical Council Register with Irish addresses. Of these, 2,710 were general practitioners. EU data includes trainee specialists and these cannot be separated out, so it is not possible to provide a valid comparison with other EU member states.

The latest comparative data on the ratio of acute beds in EU member states is for 2012 according to the OECD. The number of curative (acute) care beds per 1,000 population in Ireland in 2012 is 2.1. This compares to an EU average (based on the 19 states where data was available) of 3.5. It should be noted that Irish data does not currently include beds in private hospitals, whereas these beds may be included in data from other member states.

The HSE’s National Service Plan 2015 provides overall funding of the order of €3,211.8 million for primary care. This includes €2,485.8 million for the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, including Local Schemes. We are not in a position to compare this against Primary Care funding provided in other EU countries.

The above should clarify and answer the Deputy’s questions.

21/04/2015WRR01100Health Services Staff Recruitment

21/04/2015WRR01200490. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the appointment of a new ophthalmic physician to County Longford, where a vacancy exists since October 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15501/15]

21/04/2015WRR01300Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRR01400Medical Card Data

21/04/2015WRR01500491. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Longford in receipt of a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15516/15]

21/04/2015WRR01600Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as

265 Questions - Written Answers possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRR01700Medical Card Data

21/04/2015WRR01800492. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Westmeath in receipt of a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15517/15]

21/04/2015WRR01900Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRR02000Health Services Provision

21/04/2015WRR02100493. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding independent living in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15520/15]

21/04/2015WRR02200Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As the Dep- uty’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

21/04/2015WRR02300Hospital Accommodation Provision

21/04/2015WRR02400494. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the availability of a step-down bed in the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [15533/15]

21/04/2015WRR02500Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As the Dep- uty’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

266 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRR02600Respite Care Services

21/04/2015WRR02700495. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 18 February 2015, which outlined expenditure for various items, one being respite in County Wexford, if he will provide details of these other items; his plans to isolate expenditure on management and administration in this regard, in order to provide a clear indication of the amount of resources allocated to respite alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15535/15]

21/04/2015WRR02800496. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 18 February 2015, the reasons many families in County Wexford have experienced cuts to their respite care allocations in recent years, despite the fact that, as evidenced from the reply, the budgetary allocation in this regard does not seem to have changed significantly in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15536/15]

21/04/2015WRR02900Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 496 together.

The vision for the Health Service Executive’s Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.

Respite care for children and adults with disabilities is provided by the HSE directly in some instances, or by agencies funded by the HSE to provide services on its behalf. In many instances respite services are part of the overall suite of services provided by voluntary service providers to people with disabilities under their service level agreements with the HSE. The HSE remains committed to working with all voluntary disability service providers to ensure that all of the resources available for specialist disability services, including respite services, are used in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

The HSE’s Social Care Operational Plan for 2015 aims to provide 190,000 overnight stays in centre-based respite services to almost 5,300 people. The HSE is also committed to continuing to explore methods of community respite care as an alternative to centre-based respite care, including advancing the Host Family Support Model.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.

21/04/2015WRR03000Medical Card Eligibility

21/04/2015WRR03100497. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) with significant medical issues was refused a full medical card. [15537/15]

21/04/2015WRR03200Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has es- 267 Questions - Written Answers tablished a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRR03300Health Services Provision

21/04/2015WRR03400498. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if he will provide assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is on home dialysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15542/15]

21/04/2015WRR03500Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As the particular issue raised by you relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to you. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRR03600Medicinal Products Availability

21/04/2015WRR03700499. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the drug Soliris is made available through the general medical services scheme to assist patients (details supplied) of diseases such as Degos. [15546/15]

21/04/2015WRR03800Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As the particular issue raised by you relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to you. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRR03900Public Health Policy

21/04/2015WRR04000500. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views on the trial of the community alcohol response engagement programme; if he considers it to be successful; his plans to roll it out in other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15547/15]

21/04/2015WRR04100Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The provision of services to prevent and treat addiction to alcohol is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

As the Deputy may recall, on 3 February 2015, the Government approved the General Scheme of a Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. The aim is to reduce alcohol consumption to the OECD average by 2020 (i.e. 9.1 litres of pure alcohol per capita) and the harms caused by alcohol. The Bill is part of a suite of measures agreed by the Government in 2013 on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy. The other measures (eg for the HSE, professional bodies etc) set out in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, were endorsed by Government and are to be progressed by the relevant departments and organisations. The HSE has responsibility for implementing a number of recommendations and some of these measures are reflected in the HSE Service Plan 268 21 April 2015 for 2015. The remit of the Drugs Task Forces was extended to include the problem of alcohol misuse last year, in view of the key they play in co-ordinating the response to substance misuse at local level.

21/04/2015WRR04200Vaccination Programme

21/04/2015WRR04300501. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health the persons and bodies responsible financially for the medical costs of the young persons who as a result of receiving the human papilloma virus vaccine had an adverse reaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15566/15]

21/04/2015WRR04400502. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason the age category of 12 to 13 years was chosen to administer the human papilloma virus vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15567/15]

21/04/2015WRR04500503. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the manufacturer of the human papilloma virus vaccine (details supplied) is indemnified against prosecution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15568/15]

21/04/2015WRR04600Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 to 503, inclusive, together.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee Report on Childhood Immunisation made recommendations in relation to the development of vaccination services for children in Ireland. Since that time the majority of the recommendations made in the report have been addressed and implemented. In relation to the recommendation regarding a no fault vaccine damage compensation scheme my Department convened an expert group to examine this issue. The report from this Group is available on my Department’s website (www.health.gov.ie). There are no plans to introduce a vaccine damage compensation scheme at this time.

The HPV vaccine protects girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. It is available free of charge from the HSE for all girls in 1st year of secondary school. This is in accordance with the recommendation received from the National Immunisation Advisory Com- mittee which indicated that the vaccine should be offered on an annual basis to all girls aged 12. The advice, based on public health considerations and supported by the cost-effectiveness analysis, is that HPV vaccines confer maximum benefit both individually and on a population basis if administered prior to HPV exposure.

The manufacturer of the HPV vaccine used in the immunisation programme in Ireland has not been indemnified against criminal prosecution.

21/04/2015WRS00150Vaccination Programme

21/04/2015WRS00200504. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health since the commencement of the human papilloma virus vaccine, the number of young persons who have had a reaction to it; the type of reaction, by category; the percentage of the young persons vaccinated who had a reaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15573/15]

21/04/2015WRS00300Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Gardasil® has been authorised for use across the European Union (EU) since 2006 and has been in widespread use in a number of member states since then. In addition to the European approval, it is currently authorised for use in 133 countries worldwide, including approvals by both the US Food and Drug Administration 269 Questions - Written Answers (FDA) and the Therapeutic Good Administration in Australia. It is estimated that over 165 million doses of Gardasil® have been distributed worldwide since it was first authorised (figures to end of May 2014). Figures on national distribution and usage are available from the HSE.

Since first authorisation the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has continu- ously monitored the safety of Gardasil®. This monitoring includes review of global safety data in addition to national experience with use of the vaccine.

Up to 20 April 2015, the HPRA has received 849 reports of adverse reactions associated with Gardasil®. The vast majority of these reports relate to adolescents, with a smaller number occurring in adults >18 years of age, which is reflective of Gardasil® usage as part of the national HPV immunisation programme. No new risks have been identified in association with national use of Gardasil®. The national monitoring experience has been consistent with the expected pattern of adverse effects for the vaccine, as outlined in the product information, including injection site reactions, malaise, headache, myalgia, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms and skin reactions (including urticaria). Vaccination related events such as dizziness and syncope were among the most commonly reported reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported including a small number of anaphylactic-type reactions in patients, who have recovered following intervention and treatment. It is estimated that over 590,000 doses of Gardasil® have been distributed in Ireland to date since the commencement of the HPV schools immunisation programme.

21/04/2015WRS00350Cancer Screening Programmes

21/04/2015WRS00400505. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been screened at Roscommon hospital under the national cancer control programme since it commenced in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15577/15]

21/04/2015WRS00500Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The Deputy’s question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRS00550Medical Card Eligibility

21/04/2015WRS00600506. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason a full medical card was replaced with a general practitioner visit card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if the person is entitled to a long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15580/15]

21/04/2015WRS00700Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact 270 21 April 2015 my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Question No. 507 answered with Question No. 436.

21/04/2015WRS00850HSE Reports

21/04/2015WRS00900508. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the cost of the report commissioned by the Health Service Executive in 2006 in relation to maternity services; the reason it was never published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15592/15]

21/04/2015WRS01000Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRS01050Hospital Waiting Lists

21/04/2015WRS01100509. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a date for a cataract operation will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15593/15]

21/04/2015WRS01200Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Ser- vice Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRS01250Hospital Facilities

21/04/2015WRS01300510. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of Health Service Executive plans for the future of a hospital (details supplied) in County Donegal; if the executive is examining options for expansion of capacity at the hospital; if the executive has assessed the capacity of the site to facilitate expansion of facilities and beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15597/15]

21/04/2015WRS01400511. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of Health Service Executive plans for the future of a hospital (details supplied) in County Donegal; if the executive is examining options for expansion of capacity at the hospital; if the executive has assessed the capacity of the site to facilitate expansion of facilities and beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15598/15]

271 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRS01500Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 511 together.

As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRS01550Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

21/04/2015WRS01600512. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in relation to progress on a community nursing unit to replace St. Patrick’s Hospital in Waterford city; if planning has been submitted; if so, when a decision is due; if the tendering process has begun; when same is expected to conclude; if he will provide a time frame for the building of this much needed and long promised facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15600/15]

21/04/2015WRS01700Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The HSE has identified the St Patrick’s Hospital in Waterford City as a priority location for a new Community Nursing Home unit. The design team has been appointed.

In advance of the award of planning permission it is not possible, at this point in time to be definitive about a time frame for completion once work begins, other than to say that it is possible that the construction of a CNU could be completed within twelve months of appointing a contractor. All Government Departments and agencies, including the HSE, that are funded from the Exchequer must comply with EU Directives and national guidelines on procurement and in this regard the HSE’s selection of the necessary works and services will be in accordance with this process.

The following parts of your question have been referred to the HSE for direct reply:

- Date for submission of planning application;

- Estimated date for a decision on the award of planning permission, in the event it is not appealed; and

- Estimated date for beginning the tendering process and its projected conclusion.

If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.

21/04/2015WRS01750Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

21/04/2015WRS01800513. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that St. Patrick’s unit in Waterford city will meet the Health Information and Quality Authority environmental standards for re-registration of public residential care services in July 2015; the measures that are being taken to ensure that St. Patrick’s unit will comply with these guidelines in view of the fact that at this stage the proposed community nursing unit is only at the planning stage. [15601/15]

21/04/2015WRS01900514. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health regarding St. Patrick’s unit in Waterford city, if he will provide, in detail, the contingency plans that are in place should the current unit fail to meet the new Health Information and Quality Authority environmental

272 21 April 2015 standards; if he will provide a projection as to the number of patients and clients who could be affected; the arrangements that are being made with regard to alternative accommodation and beds, should this be required; if he will provide figures of the alternative venues that are under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15602/15]

21/04/2015WRS02000Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together.

21/04/2015WRS02050Hospital Appointments Delays

21/04/2015WRS02100515. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment in University Hospital Waterford in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15604/15]

21/04/2015WRS02200Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Ser- vice Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

21/04/2015WRS02250Medical Card Eligibility

21/04/2015WRS02300516. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a dependent child (details supplied) in County Donegal was refused a medical card in view of the fact that the child’s parents qualified for full medical cards once they submitted evidence of travel costs for work purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15615/15]

21/04/2015WRS02400Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Question No. 517 answered with Question No. 439. 273 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRS02550Hospital Staff

21/04/2015WRS02600518. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns (details supplied) regarding the resignation of a surgeon from the kidney and pancreas transplantation team in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; if his and-or the Health Service Executive’s attention was drawn to the surgeon’s concerns prior to the surgeon’s resignation; and the action he is taking to ensure that a full team of surgeons is in place at the kidney and pancreas transplantation unit as soon as possible. [15625/15]

21/04/2015WRS02700Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): At the end of 2014, two consultant transplant surgeons left the renal and pancreas transplant programme at Beaumont Hospital, one on retirement and the second on leave of absence for professional development purposes. Given the limited number of surgeons who specialise in transplantation, any vacancies pose a challenge. While every effort is being made to fill the vacancies, remaining surgeons are available to provide transplant services.

Officials from the HSE and my Department are actively working with senior management and the transplant surgeons at Beaumont Hospital on the operational and strategic development of renal transplant services.

Along with an active recruitment process, Beaumont Hospital is collaborating with other transplant services in relation to the development of an intra-abdominal organ retrieval service, as well as a combined approach to kidney/pancreas transplants.

21/04/2015WRS02750Mental Health Services Provision

21/04/2015WRS02800519. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health his views on the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the Rosalie unit in Castlerea, County Roscommon; his views that the future of this unit must be clarified immediately in order to bring an end to the stress, worry and apprehension being endured by residents and their families as a result of the current uncertainty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15626/15]

21/04/2015WRS02900Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRS02950HSE Staff

21/04/2015WRS03000520. Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies in the Health Service Executive community care areas, by position and job description, in County Louth and east County Meath; the length of time the vacancies remain unfilled; the frequency at which they have been advertised and interviews held; if contract staff have been employed as a result of these vacancies; the cost of same for each such position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15628/15]

21/04/2015WRS03100Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

274 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRS03150Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data

21/04/2015WRS03200521. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health the number of fair deal scheme high care dementia bed places in the greater Cork city region; the present availability of such beds; his plans to increase the number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15635/15]

21/04/2015WRS03300Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRT00200Hospital Admissions

21/04/2015WRT00300522. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if an appropriate bed space can be located in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [15638/15]

21/04/2015WRT00400Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Ser- vice Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRT00500Hospital Waiting Lists

21/04/2015WRT00600523. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the details of patients on waiting lists for outpatient appointments; inpatient procedures; and any other lists, in hospitals in County Galway and County Mayo, who have been waiting for six months, one year, two years and over two years, broken down by specialty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15641/15]

21/04/2015WRT00700Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRT00750Health Insurance Community Rating

21/04/2015WRT00900524. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the new lifetime community rating late entry levy will apply to returning emigrants over 35 years of age [15643/15]

21/04/2015WRT01000Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) is being introduced to encourage people to take out private health insurance at a younger age. Encour- aging more people to join the market at younger ages helps spread the costs of older and less healthy people across the market, helping to support affordable premiums for all. The regulations provide for a grace period up until 30 April 2015, during which time as many people as want to can take out health insurance without incurring loadings. From 1 May 2015, late entry loadings will be applied to those who join the private health insurance market at age 35 or over.

Anybody who lives outside the State on 1 May 2015, and who returns or moves to take up 275 Questions - Written Answers residence in Ireland after that date, will have a grace period of 9 months to purchase private health insurance without incurring loadings.

21/04/2015WRT01100Water Quality

21/04/2015WRT01200525. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the levels of fluoride and chlorine in drinking water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15647/15]

21/04/2015WRT01300Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for policy and legislation in relation to drinking water quality, including chlorination.

The Minister for Health has responsibility for water fluoridation policy. The level of fluoride in drinking water in Ireland has been set at between 0.6-0.8 parts per million. This level of fluoride is deemed optimal for protecting the oral health of all age groups. European Council Directive 98/83 allows for a maximum permitted concentration of fluoride in drinking water up to 1.5mg/litre (or parts per million), almost twice the maximum level permitted in Ireland. In 2011 a review by the European Union Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risk (SCHER) concluded that there are no known negative health implications from fluoridating water at levels used in the EU. The balance of scientific evidence worldwide confirms that water fluoridation, i.e. the adjustment of the natural concentration of fluoride in drinking water to the optimal recommended level for the prevention of dental caries, does not cause any ill effects and protects the oral health of the population.

The Department of Health keeps the policy of water fluoridation under constant review. As part of this ongoing work, a review of evidence on the impact of water fluoridation at its current level on the health of the population is being conducted by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department. This review is currently being finalised.

21/04/2015WRT01350Hospital Waiting Lists

21/04/2015WRT01500526. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will have a hip operation carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15661/15]

21/04/2015WRT01600Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Ser- vice Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRT01650Health Services

21/04/2015WRT01800527. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 723 of 24 March 2015, the reason the question has not been responded to by the Health Service Executive, particularly in view of the fact that the query was regarding the lack of reply from the executive on a serious and urgent health matter (details supplied); and if he will make 276 21 April 2015 a statement on the matter. [15711/15]

21/04/2015WRT01900Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): I have raised the matter with the HSE and I understand that a reply is in the process of being prepared and is due to issue shortly.

As the Deputy’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE

21/04/2015WRT02000Mental Health Services Provision

21/04/2015WRT02100528. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken on foot of a whistleblowers report into a new psychiatric unit (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15726/15]

21/04/2015WRT02200Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): The provision of this new mental health facility at Cork University Hospital (CUH) reflects in the most practical way the Government’s real commitment to modernise mental health services in this country. As is the norm in the design, planning and delivery of major health capital projects, every effort is made by the HSE to fully address all relevant issues including operational and staffing requirements, health and safety, and integration with other existing, or planned, care services.

I am aware that difficulties have arisen in relation to opening this particular facility, and I have been closely monitoring developments with the HSE which has operational responsibility for providing services at local level. Arising from issues raised by a HSE employee in the existing mental health facility, I also note that the matter has been considered in some detail recently by the Labour Relations Commission, and that a further meeting is planned in this regard for the end of this month. The HSE has confirmed it’s availability for further discussions. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on the individual case of a HSE employee where it relates to the terms of his employment. However, I wish to point out that this would not be considered as meeting the usual criteria around whistle-blowing.

The HSE has indicated that review mechanisms will be proposed to address any concerns outstanding in the light of operational experience with the new unit. Bearing in mind all the circumstances, I would therefore strongly urge that all stakeholders work together to ensure that this much needed new unit can be opened without any further delay, in the best interests of service users.

21/04/2015WRT02300Assisted Human Reproduction

21/04/2015WRT02400529. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on proposed new legislation on the issue of assisted human reproduction, including surrogacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15735/15]

21/04/2015WRT02500Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Currently in Ireland, the provision of assisted human reproduction services remains largely unregulated. On 17 February this year, I received Government approval to draft a General Scheme of legislative provisions dealing with a broad range of aspects relating to assisted human reproduction, including surrogacy and the assignment of parentage in such cases. Under the proposed legislation commercial surrogacy

277 Questions - Written Answers will be prohibited, however, the reimbursement of reasonable expenses for surrogates will be permitted. In addition, the proposed legislation will take cognisance of the 2014 Supreme Court judgment in the MR & Anor v An tArd Chláraitheoir & Ors (surrogacy) case, which found that the birth mother, rather than the genetic mother, is the legal mother of twins born via surrogacy and should be registered as such on the birth certificates.

Following the completion of the draft General Scheme, I intend to submit the Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for pre-legislative scrutiny. In addition, my Department will conduct a widespread consultation on the draft General Scheme during which stakeholders and members of the public will be invited to share their views.

21/04/2015WRT02600Assisted Human Reproduction

21/04/2015WRT02700530. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Health if his Department has examined the possibility of funding in vitro fertilisation treatment through the public health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15736/15]

21/04/2015WRT02800Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): In February of this year I received Govern- ment approval to draft the General Scheme of a Bill for assisted human reproduction, which will include provisions relating to numerous different aspects from the beginning to the end of the assisted human reproduction process. However, I have already stated that it is currently not the case that the public funding of fertility treatments will be included as part of these provisions. While I would favour public funding of fertility treatments in principle there are many other pressing funding demands on the health service at this time.

Although in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is not provided by the Irish public health service, there is some support available in that patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and approved by the HSE ‘High Tech Liaison Officers’. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.

21/04/2015WRT02900Hospital Admissions

21/04/2015WRT03000531. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding hospital treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15788/15]

21/04/2015WRT03100Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRT03200Home Help Service

21/04/2015WRT03300532. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if exceptions will be made on a case basis, to allow home helps to care for members of their family, in cases where persons are unwilling to allow strangers into their home [15789/15] 278 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRT03400Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRT03450Hospital Accommodation Provision

21/04/2015WRT03600533. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding availability of beds at the Ashlin Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15790/15]

21/04/2015WRT03700Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): I have been informed by the HSE that the person in question was admitted to the Ashlinn Centre, Beaumont Hospital on 17 April, 2015.

21/04/2015WRT03800Home Help Service

21/04/2015WRT03900534. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health is he will examine the urgent need for additional time to existing home help hours, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15792/15]

21/04/2015WRT04000Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

21/04/2015WRT04100Hospital Facilities

21/04/2015WRT04200535. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed closure to outpatients of the primary ST segment elevation myocardial infarction facility at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin 4; if he will ensure that the service remains open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15795/15]

21/04/2015WRT04300Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): As of 17 April 2015, there are two 24/7 primary percutaneous intervention (PPCI) centres for Dublin, located in the Mater and St James’s Hospitals. These centres accept all ambulance transfers of patients with ST Elevation Myocar- dial Infarction (STEMI). The provision of PPCI from three 24/7 centres in Dublin had proved unsustainable and the decision to consolidate the service into two centres was made following a comprehensive review and reflects the international trend towards the consolidation of such specialised services on smaller number of sites, to allow for the concentration of volume and expertise.

In November 2014, the Acute Hospitals Division of the HSE requested the National Clinical Programme for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS Programme) to review the current configura- tion of PPCI services in Dublin, having regard to the requirement to deliver safe, sustainable services on the designated sites. The model of care produced by the ACS Programme was informed by advice from the principals involved in centres in the UK and other European countries. The Programme was also informed by models of care from the US and Australia. Experience at national and international level highlights the importance of having sustainable rotas of clinical staff to support the 24/7 requirements of this service. 279 Questions - Written Answers The review looked at the number of centres that should be delivering PPCI in Dublin, where these centres should be located and the feasibility of maintaining 9 to 5 PPCI services on any cardiology intervention site. Following consultation with the National Ambulance Service and with all relevant hospitals, the ACS Programme recommended that there should be two 24/7 PPCI centres for Dublin, located in the Mater and St. James’s Hospitals, which would accept all ambulance transfers of patients with STEMI.

The ACS Programme also recommended that there should be a clear definition of the role of the three other cardiology intervention centres in Dublin (Beaumont Hospital, Tallaght Hos- pital and St Vincent’s University Hospital in the management of Non ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI). NSTEMI forms an increasing proportion of interventional work which will continue and develop in those cardiology intervention centres which will not be designated 24/7 PPCI centres, including St Vincent’s Hospital.

21/04/2015WRT04350Mental Health Services Funding

21/04/2015WRT04500536. Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the total capital expenditure on the mental health service infrastructure since the publication of A Vision for Change in 2006; the total value of the sale of mental health lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15803/15]

21/04/2015WRT04600Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the management of the health property estate, which includes capital expenditure on mental health infrastructure and property sales, is a service matter.

If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.

21/04/2015WRT04700Orthodontic Services Provision

21/04/2015WRT04800537. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding orthodontic treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15822/15]

21/04/2015WRT04900Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

21/04/2015WRT05000Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRT05100538. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16055/15]

21/04/2015WRT05200Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): In relation to the part of the question relevant to the HSE, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them. 280 21 April 2015 The information sought in respect of Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is currently being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

21/04/2015WRT05300Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRT05400539. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the total value of public sector pensions in payment; the average public sector pension in 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16064/15]

21/04/2015WRT05500Minister for Health (Deputy Leo Varadkar): In relation to the part of the question relevant to the HSE, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

The information sought in respect of Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is currently being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

21/04/2015WRT05550International Relations

21/04/2015WRT05700540. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to an Executive Order signed by the President of the United States of America, Mr Barack Obama, that said Venezuela poses an extraordinary threat to the national security of the United States of America; his views that this was unnecessary and that coupled with sanctions, it is dangerously raising tensions in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15235/15]

21/04/2015WRT05800Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I am aware of the steps taken by the United States last month to impose financial and travel restrictions on seven named individuals in leadership positions in Venezuela whom it states have been involved in human rights violations. I am aware also of the accompanying Executive Order signed by President Obama which provides the legal basis for the sanctions.This matter has, clearly, given rise to diplomatic tensions between the United States and Venezuela. I am pleased to note, in this regard, that the US has since indicated that the measures in question have not been invoked against the Venezuelan people as a whole, only against the named individuals. Official sources have clarified that the US does not consider Venezuela to be a threat to its national security. I am pleased also that the matter was discussed between President Obama and President Maduro at the recent Summit of the Americas held in Panama on 10 April in what was described as a candid, serious and frank manner. I am following the situation in Venezuela closely and with great concern. Increasing internal tensions, political polarisation, and a severe economic crisis have led to serious shortages in medical supplies and daily goods. I fear that a severe humanitarian crisis may develop if the situation is not resolved soon.

As I have indicated before, the deaths, casualties and detentions arising from the unrest in Venezuela require full, impartial investigation in accordance with due legal process. The appar- ently high levels of impunity in the case of serious crimes is a matter of further concern.

I share the view expressed by EU High Representative Mogherini, and by Venezuela’s regional partners, that the government there must work with all parties and with civil society to overcome the difficult situation in the country. I encourage all sides to enter into inclusive and 281 Questions - Written Answers open negotiations to meet the legitimate concerns of the people of Venezuela.

I remain of the view that the best hope for progress is an inclusive dialogue to address the challenges facing the country, fully respecting the democratic rights of people on all sides.

21/04/2015WRU00150Northern Ireland Issues

21/04/2015WRU00200541. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the announcement on 9 March 2015 by Sinn Féin to withdraw its support for the Social Wel- fare Bill in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11623/15]

21/04/2015WRU00300542. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the future of the Northern Ireland Executive, in view of the recent announcement of Sinn Féin on 9 March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11624/15]

21/04/2015WRU00400543. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there will be implications for the Northern Ireland Executive following the withdrawal of support for the Social Welfare Bill by Sinn Féin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11626/15]

21/04/2015WRU00500544. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the implications for the Stormont House Agreement following Sinn Féin’s announcement of withdrawal of its support for the Social Welfare Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11627/15]

21/04/2015WRU00600545. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet the British Secretary of State, Ms Theresa Villiers, to discuss the announcement of Sinn Féin to withdraw its support for the Social Welfare Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11630/15]

21/04/2015WRU00700Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 to 545, inclusive, together.

The effective and expeditious implementation of the totality of the provisions of the Stor- mont House Agreement is a key priority of the Government.

It is important to ensure that the recent developments in relation to the Welfare Bill in Northern Ireland do not have a corrosive impact on the wider implementation of the Agreement. That is why the Government has encouraged all parties to stand back and consider the overall potential benefit for the people of Northern Ireland offered by the Stormont House Agreement and to ensure that this potential is fully achieved.

The Irish Government was not a party to the negotiations late last year in Stormont Castle or Stormont House which dealt specifically with budgets and financial issues. Recent and ongoing discussions on these matters take place primarily between the Northern Ireland Executive Party leaders themselves. For that reason, I have called on the Northern Ireland parties, and in particular Sinn Féin and the DUP, to work together to find a solution to the current difficulties on welfare. I know that work is ongoing by Northern Ireland’s political leaders to resolve the welfare issue, and I understand that some progress has been made.

I have stayed in close contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with Northern Ireland’s party leaders on this matter. I met with them most recently at the second implementation and review meeting of the Stormont House Agreement in Belfast on 27 March. The Taoiseach also met with the First Minister and deputy First Minister during his visit to Belfast on the previous day.

282 21 April 2015 In all contacts I have underlined that the success of the Agreement is contingent on the faithful implementation of the totality of its provisions. Our collective objective must be to build on the good work that has already been done towards the Agreement’s implementation and to maintain forward momentum.

21/04/2015WRU00750Northern Ireland Issues

21/04/2015WRU00800546. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there has been a meeting in his Department since December 2014 regarding the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11632/15]

21/04/2015WRU00900Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The effective and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement is a major focus of the Gov- ernment with a view to advancing its twin aims of economic prosperity and reconciliation for Northern Ireland. The work of implementing the Agreement continues at political and official level.

The second such meeting took place in Belfast on 27 March at which I represented the Gov- ernment. The meeting reviewed progress made to date on the detailed implementation timeline for the Stormont House Agreement, which was agreed by the NI Executive party leaders and the two Governments at the first review meeting of 30 January.

On 11 February, I met with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers during her visit to Dublin. We discussed a broad range of issues including the next steps in the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement.

On 25 February, I represented the Government, together with Minister of State Seán Sher- lock, at the North South Ministerial Council meeting in institutional format. Both First Min- ister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness represented the Northern Ireland Executive. We considered a report on possible new sectoral priorities for North/South cooperation, as provided for under the Stormont House Agreement.

The next Stormont House Agreement review meeting is scheduled to take place in June. A six-monthly update on progress on implementation of the Agreement is due to be published at that time, in accordance with the review and monitoring provisions of the Agreement.

The Stormont House Agreement provides for the establishment of a number of new mechanisms to address the legacy of the past including an independent Historical Investigations Unit, an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval, an Oral History Archive and an Im- plementation and Reconciliation Group to oversee themes, archives and information recovery across the framework for dealing with the legacy of the past.

Primary legislation to establish the Historical Investigations Unit will be taken forward at Westminster and I understand that the intention is to bring forward legislation as soon as possible to enable the Unit to be established in 2016.

The Government has committed to putting all necessary arrangements in place, including legislation where necessary, to support the new framework on the past. Any such legislation in this jurisdiction will be a matter for consideration by the Minister for Justice and Equality in

283 Questions - Written Answers the first instance.

21/04/2015WRU00950Middle East Issues

21/04/2015WRU01000547. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is concerned regarding the recent comments made by the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr Benjamin Ne- tanyahu, regarding a Palestinian state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12772/15]

21/04/2015WRU01100Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 154 on 25 March 2015, which was as follows:

“The comments of Prime Minister Netanyahu before the recent election, in relation to the two state solution, were both disappointing and unwelcome. Such statements are particularly regrettable in the tense and inflammatory situation in the Middle East. We know from our own peace process how words of supposed comfort to one side can have disproportionately negative impacts on the other side.

I note that Mr. Netanyahu subsequently stated that his remarks meant only that conditions at present are not conducive to the achievement of a two state solution.

What is most important is how the new government in Israel, which we expect Mr. Netan- yahu to form, actually acts and what is set out in its Programme for Government.

21/04/2015WRU01150Middle East Issues

21/04/2015WRU01200548. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if growing tensions between Israel and the United States of America, over relations with Iran, were discussed at the most recent European Union Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9977/15]

21/04/2015WRU01300Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): No, this issue has not been discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council.

As I have stated in reply to other Questions, the outline agreement on the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme represents a significant and very positive achievement, for which I con- gratulate EU High Representative Mogherini and the Foreign Ministers of all seven countries involved.

21/04/2015WRU01350Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

21/04/2015WRU01400549. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that in 284 21 April 2015 the proposal to consider the future of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly that an Irish comprehensive review of the duplication of functions and operations be explored, in order to have a complimentary role evolve between the Parliamen- tary Assembly and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Vienna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15188/15]

21/04/2015WRU01500Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Like each of the 57 participating state governments of the OSCE, the Irish Government is represented on the key decision making bodies which are based in Vienna. These are the Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Co-Operation, both of which are accountable to the Ministerial Council.

While complementary to the work of these Vienna-based OSCE bodies, the Parliamentary Assembly is distinct in that its aim is to facilitate inter-parliamentary dialogue outside of the intergovernmental process. As such, the Assembly has its own rules and procedures, and any review of functions and operations would be for the members of the Parliamentary Assembly to decide.

The Government welcomes the valuable contribution that the Parliamentary Assembly makes to the OSCE’s overall goal of promoting peace and stability throughout Europe, and I encourage closer cooperation to this end. In particular, I value the Parliamentary Assembly’s contribution to the ‘Helsinki+40’ reform effort that was launched by my predecessor, the then Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE in 2012. ‘Helsinki +40’ is a three year reform process that provides an opportunity to critically examine the OSCE’s roles, structures, tools and instruments with a view to making them better suited to the peace and security challenges of the 21st Century in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian region. The Govern- ment welcomes the active engagement of the Parliamentary Assembly in this process.

Parliamentarians are well positioned to ensure the involvement of citizens in developing peace and security and in raising awareness of the work of the OSCE. They serve as a vital link between the overall work of the OSCE and the people it intends to serve. I would hope that strengthening this area of activity will be among the recommendations to emerge from the reform discussions.

21/04/2015WRU01575Irish Prisoners Abroad

21/04/2015WRU01600550. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to ensure that an Irish citizen (details supplied) receives a fair trial in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15348/15]

21/04/2015WRU01700Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Our objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by me and my officials in this case has been to further these objectives, and most importantly to avoid any action that could be counterproductive or detrimental to his best interests.

285 Questions - Written Answers on any other basis, will be a decision that is made solely by the Egyptian authorities.

Since this citizen was originally detained in August 2013, I, and officials in my Department including our Embassy in Cairo, have raised this case with the Egyptian authorities regularly and consistently. In addition, he has received consular visits from Embassy officials on 37 occasions. I can confirm that the Irish Government has formally supported both the application by this citizen’s lawyers for his release and return to Ireland under the November Presidential decree, and the more recent application for his release on bail. Our official support for this citizen’s release has been duly communicated to the Egyptian authorities in formal diplomatic notes that have been included in the documentation submitted to the court and the authorities by his lawyer.

We remain in ongoing contact with this individual and his family, and will continue to offer full consular support.

21/04/2015WRU01775Departmental Communications

21/04/2015WRU01800551. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the countries, which his Department currently advise caution on, when travelling to; the way his Depart- ment promotes this advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15349/15]

21/04/2015WRU01900Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Travel advice for individual countries worldwide, including the level of caution recommended, is available on my Department’s website at https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/.

This advice is published in order to make useful information available to assist Irish citizens in making well informed decisions when planning their trips and when travelling. Irish Embas- sies closely monitor developments in countries to which they are accredited and, together with the Department’s Consular Division, advise on events or developments of which our citizens should be aware while travelling or working abroad.

This travel advice is updated as necessary to reflect developments in the relevant countries, and kept under ongoing review so as to ensure up to date and important information is provided to Irish citizens. 286 21 April 2015 My Department promotes this information through our website at the webpage given above. It is also my Department’s practice to issue further, and particularly urgent, travel advice updates using the twitter feed @dfatravel.

21/04/2015WRU01950Diplomatic Representation

21/04/2015WRU02000552. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the locations that Ireland House exists in around the world; his plans to expand this concept to other locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15351/15]

21/04/2015WRU02100Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): In 1987, the Gov- ernment formulated a policy to bring together, where feasible, our diplomatic and consular missions abroad and the offices of state agencies in a single location, designated as “Ireland House”. The policy has been implemented on a gradual basis over the intervening years. The precise model for implementing such an arrangement would, of course, vary and have to reflect local conditions and other factors. In all cases, the arrangement is one designed to increase the impact of Ireland’s presence abroad, to improve coordination among all parties, and to maximise cost-efficiencies.

There are a number of types of Ireland House which include our diplomatic and consular missions abroad and the offices of state agencies operating from the same premises. These are currently operating in 19 locations overseas. The largest is in New York and comprises the Consulate General, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA in addition to other agencies including Tour- ism Ireland, Bord Bia, the American Ireland Fund and CIE Tours.

Missions at Boston, Brussels, Budapest, Prague, Riyadh and Warsaw share premises with Enterprise Ireland. Our missions at Austin, Moscow, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo accommodate both Enterprise Ireland and IDA offices. The Consulate General in Shanghai shares premises with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, and also Bord Bia and an agent for Tour- ism Ireland; the Ireland House in Madrid includes offices of Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland, together with the Embassy. Other configurations prevail elsewhere, including at Embassy Beijing, which shares premises with the IDA; Embassies Stockholm and New Delhi share space with Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia; and Ireland’s Consulate General in Atlanta operates from the same location as the IDA.

In addition, there are a number of other locations where state agencies share facilities with each other in the form of an Ireland House, which does not include the Irish diplomatic mission to that particular country. For example, in Paris, the IDA, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and BIM operate an Ireland House.

The Ireland House concept has been implemented where practicable and further opportunities are considered whenever missions or agencies are opening or moving to new locations. I can confirm that the scope for further implementation of the Ireland House concept is being actively pursued in the context of the current expansion of the diplomatic network, not only in relation to Austin, Texas, mentioned above, but at other locations as well.

21/04/2015WRU02175Millennium Development Goals

21/04/2015WRU02200553. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his goals in shaping the post-2015 development agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15352/15] 287 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRU02300Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Ireland is co-facilitating the intergovernmental negotiations at the United Nations to agree a framework for global development to succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after 2015. The new sustainable development agenda should be adopted at a major UN summit of world leaders in New York in September. It will involve a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which will complete the work of the MDGs on the eradication of extreme poverty and will also put sustainable development at the core. The SDGs will be universal in nature and address development challenges through social, environmental and economic actions in low, middle and high-income countries alike. They will address a wide range of areas including MDG priorities such as food and nutrition, but also broader challenges, including on climate, sustainable production and consumption, and peace and governance.

Ireland has taken a leading role in shaping the post-2015 Development agenda having facilitated EU discussions and Council Conclusions during our EU Presidency in 2013, and co- facilitated the Special Event on the MDGs at the UN in September 2013. In the drafting of Goals and Targets for the new agenda, Ireland worked in a team with Denmark and Norway in the Open Working Group at the UN, where we set out our key priorities for the global development agenda up to 2030. These included the fight to end hunger and undernutrition, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and good governance and rule of law. We have advocated for strong goals and targets in each of these key areas, and we have emphasised the need to incorporate human rights in the new development framework, reduce global inequality and protect the role of civil society.

Ireland’s positions in the UN negotiations are agreed through a whole-of-Government coordination process involving all relevant Government Departments. We are working with our EU partners to ensure that the process will culminate in a successful outcome in September and that the new SDGs, which will have a profound impact on the lives of the world’s poor, will reflect our priorities and galvanise action to end extreme poverty and hunger by 2030.

This year will also see major international conferences on the financing of the SDGs in Ad- dis Ababa from the 13-16 July and on a new agreement on Climate Change in Paris in Decem- ber. The second session of negotiations on the Financing for Development process took place from 13 to 17 April, in New York, and the fourth session of the intergovernmental negotiations on post-2015 will be from 20 to 24 of April.

21/04/2015WRU02350Trade Data

21/04/2015WRU02400554. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form Ireland’s import and export figures relating to trade with Egypt for the years 2007 to 2014. [15585/15]

21/04/2015WRU02500Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I refer the Deputy to the following table which details the information requested. The source for this data is the Central Statistics Office.

Bilateral Trade with Egypt

Year Imports (€ 000) Exports (€ 000) 2007 62,859 481,453 2008 76,366 233,130 2009 76,184 316,902

288 21 April 2015 2010 83,956 428,424 2011 95,937 474,447 2012 94,039 422,648 2013 60,867 458,458 2014* 25,505 166,741 *The 2014 figure is for merchandise trade only. Unlike the figures for 2007-2013, it does not include trade in services as this data is not yet available.

21/04/2015WRU02550Human Rights Issues

21/04/2015WRU02600555. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which, at European Union and United Nations level, he and his colleagues, have become aware of the systematic persecution, abduction and killing of innocent women and girls, and Christians, by Boko Haram, Islamic States of Iraq and Syria, Al Shabab and associated groups; if any particular initiative will be taken in the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15685/15]

21/04/2015WRU02700Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The brutal activities of terrorist groups such as al Shabab, Boko Haram and ISIS involve the clear and persistent abuse of human rights, especially of women and girls, and are a direct threat to education and education facilities. The abduction just over a year ago by Boko Haram of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in north-eastern Nigeria and the recent appalling killing of more than 140 young students at Garissa University in north-eastern Kenya are not only tragic, but a challenge to fundamental elements of any free and just society.

These attacks, and similar terrorist acts in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe, target innocent, defenceless people, often in their places of education or worship. They also target our values, including the right to an education, freedom of expression, freedom of religious belief, pluralism, democracy, tolerance and human dignity.

Ireland has joined with the international community in consistently condemning the violence being perpetrated by terrorist groups such as al Shabab, Boko Haram and ISIS. We have been particularly strong advocates of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for increased participation of women in peace-making and peace-building; for greater protection for women and girls in armed conflict; and for a gender perspective to be incorporated into peace-keeping and peace-building. We will continue to encourage all UN member states to fully implement this resolution so that women and girls may be better protected from the hor- rific effects of armed conflicts.

On 14 January, I launched Ireland’s second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Se- curity (2015-2018) which renewed our commitment to tackling the dreadful impact of conflict on women and girls. The action plan is designed to ensure that a gender perspective is incorporated into Ireland’s engagement in overseas humanitarian and development aid, peace-keeping, governance, post-conflict activities and interventions, and to bolster Ireland’s ongoing work on protection from and prevention of gender-based violence.

21/04/2015WRU02750EU Issues

21/04/2015WRU02800556. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the

289 Questions - Written Answers extent to which Euro scepticism has featured in any discussions at European Union Council level, or otherwise, with particular reference to addressing the extent to which Euro scepticism is likely to obstruct the European project; if any particular emphasis has been placed on the inevitability of negative consequences for the Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15686/15]

21/04/2015WRU02900557. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which efforts continue to be made to address issues of Euro scepticism within the Euro- pean Union, which if left unchecked will inevitably lead to a diminution of the influence of the European Union, with consequences for Member States and particularly the smaller Member States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15687/15]

21/04/2015WRU03000Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 557 together.

As the Deputy is aware, citizens’ trust and confidence in the EU and its institutions has been negatively affected by the depth and duration of the financial and economic crisis in the Union and its Member States.

It is welcome therefore that the evidence suggests that Europe is now emerging from this deep and protracted recession. 2015 is the first year since the onset of the crisis in which all Member State economies are expected to record growth. That said, it is clear that much remains to be done by Member States to support investment, growth and job creation and to ensure that the current recovery is truly sustainable.

This has been and will continue to be the key focus of the Government, both nationally and working with our EU colleagues in the Member States and the institutions.

President Jean-Claude Juncker has highlighted as his key tasks the need to rebuild bridges in Europe after the crisis; to restore European citizens’ confidence; to focus the Union’s policies on the key challenges ahead for our economies and for our societies, and to strengthen democratic legitimacy on the basis of the Community method. These are goals which we fully share and support.

Here at home, the Government is committed to developing and increasing public understanding and knowledge about our membership of the EU and its benefits. This includes targeted spending on EU engagement, including support for the activities of local community groups and non-governmental organisations through the Communicating Europe Initiative. We also work closely with the European Commission Representation and the European Parliament Information Office in Dublin to improve communications on EU issues in Ireland and to promote greater understanding of the EU.

It is also noteworthy that, notwithstanding the very difficult circumstances in which last year’s European parliament elections were held, a substantial majority of the electorate supported pro-EU parties and candidates.

21/04/2015WRU03050Foreign Conflicts

21/04/2015WRU03100558. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the situation in the Ukraine continues to feature in discussions at European Union level, with particular reference to the need to maximise efforts for lasting ceasefire and peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15688/15]

290 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRU03200Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The EU continues to closely monitor developments in Ukraine and EU leaders held an in-depth discussion on the situation at the March European Council meeting. The full implementation of the agreements reached in Minsk on 12 February, including a lasting ceasefire, remains the focus of the EU’s efforts, as it offers the best chance to create the conditions necessary for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. EU Heads of State and Government have agreed that any decisions in relation to EU sanctions should be linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements.

The OSCE has reported an improvement in the overall security situation in Ukraine since the peace deal was agreed in Minsk. However, I am very concerned at reports of an increase in violations of the ceasefire in recent days. This was discussed by the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia at a meeting in Berlin last week. The Ministers called on all sides to stop the fighting, demonstrate their commitment to fully implement the ceasefire and complete the withdrawal of heavy weapons.

It is important that these calls are heeded so that progress can be achieved on other key elements of the Minsk peace deal. It is also imperative that the OSCE Mission is given complete and unfettered access to all parts of the conflict zone in order to be able to verify the full extent of heavy weapons withdrawal.

It is clear that the situation remains fragile and we will continue to monitor developments on the ground. As agreed by the European Council, the EU stands ready to take action as necessary in ongoing efforts to ensure a sustainable and peaceful resolution to this crisis.

21/04/2015WRU03250Trade Promotion

21/04/2015WRU03300559. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which his Department, in conjunction with other Government Departments, continues to promote trade and commercial activity, through the various industries worldwide, with particular reference to the importance of promoting Irish produce and establishing new trade links; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15689/15]

21/04/2015WRU03400564. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which this country continues to establish new markets abroad, for various Irish products such as agri-food, information technology and pharmaceuticals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15694/15]

21/04/2015WRU03500Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 559 and 564 together.

Advancing Ireland’s trade, tourism, education and investment objectives, as well as economic diplomacy more generally, is a key priority in Ireland’s foreign policy and in the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassy network.

The Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, ‘Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, 2010 - 2015’, identified a number of numerical targets to be achieved by the end of 2015 across five high level areas: jobs, exports, diversification of exports, tourism, and inward investment. These targets were revised in the Review of Government Trade Strategy, published in February 2014, which included the addition of a numerical target in international education. The implementation of these targets is monitored by the Export Trade Council, which I chair.

291 Questions - Written Answers The numerical targets are, for the most part, not industry-specific. However we work in close cooperation with the relevant Departments and State agencies responsible for all industry sectors.

In terms of overall exports, including in the IT and pharmaceutical sectors, we continue to work closely with Enterprise Ireland, particularly through the organisation and coordination of the annual Enterprise Ireland programme of Ministerial-led trade missions and events. Early each year I agree the annual programme with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, based on the proposals submitted by Enterprise Ireland and focused on the priority markets of interest to their client companies.

In the case of the agri-food industry, we cooperate closely with Bord Bia and the Depart- ment of Agriculture, Food and Marine in promoting the Irish food and beverage sector internationally. With the active engagement of our Embassy network, we have had a number of recent high-level successes. A notable example includes Ireland becoming in 2015 the only European country to have access to both the US and the Chinese beef markets.

With regard to developing new markets for Irish products, while the majority of Irish services and merchandise exports go to Europe and the US, and we must continue to cultivate these markets, the Government is also strongly focused on the further development of trading partnerships with other important emerging markets.

As part of the review of the Government Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, seven additional high potential and exploratory markets were identified to increase our engagement with high growth markets in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Following the Review, eight new Embassies and Consulates were opened in the past year to take advantage of emerging opportunities in important markets and to complement the existing trade promotion work of our Embassy network.

The Embassy network plays a crucial role in proactively addressing market access issues, supporting Irish businesses seeking to grow overseas, holding promotional events for, and in association with, State agencies, as well as actively contributing to the organisation and conduct of Ministerial-led trade missions and events overseas.

21/04/2015WRV00150Humanitarian Aid Provision

21/04/2015WRV00200560. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which humanitarian aid continues to be made available in the regions throughout the globe currently most affected by conflict; if adequate steps have been taken to ensure the availability of aid and / or the establishment of safe havens for civilians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15690/15]

21/04/2015WRV00300Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Sean Sher- lock): The core objective of Ireland’s humanitarian aid is to save lives and rebuild livelihoods in the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters, including in regions affected by conflict. Ireland’s response is underpinned by a strong commitment to international humanitarian law and the provision of aid that is based on the humanitarian principles of independence, neu- trality, impartiality and humanity. The international community is currently challenged by an unprecedented scale of humanitarian need globally, driven by conflict, chronic instability and economic and environmental shocks. Ireland’s Official Development Assistance budget includes a specific provision to enable Irish Aid to respond to humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters. We have increased this dedicated humanitarian assistance budget line from 292 21 April 2015 €57.5 million in 2014 to €58.5 million in 2015.

Ireland’s humanitarian programme is implemented through valued partners, including NGOs, UN Agencies, the Red Cross Movement and other international organisations. These partners have the experience and capacity to deliver assistance to the most vulnerable in times of crisis and stress.

Last month Ireland pledged further funding of €12 million to help meet the urgent needs of those affected by the Syria conflict in 2015.This will bring the total value of the Government’s response to the crisis in Syria to over €41 million. Ireland has responded to the plight of the victims of the Syrian conflict with a significant amount of humanitarian assistance for a country of our size. We are also responding to the humanitarian situation in Northern Nigeria, where conflict has displaced civilian populations and has affected neighbouring countries, Chad and Cameroon. We will continue to respond to the effects of conflict in other regions, including South Sudan and Central African Republic.

At a global level, Ireland is a major supporter of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC has a permanent mandate under the Geneva Conventions to take impartial action for prisoners, the wounded and sick, and civilians affected by conflict. It is often the best placed to provide assistance in conflict situations and where other organisations cannot operate. In recent years, Ireland’s core support for ICRC has helped the agency to provide life- saving assistance in conflict situations such as Somalia, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Syria and South Sudan. Last year, Ireland provided over €9 million to the ICRC to support its global operations in conflict contexts and we intend to maintain this level of support in 2015.

21/04/2015WRV00350Infectious Disease Epidemics

21/04/2015WRV00400561. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which aid, medical supplies and personnel continue to be made available to those countries most affected by Ebola, with particular reference to the necessity to take adequate steps to minimise the possibility of recurrences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15691/15]

21/04/2015WRV00500Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Sean Sher- lock): Through the work on the ground of our Embassy in Sierra Leone and our significant financial support, and the work of a range of Irish NGOs, Ireland has played a leading role in the international response to the Ebola crisis. These efforts are finally showing progress as transmission rates start to decline. The EU and its Member States have so far committed over €1.2 billion to the Ebola response. In 2014, Ireland provided over €18 million, directly and through NGOs, to the most affected countries. This included some €10 million through our annual development programmes in our partner countries - Sierra Leone and Liberia – which have a particular focus on strengthening the national health systems. We provided over €5.6 million specifically for Ebola treatment facilities and for work on contact-tracing, community mobilisation and child nutrition programmes, among other activities.

The very serious wider implications of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa were the subject of a high-level international conference on Ebola in Brussels on 3 March which I attended. A secondary crisis is emerging due to the impact on food security, nutrition, employment and economic growth as normal agricultural and market activities have been disrupted. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will need ongoing support and assistance from the international community in order to rebuild their economies and their health systems. This will be a strong focus of our bilateral programmes in Sierra Leone and Liberia in 2015 and beyond. 293 Questions - Written Answers The unprecedented outbreak of Ebola in West Africa last year exposed a lack of prepared- ness on the part of the countries directly affected, and the international community, to cope with an epidemic of this magnitude and its far-reaching consequences. Among the initiatives underway to avoid a recurrence are the resolution agreed at a special session of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board in January, which formally initiated an urgent lessons learned process aimed at being able to respond with greater speed and effectiveness in future to health crises such as an Ebola outbreak.

21/04/2015WRV00550EU Enlargement

21/04/2015WRV00600562. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which European Union enlargement continues to progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15692/15]

21/04/2015WRV00700Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Ireland is a longstanding supporter of the Enlargement process, which is widely seen as one of the most successful foreign policy initiatives of the European Union. Although no country is expected to join the European Union in the immediate future, we believe that it is important to actively engage with our European partners and with candidate countries to advance the accession process. Enlarge- ment is a conditional process: prospective member states must implement reforms in order to make progress on their respective EU paths and the European Commission continues to work actively to support them in this task. The European Council has granted Candidate Status to six countries - Turkey, Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia and Albania. In addition, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

Turkey was granted Candidate status by the European Council in December 1999 and the European Council agreed to begin accession negotiations in December 2004. Fourteen out of thirty-five Chapters have been opened for negotiation, of which one has been provisionally closed.

Accession negotiations with Iceland remain suspended following a decision of the Icelandic Government in early 2013.

The European Union began accession negotiations with Montenegro in June 2012 and eigh- teen negotiating Chapters are now open, of which two have been provisionally closed.

Serbia began accession negotiations in January 2014 and the screening process was concluded on 24 March 2015. Next steps include action plans to be prepared by the Serbian Gov- ernment before any chapters are formally opened. The normalisation of relations between Ser- bia and Kosovo will be important in this context.

The European Union granted Macedonia Candidate Status in 2005 but the opening of accession negotiations was delayed, pending a resolution of the name dispute with Greece.

Albania was granted Candidate Status in June 2014. Ireland supported this step as a signal of positive encouragement to the Albanian Government, and the region as a whole, to maintain the reform momentum. Before negotiations can be opened, Albania will need to demonstrate additional progress on a number of key priorities: continuing public administration reform, in- tensifying anti-corruption efforts and reinforcing freedom of expression.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet formally applied for EU membership and thus remains a potential candidate country. In December 2014, Member States agreed on a ‘renewed approach’ towards Bosnia, which undertook to activate the country’s Stabilisation and Associa- 294 21 April 2015 tion Agreement (SAA) when Bosnia’s political leaders agreed on a Written Commitment outlining socio-economic, judicial and institutional reforms. In February 2015, Bosnia’s Parliament endorsed this Written Commitment, which is to be implemented by Bosnia’s new government.

Kosovo has continued negotiations with the European Commission on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), the first step on the EU accession path. The SAA was initialled in July 2014 and future steps will be discussed in the coming months.

Ireland looks forward to working with each country as they make progress on their respective paths to EU membership.

21/04/2015WRV00750Syrian Conflict

21/04/2015WRV00800563. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which victims of the conflict in Syria or other locations throughout the Middle East continue to be displaced; if it has been found possible to put in place supportive humanitarian structures to address the situation. [15693/15]

21/04/2015WRV00900Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The conflict in Syria is entering its fifth year. More than 220,000 people have been killed, and some 7.6 million have been displaced within Syria, with almost 4 million more as refugees in neighbouring countries. This rate of displacement has accelerated over the last year. There are 1.7 million refugees in Turkey, nearly 1.2 million in Lebanon, 628,000 in Jordan and 247,000 in Iraq, with others also in North Africa. This poses a particular strain for Jordan and Lebanon, small countries where refugees are now a huge percentage of the population. Within just seven years, Syria has moved from being the world’s second-largest refugee-hosting country, to being the largest refugee-producing country. Elsewhere in the Middle East, conflict has also driven people from their homes. In Iraq, following the three major ISIS offensives in 2014, the humanitarian situation remains precarious for almost 2.7 million internally displaced Iraqis and over 247,000 Syrian refugees. Some of these Syrian refugees are now suffering secondary displacement, having had to leave the places where they originally sought safety after fleeing Syria. The situation in Yemen is also extremely worrying, with hundreds killed in the current outbreak of fighting. Already, before the current upsurge in violence, there were 15.9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. More than 100,000 people have been displaced since the airstrikes began on 26 March, and the fighting there is continuing, prolonging the suffering of hundreds of thousands of innocent Yemenis.

There are some 5 million Palestine refugees across the region in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip who continue to rely on the UN for basic services. Of particular concern are the estimated 100,000 people who remain internally displaced following the conflict in Gaza last year.

The UN has overall responsibility for coordination of the humanitarian response in such emergencies, and has established Humanitarian Coordinators in all of these situations in order to ensure that international humanitarian aid is directed to those who need it most. Ireland strongly supports the UN in this role.

Ireland has contributed to alleviating the suffering caused in all of these crises. Most notably, in Syria, Irish Aid’s humanitarian assistance will reach €41 million by the end of 2015, by which time we will have fulfilled the pledge made at the UN pledging conference on Syria in Kuwait last month. Ireland has also contributed €500,000 to support the UN’s work in Yemen this year, and provided the same amount last year. In Iraq, Ireland provided over €1 million

295 Questions - Written Answers in support of humanitarian aid in 2014. We provide €4 million annually to UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for providing basic services to Palestine refugees across the region. In addition we have so far provided €1.5 million to the agency for its response to the Gaza crisis.

However, international humanitarian support does not go far enough in providing solutions for those displaced by conflict from their homes. Political solutions are required, in order to ensure that people throughout the Middle East can resume their lives, and build their futures and those of their children in peace and security. With our EU partners and at the UN, Ireland will continue to support all efforts for a peaceful solution to the interlinked conflicts across the region.

Question No. 564 answered with Question No. 559.

21/04/2015WRV01050Overseas Development Aid

21/04/2015WRV01100565. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which various aid programmes continue to target the areas of most need, worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15696/15]

21/04/2015WRV01200Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I am acutely aware of the need to ensure that Ireland’s development assistance is appropriately targeted so that it makes a real difference in the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. Ireland’s official aid programme, Irish Aid, has always had a strong focus on the fight to end extreme poverty, and this commitment is central to our international development cooperation policy “One World One Future”. In this policy, the Government commits to very regular assessment of our efforts in developing countries to ensure that we are delivering the most effective results for those experiencing greater degrees of hunger, fragility and instability, because of conflict, disaster or the harmful effects of climate change. Ireland directs the greater part of its assistance to some of the poorest countries in the world. Approximately 80% of Ireland’s bilateral assistance goes to Least Developed and Low Income countries and to Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa remains our priority region of focus. The selection and continued engagement in key partner countries is shaped by a number of key decision-making factors including the level of poverty, fragility and inequality in the country.

Programmes funded with this development assistance are designed and monitored to ensure that our support is appropriately targeted and reaches the intended beneficiaries. They are ap- praised by the Department using clear criteria, including quality of intended impact, sustainability, and cost effectiveness. Programmes are subject to regular internal and external monitoring and are evaluated and audited by independent experts, as well as by my Department’s Evaluation and Audit Unit.

Robust accountability systems in partner countries are essential to ensuring that development assistance is appropriately targeted to reach the poorest and most vulnerable beneficiaries. Ireland strongly supports the strengthening of these systems. Our own management and oversight systems are regularly under review to ensure that Irish development funding continues to be provided to those most in need, and that we meet the highest standards of accountability.

We continue to work through a variety of bilateral and other aid delivery channels in partnership with national authorities, local communities, NGOs, and key multilateral partners such as the United Nations. This mix of aid channels globally and in our partner countries ensures that, despite the changing and sometimes challenging contexts where we have to work, we make the utmost effort to target our aid towards the very poorest.

296 21 April 2015 Our aid programme is recognised internationally as one of the most effective in this regard. The OECD Peer Review of the programme last year noted that our international development policy provides a sound rationale and basis for making decisions on where to focus Ireland’s official development assistance. It stated that the policy and our related strategies help ensure that Irish aid targets poor people and gets assistance to where it is most needed.

21/04/2015WRV01250Human Rights Issues

21/04/2015WRV01300566. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his European Union colleagues continue to focus on various locations worldwide, where basic human rights are being eroded persistently; if action will be taken to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15697/15]

21/04/2015WRV01400Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): The promotion and protection of human rights is a central objective of Ireland’s foreign policy. In the Government’s recent review of foreign policy, The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World, we re-affirmed our commitment to the universality, indivisibility and interrelatedness of all human rights, to accountability for human rights violations and abuses, and to the protection of those who are most vulnerable and marginalised. Together with our EU partners, Ireland closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including both official channels and non-governmental/civil society organisations. Where and when the situation warrants, we make known our concerns about human rights violations to the Governments in question. We do this bilaterally, through the EU or via the positions we take at the UN General Assembly and in the UN Human Rights Council. We support the use of the full UN human rights machinery in responding to human rights abuses. This includes support for the role of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Bodies, the Special Procedure Mandate Holders and for the convening, where appropriate, of Special Sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. The EU regularly makes statements at these bodies on the human rights situations in individual countries and Ireland is fully associated with these statements. The EU also introduces or supports resolutions dealing with specific countries.

Since March 2006, when the UN Human Rights Council was formed, Ireland has engaged proactively with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism initiated by the Council. The UPR mechanism allows for the review of the domestic human rights records of all 193 UN Member States approximately every four and a half years, based on human rights obligations under UN human rights and other instruments. Any UN Member State can take part in the interactive dialogue (i.e. the actual examination of the State under review) and submit written questions in advance. Ireland was itself examined under the UPR process on 6 October 2011.

The process enables UN Member States to raise issues, some of which would have been identified by members of the public and civil society, and to make recommendations about the protection and promotion of human rights in the State concerned. Ireland has engaged fully with the UPR process and welcomes the open and constructive dialogue associated with it. We have also made numerous interventions during the UPR examination of other states, raising issues of concern such as gender-based violence, freedom of expression, religious freedom, freedom of assembly, and the protection of human rights defenders within the State under review.

The EU has adopted Common Positions on certain countries, which attach priority to promoting human rights, democracy, good governance and the rule of law. In addition, the EU conducts human rights dialogues with a number of countries and also raises human rights concerns as part of political dialogue meetings. In June 2012 the EU adopted a Strategic Frame- 297 Questions - Written Answers work and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy.

Ireland and its EU partners have been strong and consistent supporters of the International Criminal Court, recognising it as an essential means of combating impunity for the most serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. The Court’s Prosecutor has opened investigations into a number of country situations and we will continue to monitor this work closely.

Ireland has also consistently taken the lead in negotiating resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly and in the Human Rights Council, of which we are a member for the period 2013 to 2015, on the promotion and protection of human rights defenders, as well as on the implementation of EU Guidelines in relation to human rights defenders in third countries, the aim being to ensure that the latter can operate in an environment free from hindrance and insecurity.

The promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms has always been a cornerstone of Ireland’s aid programme. Ireland’s new policy on international development, ‘One World One Future’, reaffirms the centrality of human rights to Ireland’s foreign policy and aid programme, and commits to ensuring that human rights principles and standards are promoted, protected and integrated in all of our development efforts. The Government’s development cooperation programme, Irish Aid, addresses the root causes of poverty and exclusion by focussing on the most vulnerable and promoting their participation, representation, and the means to realise their rights. This includes investing in the improvement and expansion of essential services, and support to organisations that promote human rights, governance, and democracy in developing countries, including civil society and the UN office of the High Com- missioner for Human Rights. Mindful that the risk of human rights violations is greater where political, economic and administrative systems are weak, Irish Aid promotes access to justice and supports the strengthening of government institutions, parliaments, and independent media, and national human rights institutions.

The Government will continue to avail of all the above-mentioned mechanisms and instruments with a view to highlighting violations of human rights and furthering their protection.

21/04/2015WRV01450International Terrorism

21/04/2015WRV01500567. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures the Foreign Affairs Council has agreed to combat terrorism outside the European Union’s bor- ders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15796/15]

21/04/2015WRV01600568. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the Justice and Home Affairs Council co-ordinates policy on terrorism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15797/15]

21/04/2015WRV01700Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 567 and 568 together.

The issue of how best to respond to the threat posed by terrorism has been high on the EU agenda in recent months. Foreign Ministers have focused in particular on the contribution that the EU can make through its external action to the wider international effort to prevent and counter terrorism.

Counter-terrorism was most recently discussed by Foreign Affairs Council on 19 January and 9 February 2015. The February Council called for comprehensive action against terrorism in full compliance with international law, fundamental values and international human rights 298 21 April 2015 standards. It decided to step up, as a matter of urgency, external action on countering terrorism and to this end it agreed detailed conclusions under five headings. These headings concerned: strengthening partnerships with key countries, supporting capacity building, countering radicalisation and violent extremism, promoting international cooperation and addressing underlying factors and ongoing crises.

Discussions by Foreign Ministers on external measures are complemented by those of Jus- tice and Home Affairs Ministers on internal EU security. The issue has featured regularly on the agenda of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers. Following their meeting in Riga on 29 and 30 January, JHA Ministers issued a joint statement with wide ranging conclusions on measures to prevent and combat terrorism.

The need for coordination between the work of Foreign Ministers and Justice and Home Affairs Ministers is particularly important, especially when it comes to the threat posed by international terrorism and returning foreign terrorist fighters. The crucial importance of joint efforts was explicitly recognised in the Riga Statement.

The informal European Council on 12 February took account of the discussions and conclusions of the February FAC and the Riga statement. In their statement, EU Heads of State and Government set out a range of priorities to guide further work by both Council formations. These priorities were set out under three headings: ensuring the security of citizens, preventing radicalisation and safeguarding values, and cooperating with our international partners.

An extraordinary joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council and the Justice and Home Af- fairs Council took place on 20 April 2015 to discuss migration against the recent tragic events in the Mediterranean. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, and I attended. The root causes of the instability which contribute to migratory pressures, including conflict and terrorism, were addressed in our discussions.

21/04/2015WRV01750EU Issues

21/04/2015WRV01800569. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline Ireland’s approach to the eastern neighbourhood, and if this has changed following developments in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15798/15]

21/04/2015WRV01900Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): Ireland’s approach to Europe’s eastern neighbourhood is based on the Eastern Partnership (EaP) which was launched in 2009 to provide a coherent framework for EU co-operation with six countries of Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The forthcoming EaP Summit in Riga, on 21 and 22 May, was discussed at a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers with the six Eastern Partners in Luxembourg yesterday. The Riga Summit will provide an opportunity to reflect on the progress of the Eastern Partnership, bearing in mind particularly the situation in Ukraine. The Riga Summit will also confirm the high importance which the EU, its Member States and the six partner countries attach to the Partnership. The Summit should set the course for the Partnership for next two years. The situation in Ukraine has deteriorated rapidly during the past 12 months. The EU is closely following developments in eastern Ukraine and has been to the forefront of international efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully. It is also helping Ukraine to implement a much needed programme of political and economic reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s democratic institutions and modernising its economy. In the last year, the EU has channelled almost €6 billion to Ukraine in the form of macro financial assistance, grant aid and support from European financial institutions. 299 Questions - Written Answers In that context, Ireland hopes the Summit will convey a message that the aim of the Eastern Partnership is to build a common area of shared democracy, prosperity, stability and increased cooperation. The Partnership is not directed against anyone and Ireland hopes that the Riga Summit will be an opportunity to help rebuild trust and confidence on our continent.

An important focus of the Riga Summit will be progress, with the assistance of the EU, on the implementation of Association Agreements (AA) concluded between the EU and Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine in 2013. The Deputy will recall our very useful discussion of these Agreements which this House subsequently approved by large majority.

I am happy to confirm that last week Ireland formally completed its ratification of these Agreements which are, in large measure, already being applied provisionally by the three countries concerned. However, in response to a Ukrainian request arising from its concerns about the impact of an immediate application of the Agreement’s Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), the European Commission agreed to delay its provisional application to Ukraine until 1 January 2016. In the meantime, the EU will continue the application of autonomous trade measures for the benefit of Ukraine.

The Riga Summit will also consider progress on the EU’s relations with those partner countries that chose not to conclude Association Agreements - Armenia, Azerbaijan - and developments in the EU’s critical engagement with Belarus.

21/04/2015WRV01950United Nations

21/04/2015WRV02000570. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what Ire- land’s policy priorities are in its engagement with the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15799/15]

21/04/2015WRV02100Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): This year marks the 60th Anniversary of Ireland’s membership of the United Nations. UN membership and a commitment to multilateralism is central to Irish foreign policy. The principles and values enshrined in the UN Charter are principles and values that Ireland holds dear. In line with our commitment to providing leadership at the UN, Ireland will seek election to the Security Coun- cil in June 2020. Ireland’s key strategic priorities in its engagement with the United Nations are outlined in the recently published foreign policy document The Global Island. Ireland will remain a key contributor to UN and UN-mandated peacekeeping operations and will continue to contribute to developing UN policies and structures to enable it to more effectively maintain international peace and security. Ireland will contribute to the UN Review of Peace Operations this year and will continue to support and advance the doctrine of the Responsibility to Protect

Ireland will continue to play a leadership role on disarmament and will renew efforts to protect and strengthen the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We will also continue to promote the conventions dealing with chemical and biological weapons and support the implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Arms Trade Treaty.

On Security Council reform, Ireland consistently advocates for a more representative, efficient and transparent Security Council, through our membership of the Accountability, Coher- ence and Transparency grouping and through support for the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform

Ireland will promote the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security, in particular the participation of women in peace building, and efforts to counter gender-based violence. 300 21 April 2015 The commitment of Ireland to the promotion and protection of human rights is a foreign policy priority for the Government. Ireland’s term of office as a member of the UN Human Rights Council will conclude at the end of 2015. In this remaining period and beyond, we will continue to pursue our national initiatives on civil society space and preventable mortality and morbidity in children under five, and to promote our human rights priorities which include freedom of expression both online and offline, freedom of religion and belief, Human Rights Defenders, the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals, gender equality, rights of the child and the right to education.

Ireland is co-facilitating intergovernmental negotiations at the United Nations to agree a framework for global development to succeed the Millennium Development Goals beyond 2015. Ireland’s key priorities for the post-2015 Development Agenda have been the fight to end hunger and under nutrition, gender equality and women’s empowerment, good governance and rule of law. We have advocated for strong goals and targets in each of these key areas.

Finally, Ireland will continue to seek efficient and effective management of the UN and its financial resources in the pursuit of these priorities.

21/04/2015WRV02150Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRV02200571. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of retired public service pensions in payment, in each year, from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16054/15]

21/04/2015WRV02300Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan): With regard to the staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the calculation and payment of superan- nuation benefits is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Staff of the former Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO) were integrated into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2003. Two former APSO staff and a spouse of a deceased APSO staff member are in receipt of public sector pensions paid by my Department.

21/04/2015WRV02350School Transport Eligibility

21/04/2015WRV02400572. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny is being asked to pay for school transport; and if the case will be examined as the household income is illness benefit and the transport cost is causing hardship. [15290/15]

21/04/2015WRV02500Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Damien English): Under the terms of my Department’s Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is not attending her nearest post primary school and is therefore not eligible for school transport; only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold a valid Medical Card (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge. While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport at post primary level is to the nearest education centre/school.

301 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRV02550Residential Institutions

21/04/2015WRV02600573. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will inves- tigate and clarify the issues raised in correspondence by a survivor of institutional abuse (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15152/15]

21/04/2015WRV02700Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse. The determination of criteria and the processing of individual applications are matters for Caranua itself and my officials have requested Caranua to examine the issues raised in the correspondence and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

21/04/2015WRV02750Special Educational Needs Service Provision

21/04/2015WRV02800574. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps her Department is taking to increase the capacity in the Edenderry area, County Offaly for students requiring places in autism spectrum disorder units in mainstream secondary education in September 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15171/15]

21/04/2015WRV02900Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): My Department’s policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for. The Na- tional Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in allocating such support. Details of the number of special classes in each county are available on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie. The NCSE is also currently considering applications by schools to establish new special classes for the coming 2015/16 school year. I have arranged for the Deputy’s request for specific detail on provision in Co. Offaly to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

21/04/2015WRV02950School Funding

21/04/2015WRV03000575. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; the total amount of funding which has been allocated to the school for completion of permanent facilities and replacement of existing prefabricated units; the details of the services and facilities which are to be put in place; the amount of expected funding required for the work; when work is expected to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15172/15]

21/04/2015WRV03100Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a Major Capital Project in respect of the school to which he refers is being progressed into the architectural planning process. The proposed project will include the complete

302 21 April 2015 replacement of prefabs with permanent classrooms in addition to a significantly enhanced level of permanent specialist and ancillary accommodation. As the proposed works have not pro- ceeded to the tender and construction stage, it is not possible to provide information on the level of grant aid applicable. The school in question is one of a number of schools which it was not possible to include in the 5 Year construction programme. However the school project will be progressed to the final planning stages so that it will be well placed for consideration in the context of future construction programmes.

21/04/2015WRV03150Commencement of Legislation

21/04/2015WRV03200576. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans regarding the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; the sections of the Act which have been implemented fully, and those sections which require further work and funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15241/15]

21/04/2015WRV03300Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of sections of the EPSEN Act have been commenced, including those establishing the National Council for Special Education and those promoting an inclusive approach to education of children. The Sections of the EPSEN Act which have not been implemented are those which would have conferred a statutory entitlement to an educational assessment for all children with special educational needs, consequent development of a statutory individual educational plan (IEP)and an independent appeals process. In light of the very difficult economic situation and the significant costs involved in fully implementing the EPSEN Act, the previous Government deferred the full implementation of Act. At present, all schools are encouraged to use Education Plans. The Departmental Inspectorates’ advice is that the majority of schools are now using some form of individual education planning for children with special needs.In line with Circular 30/2014 schools are required to put in place a Personal Pupil Plan including a care plan for all pupils availing of SNA support. While awaiting the full implementation of the EPSEN Act, the NCSE has published a number of policy advice papers which make recommendations aimed at developing a better or more effective alternative to the current resource allocation model, and which aims to move the system towards ultimate implementation of the EPSEN Act. These reports include the NCSE policy advice on Support Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools (2013) and The Report of the Working Group on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teaching Resources for pupils with Special Educational Needs (2014). It is therefore intended to bring into effect many of the good ideas contained in the EPSEN Act, on a non-statutory basis initially, through policy developments across a range of areas, in conjunction with NCSE policy advice.

21/04/2015WRV03350Schools Building Projects Administration

21/04/2015WRV03400577. Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, by county, the number of schools that have applied for additional funding due to the extra costs associated with the new building regulations that were introduced, in view of the fact that the original awards were not sufficient; the extra funding, in tabular form, that has been sought by each school individually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15245/15]

21/04/2015WRV03500Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The information requested by the Deputy in respect of applications for design team fee adjustments is not readily available. However, from the information that is readily available, the following table indicates, by 303 Questions - Written Answers county, the additional design team fee payments made in 2014 and to date in 2015 arising from the introduction of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations BC(A)R 2014. In terms of the number of school building projects affected it is safe to say that all projects where the design team was appointed prior to 2014 are affected to a greater or lesser extent and that additional costs will arise in virtually every case. General details in respect of the current status of all major school building projects is available on my Departments website and is updated monthly. Requests for fee adjustments by individual consultants engaged as part of the design team on a school building project may vary significantly from project to project depending on the scale and complexity of the project, the characteristics of the site and the materials and methods of construction proposed, the number of site visits required and the distance to site from the consultants place of work. Information in relation to fee adjustment requests would also be commercially sensitive as my Department is engaged in ongoing negotiations with individual design team members in respect of fee claims arising from the additional services required under BC(A)R 2014. Guidance for members of the RIAI and the ACEI on the factors to consider when calculating a fee adjustment request for a school building project are available on those bodies websites. In general, the Department would expect fee adjustment requests to reflect the advice given in those guidance notes.

However, the Department will assess each individual request on its specific merits and circumstances and in accordance with the conditions of engagement and the existing fee structure tendered by the individual consultant at time of appointment.

However, from analysis of a representative sample of fee adjustment requests, the indication is that fee adjustments for a full design team may vary from approximately 10 per cent to 30 per cent depending on the above mentioned factors. Currently, all tender competitions for appointment of design teams require tenderers to include for the provision of services to meet the requirements of BC(A)R 2014 as an inherent part of their fee proposals.

County 2014 2015 Cavan €0.00 €3,867.12 Cork €0.00 €6,624.84 Dublin €19,266.61 €46,714.71 Galway €0.00 €16,453.27 Kerry €0.00 €2,767.50 KIldare €19,730.14 €3,506.97 Louth €8,647.28 €0.00 Meath €11,980.01 €5,993.71 Offaly €23,811.90 €9,292.05 Tipperary €23,281.13 €9,457.16 Westmeath €0.00 €22,772.93 Wexford €16,897.66 €27,289.92 Wicklow €13,854.23 €18,588.89 Total €137,468.96 €173,329.07

21/04/2015WRV03550School Funding

21/04/2015WRV03600578. Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a grant awarded for building additional accommodation in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15270/15]

304 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRV03700Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I am pleased to inform the Deputy that additional funding has been approved.

21/04/2015WRW00200Primary Online Database

21/04/2015WRW00300579. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on her engagement with the Data Protection Commissioner with regard to the operation of the new primary online database for primary schools; if the commissioner has given his consent and approval to her Department gathering all the information which it is seeking from schools with regard to their pupils; in the event that there are outstanding issues to be resolved with the commissioner, if she will suspend the further collection of information for the primary online database; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15273/15]

21/04/2015WRW00400Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The Department has had continued dialogue with the Data Protection Commissioner’s Office on some matters relating to POD. The Department’s revised Fair Processing notice and POD Circular reflect that dialogue as well as the review of feedback received from schools and parents, and covers issues such as retention of records on POD and guidance on ensuring completeness of records on POD for annual returns purposes. Please see a link to the POD circular and to the following POD revised fair processing notice.POD Circular

http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0025_2015.pdf

POD Fair Processing Notice

http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Primary-Online-Database-POD-/POD- Fair-Processing-Notice.pdf

21/04/2015WRW00500Educational Disadvantage

21/04/2015WRW00600580. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of her decision to formally review the operation of the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme, if any schools due to have legacy posts suppressed in September 2015 will now retain these posts; if her Department will review its decision to suppress legacy scheme posts in other schools in previous academic years where the school had a post suppressed due to the school becoming eligible for an additional mainstream teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15301/15]

21/04/2015WRW00700Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The recently published ESRI Report “Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS”, which was commissioned by my De- partment, provides an opportunity to commence an assessment of the DEIS programme. A consultation process with education partners has been commenced to inform the development of appropriate measures to continue to support those at risk of poor educational outcomes. An interdepartmental Working Group is being established to ensure a joined-up approach to delivery of services in DEIS as well as a Technical Group to develop a revised identification process for schools. This work will take place over the course of the next school year.

While this wider analysis of the DEIS Programme is underway and pending the final outcome of the process, I have paused the offsetting of pre-DEIS legacy posts in DEIS schools for the 2015/16 school year. The schools concerned have been notified accordingly. This decision relates only to those schools who currently have legacy posts that were to be subsumed into

305 Questions - Written Answers mainstream posts in the next school year.

21/04/2015WRW00800School Staff

21/04/2015WRW00900581. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) in County Kerry will have four teachers for the school year 2015-2016, in view of the schools projected enrolment figure of 93 pupils in September 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15305/15]

21/04/2015WRW01000Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department’s website at www.education.gov.ie.

The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools.

An appeals process is also available to small schools. Details of the appeals criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the March, 2015 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school has been informed that its appeal has been upheld on the basis that it achieves an enrolment of 83 pupils on 30th September 2015.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

21/04/2015WRW01100Pupil-Teacher Ratio

21/04/2015WRW01200582. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown, by county, of the number of children at primary level in classes of 30 or more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15313/15]

21/04/2015WRW01300Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Provisional results from the 2014/2015 National School Annual Census showing the breakdown by county of the number of children at primary level is classes of 30 or more are shown in the following table. Final figures will be published at the end of June. Further details on individual school class size is available on my Department’s website at www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Data-on- Individual-Schools/.

PROVISIONAL DATA ONLY - Number of pupils in each class size range at individual national school level, 2014/2015

Note: The data contained in this sheet is sourced from the 2014/2015 National School An- nual Census and refers to pupils in mainstream classes only.

306 21 April 2015 - Class ------Size Range (number of mainstream pupils) - 0-9 10-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-45 Local Total Num- Au- Main- ber of thority stream Main- Area Class stream Pupils Class Pu- pils in Classes of 30 Pupils or More Carlow 24 319 1,430 3,283 2,310 72 7,438 2,382 County Coun- cil Cavan 44 847 3,022 3,918 1,436 175 9,442 1,611 County Coun- cil Clare 86 1,719 3,734 4,700 2,912 546 13,697 3,458 County Coun- cil Cork 2,404 3,550 5,303 1,926 284 13,467 2,210 City Coun- cil Cork 92 3,383 11,124 19,247 11,113 1,619 40 46,618 12,772 County Coun- cil Done- 110 2,648 4,592 7,887 3,353 140 18,730 3,493 gal County Coun- cil Dublin 40 7,230 11,524 16,973 7,664 466 43,897 8,130 City Coun- cil 307 Questions - Written Answers - Class ------Size Range (number of mainstream pupils) - 0-9 10-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-45 Local Total Num- Au- Main- ber of thority stream Main- Area Class stream Pupils Class Pu- pils in Classes of 30 Pupils or More Dun 9 972 2,701 9,119 5,448 35 18,284 5,483 Fingal 1,415 6,277 19,419 8,261 142 35,514 8,403 County Coun- cil Gal- 9 1,102 2,550 2,103 1,322 106 7,192 1,428 way City Coun- cil Gal- 166 2,833 6,208 7,904 4,315 465 21,891 4,780 way County Coun- cil Kerry 69 1,913 4,494 6,056 2,760 495 15,787 3,255 County Coun- cil Kildare 914 6,341 14,009 6,993 464 28,721 7,457 County Coun- cil 32 983 2,231 4,725 2,294 464 10,729 2,758 Laois 15 807 2,555 4,427 2,656 216 10,676 2,872 County Coun- cil

308 21 April 2015 - Class ------Size Range (number of mainstream pupils) - 0-9 10-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-45 Local Total Num- Au- Main- ber of thority stream Main- Area Class stream Pupils Class Pu- pils in Classes of 30 Pupils or More Leitrim 24 675 865 1,294 660 106 3,624 766 County Coun- cil Lim- 17 1,044 1,627 2,684 1,393 6,765 1,393 erick City Coun- cil Lim- 23 1,364 3,528 5,914 3,607 573 15,009 4,180 erick County Coun- cil Long- 6 693 1,569 1,989 974 5,231 974 ford County Coun- cil Louth 1,229 4,452 6,546 3,714 569 16,510 4,283 County Coun- cil Mayo 159 2,751 3,212 5,616 2,449 144 14,331 2,593 County Coun- cil

309 Questions - Written Answers - Class ------Size Range (number of mainstream pupils) - 0-9 10-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-45 Local Total Num- Au- Main- ber of thority stream Main- Area Class stream Pupils Class Pu- pils in Classes of 30 Pupils or More Meath 16 982 4,646 12,037 7,580 508 25,769 8,088 County Coun- cil 9 831 1,991 2,879 1,478 213 7,401 1,691 Offaly 14 1,046 2,589 4,054 1,638 286 9,627 1,924 County Coun- cil 67 1,445 1,804 2,756 1,060 7,132 1,060 Sligo 39 795 2,155 2,677 1,429 108 7,203 1,537 County Coun- cil South 23 3,058 7,472 15,666 7,460 210 33,889 7,670 Dublin County Coun- cil Tip- 21 1,018 1,960 3,494 1,700 109 8,302 1,809 perary (NR) County Coun- cil

310 21 April 2015 - Class ------Size Range (number of mainstream pupils) - 0-9 10-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-45 Local Total Num- Au- Main- ber of thority stream Main- Area Class stream Pupils Class Pu- pils in Classes of 30 Pupils or More Tip- 42 1,368 2,925 3,782 1,711 140 9,968 1,851 perary (SR) County Coun- cil Water- 390 1,272 3,371 1,083 6,116 1,083 ford City Coun- cil Water- 14 536 1,964 3,180 1,993 212 7,899 2,205 ford County Coun- cil West- 23 1,081 2,398 4,959 2,285 106 10,852 2,391 meath County Coun- cil Wex- 25 1,299 4,684 7,449 4,191 509 18,157 4,700 ford County Coun- cil

311 Questions - Written Answers - Class ------Size Range (number of mainstream pupils) - 0-9 10-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-45 Local Total Num- Au- Main- ber of thority stream Main- Area Class stream Pupils Class Pu- pils in Classes of 30 Pupils or More Wick- 7 1,019 3,340 7,798 4,515 387 17,066 4,902 low County Coun- cil Grand 1,225 52,113 9,869 40 Total Source: Statistics Section, Department of Education and Skills

21/04/2015WRW01400Third Level Participation

21/04/2015WRW01500583. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students attending third level colleges from each county in each of the past five years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15314/15]

21/04/2015WRW01600Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The information requested by the Deputy is in the following table. The table outlines the number of full-time enrolments both undergraduate and postgraduate at the 7 universities, 14 institutes of Technology and the teacher training colleges for the 5 years 2009/10 to 2012/13. Over this period total enrolments have increased by 5%.

Irish Domiciled Full-Time Enrolments in Irish Universities, Teacher Training Colleges and Institutes of Technology 2009/10-2013/14

Connacht 2013/14 2012/13 2011/12 2010/11 2009/10 % Change Galway 10,010 9,852 10,877 10,636 10,289 -3% Leitrim 1,126 1,080 1,155 1,167 1,141 -1% Mayo 4,990 4,946 5,122 5,214 5,133 -3%

312 21 April 2015 Connacht 2013/14 2012/13 2011/12 2010/11 2009/10 % Change Roscom- 2,333 2,361 2,322 2,354 2,292 2% mon Sligo 2,583 2,602 2,616 2,581 2,560 1% Leinster Carlow 1,837 1,854 1,901 1,974 1,914 -4% Dublin 36,201 35,750 36,671 35,142 33,848 7% (including postal districts) Kildare 6,528 6,384 6,330 6,271 5,842 12% Kilkenny 3,167 3,199 3,186 3,150 3,001 6% Laois 2,148 2,071 2,122 1,985 2,001 7% Longford 1,305 1,278 1,291 1,311 1,295 1% Louth 3,947 3,900 3,714 3,838 3,722 6% Meath 5,757 5,664 5,551 5,274 4,993 15% Offaly 2,355 2,263 2,254 2,228 2,104 12% Westmeath 3,004 2,968 3,135 3,340 3,162 -5% Wexford 4,490 4,450 4,431 4,287 4,030 11% Wicklow 4,336 4,259 4,187 4,054 3,816 14% Munster Clare 4,565 4,517 4,472 4,369 4,239 8% Cork 18,730 18,623 18,494 18,130 17,918 5% Kerry 5,622 5,560 5,644 5,734 5,708 -2% Limerick 7,239 7,129 6,950 7,002 6,665 9% Tipperary 5,575 5,555 5,429 5,387 5,135 9% Waterford 4,518 4,415 4,371 4,312 4,178 8% Ulster Antrim 200 166 211 197 217 -8% (including Belfast) Armagh 47 55 64 59 60 -22% Cavan 2,187 2,153 2,129 2,068 2,035 7% Derry 73 66 90 86 102 -28% Donegal 4,868 4,720 4,654 4,605 4,531 7% Down 205 208 215 204 234 -12% Fermanagh 58 43 59 61 73 -21% Monaghan 2,036 1,980 1,902 1,904 1,817 12% Tyrone 77 90 94 103 115 -33% Unknown Ireland Unknown 361 1,175 572 479 562 -36% Ireland Grand 152,478 151,336 152,215 149,506 144,732 5% Total

313 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRW01700Schools Building Projects Status

21/04/2015WRW01800584. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the proposed demolition of the existing Duleek national school buildings to make way for the new build under way; if the use of these buildings for much needed community purposes has been considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15339/15]

21/04/2015WRW01900Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The delivery of the two new primary school buildings in Duleek have been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). Construction of both schools commenced in February 2014. In order to comply with the grant of planning permission and to facilitate the provision of a traffic management system for both new schools it is necessary to demolish the existing buildings on site. It is also proposed to provide a playing pitch in the remaining area which will be of significant benefit to both schools.

21/04/2015WRW02000Site Acquisitions

21/04/2015WRW02100585. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in identifying and securing a permanent site for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; when she expects construction of the new school to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15341/15]

21/04/2015WRW02200Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department have been working with officials from Cork County Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable permanent site for new school accommodation for the school to which he refers.

A preferred site option has been identified and is being progressed. However given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.

21/04/2015WRW02300Site Acquisitions

21/04/2015WRW02400586. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in identifying and securing a site for a planned new second level school (details supplied) in County Cork; when she expects construction of the new school to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15342/15]

21/04/2015WRW02500Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department have been working with officials from Cork County Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable permanent site for new school accommodation for the school to which he refers.

21/04/2015WRW02600School Equipment

21/04/2015WRW02700587. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will 314 21 April 2015 provide funding for information technology equipment to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15373/15]

21/04/2015WRW02800Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Integrating ICT into teaching and learning in schools remains a priority for this Government. The Department’s ICT in Schools programme sets out a clear agenda to be pursued in this regard, focusing on four main projects: ICT Infrastructure in schools, the Schools Broadband Programme, the development of teacher skills, and the provision of curriculum-relevant digital content.

A new digital strategy for teaching and learning in schools is under development at present and the provision of equipment to schools will be considered in this context.

21/04/2015WRW02900Special Educational Needs Data

21/04/2015WRW03000588. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of the north side of Dublin, the number of school places in autism spectrum disorder units in primary schools; the number of school places in such units in secondary schools; the number of such pupils who are due to transition from primary to secondary school in September 2015; the number of places in such units in secondary schools which will be available in September 2015; her views on the adequacy of such provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15380/15]

21/04/2015WRW03100Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): My Department’s policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in allocating such support.

Details of the number of special classes in each county are available on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie. The NCSE is also currently considering applications by schools to establish new special classes for the coming 2015/16 school year. This work is ongoing in some counties and SENOs continue to liaise and work with schools in order to meet the demand for such placements at local level.

I have arranged for the Deputy’s request for specific detail on provision in Co. Dublin to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

21/04/2015WRW03200Institutes of Technology Funding

21/04/2015WRW03300589. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that was allocated by the Higher Education Authority to Waterford Institute of Technology in the years 2010 to 2014, inclusive, and in 2015 to date; the way funding cuts have affected pro- 315 Questions - Written Answers grammes and services being provided by the institute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15444/15]

21/04/2015WRW03400Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Details of the recurrent funding allocated to Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) for the years requested is set out in the following table.

The reality of the economic situation and the public expenditure corrections which had to be made in recent years presented challenges across all areas of public expenditure, including in higher education institutions such as WIT.

An Expert Group, chaired by Peter Cassells, is currently examining future funding options for higher education. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of education.

Recurrent funding allocated by the Higher Education Authority to Waterford Insti- tute of Technology

Year Total - € 2010 41,569,336 2011 40,067,418 2012 37,364,225 2013 34,697,002 2014 31,496,432 2015: Core grant funding of €26,508,662 has been allocated to the Institute for 2015, free fees funding is not yet allocated

Note: Recurrent funding includes core grant and free fees funding

21/04/2015WRW03500Third Level Funding

21/04/2015WRW03600590. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that was allocated by the Higher Education Authority to each third level institute in 2014. [15445/15]

21/04/2015WRW03700Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Detail on the recurrent funding allocated in 2014 by the Higher Education Authority to the higher education institutions under its designation is set out the following table.

Institute Amount University College Dublin €113,821,041 University College Cork €88,375,106 National University of Ireland, Galway €75,107,132 National University of Ireland, Maynooth €42,382,222 Trinity College Dublin €89,476,289 University of Limerick €66,898,566 Mary Immaculate College €14,258,669 Dublin City University €46,375,603 St Patrick’s Drumcondra €13,560,086

316 21 April 2015 Institute Amount Mater Dei €2,345,963 National College of Art and Design €8,921,100 Royal Irish Academy €2,705,500 St Angela’s College €5,037,365 Royal College of Surgeons €5,073,271 Athlone Institute of Technology €19,907,462 Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown €10,808,027 Institute of Technology, Carlow €18,232,215 Cork Institute of Technology €44,888,980 Dublin Institute of Technology €84,368,306 Dundalk Institute of Technology €19,981,757 Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and €9,867,418 Technology Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology €27,602,136 Letterkenny Institute of Technology €14,406,303 Limerick Institute of Technology €21,209,330 Tipperary Institute €7,057,500 Institute of Technology Sligo €20,898,401 Institute of Technology Tallaght €15,527,575 Institute of Technology Tralee €14,471,737 Waterford Institute of Technology €34,326,242

21/04/2015WRW03800Capitation Grants

21/04/2015WRW03900591. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is such a gap between the capitation grant figure allocated to primary schools and the figure allocated to secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15484/15]

21/04/2015WRW04000Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): At primary level, funding towards schools’ running costs is provided by my Department’s scheme of capitation grants.

These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of primary schools. Minimums and maximums apply to these grants which reflect the estimated -mini mum running costs of small schools and the economies of scale that may be achieved in larger schools.

Special enhanced capitation rates are paid in respect of children with special needs who attend special schools or special classes dedicated to children with particular special needs. These classes have a lower Pupil Teacher ratio and as such the unit cost per pupil is higher.

It is extremely difficult to make valid comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post primary levels. However it is accepted that the maintenance costs for second level schools are much greater on a unit cost basis than those in primary schools. In general, second level schools have a lower pupil teacher ratio, resulting in more classrooms and this would lead to higher per unit costs in second level schools for heat, light, power, maintenance and cleaning.

In addition the second level capitation is required to cover a different range of expenditures. 317 Questions - Written Answers Second level schools provide a broader curriculum, including technical subjects where the costs of materials may be greater than at primary level. In addition, specialist equipment and rooms are required for some subjects, leading to higher maintenance/replacement costs.

I am determined that education will be prioritised for further investment in future years, and I believe that increasing the staffing and funding of our schools should be priorities for such investment.

21/04/2015WRW04100School Staff

21/04/2015WRW04200592. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an indication of when the moratorium will be lifted on education posts of responsibility in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15485/15]

21/04/2015WRW04300Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): When the moratorium on the filling of posts of responsibility was introduced in 2009, the Government exempted Princi- pal and Deputy Principal posts in all primary and post-primary schools. These posts continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium was therefore limited to the Assistant Principal and Special Duties posts of responsibility.

The alleviation arrangements set out in Circular 0004/2014 provide a floor by which schools acutely affected at AP level by the impact of the moratorium can fill their AP vacancies as they arise to the level of the thresholds set out in that circular.

It continues to be a matter for each individual school authority to re-organise and prioritise the appropriate duties for post of responsibility holders in the context of implementing the moratorium.

However, I think it is fair to say that before the moratorium, notwithstanding the fact that one out of every two teachers held a management allowance, the workload issue and the pressures on Principals and Deputy Principals existed.

Simply lifting the moratorium as extra funding becomes available in future years is not the best way of improving how school leadership is distributed in our schools.

Economic constraints and the moratorium on recruitment, albeit alleviated to some extent for schools, have presented challenges within the education sector. They also provide an opportunity to review the role of the principal so that our principals are leaders of learning, and to reconfigure the middle management structure to support principals in their role, ensuring ownership of responsibility rather than tasks, thereby building expertise and supporting a career path within the profession.

The Department, in consultation with the representative management bodies has commenced an exploration of the opportunities to support and thereby advance our understanding of the needs of school leaders and how they might be addressed.

21/04/2015WRW04400School Inspection Reports

21/04/2015WRW04500593. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce a statutory body to inspect special schools and units in order to ensure safety and an optimum level of care for children with special needs while in school, particularly in view of the fact that inspectorate reports and recommendations arising from whole-school evaluations are 318 21 April 2015 not always fully implemented by some schools which have been inspected, and the fact that the children with special needs in these units and schools are particularly vulnerable, with many of them having little or no communication skills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15576/15]

21/04/2015WRW04600Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills has statutory responsibility under Section 13 of the Educa- tion Act 1998 for the inspection of schools, including special schools and I have no plans to introduce an additional statutory body to inspect special schools and units. A small number of special schools operate in tandem with facilities where residential care is provided for children in care; in these circumstances, the work of the schools is inspected by the Inspectorate of my Department while the residential care facilities are inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). Reports arising from both types of inspections are published.

The care of all children while in school, including the care of vulnerable children and children with special educational needs, is the responsibility of the board of management and staff of each school. Responsibility for acting on recommendations made in school inspection reports rests primarily with school management and with the patron body which appoints the school’s board of management. Since 2012, a follow-through model of inspection has been implemented to determine the extent to which schools have implemented the main recommendations in inspection reports, and the follow-through inspections conducted to date indicate a high level of implementation. In addition, where serious deficiencies are identified in schools, the school is referred to the Department’s School Improvement Group for more intensive engagement and monitoring.

21/04/2015WRW04700Schools Building Projects Status

21/04/2015WRW04800594. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the funding will be released for a new school (details supplied) in County Roscommon, following her announcement that it will be included in the 2015 school building programme; when construction on the school is likely to start; when the first tranche of funding will be drawn down for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15591/15]

21/04/2015WRW04900Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy, is currently completing the advanced stage of Archi- tectural Planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of Tender Documents. All relevant statutory approvals have been obtained. The Design Team are currently completing the Stage 2(b) report for submission to my Department for review and approval.

As the Deputy is aware, on 18th December 2014 I announced details of 70 school projects which are scheduled to commence construction in 2015. The building project for the school in question was included in this announcement. Assuming no issues arise in the review of the stage 2(b) report the project will then be authorised to proceed to tender with a view to com- mencing construction later this year. The first payments for the Contractor will be drawn down shortly after construction commences.

21/04/2015WRW05000Higher Education Courses Provision

21/04/2015WRW05100595. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will instruct third level colleges to implement procedures to include entrepreneurship as part of the third 319 Questions - Written Answers level curriculum for students, in both business and non-business courses; and if she will ensure that such initiatives are mainstreamed and embedded in every higher and further education institution here. [15607/15]

21/04/2015WRW05200Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Entrepreneurial skills are vital to Ireland’s economic recovery and enhance the student’s employability: be it starting their own business; working for a large corporation or contributing to society as a social entrepre- neur. The HEA has published the first System Performance Report on how higher education performance will align with the broader national objectives of the Higher Education Strategy. While the report has noted that programmes and disciplines are well aligned to what the market needs, and there is good and improving graduate employment, it also recognises that there is a need for improved liaison between the HEIs and industry/enterprise. With this in mind, the HEA has developed an enterprise engagement strategy, which will aim to further improve liaison between HEIs and enterprise. A key recommendation of the enterprise engagement strategy will be to embed entrepreneurship education and skills in higher education. My Department, the HEA, QQI and a number of higher education institutions are involved in a national project to promote entrepreneurship in higher education via the European Commission and OECD initiative HEInnovate (http://heinnovate.eu/).

In relation to Further Education and Training, a 5 year strategy for the Further Education and Training sector has been developed by SOLAS and includes education for entrepreneurship skills. As part of its Corporate Plan 2014 - 2016, SOLAS will promote and ensure the inclusion of entrepreneurship into all appropriate new and existing FET programmes that are funded through SOLAS. SOLAS will also commission research on best practice in entrepreneurship education and training methods as well as the impact of such education and training in FET programmes and disseminate the findings.

21/04/2015WRW05300Educational Disadvantage

21/04/2015WRW05400596. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be a re-evaluation of the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme for schools; if those schools who did not qualify in the original criteria a decade ago will be able to apply again; if she will provide details of the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15608/15]

21/04/2015WRW05500Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The recently published ESRI report on “Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS” which was commissioned by my De- partment, draws together the learning to date from the implementation of DEIS and identifies some of the challenges for future policy in this area.

I see this Report as a starting point for a new discussion on the future of DEIS. To this end, I have commenced a consultation process with education partners to inform the development of appropriate future measures to combat educational disadvantage. An inter-Departmental group will consider the roles of relevant Government Departments in delivering DEIS and a Techni- cal Group will consider appropriate eligibility criteria for a revised identification process for schools. Pending the outcome of this work, which will be completed during the next school year, I do not propose to expand the Programme.

21/04/2015WRW05600School Transport Eligibility

21/04/2015WRW05700597. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there 320 21 April 2015 have been any instances where a decision by Bus Éireann not to grant free school transport to students on the basis that the students are not attending their nearest school have been over- turned; if Bus Éireann has the power of discretion to grant free transport to students who are not attending their nearest school; the number of instances where such discretion has been exercised by Bus Éireann; the number of such instances that have happened on the direction of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15611/15]

21/04/2015WRW05800Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Damien English): The Deputy will be aware that under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for school transport when they meet the relevant distance criteria and are attending their nearest school, having regard to ethos and language; the terms are applied equi- tably on a national basis. I can confirm that Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, does not have discretionary powers in relation to the application of the terms of the schemes. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, I will be happy to request a more detailed report from Bus Éireann.

21/04/2015WRX00150Schools Amalgamation

21/04/2015WRX00200598. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the recent concerns of teaching staff at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal regarding the long-term future of the school; her plans to ensure that the school will continue to remain open and serve the local community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15612/15]

21/04/2015WRX00300Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I can confirm that my De- partment has not received any correspondence from the school referred to by the Deputy regarding its long term viability.

I recognise that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities and will continue to be so. It is for that reason that I recently announced that a voluntary protocol for amalgamation is being developed for the very smallest schools. The protocol is still under development. Under the protocol, my Department will write to the patrons of all such schools that are located within an 8 km distance of another school of similar patronage and language of instruction. The letter will invite them to reflect on the benefits that amalgamation opportunities might provide in order to create more sustainable school communities into the future. Engagement with the protocol will be entirely voluntary.

21/04/2015WRX00350Teaching Qualifications

21/04/2015WRX00400599. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a postgraduate certificate in education degree from an English university (details supplied) is recognised here, for teaching purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15613/15]

21/04/2015WRX00500Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Under the Teaching Council Act 2001, the Teaching Council is, since March 2006, the regulator and standards body for the teaching profession.

Accordingly, it holds authority and responsibility for the registration of teachers in the State.

As the question refers to an operational matter for the Teaching Council, I am referring it to the Council for direct reply.

321 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRX00550Special Educational Needs Service Provision

21/04/2015WRX00600600. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare had an application for a school transport grant refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15646/15]

21/04/2015WRX00700Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Damien English): In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school or unit that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills’ criteria.

The child in question is eligible for school transport and Bus Éireann has advised that the child can be accommodated on an existing service.

However, the parent has indicated that this service is not suitable and my Department is awaiting further information in this regard.

Payment of the grant will be reviewed when this information is received.

21/04/2015WRX00750Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

21/04/2015WRX00800601. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the adequacy of responsibility for management of applications to Caranua being solely a matter for Caranua, a process in which her Department has no role, meaning that persons who have suffered outrageously, due to State failures of oversight in the past, must now advocate on their own behalf with yet another State agency, Caranua, without support from any agency outside of the one they may be experiencing delays or refusals from; her plans to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15699/15]

21/04/2015WRX00900Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Caranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The chief executive is accountable to the Board for the efficient and effective management of Caranua. While I have no statutory role in relation to Caranua’s applications procedures, my officials and I are in regular contact with the Chair and the chief executive to discuss matters relating to the performance of the organisation. As the Deputy may be aware, the Board has commissioned an external review of its structures, processes and systems.

Caranua has recently published its Customer Service Charter in February which sets out target processing times for the various stages of its application process. Caranua is amenable to scrutiny by the Oireachtas, including its committees. Caranua’s administrative actions are subject to review by the Ombudsman and its decisions can be appealed to the independent appeals officer appointed under the 2012 Act.

21/04/2015WRX00925Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

21/04/2015WRX01000602. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a date for review of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund or a date upon which she might consider the question of a review of the operation of the fund; and whether she plans to leave survivors of institutional abuse in limbo once again, uncertain as to whether their partners or children, whose needs are often a huge source of stress to the abuse victim, may be able to access assistance from the Caranua fund. [15700/15] 322 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRX01100Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I intend to consider the question of a review of the arrangements relating to eligibility for assistance from Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund, later this year by which time a clearer picture should have emerged regarding the uptake of the funding available.

21/04/2015WRX01150Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

21/04/2015WRX01200603. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out her views on concerns that a State agency, applying an element of discretion in deciding on cases of extreme hardship for persons who were outrageously abused under the State’s watch, and her Depart- ment not performing either regular or ongoing audits or having oversight of this application of discretion has the effect of inflicting unnecessary and further hardship on persons who have already suffered enough, and who, rightly, may be deeply suspicious of the State, its agencies and their secretive decision-making processes, due to the State’s failures of oversight in the past. [15701/15]

21/04/2015WRX01300Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): It is a matter for the Board of Caranua to determine its criteria for making decisions in accordance with the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 Act and I have no role in that process. Any former resident who is dissatisfied with a decision made by Caranua on their application can appeal that decision to the independent appeals officer in accordance with section 22 of the 2012 Act. I expect to receive Caranua’s annual report for 2014 shortly and I understand that this Report will address the use of the exceptional circumstances criteria. This report will then be laid before each House of the Oireachtas in accordance with the provisions of the 2012 Act.

21/04/2015WRX01350Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

21/04/2015WRX01400604. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that it is appropriate in the case of the rejection of an application for funds from Caranua that the only recourse for a person who may have suffered horrendous abuse in a residential institution is to an appeals officer, whose decisions are entirely opaque since the appeals officer is not subject to oversight by the Ombudsman, or the expensive and adversarial route of a High Court appeal, a route described by her predecessor as long and often traumatic; and if this will form part of her promised review. [15703/15]

21/04/2015WRX01500Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Decisions of Caranua may be appealed to the independent Appeals Officer appointed under section 21 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, 2012. A person who is affected by the Appeals Officer’s decision may appeal to the High Court on a point of law. The Appeals Officer has determined 45 decisions to date and I expect to receive his first report in relation to the performance of his functions shortly. This report will then be laid before each House of the Oireachtas in accordance with the provisions of the 2012 Act. Caranua comes within the scope of the Ombudsman Acts 1980 to 2012 and its administrative actions are subject to review by the Ombudsman. I have no plans to include these arrangements within the review of eligibility which I propose to consider later this year.

21/04/2015WRX01550Scientific Research

21/04/2015WRX01600605. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will seek to 323 Questions - Written Answers rebalance the funding of science research such that the Government’s preference for funding oriented basic research, applied research and over-basic research in view of the fact that this preference has led to steadily decreasing numbers of research staff in Irish universities, the un- availability of hands-on laboratory training for science students and a knock-on effect on Irish universities’ international rankings. [15704/15]

21/04/2015WRX01700606. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out her plans to review the imbalance of funding between applied and basic science and engineering research in view of the fact that this imbalance has led to a systemic distortion of research incentives that is at odds with her Department’s role as overseer of education rather than industrial innovation. [15707/15]

21/04/2015WRX01800Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 606 together.

The Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation 2006 to 2013 (SSTI) was a broad based strategy which covered funding for research and innovation across all disciplines and across the full continuum of research from basic to applied, as well as commercialisation of research. The Government remains committed to the further development of our research ecosystem given the key role that it plays not only in underpinning economic recovery and maintaining Ireland’s competitiveness, but also given its centrality to the quality of our higher education system and the broader societal developments that research drives.

As the Deputy will be aware, the process of developing a successor strategy to the SSTI is underway. The formulation of the new Strategy provides a clear opportunity for Ireland to develop a new whole-of-Government strategy for research and innovation that can build on the progress made to date and is timely as Ireland moves into a new phase of economic growth and societal development. An Interdepartmental Committee, under the chairmanship of the Depart- ment of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, has been tasked with developing proposals for this new Strategy. I am represented on this Committee by officials from my Department and they are closely engaged with the process. An important element of this process is stakeholder and public consultation and some 75 submissions have been received, including from the higher education sector. The issue of future funding for all areas of research will be considered in the context of the completion of this work.

21/04/2015WRX01850State Examinations Commission

21/04/2015WRX01900607. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare and that person’s correspondence with her the action the person in question can take, in view of the clear fault in the system of marking in the leaving certificate examination process and the fact that there has been a clear injustice done; and if a change in the marking system should be made as there is clearly a flaw in the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15709/15]

21/04/2015WRX02000Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. As part of its remit the SEC is required to maintain standards year on year and this it endeavours to achieve by the processes it has in place for the preparation of examination papers and other test items, and by the quality assurance procedures it implements at the examining and appeal stages of the State examinations.

The same marking scheme is applied strictly and in exactly the same way to the work of all

324 21 April 2015 candidates in the cohort taking the particular examination. Each candidate is anonymous and examining proceeds without reference to school location or centre.

In respect of the determination of grade boundaries, all examination systems have grade boundaries. In Ireland ‘fixed’ grade boundaries apply (i.e. the mark equating to particular percentages from the point at which one moves from the award of one grade to another) and the standard setting process, operates within this framework. The manner in which a candidate achieves an overall grade varies from subject to subject; for example in multi-components – marks for the different components are aggregated. It is emphasised to examiners that every mark is important and that they should be accurate and exact in their application of a marking scheme in order to award an appropriate mark for the work presented. As is the case in all examination systems there will always be candidates whose mark falls one mark short of a grade boundary.

A formal appeals process is provided by the SEC. It is open to every candidate to appeal the result awarded in any particular subject. The Leaving Certificate appeal process is a so- phisticated process which provides candidates, who have fallen short by one or more marks to achieve the grade they may desire, every opportunity to determine that the marking scheme that applied to all candidates, was in fact applied correctly to them and that the mark finally awarded is in fact the correct mark that should apply.

In the case of the grading system applied by the SEC neither a system of ‘rounding up’ or ‘rounding down’ of percentages applies. Grading tables are drawn up on the basis of the exact mark awarded corresponding to a particular grade band (e.g. for an examination marked out of 400, such as Leaving Certificate Biology, a mark of 360 will be awarded a grade of A1 (90% or more) and a mark of 359 will be awarded a grade of A2 (85% or more and less than 90%).

21/04/2015WRX02050Special Educational Needs Service Provision

21/04/2015WRX02100608. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the arrangements which will be made to accommodate a child (details supplied) in Dublin 9 with As- perger’s syndrome who has been attending an autism spectrum disorder base-class since 2011 and is due to transfer to secondary school in September 2015, in view of the fact that the child’s psychological assessment states that he requires a similar specialist base-class in secondary school, but the follow-on secondary school does not have sufficient places to accommodate the child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15728/15]

21/04/2015WRX02200Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department’s policy focuses on ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs and abilities.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for establishing special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in allocating such support.

SENOs engage with schools annually in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes 325 Questions - Written Answers each year, in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents are encouraged to liaise with the local SENO to discuss placement options for their child.

I have arranged for the Deputy’s request relating to provision for a child in Dublin to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

The NCSE will continue to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to open such new special classes where necessary.

Details of all of the special classes for children with special educational needs which are attached to mainstream schools are published each year on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.

21/04/2015WRX02250Home Tuition Scheme Provision

21/04/2015WRX02300609. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the position regarding home tuition and school placement in respect of a student (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15732/15]

21/04/2015WRX02400Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I wish to advise the Deputy that, further to information provided under Parliamentary Question 158 dated 25th March 2015, no application has been received under the Home Tuition Schemes administered by my De- partment, from the person referred to by the Deputy. As previously stated it is not clear if the pupil in question would qualify for either scheme from the limited information provided by the Deputy.

The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil’s area. The contact details for TUSLA is Educational Welfare Ser- vice, Tusla, Floors 2-5, Brunel Building, Heuston South Quarter, Dublin 8.

21/04/2015WRX02450School Patronage

21/04/2015WRX02500610. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the location, patronage, timeline and proposed opening date of the recently-announced primary school in Greystones, County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15786/15]

21/04/2015WRX02600Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The new primary school for the Greystones/Delgany school feeder area will open in September 2015.

The patronage determination process to establish who will run the school is at an advanced stage.

A site for permanent accommodation for the school is being actively pursued. Pending a site acquisition, interim temporary accommodation is being arranged in Greystones for the school.

21/04/2015WRX02650School Transport Eligibility

326 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRX02700611. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Par- liamentary Question No. 705 of 15 April 2015 the way she proposes that the child travels to school in view of the fact there is no transport servicing that child’s nearest school and the child’s parents cannot afford private transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15800/15]

21/04/2015WRX02800Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Damien English): Under the terms of my Department’s Primary School Transport Scheme, a child who is eligible for school transport but for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements.

While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is determined to the nearest school, having regard for ethos and language.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on existing services and payment of the annual charge of €100 which can be paid in two instal- ments in July and December.

21/04/2015WRX02850Teacher Recruitment

21/04/2015WRX02900612. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will issue a statement to all boards of management of primary and secondary schools regarding the practice of employing retired teachers on a short-term basis, when there is a significant problem with the number of unemployed teachers who are unable to secure permanent or long-term contract positions; if she will clarify the situation in connection with the legal role of her Department in these contracts of employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15824/15]

21/04/2015WRX03000Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012, provides that the appointment, suspension and dismissal of teachers are the responsibility of Boards of Management of recognised schools.

The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the Managerial Authorities of Primary and Post Primary schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts. While it is schools that employ teachers my Department has issued a number of Circulars addressing this issue in recent years.

Under these Circulars School Principals must maintain a list of unemployed registered teachers who are available for substitute work at short notice and report to the Board of Man- agement on any exceptional occasion where they have had to engage a registered teacher who is retired. Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for the recruitment of teachers, prioritiz- ing registered teachers over retired registered teachers and unregistered people.

A retired teacher who returns to teaching on or after 1 February 2012 will commence at the first point of the incremental salary scale (i.e. the lowest point or starting salary for teachers). Incremental credit for service prior to 1 February 2012, qualification allowances and certain job role allowances are also not payable. This measure represents a significant financial disincen- tive for teachers who retired at the top of their salary scale, often with a post of responsibility allowance, to return to teaching.

327 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRX03050Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRX03100613. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16051/15]

21/04/2015WRX03200Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The information available in my Department in relation to teachers and special need assistants is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.

21/04/2015WRX03250Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRX03300614. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the total value of public sector pensions in payment and the average public sector pension in 2014 under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16061/15]

21/04/2015WRX03400Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The information available in my Department in relation to teachers and special need assistants is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.

21/04/2015WRX03450Homeless Accommodation Provision

21/04/2015WRX03500615. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to explain the reason there were 40 families awaiting access to emergency family accommodation at the beginning of March 2015 and why on 30 March 2015 there were still 40 families awaiting access to emergency family accommodation; and the action he is taking, in April 2015, to allocate appropriate provisions to Dublin City Council in order that the council can provide emergency accommodation to these families, while they are awaiting housing provision. [15160/15]

21/04/2015WRX03600Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. In accordance with section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities and I have no function in the matter.

My Department does not fund any homeless accommodation or service directly but provides funding to lead housing authorities on a regional basis. Housing authorities also contribute to the funding costs for their areas from their own resources. In 2014, my Department provided €35.3 million in Exchequer funding to Dublin City Council, as the lead authority for the Dublin Region, towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 arrangements. The 2015 regional allocations are currently being finalised with a view to their confirmation shortly.

21/04/2015WRX03650Irish Water Establishment

21/04/2015WRX03700616. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Lo-

328 21 April 2015 cal Government when the Central Statistics Office finalised its report with regard to the sector classification of Irish Water in the national accounts and submitted it to EUROSTAT; when a final response is expected from EUROSTAT on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15164/15]

21/04/2015WRX03800Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): A key component of the strategy to establish Irish Water is that Irish Water will be classified as a Market Corporation under Eurostat rules and as a result, will not, other than in relation to Government support, be included in the calculation of the General Government Balance. The Government remains confident that Irish Water will pass the Market Corporation Test.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for engagement with Eurostat on such matters, and my Department has engaged with that office and has provided the necessary information to facilitate this work. The CSO has confirmed that a classification proposal on Irish Water is currently with Eurostat. The CSO has further stated that this is a closed process and that it is awaiting the final adjudication by EUROSTAT.

21/04/2015WRY00150Private Residential Tenancies Board Remit

21/04/2015WRY00200617. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the protection of tenants from the actions of unscrupulous landlords, in the current Residential Tenancies Act (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15522/15]

21/04/2015WRY00300Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Paudie Coffey): The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord- tenant relationship in the private rented sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants relating to, inter-alia, security of tenure, termination of tenancies, rent and rent reviews. The 2004 Act provides that rents may not be greater than the open market rate and may only be reviewed upward or downward once a year unless there has been a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation that warrants a review. Tenants must be given 28 days’ notice of new rent and can make an application for dispute resolution to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) where they feel the rent increase is in excess of the market rent. These provisions have effect notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in a lease or tenancy agreement. The PRTB, as an independent statutory body, will adjudicate each dispute on its own facts and merits and may grant redress and give specific direction as appropriate on foot of a determination. In May 2013, the PRTB launched a national rent index available at http://www.prtb.ie/landlords/rent-index-dec-2014. Compiled by the Economic and Social Re- search Institute and based on the PRTB’s own register of over 300,000 tenancies, this valuable source of information indicates the actual rents being paid for rented properties throughout the State. The rent index is updated quarterly and shows the percentage change in rents over the previous quarter and over the previous twelve months.

Security of tenure under the 2004 Act is based on rolling four-year tenancy cycles. Where a tenant has been in occupation of a dwelling for a continuous period of 6 months and no notice of termination has been served in respect of that tenancy before the expiry of the period of 6 months, the tenancy is established for the remainder of the four year period. This is referred to in the Act as a ‘Part 4’ tenancy. Landlords and tenants may not contract out of any of the provisions of Part 4 of the Residential Tenancies Act and no lease, tenancy agreement, contract or other agreement may operate to vary or modify the provisions of Part 4 of the Act.

A landlord may not serve a notice of termination except in very clearly defined circum- 329 Questions - Written Answers stances set out in the Act, such as a failure by the tenant to comply with his or her obligations in relation to the tenancy or where the landlord intends to sell the dwelling. Notice periods for the termination of a tenancy by the landlord vary depending on the duration of the tenancy but periods of up to 112 days are provided for under section 66 of the Act. Where there is a dispute regarding the validity of a notice of termination, the dispute may be referred to the PRTB for resolution.

Section 86(1) of the 2004 Act provides that pending the determination of a dispute that has been referred to the Board, the rent payable under the tenancy continues to be payable and, if the dispute relates to the amount of rent payable, no increase in the amount of the rent may be made. This does not apply if, where awaiting the outcome of the dispute case, the parties agree to payment of the rent being suspended or if they agree to an increase in the amount of the rent being made. Subject to section 86(2), section 86(1) also provides that a termination of the tenancy concerned may not be effected pending the determination of a dispute.

Section 14 of the Act provides that a landlord of a dwelling shall not penalise a tenant for referring any dispute between the tenant and the landlord to the Board for resolution. For the purpose of the Act, a tenant is penalised if the tenant is subjected to any action that adversely affects his or her enjoying peaceful occupation of the dwelling concerned. An action may constitute penalisation even though it consists of steps taken by the landlord in the exercise of his or her rights under the 2004 Act.

21/04/2015WRY00350Water Charges Introduction

21/04/2015WRY00400618. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15570/15]

21/04/2015WRY00500Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): The overall package of measures on Irish Water financing announced by Government last November is designed to make water charges more affordable for customers. The charges structure was revised with a view to making it simpler and fairer, providing more clarity and certainty to households. The overall cost for those who register with Irish Water, net of the €100 water conservation grant, is either €1.15 a week for single adult households or €3 a week for all others. Water supply will not be reduced under any circumstance.

When it comes to payment, a range of easy pay options are in place, including direct debits, electronic funds transfer, payment by cash at any retail outlet with a paypoint or payzone sign or a post office where a bill can be paid in full or part payments of a minimum of €5 can be made. Irish Water also intends participating in the Household Budget scheme. This facility, operated by An Post on behalf of the Department of Social Protection, provides customers with a facility to have their household utility bills and social housing rents deducted directly from their weekly social welfare payment.

The Government intends to bring forward legislation to enhance the collectability of domestic water charges, building on the approach set out in the Water Services Act 2014. Further details on the modalities involved will be available on publication of the draft legislation following Government approval.

21/04/2015WRY00550Housing Assistance Payments Implementation

330 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRY00600619. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the housing assistance payment scheme will become operational in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15802/15]

21/04/2015WRY00700Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 , which I published on 26 November 2014. The HAP scheme will bring all social housing supports provided by the State under the aegis of local authorities. The scheme will remove a barrier to employment by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if they gain full-time employment. HAP will also improve regulation of the rented accommodation being supported and provide certainty for landlords as regards their rental income.

Further to the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 on 28 July 2014, the first phase of the HAP statutory pilot commenced with effect from 15 September 2014 in Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Cork County Council. HAP commenced in Louth, Kilkenny, South Dublin and Monaghan County Councils from 1 October. Subsequently, on 18 December, Dublin City Council became part of the statutory HAP pilot, with a specific focus on accommodating homeless households. Dublin City Council is implementing the HAP pilot for homeless households in the Dublin region on behalf of all 4 Dublin local authorities.

There are now over 1,500 households in receipt of HAP across the local authority areas taking part in the statutory pilot scheme.

During the legislation’s passage through the Oireachtas in July 2014 an undertaking was given that a report would be prepared for the relevant Oireachtas Committee. Data for this report is being gathered from pilot sites and a progress report will be submitted to the Oireach- tas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht shortly. Based on data gathered for the review, consideration is currently being given to the sequencing of a further cohort of local authorities to commence HAP as part of the pilot on an incremental basis this year. While no implementation date has yet been agreed, my Department is in contact with Mayo County Council in relation to their inclusion in the next phase of HAP statutory pilot.

21/04/2015WRY00750Wind Energy Generation

21/04/2015WRY00800620. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Lo- cal Government his views that it is appropriate that An Bord Pleanála has allowed a company (details supplied) to overlook the regular planning process, and bypass both Kildare and Meath County Councils, in an attempt to push through the Maighne industrial wind farm project. [15157/15]

21/04/2015WRY00900Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Paudie Coffey): I understand the matter referred to by the Deputy is the decision by An Bord Pleanála, under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, that the proposed windfarm development in question satisfies the condition referred to in section 37A(2) of the Act and that consequently a planning application in respect of the project will be made to An Bord Pleanála and not to the local planning authority.

The condition in section 37A(2) is that following consultations under section 37B with a person who proposes to apply for permission for an infrastructure development specified in the Seventh Schedule to the Act, An Bord Pleanála is of the opinion that the proposed development

331 Questions - Written Answers would, if carried out, fall within one or more of the following:

(a) the development would be of strategic economic or social importance to the State or the region in which it would be situate,

(b) the development would contribute substantially to the fulfilment of any of the objectives in the National Spatial Strategy or in any regional spatial and economic strategy in force in respect of the area or areas in which it would be situate,

Decisions in relation to these provisions are entirely a matter for An Bord Pleanála and I have no function in this matter.

21/04/2015WRY00950Social and Affordable Housing Provision

21/04/2015WRY01000621. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with respect to the 27,000 homes managed by approved housing bodies, if he will provide a breakdown of these tenancies, by type, including rental accommodation scheme, long-term leased, and directly owned by the housing body. [15244/15]

21/04/2015WRY01100Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kelly): According to the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH), the national federation of non-profit housing associations, its’ associations manage up to 27,000 homes for families and vulnerable groups. Further details are available on the ICSH website: http://www.icsh.ie/content/book/about-icsh/about-icsh.

Under my Department’s two main capital schemes which support the acquisition and development of social housing units by approved housing bodies, namely the Capital Assistance Scheme and the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme, almost 26,000 units of accommodation have been funded up to the end of 2014. These units are now owned and managed by the approved housing bodies.

To the end of March 2015, under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme, previously known as the Social Housing Leasing Initiative, almost 1,500 places were sourced by approved housing bodies under the programme’s various delivery mechanisms. In addition over 2,000 unsold affordable (USA) housing units are being managed by approved housing bodies. A breakdown of these by type is shown in the table below.

Delivery mechanism Housing Units AHB-Owned 781 AHB-Leased 407 NAMA-SPV Owned 271 Unsold Affordables-AHB-Managed 2,074 Total 3,533 Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme, some tenants of AHB’s in properties funded through the Capital Assistance Scheme are eligible for a payment under RAS where they would have been eligible for a rent supplement payment. To the end of February 2015, there were almost 6,700 households in AHB managed units whose payment had transferred to RAS from rent supplement since the inception of the scheme.

332 21 April 2015 My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics which are available on the Department’s website at:http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Statistic- sandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls.

21/04/2015WRY01150Irish Water Funding

21/04/2015WRY01200622. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of Irish Water’s loans from banks for 2015, and any new applications for loans. [15246/15]

21/04/2015WRY01300Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): Irish Water has a €300m loan from the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) at an annual interest rate of 2.5%. There is no security for this loan but the loan is guaranteed by the Minister for Finance, for which a separate guarantee fee is payable.

Irish Water has put in place facilities with commercial banks in the amount of €400m. Fur- ther facilities of some €200m are at an advanced stage of negotiation.

21/04/2015WRY01350Rental Accommodation Scheme Expenditure

21/04/2015WRY01400623. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the cost to the State from the rental accommodation scheme and the long-term leasing initiative for the years 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2013. [15248/15]

21/04/2015WRY01500Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): Since the inception of the Rental Accommodation Scheme in 2004, expenditure up to the end of 2014 has totalled €776.7 million. The following table sets out the annual expenditure for the years requested:

Year Annual Expenditure 2005 €723,281 2008 €53,025,430 2011 €115,917,365 2013 €130,886,608 Recoupment made to local authorities under the RAS covers not only the contracted rents due to private landlords but also, inter alia, payments that are made to Voluntary Housing Bod- ies, administration costs and deposits on newly acquired accommodation.

Since the inception of the Leasing Initiative in 2009, expenditure up to the end of 2014 has totalled €119.4 million. The following table sets out the annual expenditure for the years requested:

Year Annual Expenditure 2005 €0 2008 € 0 2011 € 14 , 219 ,3 14 2013 € 32 , 405 , 782 Recoupment made to local authorities under the Leasing initiative covers the cost of units

333 Questions - Written Answers acquired by Local Authorities under leases and rental arrangements, units constructed, purchased or leased by Approved Housing Bodies and made available for social housing use and unsold affordable units in social housing use. In addition, administration costs, deposits on newly acquired accommodation and capital advances to Approved Housing Bodies are included in this expenditure.

21/04/2015WRY01550Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists

21/04/2015WRY01600624. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households currently on local authority housing waiting lists; and the number of these households which are currently in receipt of rent supplement. [15252/15]

21/04/2015WRY01700Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kelly): The latest summary of social housing assessments, which was carried out as of 7 May 2013, showed that there were 89,872 households on local authority waiting lists at that date. Of this figure, 42,109 households, or 47% of the total, were in private rented accommodation and in receipt of rent supplement. The full 2013 results are available on my Depart- ment’s website at:http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/ FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.

In order to ensure that the most up to date and comprehensive data is available on an ongoing basis, relating to the numbers applying for social housing support, the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020, published in November 2014, includes a number of actions to standardise assessment and increase the regularity of assessments including undertaking the summary of social housing assessments on an annual basis from 2016 onwards.

21/04/2015WRY01750Leader Programmes Funding

21/04/2015WRY01800625. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of Leader funding that was spent in County Mayo under the rural development programme in the years 2007 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15300/15]

21/04/2015WRY01900Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Ann Phelan): South West Mayo Development Company and Mayo North East LEADER Partnership are the two main local development companies contracted by my Department to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007- 2013 in County Mayo.

In addition, the Mayo gaeltacht areas were formerly serviced by Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, which liquidated in 2011. On foot of this, South West Mayo LEADER Company and Mayo North East LEADER Partnership took responsibility for delivery of the programme in gaeltacht areas. It should also be noted that the Mayo non gaeltacht islands are serviced by Comhar na nOileán. The table below sets out the total funding available to County Mayo under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

Local Development Company Funding Mayo North LEADER Partnership €9,663,562 South West Mayo Development €10,820,318

334 21 April 2015 Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (Mayo €267,213 element) Comhar na nOile á n (Mayo element) €527,082 Total €21,278,175

21/04/2015WRY01950Private Residential Tenancies Board Remit

21/04/2015WRY02000626. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Lo- cal Government if a list or other form of appropriate screening process is available to landlords or letting agents of tenants, who have engaged in serious anti-social activity and have a Private Residential Tenancies Board judgment registered in respect of this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15332/15]

21/04/2015WRY02100Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Paudie Coffey): The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord- tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector. The Act sets out the obligations of tenants and landlords and the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) is the independent statutory body charged with the administration of the Act and the enforcement of those obligations, as necessary.

The PRTB publishes the outcomes of adjudications and tribunal hearings on its website at http://www.prtb.ie/dispute-resolution/disputes/adjudication-orders/2014. This includes a description of the subject matter under dispute (such as anti-social behaviour) and the identity of the party or parties to a dispute.

21/04/2015WRY02150Regeneration Projects Funding

21/04/2015WRY02200627. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the total allocation of funding to be provided by his Department to each regeneration project in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15350/15]

21/04/2015WRY02300Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): An indicative allocation of €15m recently issued to Dublin City Council in respect of their 2015 Regeneration Work Programme.

My Department is currently engaging with the relevant local authorities to agree 2015 Work Programmes and allocations for each of the remaining regeneration projects. It is expected that this pro cess will be concluded shortly.

21/04/2015WRY02350Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

21/04/2015WRY02400628. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a new tenant purchase scheme will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15353/15]

21/04/2015WRY02500631. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a new tenant purchase scheme will become operational; the way the discount on the market value of the property will be calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15414/15] 335 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRY02600634. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if consideration will be given to the introduction of a new tenant purchase scheme for local authority tenants; if further consideration will be given to the extension of such a scheme to include tenants in voluntary housing schemes such as Respond and Cluid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15500/15]

21/04/2015WRY02700Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): I propose to take Questions Nos. 628, 631 and 634 together.

Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines. The Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020 includes a commitment to make the Regulations necessary for its introduction in the second quarter of 2015.

The scheme will operate along the lines of the incremental purchase model currently operating for local authority apartments and certain new local authority houses, which involve discounts for purchasers linked to household income. The discount will be applied to the purchase price of the house to be determined by the local authority in accordance with the method to be prescribed in Regulations. I intend to relate the purchase price of the house to its market value with replacement costs also being taken into account.

Full details of the scheme , including the income related discounts available to tenant purchasers , will be set out in Regulations that I will make in advance of its introduction.

In the case of approved housing bodies (AHBs), they provide social housing support in conjunction with local authorities through various capital funding schemes underpinned by mortgages and are the de facto owners of these properties. My Department cannot unilaterally make provision for their sale to tenants. Any such decision would have to involve the AHB concerned and have regard to the mortgage on the property.

Section 45 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 does provide for the sale by housing authorities and AHBs of designated new houses to eligible households, subject to specified terms and conditions. However, any such sales would have to be done in consultation with AHBs. There are currently no proposals or plans for a tenant purchase scheme in relation to existing AHB houses.

21/04/2015WRY02750Local Authority Housing Mortgages

21/04/2015WRY02800629. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason there are differences in the rate required in securing council mortgages throughout the country, that Kildare County Council and Kilkenny County Council both require 3%, but Laois County Council requires 10%; and if he will correlate the rates in each county council. [15367/15]

21/04/2015WRY02900Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Paudie Coffey): The terms and conditions governing the operation of standard annuity mortgages provided by local authorities to qualifying first time buyers are set out most recently in the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012. These are available on my Department’s website at the following weblink : http://www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/ DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/.

The Regulations prescribe that the amount of a loan shall not exceed €200,000 or 97% of the value of the house, whichever is the lesser. Accordingly, loan applicants must pay upfront a 336 21 April 2015 minimum of 3% of the purchase price of their home.

In 2009, a Credit Policy was issued, in accordance with the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2009, to all housing authorities. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with this statutory Credit Policy in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches.

All applicants must complete a housing loan application form which can be downloaded from the relevant local authority’s website. As part of the loan application procedure, the Hous- ing Agency provides an underwriting and support service to all local authorities. This shared central service processes loan applications, carries out credit checks and issues a recommendation to the local authority on each loan application in accordance with the credit policy. The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its credit committee on a case-by-case basis. Accordingly, the local authority issues the loan and the Housing Agency provides an underwriting and support service to the local authority during the loan application process.

21/04/2015WRY02950Approved Housing Bodies

21/04/2015WRY03000630. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way Deputies may become directors of housing associations; and the procedure involved. [15368/15]

21/04/2015WRY03100Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kelly): Section 6(6) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 makes provision to grant approved housing body (AHB) status to housing associations. AHBs consist mainly of voluntary or co-operative organisations limited by guarantee and registered under the Compa- nies Acts; societies registered under the Industrial & Provident Societies Acts; and/or Trusts incorporated under the Charities Acts. The appointment of directors to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) is a matter for the Boards of such bodies and I have no role in relation to such appointments.

Question No. 631 answered with Question No. 628.

21/04/2015WRY03175Urban Renewal Schemes

21/04/2015WRY03200632. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which any examination has been carried out of major suspended developments of town centres, such as Naas in County Kildare, with a view to identifying the best means to move the projects forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15486/15]

21/04/2015WRY03300633. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which a review has been carried out of various development projects interrupted or suspended at the time of the banking collapse and economic downturn, such as the Naas town centre development in County Kildare, with a view to identifying the various issues impeding the conclusion of such developments; if steps will be taken to address the issues in question with a view to progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15487/15]

21/04/2015WRY03400Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov-

337 Questions - Written Answers ernment (Deputy Paudie Coffey): I propose to take Questions Nos. 632 and 633 together.

The downturn in economic activity associated with the recession has resulted in significant numbers of shop closures and vacant units in town centres throughout the country. Other factors, such as upward only rent reviews, parking charges, rising energy costs and on-line trading, have also been cited as factors affecting the viability of small and medium-sized businesses in the retail sector.

To help address this issue, a number of initiatives have been taken by my Department in recent years, as follows:

- local authorities were requested to exercise restraint, or where possible, to reduce commercial rates and local charges to assist local businesses in the current economic climate – the vast majority of local authorities have responded positively to this request,

- revised development contribution guidelines were introduced in January 2013 requesting planning authorities to put in place reduced development contributions to support town centre development and incentivise activity in the areas prioritised for development in the relevant core strategy,

- the publication of new guidelines on retail planning in April 2012 aimed at promoting and supporting the vitality and viability of city and town centres. These guidelines retained the previous caps on store size in less populated and smaller towns, and were aimed at striking the right balance to ensure that local monopolies are not created in smaller towns which would be detrimental to competition.

In terms of Government action other than by my Department in providing assistance to retail businesses and stimulating economic activity in local communities, a number of measures have been introduced since 2011, including –

- the introduction of the 9% rate of VAT on certain goods and services,

- the halving of the lower rate of employers’ PRSI,

- the introduction of the Microenterprise Loan Scheme and Credit Guarantee Scheme, both of which schemes have had take-up from the retail sector, and

- the extension of seed capital and the employment and investment incentive scheme to the retail sector.

My Department remains committed to working with other Government Departments, with local government and with other community development and enterprise stakeholders with a view to providing a clear framework for addressing urban centre decline and its impacts on the retail sector, and will continue to explore all relevant options for further action in this regard.

Furthermore, Ireland has been allocated €1.2 billion of Structural Funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF) for the period 2014 – 2020. The new ERDF regulation requires an increased focus on sustainable urban development and urban regeneration. In its Partnership Agreement with the European Commission on the new ERDF regulation, the Government has agreed that an urban development fund with a total value of €80million will be available over the duration of the programme. Local authorities will be invited to bid for this ERDF support for projects that will contribute to the social, economic and environmental development of their urban areas. The first call for proposals will be made shortly, and it will be a matter for the local authorities to nominate appropriate projects for such funding.

338 21 April 2015 Question No. 634 answered with Question No. 628.

21/04/2015WRY03475Irish Water Funding

21/04/2015WRY03500635. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the status of the loans taken on by Irish Water; if these loans are counted as part of the national debt or if they are now separate from, and no longer constituting part of, the State’s national debt; the way these loans are now classified by EURO- STAT, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15523/15]

21/04/2015WRY03600Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): A key component of the strategy to establish Irish Water is that Irish Water will be classified as a Market Corporation under EUROSTAT rules and as a result, will not, other than in relation to Government support, be included in the calculation of the General Government Balance. The Government remains confident that Irish Water will pass the Market Corporation Test.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for engagement with EUROSTAT on such matters, and my Department has engaged with that office and has provided the necessary information to facilitate this work. The CSO has confirmed that a classification proposal on Irish Water is currently with EUROSTAT. The CSO has further stated that this is a closed process and that it is awaiting the final adjudication by EUROSTAT.

21/04/2015WRZ00200Local Authority Expenditure

21/04/2015WRZ00300636. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the chief executive of Sligo County Council has recommended that the council provide financial assistance of €45,000 to Ireland West Airport Knock in County Mayo; if his Department plans to provide matching funds for the airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15534/15]

21/04/2015WRZ00400Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority.

It is not my intention to provide matching funding as outlined in the Question as I have no function in relation to this matter. Matters relating to airports are the responsibility of the Min- ister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

21/04/2015WRZ00500Housing Issues

21/04/2015WRZ00600637. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the problems associated with banks appointing receivers to re- possess the rental property of landlords who are no longer able to afford mortgage repayments, with the consequence that existing tenants are displaced from their home, if consideration has been given to instructing banks to appoint rent receivers in order that tenants can remain in situ in such cases. [15541/15]

339 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRZ00700Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Paudie Coffey): The grounds upon which a tenancy in the private rented sector may be legally terminated are set out in the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The Act sets out the procedures and notice periods that must be complied with when terminating a tenancy and these apply whether or not a receiver is in place. While the circumstances of each case may vary depending on the terms of the mortgage or charge under which a receiver is appointed, the appointment of a receiver cannot affect the statutory or contractual rights of tenants under the Act.

In 2013 the Irish Banking Federation (IBF) published a guide to receivership for residential tenants. The guide explains that where a receiver is appointed to a rented residential property, the rent should be paid directly to the receiver and that a receipt should be given by the receiver to the tenant. The guide also advises tenants to contact the receiver in the first instance regarding requests for repairs to the property. This guide is a useful contribution to a clearer understanding of the relationship between receivers and residential tenants.

Through the Residential Tenancies (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill which is currently before the Oireachtas, I intend to introduce an amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act that will help to bring greater clarity in this area and will be of benefit to tenants and receivers alike. This will provide that where a person is appointed as a receiver to carry out the functions and exercise the powers of a landlord under a tenancy, that person will be considered to be the landlord for the purposes of the 2004 Act.

The appointment of a receiver and decisions around the type of receiver to be appointed are commercial matters for the bank or financial institution concerned and it would not be appropriate to interfere in that process.

21/04/2015WRZ00800Harbours and Piers Maintenance

21/04/2015WRZ00900638. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that Sligo County Council intends to carry out dredging at the channel to Sligo Harbour; that his Department has granted a foreshore licence to the council for the dredging works; that the council must now submit an application to the Environmental Protec- tion Agency for a dumping at sea licence; that the council executive has indicated that the local authority may not have the €12,000 fee to cover the cost of the dumping at sea licence application; if consideration will be given to providing financial assistance to Sligo County Council to allow it to proceed to submit the application for the dumping at sea licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15545/15]

21/04/2015WRZ01000Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Paudie Coffey): The application for a foreshore licence from Sligo County Council for dredging at Sligo Harbour was granted approval in principle on 20 May 2014. The Chief State Solicitor’s Office is currently preparing the requisite legal documentation. It is a matter for any party that wishes to engage in dredging activity to ensure that they obtain the necessary consents, including a Dumping at Sea permit from the EPA.

It is the responsibility for each local authority, including Sligo County Council, to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the annual budget and authorising borrowing, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority. 340 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRZ01100Constitutional Convention Recommendations

21/04/2015WRZ01200639. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the recommendation from the Constitutional Conven- tion on voting rights in presidential elections for citizens outside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12774/15]

21/04/2015WRZ01300Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): The Convention on the Constitution recommended that citizens resident outside the State should have the right to vote in Presidential elections. In considering a response to this recommendation the Government decided that it would be necessary to analyse the full range of issue that would arise in any significant extension of the franchise, before any decision could be made on the holding of a referendum. In ‘Global Irish – Ireland’s Diaspora Policy’, launched on 3 March 2015, the Government acknowledged that such an extension of the franchise would be welcomed by many in the diaspora. However, the Government also acknowledged that it would be challenging to introduce and to manage, and that a range of issues would arise for analysis in that context, including policy, legal and practical issues. I will be undertaking the necessary analysis in co-operation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister for Diaspora Affairs.

21/04/2015WRZ01400Departmental Records

21/04/2015WRZ01500640. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Lo- cal Government the position regarding ending the practice of not keeping a record of ministerial involvement in an issue and the resulting decisions made in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12699/15]

21/04/2015WRZ01600Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kelly): Where a meeting that takes place involves simply a briefing on issues, it may only be necessary to maintain a record of the meeting having taken place, with progress on the various issues being pursued through separate working arrangements. Minutes are kept of meetings of the Management Advisory Committee of my Department and of meetings of that Committee with myself and the Ministers of State. All key policy decisions are subject to Ministerial and/ or Government approval, supported by appropriate records and documentation.

21/04/2015WRZ01700Broadband Service Provision

21/04/2015WRZ01800641. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide background information surrounding pilot projects taking place nationally between Leader companies associated with next-generation access broadband coverage in partnership with a Chinese broadband company (details supplied); if any State or European Union funding has been allocated towards these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15574/15]

21/04/2015WRZ01900Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Ann Phelan): I understand that the projects referred to by the Deputy, which are being brought forward by local development companies in partnership with the Chinese company referred to in the Question, are being brought forward by those local development companies, in their capacity as private limited companies. I am advised that no LEADER funding or other public funding has been allocated to these projects.

341 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRZ02000Water and Sewerage Schemes Grants

21/04/2015WRZ02100642. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Lo- cal Government the grant assistance in place to upgrade an existing water well. [15584/15]

21/04/2015WRZ02200Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): A grant of €2,031.58 per house or 75% of the cost, whichever is the lesser, is available, under my Department’s Rural Water Programme, towards the provision or necessary improvement of an individual water supply in a house. Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The approval of individual grant applications, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant scheme, is therefore, a matter for the local authorities.

21/04/2015WRZ02300Water Charges Administration

21/04/2015WRZ02400643. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding water and property charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15605/15]

21/04/2015WRZ02500Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The introduction of domestic water charges is an important element of the funding model and is necessary to drive increased investment in water services infrastructure.

A new water charging regime was announced by the Government on 19 November 2014. The capped annual charges will be €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households until the end of 2018. All households will know what their capped bills will be until the end of 2018, which is particularly important for larger households or those with high usage due to medical needs.

In addition, a water conservation grant of €100 per year will be available to qualifying households. The Department of Social Protection will administer the grant on behalf of my Department, which will be available to households (principal private dwellings) that complete a valid response to Irish Water’s customer registration process.

The charges structure was revised with a view to making it simpler and fairer, providing more clarity and certainty to households. The overall cost for those who register with Irish Wa- ter, net of the €100 water conservation grant, is either €1.15 a week for single adult households or €3 a week for all others. Water supply will not be reduced under any circumstance.

Local Property Tax is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance, and the Revenue Commissioners.

21/04/2015WRZ02600Seniors Alert Scheme

21/04/2015WRZ02700644. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Lo- cal Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 176, 178, 179, 180 and 182 of 1 April 2015 in which he stated that his Department undertook to consider new approaches to the senior alert scheme in 2014, decided that the scheme would be managed by Pobal and, in view of the fact that the market for the equipment was well established, decided it was neither necessary 342 21 April 2015 nor appropriate to engage in consultations with the market, prior to the tender process, if he will address the broader issue of consultation held in respect of these proposed changes to the senior alert scheme in 2014, rather than the specific issues of Pobal’s role or the consultations held on the tendering process; if community or voluntary groups were consulted on the new approaches originally considered in 2014; if An Garda Síochána was consulted regarding them; the feedback received from these organisations regarding the original proposed changes to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15610/15]

21/04/2015WRZ02800Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Ann Phelan): My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.

Following a review in 2010 of the Community Support for Older People (CSOP), the fore- runner for the Seniors Alert Scheme, one of the recommendations was that a centralised procurement process would simplify the scheme. By decreasing the level of administration for groups, this would allow them to spend more time on the key aim of the scheme, which is enhanced interaction with older persons and would also achieve value for money through economies of scale. As a result, more people could benefit from the scheme or additional equipment, such as smoke detectors and/or carbon monoxide alarms, could be made available through the scheme. Community and Voluntary Groups and An Garda Síochána contributed to the review and a number of national organisations including Age Action Ireland, Irish Rural Link, Irish Senior Citizen’s Parliament, Muintir na Tíre, The Carers Association and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, assisted with the terms of reference for the review.

My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and arising from this, it was decided that the scheme be managed by Pobal, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.

Pobal’s management and administrative services for the Scheme included an invitation to tender for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, which was publicly advertised on eTenders on 20 October 2014. The tender included a requirement for suppliers to set out their value added services. The tender process, which is being led by Pobal, is almost complete. Following on from this, a panel of regional suppliers will be contracted to provide the equipment within specific regional areas. The tender was broken down into 10 regional lots to ensure that SMEs were not disadvantaged due to excessively large lot sizes.

A monitoring services panel was also advertised via eTenders on 6 November 2014. This process will engage a panel of quality checked monitoring suppliers who will outline the costs they charge and the service they provide. This information will be provided to the community groups and individuals to ensure they can make the best choice in relation to the monitoring services supplier. The use of this panel is voluntary; monitoring costs are not grant-aided and have always been the responsibility of the beneficiary. The older person will continue to be responsible for choosing the monitoring supplier of their choice.

The transfer of the operation of the scheme to Pobal is scheduled for completion by end July 2015; the strategic policy direction of the Scheme will remain my Department’s responsibility. In the meantime, community and voluntary groups wishing to draw down grant support under the Seniors Alert Scheme should continue to apply to my Department in the usual way.

343 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRZ02900Local Authority Staff

21/04/2015WRZ03000645. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that the trade unions representing staff of Sligo County Council have indicated a wish to see a fair and negotiated resolution in respect of the regularisation of acting posts in the council; that the unions have stated acting posts should be regularised by confined competition and that all posts of senior executive officer and above should be filled by the Pub- lic Appointments Service; if his Department will request local authorities to ensure that acting posts are regularised by confined competition and that all posts of senior executive officer and above will be filled by the Public Appointments Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15629/15]

21/04/2015WRZ03100Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. Within each local authority, management have engaged in a workforce planning exercise and whilst this has been finalised in a number of local authorities there continues to be on-going engagement in relation to a number of other local authorities.

My Department is committed to examining the regularisation of long-term acting positions in the context of workforce planning.

With regard to the filling of posts of Senior Executive Officer and above, agreement is in place at national level with trade unions and if there is a requirement to fill such posts in Sligo County Council it will be carried out in accordance with the procedures applying to the sector as a whole.

21/04/2015WRZ03200Local Authority Funding

21/04/2015WRZ03300646. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Lo- cal Government if the 2015 allocation for housing adaptation grants has been made to local authorities; if his attention has been drawn to the significant backlog of applications in local authority areas, in particular at priority one level, at which applications have been approved but cannot currently progress due to insufficient funding being available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15650/15]

21/04/2015WRZ03400Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): Exchequer funding of over €37 million was provided by my Department to local authorities in 2014 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Com- bined with an additional 20% contribution by individual local authorities, there was an overall spend last year of €46.3 million in this area. I am pleased to confirm that the 2015 amount will increase by some 10% to give a combined spend of €50.5 million. The 2015 allocations are currently under consideration in my Department and will issue to local authorities very shortly.

Through careful management of my Department’s housing budget in 2014, additional funds were made available to local authorities with high levels of grant activity under this scheme. The same scrutiny will be applied to the capital budget for 2015 and, in the event of savings arising, opportunities will be examined to reallocate funds accordingly.

21/04/2015WRZ03500Social and Affordable Housing Provision 344 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRZ03600647. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Commu- nity and Local Government the process and criteria employed to decide the county, council by county, and council allocation from the social housing fund announced on 1 April 2015; the reason for the significant inter-county / council variation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15746/15]

21/04/2015WRZ03700655. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he accepts that he provided misleading information regarding the percentage impact on local housing waiting lists of the new housing targets for each local authority on 1 April 2015 at the launch of the social housing targets for local authorities to 2017. [15755/15]

21/04/2015WRZ03800656. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has instructed his Department to review the figures he gave for the percentage impact on local housing list numbers of the new build figures for social housing units that he provided on 1 April 2015 at the launch of the social housing targets for local authorities to 2017. [15756/15]

21/04/2015WRZ03900657. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an up-to-date breakdown of the expected percentage impact on local housing waiting lists of the new housing targets for each local authority on 1 April 2015 at the launch of the social housing targets for local authorities to 2017. [15757/15]

21/04/2015WRZ04000Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): I propose to take Questions Nos. 647, 655, 656 and 657 together.

Social housing is a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the increased provision made for the area in Budget 2015. The Social Housing Strategy 2020 targets the supply of 35,000 additional social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion over the next 6 years, as well as meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through local authority provision via the private rented sector, using the Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Schemes.

The overall targets in the Social Housing Strategy were developed having regard to the nature and scale of social housing need, taking account of analysis of the most recent statutory Assessment of Housing Need, which was carried out by the Housing Agency. The social housing targets for each local authority area out to 2017 that I recently announced are fully in line with the targets of the Social Housing Strategy. Targets identified for individual local authorities were determined in consideration of the potential impact that delivery over 2015–2017 would have on social housing need as evidenced by local authority waiting lists recorded in the most recent statutory Assessment of Housing Need. The target setting process also took account of specific housing unit targets and building projects out to 2017 proposed by each local authority.

A key reason for the variation in regard to the impact on local housing lists lies in the variation in the level s of housing need locally. Certain areas have relatively lower numbers on local housing lists, with a consequence that the targets set for such authorities have a relatively high percentage impact on the lists. Conversely, while other authorities have had considerably higher targets set for them, the impact is proportionally not as high given the higher number on the housing lists of those areas. It is the case, however, that the targets that I have announced illustrate once again that housing is of the highest priority for the Government. Ambitious targets have been set for each local authority and they will have a major impact for those on the housing waiting lists, with a national reduction of 25% targeted over the period through these targets alone.

In terms of monitoring progress against these targets into the future, including the impact 345 Questions - Written Answers on housing need, it is important to note that the governance of the Social Housing Strategy includes monitoring and review arrangements. Specifically, a review of the strategy will take place in 2017 to assess overall progress. In addition, we will carry out housing needs assessment s on an annual basis from 2016 which will support the continuous monitoring of social housing delivery against need.

21/04/2015WRZ04100Social and Affordable Housing Provision

21/04/2015WRZ04200648. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to its requests, and in view of the publication of his social housing targets for local authorities, if he plans to meet the housing strategic policy committee of Louth County Council. [15748/15]

21/04/2015WRZ04300649. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of the 35,000 additional units of social housing under the Social Hous- ing Strategy 2020 that will be new units; the proportion that will involve newly built homes, refurbished long-term voids, leasing agreements with private landlords under the rental accommodation scheme or long-term leasing arrangements with landlords or developers. [15749/15]

21/04/2015WRZ04400650. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the number of new social units to be constructed by Louth County Council and Meath County Council year-on-year, under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 and the social housing targets for local authorities. [15750/15]

21/04/2015WRZ04500651. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the number of new social units to be constructed by private developers year-on-year in County Louth and County Meath, under the Social Hous- ing Strategy 2020 and the social housing targets for local authorities. [15751/15]

21/04/2015WRZ04600652. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the number of new social units to be constructed by public-private partnerships for County Louth and County Meath year-on-year, under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 and the social housing targets for local authorities. [15752/15]

21/04/2015WRZ04700653. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of the 778 additional units of social housing to be provided in County Louth under the social housing targets for local authorities that will be new units; the proportion that will involve newly built homes, refurbished long-term voids, leasing agreements with private landlords under the rental accommodation scheme or long-term leasing arrangements with landlords or developers. [15753/15]

21/04/2015WRZ04800654. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of the 519 additional units of social housing to be provided in County Meath under the social housing targets for local authorities that will be new units; the proportion that will be newly built homes, refurbished long-term voids, leasing agreements with private landlords under the rental accommodation scheme or long term leasing arrangements with landlords or developers. [15754/15]

21/04/2015WRZ04900658. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the location of planned new housing units to be provided in County Louth. [15758/15]

21/04/2015WRZ05000659. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Lo- 346 21 April 2015 cal Government if he will provide a breakdown of the land banks that have been identified as suitable for the planned new social housing units in counties Louth and Meath; the number of units that will be constructed on each land bank; and the commencement and completion date for each. [15759/15]

21/04/2015WRZ05100660. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of the planned 778 housing units for County Louth that will be constructed on the eight land banks zoned for social housing in the county. [15760/15]

21/04/2015WRZ05200661. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide start and completion dates for proposed new build schemes for social housing units for counties Louth and Meath under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 and the social housing targets for local authorities. [15761/15]

21/04/2015WRZ05300662. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown by local authority of the number of new social units to be constructed by local authorities year on year under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 and the social housing targets for local authorities. [15762/15]

21/04/2015WRZ05400663. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown by local authority of the number of new social units to be constructed by private developers year on year under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 and the social housing targets for local authorities. [15763/15]

21/04/2015WRZ05500664. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown by local authority of the number of new social units to be constructed by public-private partnerships year on year under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 and the social housing targets for local authorities. [15764/15]

21/04/2015WRZ05600665. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if county managers and directors of services in local authorities have been briefed on the implementation of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 and the social housing targets for local authorities; if they have been instructed as to the number of housing units he expects will be provided by newly built homes, refurbished long-term voids, leasing agreements with private landlords under the rental accommodation scheme or long-term leasing arrangements with landlords or developers. [15765/15]

21/04/2015WRZ05800Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 to 654, inclusive, and 658 to 665, inclusive, together.

The Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020 targets the delivery of over 35,000 new social housing units over the period to 2020. These targets are broken down in the Strategy between those that are current-funded, at 23,400 units, and those that are capital-funded, at 12,173 units.

The targets that I recently announced for all local authorities are for the period 2015- 2017 and include 7,483 units that will be capital-funded. These units will include those that will be constructed or acquired by local authorities through various means. Each local authority has responsibility for identifying their area’s social housing need and responding as required, including planning and undertaking new social housing developments to meet this need. Accordingly, the location and specific number of the units to be constructed through local authority managed contracts, the number to be acquired, the number to be constructed by private developers or public-private partnerships, the location of these developments, including land banks to be used, and the specific commencement and completion date for construction projects, are all

347 Questions - Written Answers matters in the first instance for the local authorities concerned.

Under the Social Housing Strategy, the opportunity to bring vacant or boarded-up social housing units back into productive use will continue to be supported, as a common-sense and value for money approach to the delivery of social housing units. The exact breakdown of such units that will be tackled out to 2017 cannot be specified at this point, as assessments of such stock are submitted annually by each local authority and vacant units to be remediated and brought back to use are quantified across all authorities at that point. For 2015, the number of such units targeted for Counties Louth and Meath, respectively, are 9 and 27.

Of the 778 units announced for County Louth for the period 2015 to 2017, a target of 288 units has been set for delivery under capital programmes and 490 units under current programmes. Of the 519 units announced for County Meath, the equivalent figures are 134 units under capital programmes and 385 units under current programmes. These breakdowns have been notified to the local authorities.

The number of additional social housing units that are targeted under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme, previously referred to as the Social Housing Leasing Initia- tive, to 2017 nationally under the Social Housing Strategy is 11,400. The number targeted in respect of Counties Louth and Meath are 443 and 284, respectively. However, it is important to highlight that the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme is a national fund without individual authority funding allocations. Where a local authority can exceed its target it should be possible to fund such additional units with the agreement of the Department.

The number of additional social housing units targeted under the Rental Accommodation Scheme nationally to 2017 under the Social Housing Strategy is 4,000. The number of such units targeted in respect of Counties Louth and Meath are 47 and 101, respectively.

Proposals already made by local authorities for the development of social housing units have been assessed and a first phase of announcements of initial project approvals will be made shortly. We are working with all local authorities to ensure that the projects proposed represent value for money and, in the case of capital-funded projects, are developed in compliance with the Capital Works Management Framework. I will be monitoring progress on delivery of units under the Social Housing Strategy and if satisfactory progress is not being made, I will reallocate funding between local authorities in order that national targets are achieved.

The targets that I announced illustrate once again that housing is of the highest priority for the Government. There are ambitious targets for each local authority and these will have a major impact for those on housing waiting lists, with a national reduction of 25% targeted over the period through these targets alone. I have met with representatives of a number of local authorities in recent months, as has my colleague Minister Coffey, in relation to social housing issues and I will continue that dialogue with other authorities in the months ahead.

Questions Nos. 655 to 657, inclusive, answered with Question No. 647.

Questions Nos. 658 to 665, inclusive, answered with Question No. 648.

21/04/2015WRAA00350Irish Water Administration

21/04/2015WRAA00400666. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the legislation under which the directive was provided to local authorities requir-

348 21 April 2015 ing them to provide the details of their tenants to Irish Water. [15766/15]

21/04/2015WRAA00500667. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the directive provided to local authorities requiring them to notify tenants in respect of their details being provided to Irish Water did not provide for a right of appeal for tenants. [15767/15]

21/04/2015WRAA00600Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): I propose to take Questions Nos. 666 and 667 together.

Under the Water Services Acts 2007-2013, Irish Water has statutory powers to request its customers and certain specified persons or bodies to provide it with information so that the utility can perform its functions under these Acts, including the collection of data to develop its customer database. In particular, section 26 of the Water Services Act 2013 provides Irish Water with the power to obtain information on its customers from other third parties as listed in the section, including a local authority, the Revenue Commissioners, the Private Rented Tenan- cies Board, the Property Services Regulatory Authority, the Local Government Management Agency, the Minister for Social Protection or any other person or body to be prescribed by the Minister.

Irish Water is required to manage all personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. Irish Water has an on-going engagement with the Office of the Data Pro- tection Commissioner which has worked closely with Irish Water to agree the process for the capture, storage and usage of customer data.

21/04/2015WRAA00650Housing Assistance Payments Expenditure

21/04/2015WRAA00700668. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funds to be allocated to the housing assistance payment until 2020 that is new money; and the amount that is money previously allocated to the rent allowance scheme. [15784/15]

21/04/2015WRAA00800Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a new social housing support being introduced by local authorities. HAP will replace Rent Supplement for those with a long-term housing need who qualify for social housing support. The introduction of HAP means that local authorities can now provide housing assistance for households with a long term housing need, including many long term Rent Supplement recipients. Funding for the scheme is provided by a transfer of monies from the Department of Social Protection’s Vote to the Vote of my Department. Mon- ies are provided on an Exchequer neutral basis to meet the costs of persons transferring from the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Rent Supplement Scheme to the HAP scheme.

Voted expenditure in respect of HAP in 2014 amounted to just under €394,000, which was used to meet the cost of HAP payments to landlords, the administration costs of local authorities and the funding of information material on the scheme for dissemination to prospective landlords and tenants. At the end of 2014, 485 households were in receipt of a HAP payment across 7 pilot local authorities.

An Exchequer allocation of €23,200,000 has been made for HAP within my Department’s Vote in 2015. This amount is to meet the cost, primarily, of payments to landlords in respect of an additional 8,400 HAP recipients , as well as the on-going funding commitment associated with the 485 households in receipt of HAP at end 2014. This allocation will also meet the ongoing administration costs of local authorities. There are now some 1,500 households in receipt 349 Questions - Written Answers of the HAP payment across the pilot areas.

It is intended to keep the above arrangements under review as HAP is rolled out to other local authorities including a full review of the statutory pilot phase when complete.

Exchequer allocations for the Rent Supplement Scheme are a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection.

21/04/2015WRAA00850Housing Provision

21/04/2015WRAA00900669. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has undertaken any analysis of the effect on rent increases in the private rental market of the scale of leasing and acquisitions by local authorities required to meet the social housing targets from 2015 to 2017, resulting in a removal of housing units from the private rental market; if he will provide the details of the analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15787/15]

21/04/2015WRAA01000Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Paudie Coffey): The increases in rent that have been taking place in the market over the past two years, particularly in urban centres, are a result of a lack of supply. The implementation of the range of actions under the Government’s Construction 2020 strategy will support increased housing supply. New house completions in 2014 amounted to 11,016 units nationally, up 33% on the 2013 figure. In the third quarter of 2014, planning permissions were granted for 2,144 dwellings, compared with 1,409 units for the same period in 2013 - an increase of 52%.

In addition, the Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of just over 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand.

During the preparation of the Social Housing Strategy, the Housing Agency carried out an analysis of the 89,872 households recorded by local authorities as being in need of social housing as of May 2013. The purpose of the analysis was to determine the minimum number of additional residential units required to meet the needs of those households qualified for social housing support. While there is no specific analysis of the potential impact on rents as a result of leasing and acquisition activity by local authorities per se, the methodology underpinning the calculation of the 35,000 new units required took cognisance of the dynamics in the market as between tenure types.

The methodology used to estimate the number of additional properties required to meet social housing demand can be found on the Housing Agency’s website at: http://www.housing. ie/Housing/media/Media/Publications/Methodology-to-Estimate-New-Property-Requirement- for-Social-Housing.pdf. Further analysis is due to be carried out in 2015.

21/04/2015WRAA01050Wind Energy Guidelines

21/04/2015WRAA01100670. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and

350 21 April 2015 Local Government when revised planning guidelines in respect of wind farms will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15794/15]

21/04/2015WRAA01200Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed:

- The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments,

- A mandatory minimum setback of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations, and

- The complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.

A public consultation process was initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guide- lines, which ran until February 21 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this period.

It is intended that the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised as soon as possible. In this regard, account has to be taken of the extensive response to the public consultation in framing the final guidelines. Further work is also advancing to develop technical appendices to assist planning authorities with the practical application of the noise measurement aspects of the Wind Guidelines.

The revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, when finalised, will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.

21/04/2015WRAA01250Social and Affordable Housing Provision

21/04/2015WRAA01300671. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures his Department is taking to address the social housing crisis in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15555/15]

21/04/2015WRAA01400Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): The Social Housing Strategy targets the delivery of over 35,000 new social housing units over the period to 2020. Building on this, I recently announced ambitious targets for all local authorities out to 2017 which will have a major impact for those on the housing waiting lists, with a national reduction of 25% targeted over the period through these targets alone.

The target I announced in respect of County Tipperary out to 2017 was 832 social housing units, of which 287 units have been targeted for delivery under capital programmes and 545 units under current programmes. This breakdown has been notified to the local authority. Furthermore, proposals made by local authorities, including Tipperary County Council, for the development of social housing units are being assessed by my Department and a first phase of announcements of initial project approvals will be made shortly.

The delivery of the targets set for County Tipperary will reduce the housing waiting list in the local authority area by 42%.

351 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRAA01450Rural Development Programme

21/04/2015WRAA01500672. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria that determine the distribution of Pillar 2 funding for rural development projects, specifically the Leader initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15554/15]

21/04/2015WRAA01600Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Gov- ernment (Deputy Ann Phelan): The Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, will be co- funded by the EU through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the National Exchequer. While an EU allocation of €2,190 million is available to Ireland, €2,037 million of this is allocated to measures to be delivered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The remaining €153 million of the EU funding is allocated to my Depart- ment for the delivery of LEADER measures. National funding has been allocated to bring the total funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 to €4 billion.

The co-funding rate for the LEADER element of the programme is 65% (EAFRD) and 35% (National Exchequer) which brings the programme complement for the LEADER elements to €235 million. In addition to this, two Agri Foods schemes with a budget of €15 million will be delivered using the LEADER approach resulting in an overall programme complement for LEADER of €250 million.

Ireland is reconfiguring the way in which local and rural development interventions are implemented. This is in line with Government policy to ensure that local government is well positioned to support the effective and efficient delivery of local and rural development. In this context, €220 million of the overall programme complement for the 2014-2020 period has been allocated based on administrative or county boundaries to 28 sub-regional areas.

A further €10 million has been allocated to the cooperation element of the programme. €15 million has been allocated for the delivery of two agri-food schemes which will be managed jointly by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and my Department. In addition, €5 million is being held in reserve for the purposes of supporting the Rural Economic Develop- ment Zones (REDZ) initiative, pending the successful outcome of a Pilot scheme as identified in the report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA).

In determining the county allocations, three objective criteria were used, namely, minimum allocation, population density and a Resource Allocation Model (RAM). Each county was given a minimum allocation of €3 million to ensure that each received a viable allocation. However, Cork County was allocated €6 million as a minimum in order to ensure a viable allocation to each of the three administrative districts within the county, as the overall population outside of the city is almost twice that of any other county. The methodology used to calculate the allocations was designed to ensure that the available funding was weighted towards the most rural populations and those experiencing most rural disadvantage.

Using this methodology, which I am satisfied is fair and consistent, each county was allocated a proportionate share of the funding available through the LEADER elements of the programme.

21/04/2015WRAA01650Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRAA01700673. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of retired public service pen-

352 21 April 2015 sions in payment, in each year from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16052/15]

21/04/2015WRAA01800674. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total value of public sector pensions in payment and the average public sector pension in 2014 under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16062/15]

21/04/2015WRAA01900Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kel- ly): I propose to take Questions Nos. 673 and 674 together.

Information regarding the number of pensions in payment in local authorities for each year from 2008 to 2014 is set out in the table below. The total cost of the pensions in payment in local authorities in 2014 was €239.91 million, giving an average pension of €12,406.

Information regarding the number of pensions in payments and the cost of these pensions in agencies under the auspices of my Department is not readily available.

Number of pensions in payment in local authorities

Year Ending Pensioners 2008 16,400 2009 17,411 2010 17,908 2011 18,310 2012 19,035 2013 19,152 2014 19,338

21/04/2015WRBB00150Postal Services

21/04/2015WRBB00200675. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Nat- ural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15804/15]

21/04/2015WRBB00300676. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the decline of Irish postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15811/15]

21/04/2015WRBB00400680. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to implement the Irish Postmasters’ Union six point action plan to sustain the post office network and support local communities which was published recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15648/15]

21/04/2015WRBB00500684. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Nat- ural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15812/15]

21/04/2015WRBB00600685. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the decline of the Irish postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15813/15]

21/04/2015WRBB00700Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White): I

353 Questions - Written Answers propose to take Questions Nos. 675, 676, 680, 684 and 685 together.

Issues relating to the commercial activities of An Post, including the provision of postal services, are an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no function.

I note the recent publication of the 6-point plan by the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU). It aligns with this Government’s consistent message that a strong, modern and commercially viable post office network, that is responsive to changing consumer choices, is essential for urban and rural communities alike.

I established the Post Office Network Business Development Group earlier this year. The IPU is a member of the Group. The Terms of Reference for the Group are to

- examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the post office network;

- identify the new business opportunities for the post office network, taking account of international experience;

- engage as necessary with the public sector, commercial bodies and other interested parties in pursuit of the above objectives;

- prepare an interim and final report for the Minister in accordance with an agreed timetable.

The work of the Business Development Group will be of strategic importance to the future of the post office network and I look forward to the Group concluding its deliberations later this year.

21/04/2015WRBB00750Television Licence Fee Payments

21/04/2015WRBB00800677. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a waiver of the television licence fee and deferral of legal proceedings will be considered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if payment plans will be arranged in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15415/15]

21/04/2015WRBB00900Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White): The sale of TV licences and the associated inspection process is an operational matter for An Post as the Minister’s statutorily appointed Agent under the Broadcasting Act 2009.

I have asked my officials to bring the circumstances of the case as presented by the Deputy to the attention of An Post.

21/04/2015WRBB00950Broadband Service Provision

21/04/2015WRBB01000678. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Nat- ural Resources his plans for the provision of broadband services to residents in Allenwood in County Kildare and surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15452/15]

21/04/2015WRBB01100Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White): The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial 354 21 April 2015 services will not be provided.

The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services with approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland expected to have access to commercial high speed broadband services over the next two years. These very significant investments represent a step-change in the quality of broadband services available.

Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016.

The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention.

Based on information provided by commercial operators, 61% of Allenwood Middle and 78% of Allenwood North, Co Kildare will be covered by the commercial sector. The remaining 39% of Allenwood Middle and 22% of Allenwood North Co Kildare will be part of the State intervention. Members of the public should consult the map to establish for themselves the precise location and status of their individual premises.

Intensive design and planning work is underway in my Department to produce a detailed intervention strategy for the AMBER area. Following a public consultation process on the draft Intervention Strategy this summer, I hope to move to formal procurement phase towards the end of this year in order to select a preferred bidder or bidders.

I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.

This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and aims to conclu- sively address current broadband connectivity issues in mainly rural parts of the country.

21/04/2015WRBB01150Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

21/04/2015WRBB01200679. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Nat- ural Resources the process followed for the recent appointments to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s compliance committee; if the positions were publicly advertised in the interests of openness and transparency; the criteria used for selecting the successful candidates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15544/15]

21/04/2015WRBB01300Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White): I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 244 and 245 of 26 February 2015.

Question No. 680 answered with Question No. 675.

21/04/2015WRBB01450Broadband Service Provision

21/04/2015WRBB01500681. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natu- ral Resources if consideration will be given to, and if he will address the issues raised in, correspondence regarding lack of broadband coverage in an area (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15649/15]

355 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRBB01600Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White): The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.

Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie . The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER.

The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers plan to deliver high speed broadband services by end 2016.

The AMBER area on the map shows the target areas for the State intervention and includes Cherryville Co Kildare. All premises within the AMBER areas will be included in the State’s intervention.

I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.

This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government. It aims to conclu- sively address current connectivity challenges in Ireland.

21/04/2015WRBB01650Broadband Service Provision

21/04/2015WRBB01700682. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to deal with the broadband problem in an area (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and when will it be rectified. [15663/15]

21/04/2015WRBB01800Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White): The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.

Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie . The areas marked BLUE represent those areas that will have 356 21 April 2015 access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016.

The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention.

Based on information provided by commercial operators, 75% of Frenchpark Demesne will be covered by the commercial sector by the end of 2016 at the latest. The remaining 25% of Frenchpark Demesne will be part of the State intervention. Members of the public should consult the map to establish for themselves the precise location and status of their individual premises.

I anticipate that the first homes and businesses will be connected in 2016 and connections will continue thereafter, with the intention of having all premises connected within a 5 year period.

This complex and ambitious project is a key priority for Government and aims to conclu- sively address current broadband connectivity issues in mainly rural parts of the country.

21/04/2015WRBB01850Broadband Service Provision

21/04/2015WRBB01900683. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Re- sources if his Department has engaged with the ESB in terms of the organisation’s expansion into broadband provision by way of the electricity network; the type and level of engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15809/15]

21/04/2015WRBB02000Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White): The National Broadband Plan aims to deliver high speed broadband to every premises in Ire- land, putting us to the forefront internationally in terms of ubiquitous reliable broadband. This is being achieved through a partnership approach between the Government and the commercial telecommunications sector.

A key element of the National Broadband Plan is the creation of a policy and regulatory environment that helps stimulate commercial investment. In 2014, the Oireachtas passed legislation introduced by my Department, which has enabled ESB to enter the telecommunications market using its extensive electricity distribution network. Following the enactment of the leg- ilsation, the two shareholding Ministers - the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform - consented to ESB entering into a Joint Venture with Vodafone Ireland. The two companies have since announced plans to deliver fibre-to-the-home services to 500,000 homes and businesses in 50 towns across Ireland, with the possibility of a further expansion of this €450m investment programme.

This commercial development is bringing competition in the provision of high speed services to rural towns across Ireland. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades, and particularly in the provision of high speed broadband. In the space of just over two years, commercial operators have rolled out services to 1.1m of Ireland’s 2.3m premises and within the next year and a half, 1.6m premises will be able to access these services. This represents 70% of the premises in Ireland.

Working closely with industry, last November I published a national high speed coverage

357 Questions - Written Answers map which provides detail of every premises that will have access to high speed broadband from commercial operators by the end of 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie . The areas marked BLUE represent the 70% of premises that will have access to commercial high speed broadband services by end 2016. The AMBER areas show the target areas for the State intervention.

In delivering this combination of commercial and State-led investment in high speed broadband, I and my Department are engaging intensively with all commercial operators, including ESB/Vodafone. Consultation in relation to the mapping exercise continues, and we have also met with operators who may be interested in the bidding process for the State-led intervention, including ESB/Vodafone. The Department has also visited two pilot high speed broadband projects, which include an eircom rural fibre-to-the-home pilot in Belcarra Co Mayo, and ESB / Vodafone fibre-to-the-home trial in Cavan town.

Details of our engagement with industry are provided in monthly updates on the Depart- ment’s mapping website www.broadband.gov.ie

Questions Nos. 684 and 685 answered with Question No. 675.

21/04/2015WRBB02150Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRBB02200686. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natu- ral Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16049/15]

21/04/2015WRBB02300687. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natu- ral Resources the total value of public sector pensions in payment; the average public sector pension in 2014, under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16060/15]

21/04/2015WRBB02400Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White): I propose to take Questions Nos. 686 and 687 together.

The information requested by the Deputy regarding pension payments made by bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each body. My Department will ask the relevant bodies to provide the information directly to the Deputy.

21/04/2015WRBB02450Sports Capital Programme Expenditure

21/04/2015WRBB02500688. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount, in total, which remains undrawn down from consecutive sports capital grants; and if he will release those funds to other unsuccessful applicants. [15319/15]

21/04/2015WRBB02600Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): A total of €75m remains outstanding from previous rounds of the Sports Capital Programme and from special allocations. As it can take grantees several years to draw down grants it is expected that the 358 21 April 2015 bulk of this funding will be drawn down in due course. It is not the Department’s policy to reallocate funding to new grantees where the existing grantees are experiencing difficulties in the drawdown of their grants.

I intend to allocate €40m later this year under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme.

21/04/2015WRBB02650Bus Éireann Services

21/04/2015WRBB02700689. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a time frame for the start of a bus service through Castledermot, Ballytore and south County Kildare. [15370/15]

21/04/2015WRBB02800Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

21/04/2015WRBB02850Public Transport

21/04/2015WRBB02900690. Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of LUAS users at the Lehaunstown, County Dublin stop, on a daily and weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15406/15]

21/04/2015WRBB03000Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): The issue raised is a matter for the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) and I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to the RPA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

21/04/2015WRBB03050Aviation Issues

21/04/2015WRBB03100691. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Irish Aviation Authority pays rent to landowners where Doppler very high frequency omnidi- rectional radio range, DVOR, devices are erected. [15407/15]

21/04/2015WRBB03200Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): The subject matter of this particular question is the responsibility of the Irish Aviation Authority, and I have referred the question to them for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days

21/04/2015WRBB03250Sports Capital Programme Applications

21/04/2015WRBB03300692. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the reasons the Salthill Handball and Racquetball Club was unsuccessful in its application for a grant from the sports capital programme in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15419/15]

21/04/2015WRBB03400Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): The application under the Sports Capital Programme 2014 in respect of the organisation referred to by the Dep- uty was found to be invalid. The reasons why the application was invalid were communicated 359 Questions - Written Answers by email to the club contact on 9 July 2014. I do not consider it appropriate to publish details of why individual applications were deemed invalid. If any further clarification is required the designated club contact should contact the Department’s Sports Capital Programme Division in Killarney.

21/04/2015WRCC00150Driver Licences

21/04/2015WRCC00200693. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress on making a regulation in order to provide for the recognition of mutual exchange of driving licences between Ireland and Alberta in Canada. [15453/15]

21/04/2015WRCC00300Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): For some time now the Road Safety Authority (RSA), as the body responsible for driver licensing nationally, has been engaging with the authorities in Canada with a view to reaching agreements on mutual exchange of driving licences.

The process of reaching such agreements is a complex one, and involves detailed comparison of the two regimes by the driver licensing authorities on both sides in order to ensure that they are compatible.

In Canada, driver licensing operates at provincial rather than national level. As a result, the RSA has been engaging with individual provinces. A decision was made to prioritise agreement with Ontario, due to the large number of Irish residents there. Agreement was reached last year with Ontario, and an agreement with Manitoba is now being put in place. I understand from the RSA that the next agreement is likely to be with Newfoundland and Labrador.

The RSA informs me that they are making progress with Alberta, but it is not possible at this point to specify when an agreement will be in place.

21/04/2015WRCC00350Tourism Industry

21/04/2015WRCC00400694. Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will visit County Louth and meet with tourism interests, and in particular if he will address the omissions regarding County Louth in the recent Fáilte Ireland Ancient East map; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15498/15]

21/04/2015WRCC00500Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): The role of the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy. The development of Ireland’s Ancient East is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. The Department of Transport Tourism and Sport is not directly involved in its development or management. Ireland’s Ancient East is an umbrella brand supported by four thematic pillars:

- Ancient Ireland,

- Early Christian Ireland,

- Medieval Ireland, and

- Anglo Ireland.

The area north of the River Boyne contains many sites and attractions that fit these themes.

360 21 April 2015 Many feature in the trade literature promoting the initiative. Carlingford’s Mediaeval Fayre, Old Mellifont Abbey and the fantastic Proleek Dolmen are all specifically mentioned and will, of course, be promoted.

Areas north of the Boyne can take full advantage of the Ireland’s Ancient East Initiative, which has the potential to welcome significant additional visitors to the area. It is essential, however, that communities become fully involved and make the most of the new initiative, as have communities up and down the Wild Atlantic Way.

21/04/2015WRCC00550Rail Network Safety

21/04/2015WRCC00600695. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the concerns raised by DART drivers in relation to the November 2014 issue of the professional driving handbook, and in relation to safety concerns; the action he will take regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15624/15]

21/04/2015WRCC00700Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): The issue raised is a matter for Irish Rail and I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

21/04/2015WRCC00750Driver Licences

21/04/2015WRCC00800696. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an Aus- tralian driving licence can be exchanged under a mutual exchange agreement, notwithstanding the fact that it was obtained on the merits of the holder having a United States of America licence in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15639/15]

21/04/2015WRCC00900Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): While Ire- land has an arrangement in place with Australia for mutual exchange of driving licences, this agreement does not cover licences which were originally obtained as a result of exchange arrangements with third parties. When bilateral agreements on exchange of driving licences are reached with other jurisdictions, they are preceded by detailed examination of the two licensing systems in both jurisdictions by the respective licensing authorities. The purpose of this is to ensure that the two regimes are compatible.

The reason for such detail is to ensure that, when we arrive at an agreement, the people who will obtain licences as a result will have met standards to obtain a licence which are comparable to our own. We cannot vouch for the standards involved in obtaining third party licences, unless the third party country is one with which we also have exchange arrangements. As we do not have an exchange arrangement with the USA, we cannot exchange an Australian licence where it was granted in exchange for a US licence.

21/04/2015WRCC00950Driver Licences

21/04/2015WRCC01000697. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason that no mutual recognition agreement in relation to driving licences is in place with the United States of America; his plans to pursue such an agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15640/15]

21/04/2015WRCC01100Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): Under EU leg- 361 Questions - Written Answers islation, Ireland has arrangements for mutual exchange of driving licences with all other Mem- ber States. In the case of non-EU States, we may reach bilateral agreements. Agreeing bilateral arrangements on exchange of driving licences is not a straightforward matter. It involves detailed study and comparison of the two licensing regimes by the licensing authorities in both jurisdictions, in order for both sides to be satisfied that the two regimes are compatible. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

We do not have mutual exchange of driving licences with the USA. The reason for this is that driver licensing in the US operates at State rather than federal level. There is therefore a wide variety of licensing systems with widely varying standards, and broad based mutual recognition is not possible. I therefore have no plans to pursue this matter.

21/04/2015WRCC01150Road Safety

21/04/2015WRCC01200698. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the regulations that exist for sulky drivers; the age of those legally permitted to drive a sulky; the safety regulations for drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15642/15]

21/04/2015WRCC01300Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): Drivers of sulk- ies and other animal-drawn vehicles are obliged to comply with road traffic legislation, and are responsible for behaving in a safe manner, as are all road users. There is at present no licensing regime for drivers of animal-drawn vehicles comparable to the system of driver licensing for mechanically propelled vehicles.

It is my understanding that under the Control of Horses Act 1996, a local authority may declare an area within its territory to be a control area, and as such require that all horses in the area be licensed. A licence cannot be issued to a person under the age of 16.

Following concerns raised about unauthorised sulky racing on public roads in particular, I am proposing to address a gap that currently exists in the law regarding racing of horse drawn vehicles in the Road Traffic Bill 2015. Under the new proposals, it will be an offence to participate in an unauthorised race. This will apply to any kind of vehicle, including horse drawn vehicles. Such races will in future be permitted only subject to approval by the relevant local authority, in consultation with An Garda Síochána. It will be made an offence to participate in such an event where it has not received prior approval of the Local Authority.

21/04/2015WRCC01350National Driver Licensing Service

21/04/2015WRCC01400699. Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of full-time and part-time counter staff available in the National Driver Licence Service centre in the Drogheda Southgate Shopping Centre in County Louth; the average waiting time for those attending personally but not booking online appointments; the number of applications dealt with on a quarterly basis, since the centre opened; the way this compares to other such centres nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15665/15]

21/04/2015WRCC01500Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Au- thority. I have therefore referred the question 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.

362 21 April 2015

21/04/2015WRCC01550Sport and Recreational Development

21/04/2015WRCC01600700. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the initiatives that have been supported and pursued to develop the sport of basketball in the past five years, both locally and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15727/15]

21/04/2015WRCC01700Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the allocation of funding for the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs), including Basketball Ireland. As this question is a matter for the Irish Sports Council, I have referred it to the Council for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within ten days.

21/04/2015WRCC01750Public Transport Subsidies

21/04/2015WRCC01800701. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total subvention provided to Córas Iompair Éireann for each of the past ten years, with a breakdown of the amount allocated to each of its companies, each year. [15820/15]

21/04/2015WRCC01900Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): Since 2010 there is no subvention paid directly by my Department for public transport services. The award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has direct responsibility for this area. The total Public Service Obligation (PSO) subvention provided to CIE by both this Department and the NTA (since 2010) in the years 2005 to 2014 is as follows:

Schedule of Exchequer Subvention to CIÉ: 2005 to 2014

Year Iarnród Éire- Bus Éire- Bus Átha Holding TOTAL €000 ann€000 ann€000 Cliath€000 Compa- ny€000 2005 179,991 25,199 64,900 - 270,090 2006 188,716 26,459 69,845 - 285,020 2007 189,910 36,595 80,078 - 306,583 2008 181,152 41,846 85,629 - 308,627 2009 170,624 49,365 83,199 - 303,188 2010 155,137 45,039 75,682 - 275,858 2011 148,689 43,410 73,042 - 265,141 2012 166,412 36,882 74,766 - 278,060 2013 126,888 34,476 64,902 - 226,266 2014 117,409* 31,899 60,054 - 209,362 *Included in this amount is €10.66 million paid to Iarnród Eireann under the Infrastructure Manager Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC).

21/04/2015WRCC01950Commemorative Events

21/04/2015WRCC02000702. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update report on the national famine commemoration in 2015; when and where the commemoration will be held; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15161/15] 363 Questions - Written Answers

21/04/2015WRCC02100Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Heather Humphreys): The 2015 Famine Commemoration will take place on Saturday, 26th September, in Newry, County Down. In recognition of the fact that the Great Famine affected all parts of the island, the location of the annual Famine Commemoration has rotated in sequence between the four provinces since the first commemoration took place in Dublin in 2008. In 2011 the commemoration was held in Clones, Co. Monaghan, and with 2015 once again marking Ulster’s turn to host, it has been agreed, in consultation with the key stakeholders, to bring the Famine Commemoration to Northern Ireland.

The newly established Newry, Mourne and Down District Council will play the lead role in organising the commemoration and my Department, along with Northern Ireland’s Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, will work with the Council and other stakeholders to maximise the reach of the commemoration and its associated activities. I believe that the local community will bring a unique perspective to remembering one of the most significant periods in our shared history and I look forward to participating in the event in Newry in September.

21/04/2015WRCC02150Hedge Cutting Season

21/04/2015WRCC02200703. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to extending the hedge cutting season, which closed at the end of February 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15742/15]

21/04/2015WRCC02300Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Heather Humphreys): Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity and therefore a review of the current legislation was initiated to ensure that it remains both effective and balanced. Stakeholders had been seeking an opportunity to input their views on the operation of section 40 of the Acts and I announced, last year, a consultation process which provided that opportunity, with a deadline of 9 January 2015 for the receipt of submissions.

I have established a Working Group, consisting of officials from my Department, to consider all submissions received by the deadline and to report back to me with a range of proposals.

Any changes to the closed period for cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation as provided for in section 40 of the Wildlife Acts would require amending legislation.

21/04/2015WRCC02350Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge

21/04/2015WRCC02400704. D’fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den an Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltach- ta cé mhéad ionad atá scrúdaithe ag an Roinn maidir lena bhfeiliúnacht mar ionad d’imeachtaí agus do ranganna coláistí Gaeilge; cad iad na ciorruithe, más ann dóibh, atá curtha i bhfeidhm i ngach ionad acu faoi seach; cad é líon iomlán na scoláirí a bheidh ceadaithe i ngach ionad; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [15236/15]

21/04/2015WRCC02500Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Joe McHugh): Dírím aird an Teachta ar an bhfreagra a thug mé ar Cheist Dála Uimh. 283 den 5ú Márta 2015. Mar is eol don Teachta, iarradh ar na coláistí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht eolas a chur ar fáil do mo Roinn roimh dheireadh 2014 faoi na hionaid a bheadh in úsáid acu do chúrsaí 2015. Ó thús na bliana seo, tá cuairt tugtha ag innealtóir mo Roinne ar 59 de na hionaid sin agus tá sé 364 21 April 2015 beartaithe go dtabharfar cuairt ar na hionaid eile chomh luath agus is féidir. Bhí an cur chuige seo aontaithe le Comhchoiste Náisiúnta na gColáistí Samhraidh (CONCOS) roimh ré.

Ach na hoibreacha riachtanacha atá sonraithe ag mo Roinn a bheith déanta ar na hionaid, ní fheictear do mo Roinn go mbeidh gá le mórán ciorruithe agus go mbeifear in ann an líon céanna foghlaimeoirí a cheadú sna hionaid - a bheag nó a mhór - agus a bhí ceadaithe anuraidh. Ní miste a nótáil go bhfuil an cur chuige seo idir lámha ag mo Roinn ar mhaithe le sláinte agus sábháilteacht na scoláirí sna coláistí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht a chinntiú.

21/04/2015WRCC02550Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme

21/04/2015WRCC02600705. Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to re-introduce the built heritage jobs leverage scheme in 2015; when the scheme will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15253/15]

21/04/2015WRCC02700Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Heather Humphreys): In 2014 my Department was provided with a special allocation of €5 million from Capital Stimulus funding for a new Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme to assist with works to safeguard structures, in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

This scheme was administered directly through the local authorities and sought to encourage the investment of private capital in a number of small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair and conserve historic structures and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craft workers and tradespeople. My Department’s allocation of €5 million leveraged a further €10 million in private funding, which led to a total of €15 million being invested in 540 historic structures across the country. Information provided by the local authorities indicates that 175 jobs were created as a result of this scheme.

The operation of a similar scheme in the future would be contingent on dedicated funding being made available to my Department.

21/04/2015WRCC02750Heritage Sites

21/04/2015WRCC02800706. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gael- tacht if she has received an application for funding from a group (details supplied) in County Donegal; if she will be in a position to grant funding to this group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15255/15]

21/04/2015WRCC02900Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Heather Humphreys): My De- partment is currently operating a Structures at Risk Fund to enable conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, protected under the Planning and Devel- opment Acts 2000, as amended, which are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. This fund, which has an allocation of €624,000 in 2015, is administered through the local authorities and encourages the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helps to secure the preservation of protected structures which might otherwise be lost. The fund, which is now closed, was open to two applications per local authority. My Department did not receive any formal application under the Structures at Risk Fund 2015 from the relevant local authority for funding for the group referred to by the Deputy.

Given the many competing priorities for funding built heritage, resources are not currently

365 Questions - Written Answers available from my Department to consider funding this group at present. My Department’s built heritage capital budget is fully allocated for 2015 and is focused on the Structures at Risk Fund and the conservation and presentation of the State’s heritage portfolio, which is managed by the Office of Public Works. Officials in my Department are available to advise and assist local authorities on the continued reuse and regeneration of historic areas, where applicable.

21/04/2015WRCC02950Heritage Schemes

21/04/2015WRCC03000707. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will set up an immediate task force to work with all concerned parties, farmers, the Na- tional Parks and Wildlife Service, BirdWatch Ireland, and any other groups that have an interest, to create a management plan for the maintenance of all upland areas, not only in Killarney in County Kerry but throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15376/15]

21/04/2015WRCC03100Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Heather Humphreys): The Na- tional Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department will continue to work with relevant stakeholders on uplands issues, including farming and forestry interests, Government Departments and agencies, as well as NGOs. My Department is neither mandated nor resourced at this time to embark on the development of a national plan for uplands areas.

21/04/2015WRCC03150Wildlife Conservation

21/04/2015WRCC03200708. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the conservation of the declining snipe bird species and the rare jack snipe species, particularly in the context of the Carrigower Bog in County Wicklow, a nationally important habitat for snipe and jack snipe; her views on any obligations in planning law to protect the habitats of these birds; any planned legislative improvements in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15387/15]

21/04/2015WRCC03300Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Heather Humphreys): The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

21/04/2015WRCC03350Wildlife Conservation

21/04/2015WRCC03400709. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views of reports that hares are extinct on Dublin’s North Bull Island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15669/15]

21/04/2015WRCC03500Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Heather Humphreys): The Irish Hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) is found throughout the country. It is classified as a “protected species” under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012, as well as being listed in Annex V of the EU Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). Under Article 17 of the Directive, Member States are obliged to report to the European Commission on the status of listed habitats and species every six years. Each species is assessed according to its range across Ireland, the population, the quality of its habitat and its future prospects. The Irish Hare was given a favourable conservation status in the Report entitled “The Status of European Union Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland”, which was submitted to the Commission in 2013. A copy of the report is available on the website of my Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service at www.

366 21 April 2015 npws.ie.

The Bull Island is monitored regularly by officers of my Department, but, despite these efforts and those of local landowners, the hare population has remained at very low levels for the past 20 years.

21/04/2015WRCC03550Public Sector Pensions Data

21/04/2015WRCC03600710. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year, from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16047/15]

21/04/2015WRCC03700711. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total value of public sector pensions in payment; the average public sector pension in 2014, under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16058/15]

21/04/2015WRCC03800Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Heather Humphreys): I propose to take Questions Nos. 710 and 711 together.

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established in June 2011 and pensions due to staff who have retired are paid by the Paymaster-General. As such pensions are not a charge on the Vote of my Department, it does not hold information in relation to such pensions.

The numbers of public service pensions paid by bodies operating under the aegis of my Department at the end of 2011 and at the end of each year since then are shown in the following table.

Year: Number of pensions paid at 31 December 2011 259 2012 290 2013 305 2014 332 I am advised that the annual value of such pensions being paid as at 31 December 2014 was €6,528,415, giving an average annual pension of €19,664.

367